How To Find A Piece Of Enlightenment...

A lot of classic stories have been told that are variations on the same theme: someone searches for something and then realizes that they already have it. It may be a precious jewel, or the ability to do something, or in the case of Dorothy’s ruby slippers, it is the way to get home again. This could be read as a metaphor for becoming enlightened, and you may hear the same theme from spiritual teachers. The variation goes...

“It’s The Journey That Counts.” Or Is It?...

There is a wise, insightful saying in currency these days. You may hear variations of it such as, “It’s the journey that counts,” “It’s the journey,” or, “What counts is the journey.” The idea behind the saying is this: if you only think about the goal that you are working toward, you may fail to notice, appreciate, and benefit from what you experience during the process of reaching that goal. True...

Is Jeffrey Chappell Enlightened?...

Answers From Silence traces the author’s growth of consciousness, a process that eventually culminates in “crossing over a line to an entirely new mode of existence.” This seems to be saying that, by the end of the book, Jeffrey Chappell is enlightened. “Enlightenment” can mean many things to many people. And that can be a problem. I have actually been advised not even to use the word “enlightenment” for this...

“Never Better”...

It can be hard for me to answer ordinary, everyday questions with the expected responses. For example, when somebody asks, “How are you?” I invariably answer “Never better.” This is often met with incredulity or amusement, or with a follow-up question of “What is the reason for that?” I then have to answer, “For no reason at all.” I’m really not trying to be a wise guy. Nor am I trying artificially to...