Sunyata

Sep 9, 2023 | Glossary

Śūnyatā (/ʃuːnˈjɑːtɑː/ shoon-YAH-tah; Sanskrit: शून्यता, romanized: śūnyatā; Pali: suññatā), translated most often as “emptiness”, “vacuity”, and sometimes “voidness”, or “nothingness” is an Indian philosophical...

The evolutionary roots of suffering.

Sep 3, 2023 | Glossary, Sermons

There are few experiences more universal than suffering. It transcends species, cultures, and individual circumstances, manifesting uniquely in entities capable of complex behaviors and emotional states. Yet, despite its universality, understanding the nature and...

Toxic positive psychology

Mar 5, 2023 | Glossary, Mental Health

What is toxic positivity? It is a “pressure to stay upbeat no matter how dire one’s circumstance is”, which may prevent emotional coping by feeling otherwise natural emotions. Toxic positivity happens when people believe that negative thoughts about...

What can Instagram tell us about narcissists? A bit, actually.

Feb 26, 2023 | Behavioral Studies

Two different kinds of narcissists use Instagram. That’s the main takeaway from recent research out of the University of Swinburne. You might not be surprised to hear that given how popular selfies are right now, but this is one of the few studies to look for...

Short Definitions

Feb 19, 2023 | Glossary

Abhidharma Literally meaning “higher knowledge,” Abhidharma refers to a collection of Buddhist scriptures that pertain to psychology, phenomenology, and cosmology. anatman Literally meaning “no-self,” anatman refers to an important Buddhist teaching...

The Chinese Room Argument

Feb 15, 2023 | Glossary

The argument and thought-experiment now generally known as the Chinese Room Argument was first published in a 1980 article by American philosopher John Searle (1932– ). It has become one of the best-known arguments in recent philosophy. Searle imagines himself alone...