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Did Buddhism win the best Religion of the world award?

There’s a rumor going about a lot of blogs that Buddhism wins the best religion of the world reward. Unfortunately it’s only blogs that are reporting this. No ordinary news sources, nor can I find the ‘Icarus’ foundation that is said to have given the award because: “It wasn’t a surprise to me that Buddhism [...]

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Osel Hita Torres – aka Lama Osel goes on to make movies

This is a true story that someone emailed me because it reminded them of Jiddu Krishnamurti’s story. That is: someone raised to be a teacher, steps outside the tradition that he was brought up in to do something totally different. Lama Osel was born to Spanish parents, but brought up as the reincarnation of Thubten [...]

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Remembering Blavatsky – White Lotusday

On May 8th theosophists all over the world, whatever theosophical organization they belong to, commemorate Blavatsky’s passing on May 8th 1891. This day is called White Lotusday. Traditionally quotes from three texts are read: The Bhagavad Gita, The Voice of the Silence and Light of Asia. So here goes from chapter ten of the Bhagavad [...]

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Work as those who are ambitious…

Work as those work who are ambitious. Respect life as those do who desire it. Be happy as those are who live for happiness. Mabel Collins, Light on the path, part 1 (4) This quote must be a bit puzzling for those who think ambition itself is a spiritual virtue. Light on the Path is [...]

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The difference between spiritual growth and personal development?

Michael asked me on my Dutch blog: What’s the difference between personal and spiritual growth anyhow? I think self knowledge is perhaps the only spiritual or personal growth there is, isn’t it? It’s a very good question. Depending on ones spiritual background, one can go into this very deeply, or just skimp the surface. Ken [...]

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The Dalai Lama – a peaceful response to violence

It is a good blogging tradition to pay attention to important dates. Today it is 50 years since His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet, because it was being occupied by Chinese forces. I’m not going to go into the whole story here. Follow the links in this post for more details. Got Enlightenment? [...]

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Generosity and detachment – spiritual virtue no. 5

Generosity is, for once, a classic virtue. In Islam it’s called Zakat: the duty to give a percentage of your possessions to the poor. Generosity is linked to another classic virtue: detachment. In both Hinduism and Buddhism attachment to stuff, money and status is seen as a problem. Letting go of that in the form [...]

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Spiritual virtues / values / norms: perspective on alternative spirituality

Auch. That was way too long a title. Anyhow, I was thinking about some of the responses to my post about the difference between religion and spirituality (and how little difference there is). While I don’t agree with Jan Peter for instance – spirituality is more than something emotional – I do think I know [...]

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Online marketing and the ego

This post could also be called ‘Social networking and the bodhisattva vow‘, because what sparked it was a twitter conversation I had with a friend about whether or not I’m a Bodhisattva. She unknowingly put me on the spot. I do aspire to the bodhisattva vow, but I’m well aware that one isn’t just a [...]

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In the sky there is no distinction of 'East' and 'West'…

“Apparent distinctions among things exist only in our minds. For example, in the sky there is no distinction of east and west. People create such distinctions and then believe them to be true. We do the same in everyday life- making distinctions, such as “us” and “them,” where none exist and believe them to be [...]

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