Hermes Trismegistus – The number three goes a long way

Hermes Trismegistus (“Hermes the Thrice Great” or “Thrice Blessed”) is a legendary Hellenistic character said to be the author of the Hermetica, apparently divinely inspired texts dealing with cosmology and the dynamics of the spiritual life. Scholars say the name Hermes Trismegistus arose from a combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian deity… Read More Hermes Trismegistus – The number three goes a long way

Infused Knowledge – What do we know? How do we know?

Infused knowledge is a specific type of knowledge outlined mostly by believing theologians. It usually refers to the direct or “imprinted” knowledge that Jesus Christ possessed, but the term may apply to anyone. King Solomon, for example, was known for his tremendous wisdom and apparently possessed infused knowledge. Most everyday Christians believe that people other… Read More Infused Knowledge – What do we know? How do we know?

“Our brain is not a slot machine,” so quit trying to hack it | Salon.com | Opinion

“Tailored Brain” author Emily Willingham talked to us on the myths and truths of brain hacking Source: “Our brain is not a slot machine,” so quit trying to hack it | Salon.com Opinion: Before the internet but when we still used personal computers, I wonder how many people could have envisioned the wired, Wi-Fi, BlueTooth,… Read More “Our brain is not a slot machine,” so quit trying to hack it | Salon.com | Opinion

Rasputin – Russian rascal or Slavonic sage? – A quick look at The Last Czars

Ever heard of Rasputin? He was a Russian peasant who rose up through the ranks to become confidant and friend of the Russian Czar Nicholas II and especially of Nicholas’ Czarina wife, Alexandra Feodorovna, who was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Just how Rasputin wormed his way into the royal family is a bit of… Read More Rasputin – Russian rascal or Slavonic sage? – A quick look at The Last Czars

Jin – The ‘liberated’ soul who doesn’t help others?

In Jainism the jin is the liberated soul, living in what is believed to be the highest aspect of reality. With absolutely no attachment to lower levels of existence, including this world of becoming, it does not intercede nor intervene in response to prayer requests. This extreme detachment differentiates Jainism from Hinduism and Catholicism in… Read More Jin – The ‘liberated’ soul who doesn’t help others?

A trip down memory lane… Surplus and Transcendence

Last night while doing some laundry I found this short report I wrote back in India. Rabindranath Tagore founded the university at Santiniketan where I did my Indian M.A., which was quite a different experience for me. In this brief paper, I employed what I used to call my “international” English. Instead of an abundance… Read More A trip down memory lane… Surplus and Transcendence

William James – Can a wealthy and connected intellectual really understand mysticism?

William James (1842-1910) was an American pragmatist philosopher and psychologist and the brother of the novelist Henry James. James suffered poor health and frequent bouts of psychological exhaustion but this did not adversely affect his work. His Principles of Psychology (1890) became a standard textbook for psychologists, influencing Carl Jung among others. His collected lectures… Read More William James – Can a wealthy and connected intellectual really understand mysticism?

James Randi, dazzling magician and skeptic, dies at 92 | Your Valley | Obituary & Opinion

Magician James Randi, whose daring escapes were later eclipsed by his work as the country’s foremost skeptic, has died. The Florida-based James Randi Educational Foundation announced its founder … Source: James Randi, dazzling magician and skeptic, dies at 92 | Your Valley Obituary and Opinion: Randi’s passing marks the end of an era. For me,… Read More James Randi, dazzling magician and skeptic, dies at 92 | Your Valley | Obituary & Opinion