Two characteristics of extremism
Any extremist ideology is totalizing and demonizing. Totalizing means that it claims to have a total understanding of everything, that whatever it says is [...]
Four ways people look at problems
Four ways people look at problems: When we are in the mode of ignorance, whenever we are faced with problems, we go into self-pity and [...]
Intelligence means to see beyond the things that glitter
Intelligence means to see beyond the things that glitter to the things that matter. The world is filled with shiny trinkets and toys and these [...]
Being aware that we are making assumptions
Making assumptions is not a problem, not being aware that we are making assumptions is a problem. Whenever we make assumptions about people thinking that, [...]
The danger of absolute relativism
If the meaning of words can be redefined arbitrarily so that anything can mean anything, then nothing will mean anything. We live in a world [...]
Might we be narrow-minded?
Narrow-mindedness means to think that what matters to us must matter to everyone else. Most of us, if asked, would not consider ourselves to be [...]
Why people see the same thing differently
What some people consider as clarity of vision, others consider as lack of vision. The Bhagavad Gita talks about how our vision of the world [...]
Same metaphor opposite interpretations
Ocean metaphors for liberation are used by both impersonalists and personalists, but in significantly different ways. Impersonalists hold that our consciousness is like a drop, [...]
Might we be fanatics?
We may think of fanatics to be scary-looking monstrous people who self-righteously destroy anyone who opposes them. While that is indeed fanaticism in activity there [...]
Learn to doubt and to go beyond doubt (Dealing with doubt 5)
Learn to doubt and to go beyond doubt - Suppose we are lost in a risky territory with many invisible dangers such as concealed ditches [...]
When the tendency to doubt helps
When the tendency to doubt helps - In today’s educated circles, doubt is celebrated as an intellectual strength. Whenever thoughtful people encounter any claim, especially [...]
Are we using our intelligence intelligently?
Are we using our intelligence intelligently? - When we see someone with intelligence far greater than ours (as measured by some parameter such as IQ), [...]
When black-and-white analysis helps and when it harms
When black-and-white analysis helps and when it harms - The Bhagavad-gita analyzes people into two distinct categories: godly and ungodly (16.05). We might wonder, “Are [...]
What is the difference between philosophy and ideology?
The world can often be so complex and convoluted that we urgently need some framework to make sense of things. And philosophy strives to provide [...]
How to help others choose wisely?
When we aspire to share some wisdom with others, especially to help them make better choices, we need to balance two things: truth and grace. [...]
When philosophy answers our questions — and when it doesn’t
When philosophy answers our questions — and when it doesn’t - Suppose we are driving and suddenly meet a deadend. That’s when we may turn [...]