hedonism
Let’s Heal The World With Love And Kindness
When we truly open our eyes to the wonderful world around us, what we see is the amount of benevolent abundance available to us. There is an endless supply of good things, too abundant to list, and we are welcome to share in all that is here.
Many understand this and live in harmony with all that is provided. Some do not.
The world we inhabit is a treasure trove of beauty, resources, and blessed opportunities. From the breathtaking vistas of nature to the profound wisdom found in the simplest moments of human connection, there is no shortage of wonders and miracles to behold.
When we attune our senses to this abundance, we begin to realize how much is available to us at any given moment. This awareness can shift our perception of life from one of scarcity to one of infinite possibility.
However, there is a fine line between appreciating abundance and falling into the trap of greed. Satisfaction is a state of contentment that comes from within. It is the realization that what we have is enough, that we ourselves are enough.
Greed, on the other hand, is a restless desire for more, driven by a sense of “lack.” This insatiable hunger is often rooted in spiritual emptiness – a void that we mistakenly try to fill with external possessions and accomplishments.
Let Us Celebrate The Season With Charity And Kindness
The holidays are a bittersweet time of year for me. While I am blessed to be surrounded by my loved ones during these days, I am also reminded of all the loneliness and suffering that many people around the world experience.
The holidays should be more than just a time of joy and celebration. It should also be a time to examine our privilege and count our blessings.
I came to this realization many years ago as a young woman living in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Coming from a loving, sheltered family, I made the shocking discovery that the holidays were not joyous for everyone.
It happened while I was walking through the Boston Common one evening with a friend. The Common in downtown Boston is the oldest urban park in the United States. It is traditionally always beautifully decorated for the holidays and there is a long-standing tradition of an annual Christmas lighting ceremony that dates back to 1917.
It all began on December 6, 1917, when the Halifax Explosion, the largest non-nuclear explosion in history, destroyed much of the city. Boston officials learned of the disaster by telegraph and quickly organized and dispatched a relief train to help the survivors.
Spiritual Self-Care Or Ego Indulgence?
Spiritual or metaphysical practice is a pursuit designed to help bring greater meaning and fulfillment to our lives. It is a lifestyle that requires us to be very honest with ourselves and very intentional about the choices we make. But lately I’ve seen a lot of discourse around spirituality that basically encourages you to do pretty much whatever you want in the name of ‘free will’ and ‘self-care.’
Free will is sacred. Yes, it’s true that we are divine, spiritual beings who get to enjoy this incredible adventure of physical life. We get to choose how we move in the world, what we want for ourselves, and how we want to live. But there are two sides to this coin. Yes, we can choose what we want to manifest and how we wish to live our lives, but that does not absolve us of our karmic responsibilities and the consequences of our actions.
I’ve written before about karma and how it’s not meant to be a punishment, but rather a teacher. There are to metaphysical laws that are the basis to our karmic responsibility in this lifetime, namely the universal law of cause and effect and the spiritual law of karma.
The universal law of cause and effect is that for every action there is a reaction. There is a natural order in the universe in which our actions always have consequences, both good and bad.
The spiritual law of karma is a more specific application of the law of cause and effect. According to this law, the totality of our actions in this life, as well as all of our past lives, determine our future. This means that our actions create the conditions for our future experiences, both good and bad.