common themes across all religions This blog post is part of a series on common themes across all religions. “Some would deny any legitimate use of the word God because it has been misused so much. Certainly it is the most burdened of all human words. Precisely for that reason…

The COVID-19 crisis has forced us to hit the pause button on our regular lives. In the process, we have been given the rare and unexpected gift of time free from the compulsive activities that drive so many of us. There is no roadmap to navigate this new normal. We…

World Cancer Day, which is observed worldwide on February 4th, gives us an opportunity to reflect upon the suffering that many individuals face when they or their loved ones are afflicted with serious illnesses like cancer. …

Religions are holistic systems that provide us with comprehensive worldviews and corresponding codes of conduct for how best to live in accordance with such views. …

Rituals are religious or solemn ceremonies consisting of a set of actions performed in a specific order. We all follow rituals — the ritual of celebrating a birthday or a wedding; the rituals that come with death… it is part of a prescriptive code of human social behavior that helps…

Sunday December 18 is the first night of Hanukkah, the 8-day holiday that is often seen as the Jewish counterpart to Christmas due to their close proximity and the shared element of gift-giving. …

Thursday December 8 was Bodhi Day, which recognizes the day that the Buddha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, which is still treated as a sacred space and a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. So often, you enter a church or a monastery or even a spot by the river where…

Tuesday December 6 is St. Nicholas Day, celebrating the saint who would become the inspiration for Santa Claus, who is otherwise known as St. Nicholas today. The historical St. Nicholas is said to have performed many miracles and visited Emperor Constantine in his dreams. We all have dreams — the…

Friday November 25 was National Day of Listening, a day that invites us to pause and make an extra effort to do a little less talking and a little more listening. In a world increasingly dominated by chatter and frenzied movement, silence and stillness have become rare luxuries. That space…