We all have a lot to do. As always, there are two components to this feeling of overwhelm: the external yes-it's-true lots and lots to do, and the internal, always-pushing, stressed out state. See if you can guess which one I am about to address. :-)

Things are what they are. Kind of hard to argue with that, I suppose. Oftentimes the only control we have is over our own reactive process. The control I mean is not the "grin and bear it" kind, which just results in repression and stress. It's about seeing the situation from a different angle.

The image at the top of the page struck me deeply. Sometimes an image captures something so well no words are needed. (But then, words is my job here, right? So here we go... :-) )

I am part of a spiritual community. As such, "fads" would blow through and be captivating for a time. Many years ago it seemed as if everyone was asking "What's my dharma?"

Well, tricky fellow that I am, I will say "both." But perhaps more of an explanation is needed, as there is much confusion about both the notion of ego and about the oft heard (and correct) idea that it needs to be overcome.

There is enormous confusion in the West about what a guru is. Most folks think it has something to do with turning your will over to someone else, or someone who dictates every aspect of your life. Of course there are false gurus who are in it for themselves (knowingly or not). But then there are bad doctors, which does not damage the value or efficacy of Western medicine. Bad teachers do not mean education is not worth it. So what, then, is the real value of a rare true Divine Teacher?

I hope I can be forgiven for reprinting this earlier blog post. But it is one of my very favorites…

It’s the time for New Year's Resolutions. You know, those promises we make ourselves that too often don’t make it till Groundhog Day (for those of you unaware of that holiday, it’s February 2nd. Happy Groundhog Day in advance, in case I forget to mention it later. :-) ).

The trouble with failed promises, however, is most often not our lack of will; it is that we have a tendency to pick unrealistic goals.

Yogananda spoke often about the true spirit of Christmas. Most tend to personalize the presence of Christ. He was born at such-and-such a time, he lived in Ancient Israel, etc. The birth we are really celebrating is the birth of what Yogananda called Christ Consciousness.

The phrase "Say yes! to life" is one I try hard to live by. We spend entirely too much time resisting reality, arguing in our heads, resenting circumstances, and wishing things and people were different.

It is not that we should passively accept everything that happens. We should most assuredly not! I am speaking about what happens in our hearts.

Probably most folks here have heard the word. It means to see a situation from a different angle. How is this done, why is it helpful, and how might we apply it to real life situations? Glad you asked… :-)

We recently shared some thoughts on how to face tests. We all know a positive attitude about them is a good idea, but hopefully that letter took the idea a little deeper. I believe it's time to write more about "gratitude." (C'mon... Thanksgiving wasn't that long ago!)

I saw a great quote recently: "People are like tea bags—you can’t tell how strong they are until you put them in hot water." Interesting and well put...

We have all heard the ideal of living in the present. But what does it really mean and why is it so strongly advocated?

Well, it's finally over. And if you are like most folks living in California, you are not happy with the results. Some folks here are extremely happy, however. Both camps may well be overstating the impact of what has transpired.

If God is generous, just, and kind, why is there suffering? How can our little planet see such injustice, pain, and cruelty? Maybe an image can help make what is happening clear.

As I have written before, the major human delusion and desire is to find peace and happiness by getting everything just right—and then freezing things so they do not change. We imagine that if we just try hard enough we can somehow enter that Promised Land. If that is your plan I’m afraid I have some bad news...

We all know how imprecise language is, and how hard it is for our words (and thoughts) to capture reality. The best we can do is an approximation. I heard a marvelous story recently on this point.

Just the other day I was shaving in my bathroom at home when I noticed a small spider in the tub. He was trying to climb out, but of course the slick walls made it impossible. He tried over and over and over. While impressed with his fortitude, I felt to lend a hand (and a jar).

Wow. What a spate of not-the-most-comforting news these days. Ukraine? Israel? Political strife? Recession fears? Martians attack New York City? (O.K.—maybe I made that one up…) Time for a little levity. Here are some of my favorite cute stories from East West. A smile on the face is often a cure for what ails you…

A few people have come into the store recently asking questions like, “So what is the spiritual path, really?” “What does it mean to be ‘on a path’?” A friend thought this would make a good letter. I hope this is so, and thus felt to take a shot at answering briefly…

Many have perhaps heard the term satsang. It is Sanskrit and means "collection of truth seekers." There is something called the Three Pillars of Buddhism: The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The Buddha is the perfect example for each of us. The Dharma is essentially the teachings. The Sangha/Satsang is the collection of truth-seekers. Why are gatherings of devotees so important as to be central to Buddhist teachings?

Most spiritual traditions make it quite clear that Spirit/God/The Divine knows better than we do what is best for us. That is why it pays to ask for Divine Guidance. But if that is the case, why bother to pray? Are we letting Spirit know something that is not already known? And if not, what’s the point of the attempted communication? Maybe we think Spirit might be having a memory lapse, so we are helping out? (I think that’s mostly me these days, actually…)

Clearly one cannot see Spirit, nor touch it. In fact, none of our senses can make it known or heighten our awareness of its presence. If that is so, why do we have images of saints, enlightened beings, or other images on our altars, walls, and shelves?

Well, we live in a material world and we thus have a generally materially-oriented mind. We can try to conceive of Spirit as something like "The Cosmic Ground of Being," but I have to say, for me at least, that is not especially inspiring or heart-opening.

Yes! Thus completes the shortest newsletter ever. See you next week. :-) Oh, wait, maybe I should explain? Well... since you asked...

We tend to think of uplifted states as outside of ourselves. "Looking for inner peace." The "search for happiness." "Trying to find myself." But this is a confusion of what is really going on. Joy is our nature and joy is within everyone... even you! The more appropriate question is, "If joy is within me, what am I doing that prevents me from knowing it and feeling it?"

One of India's great lights was named Lahiri Mahasaya. There was another great soul in India named Trailanga Swami. Trailanga referred to Lahiri as "God's kitten."

Trailanga's disciples naturally asked him what he meant by that. He explained that a kitten is picked up by the scruff of the neck by its mother and instantly and completely relaxes. The kitten totally trusts the mother and knows it will be taken to wherever is best.

Well, that's sort of a big question, so before jumping in I thought to tell a story:

George Washington Carver was born into slavery and became a deeply spiritual man. He also had an insatiable curiosity about—well—almost everything. One day as he was praying, he asked God, "What is the purpose of everything? I want to understand it all!" God answered, "Well, George, that's a mighty big question for a little fella like you." "O.K. then," George said, "how about telling me everything there is to know about the peanut?" God answered, "O.K... now we're talking."

This is a story that has made the rounds over the years, but is just too good not to share…

There was a businesswoman sitting in the airport waiting for her flight. A gentleman sat down next to her. Her open bag of mini-cookies was between them. She reached in, grabbed one, and started to munch. A moment later he smiled at her and he reached in and grabbed one himself, not saying a word.

It is easy to see something that is "off" and allow a desire to blot it out to well up within us. This is of course understandable, but when it comes to dealing with ourselves, often not the right idea. It is not, of course, that discipline and will power have no value—they obviously have great value—but using our will to prevent a negative tendency can be exhausting and somewhat self-defeating.

I believe a humorous story can often be more effective than the expounding of an idea. To that end, there are a couple of stories I’d like to share this week with a similar theme: that we are not as much in charge as we think! The part of our lives that is our responsibility should receive 100% of our focus and energy, of course, but there is more going on beneath the surface than we are aware of…