Sharpening the Intellect
The intellect is one avenue through which we come to know the world around us and life inside us. It is not the only way, but it is the focal point of general education that is aimed at our ability to acquire knowledge, to think, learn, and reason so that we can function and work in the world. Spiritual traditions, while giving some value to our reasoning processes, usually emphasize another kind of knowing—inner listening, intuitive understanding, and the promptings of transcendent experiences. (To continue reading this article, click here for "Sharpening the Intellect" by Dr. Susan Nettleton)
“Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains. ”
articles and External links
research Links:
"Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior" by Dr. Paul Piff, PhD
This is an external link to a research article that examines the effect of "awe" in triggering a sense of "small self" (with less self interest) and promotes generosity, helpfulness, ethical behavior and less entitlement. If you have no back ground in math or statistics, just skip those sections and read the text, particularly the beginning abstract as the overview, the opening section, and skipping to the final pages, the general discussion, implications for the future and conclusion.
"Neural Correlates of Gratitude" by Glenn R. Fox, Jonas Kaplan, Hanna Damasio and Antonio Damasio
This is an external link to a reseach which seeks to identify neural correlates of gratitude by inducing gratitude through stories of holocaust survivors recalling experiences of deep gratitude and recording the research subjects’ response through MRI scan in order to determine the areas of the brain activated in the emotion of gratitude. The introduction includes a short summary of previous research on gratitude.This investigation not only offers a window into our brain circuitry for moral cognition and positive emotion when we benefit from others’ goodwill, it also offers insight into the social power of gratitude and giving.
An extensive, inspiring, easy to read review and analysis of psychological research on the sense of purpose, how purpose forms In humans, and it relationship to meaning. Its presents both an overview and discussion of the psychological, physical, and academic benefits of purpose, and the ways it varies with age, cultural background, and religion.
Articles:
(Note: The articles below are presented in PDF format through the ISSUU platform. ISSUU may recommend additional articles based on their programming suggestions that have nothing to do with The Hillside Source and are not endorsed by us or otherwise screened.)
"Frustration, Friction and the Quest for Ease" by Dr. Susan Nettleton
"Gatekeepers of the Way" by Dr. Susan Nettleton
“The Paradox of Purpose” by Dr. Susan Nettleton
JSRL. Narayana Moorty is a retired philosophy professor who continues to contribute to the field as an editor, translator and author. He is a longtime friend and advisor for Hillside.
Prof. Moorty’s most recent addition below is an excerpt from a new book, Approaches to the Self: Interplay Between the Subjective and the Objective, expected to be available in 2022:
“Phenomenological Deconstruction (or Dissolution) of the Mind-Body Problem”
The following essay presented here is an excerpt from Moorty’s book Being Yourself, available for sale on Amazon.com:
Additional articles by Moorty:
"Is There Such a Thing As Selflessness?"
"Staying Afloat: Thoughts on the Self and Samsara"
The following talk was presented in 1989 at INTA Congress in Denver, Colorado:
“Charles Fillmore and the Influence of Eastern Philosophy and Religion” by Dr. Larry Morris
The following talk was presented in 1991 at INTA Congress in Tampa, Florida:
"New Thought and Mysticism" by Dr. Larry Morris
The following talk was presented in 1992 at INTA Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada:
"New Thought Healing and World Religions" by Dr. Larry Morris
The following talk was presented in July 1995 at INTA Congress in Portland, Oregon:
"Freedom and God" by Dr. Larry Morris
The following talks were presented in August 1996 at INTA Congress in Los Angeles, California:
"Universal Spirituality and Self-Esteem" by Dr. Susan Nettleton
"Universal Spirituality and the Individual's Quest for Spiritual Enlightenment" by Dr. Larry Morris