Author: Rick Bellingham
The Questions we Live in
It seems like we are always desperately seeking answers in our life. “If only I could be certain about this,” or “I sure wish I knew the answer to that.” Unfortunately, when the total quantity of information in the world is doubling twice a day, it’s going to be increasingly impossible to keep up with all the “answers” that are literally available at our fingertips. It doesn’t necessarily mean the answers are getting better, they are just Read More
2013 and 2014 Movie Reviews
Movie Rating Comments 12 Years a Slave 5.0 Very hard to watch. Absolutely compelling and well-acted. Must see. Book Thief 5.0 Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush were great. A moving story of sacrifice, generosity, and bravery. The horrific story of Jews in Germany between 1938 and 1945. Great Beauty 4.5 Splashes of beauty among the midst of the haggard misery of human life. My pick for best foreign film. Philomena 4.5 Lots of territory Read More
Mailing Gifts by Carl Dennis
I liked this poem because it tells the story of conscious dualism better than the post I wrote about the topic. I hope you enjoy it too. Carl Dennis is an amazing poet.
Finding Meaning
“The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working in order to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.”
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Goethe describes well the experience of people who are trying to find meaning while living in the middle.
Conscious Dualism
Dualism means the tendency of humans to perceive and understand the world as being divided into two discrete categories. Dualism exists in many belief systems including Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. In these beliefs the universe is divided into the complementary oppositions, e.g. good and evil. In traditions such as classical Hinduism, Zen Buddhism or Sufism, a key to enlightenment is “transcending” this sort of dualistic thinking.
The Centrality Delusion
In 1632, Galileo angered the Pope when he published a book in which he openly stated that the Earth was moving around the Sun. He was put on trial by the Inquisition in Rome, where he was found suspect of heresy, and forced to say that all of his findings were wrong. He was first imprisoned, and later confined to his house near Florence. This event was an early indication that debunking myths around centrality Read More
Being at Home in the Universe
An Internal Space or an External Refuge At my older daughter’s wedding, she sang the song, “Feels Like Home to Me” to her husband. It struck me that we are all searching for a sense of home in our lives and I was so grateful that she had found a man with whom she felt at home. Her beautiful voice filled the reception hall and my hope for everyone there was that they felt, in Read More
The Consciousness Solution
“You can’t solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it.” —Einstein
Over the course of human history there have been on-going discussions from a variety of sources (religious, social, political, etc.) about how nice it would be if our global civilization could be more harmonious and enlightened. Creating a new platform for civilization is now a requirement for our survival.
Science and Spirituality: Bridges or Barriers to God
Most religions preach that both science and spirituality are barriers to God. Science creates doubts, and spirituality offers an alternative path that doesn’t require contributions to the church coffers or preachers’ egos. While some spiritual paths may take you off into the weeds or into mountain caves, others offer legitimate ways to tap into higher power, higher purpose, and higher energy.
Corporate Spirit: Oxymoron or Possibility?
Spirituality is coming to the workplace thinly veiled as mindfulness, awareness, and stress management. As the veil gets lifted, the questions arise: does it belong, can it co-exist with profitability, and what are the dangers?
Does spirituality belong in the workplace? It depends…