Ram Dass, in his 1971 book Be Here, explores the paradox of loving someone. He suggests that love transcends the self and creates a single unity of being, something articulated by Indian spiritual master Meher Baba who said, “Love is not a relationship of two; it is a state of oneness.” This notion of oneness, of merging, is a central concept of bhakti yoga, and proves that true love is not about expecting something in return, but rather about understanding and accepting the other person. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
