Beyond the Mind: A Journey into Samadhi
David Gieske David Gieske

Beyond the Mind: A Journey into Samadhi

Discover the meaning, origins, and transformative power of Samadhi—the highest state of meditative consciousness in Eastern traditions. Rooted in centuries of spiritual wisdom, this exploration reveals its philosophical foundations across yogic, Buddhist, and Vedantic traditions, and how seekers pursued this state of inner stillness and unity. Learn the stages of Samadhi, from initial absorption to ego dissolution, and practical methods to access it through Raja Yoga, Vipassana, and Zen meditation. Experience the lasting peace, awareness, and liberation that arise when you awaken to your true nature beyond thought and form.

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THE WORLD FEELS LIKE IT’S FALLING APART - BUT IS IT?
David Gieske David Gieske

THE WORLD FEELS LIKE IT’S FALLING APART - BUT IS IT?

Explore the origins, timeline, and modern interpretations of Kali Yuga—the darkest age in Hindu cosmology. This article examines traditional scriptures, alternative theories by Sri Yukteswar and Yogananda, and the modern signs many believe indicate a global awakening. Discover what Kali Yuga really means, why it matters today, and how personal transformation—not global timelines—offers the clearest path forward.

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I AM, WE ARE
David Gieske David Gieske

I AM, WE ARE

This thought-provoking essay explores how identity, ego, and societal labels obscure our true nature. Blending science, spirituality, and personal insight, it reveals that we are not our roles or beliefs, but eternal, boundless consciousness temporarily experiencing life through form. It invites readers to awaken from illusion and reclaim their unity with all of existence.

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WHY WE SUFFER & HOW TO END IT
David Gieske David Gieske

WHY WE SUFFER & HOW TO END IT

This introspective article explores the ancient call to “Know Thyself,” revealing that true freedom begins by recognizing consciousness as the source of all experience. Blending spiritual insight, science, and personal reflection, it unpacks identity, karma, pain vs. suffering, and how life’s challenges serve the soul’s evolution—guiding readers toward awakening and inner mastery in a world obsessed with the external.

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THE “SELF”-ISH NATURE OF BEING HUMAN
David Gieske David Gieske

THE “SELF”-ISH NATURE OF BEING HUMAN

This introspective article explores the foundational truth that all knowledge begins with self-knowledge. It challenges conditioned beliefs, emphasizes experience as the only real truth, and reveals how identity, perception, and reality are shaped from within. Readers are invited to examine the illusions of external validation and awaken to the inner relationship that defines every experience.

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ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS - INVOLVEMENT VS. ENTANGLEMENT
David Gieske David Gieske

ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS - INVOLVEMENT VS. ENTANGLEMENT

This thought-provoking article explores the distinction between love, attachment, and commitment, challenging traditional views of romantic relationships. Through a powerful narrative and Eastern wisdom, it highlights how presence—not possession—defines authentic love. Readers are guided to embrace freedom, self-awareness, and emotional sovereignty while releasing codependency, fear, and societal expectations.

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THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, EMOTIONAL BARTERING, AND THE REMEDY - Part 3
David Gieske David Gieske

THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, EMOTIONAL BARTERING, AND THE REMEDY - Part 3

This deeply reflective article challenges conventional ideas of romantic love, revealing how societal conditioning distorts our understanding of relationships and self-worth. It explores the emotional traps of transactional love, the illusion of commitment, and the role of ego in modern romance. Through mindfulness and inner awareness, readers are guided to rediscover love as a state of being—unattached, unconditional, and rooted in self-honor rather than external validation.

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THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, EMOTIONAL BARTERING, AND THE REMEDY - Part 2
David Gieske David Gieske

THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, EMOTIONAL BARTERING, AND THE REMEDY - Part 2

This insightful article explores how societal conditioning, marketing, and ego distort our concepts of love, self-worth, and relationships. It reveals how most people seek validation through external approval and romantic connection, unknowingly creating codependency instead of authentic love. By turning inward and dismantling limiting beliefs, readers are guided to reclaim their wholeness and discover that real love is a reflection of self-awareness—not an emotional transaction.

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THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, EMOTIONAL BARTERING, AND THE REMEDY - Part 1
David Gieske David Gieske

THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, EMOTIONAL BARTERING, AND THE REMEDY - Part 1

This eye-opening article continues the “Mindfully Approaching Romantic Relationships” series by unpacking how our childhood conditioning shapes adult love into emotional bartering, codependency, and fear-based attachment. It challenges cultural norms around commitment, explores how indoctrination stifles self-worth and authenticity, and reveals how most relationships are driven by unresolved trauma and societal programming—not genuine connection. Readers are invited to break free from unconscious patterns and reclaim a love rooted in presence, autonomy, and self-awareness.

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WHY WE NEED TO SHIFT
David Gieske David Gieske

WHY WE NEED TO SHIFT

As outdated systems collapse and automation reshapes the economy, this article calls for a shift in consciousness. It exposes how consumerism, ego-driven culture, and disconnection from self and nature fuel health crises and environmental decline. With sobering statistics and spiritual insights, it urges a return to inner awareness, sustainable living, and collective responsibility. SHIFT ETHOS champions personal well-being, ecological stewardship, and a reconnection to what truly matters—reminding us that real change starts within.

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THE FISHERMEN
David Gieske David Gieske

THE FISHERMEN

This timeless parable highlights the illusion of modern success by contrasting a Harvard-educated tourist’s ambitious growth plan with the simple, fulfilled life of local fishermen. Through their exchange, it exposes how chasing wealth often leads us back to what we already have: peace, connection, and joy. It’s a powerful reminder to question society’s definition of success and cherish the richness of the present moment.

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THE UNIVERSE WITHIN AND WITHOUT
David Gieske David Gieske

THE UNIVERSE WITHIN AND WITHOUT

This powerful excerpt from The Secret of Secrets by OSHO shares a parable of mirrors and light to beautifully illustrate the interconnectedness of all things—the one and the many, unity and individuality. Through Fa-tsang’s demonstration to Empress Wu, we see how each part of the universe reflects and influences the whole, much like humans whose realities overlap but never fully merge. It’s a profound reflection on perception, individuality, and our inseparable connection to the cosmos.

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MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - BODY, RELATIONSHIPS, & WORK
David Gieske David Gieske

MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - BODY, RELATIONSHIPS, & WORK

This article explores how physical health, emotional well-being, and career satisfaction are deeply interconnected. It reveals how repressed emotions affect the body, how all relationships mirror our self-image, and why aligning work with passion leads to true fulfillment.

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MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - AWARENESS
David Gieske David Gieske

MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - AWARENESS

Explore how mindfulness shapes every moment of life and why unconscious patterns from childhood silently govern our choices. This powerful article dives deep into the role of awareness, karma, ego, and the need to disconnect from distractions to awaken to your true self. Learn how to break free from reactive living, develop conscious presence, and reclaim your inner peace through ancient wisdom and modern insight.

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MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - tHE EXISTENTIAL “SELF”
David Gieske David Gieske

MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - tHE EXISTENTIAL “SELF”

This profound exploration of spirituality, consciousness, and reality challenges conventional beliefs about the self. Discover how your identity, perception, and experience are not bound to the body, but deeply connected to the universe—and how awakening to this truth transforms everything.

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MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - THE TRANSFORMATIVE VALUE OF PAIN
David Gieske David Gieske

MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - THE TRANSFORMATIVE VALUE OF PAIN

Explore how fear underlies nearly all emotional suffering and how cultivating self-awareness and mindfulness can heal emotional wounds, reframe negative thoughts, and transform your inner experience. This article dives deep into the root causes of emotions like anger, anxiety, depression, and sadness—revealing how every experience is created within us. Learn how to embrace pain as a catalyst for growth, shift from victimhood to empowerment, and experience true peace in the eternal present moment.

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MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - INTRO
David Gieske David Gieske

MINDFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS - INTRO

Explore how stress and emotional suffering stem not from external events, but from our internal interpretations shaped by unconscious patterns and a lack of presence. This article delves into the vital distinction between our body and consciousness, emphasizing how awareness is the gateway to peace of mind. Learn how cultivating mindfulness and managing your inner environment can reduce anxiety, reframe suffering, and empower you to consciously navigate life with clarity, resilience, and joy.

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ROMANTIC LOVE AS A BANDAGE
David Gieske David Gieske

ROMANTIC LOVE AS A BANDAGE

This article deconstructs the illusion of romantic love as commonly portrayed—often a blend of infatuation, emotional dependency, and ego-driven attachment. Drawing from psychology and Eastern philosophy, it explores how “falling in love” can mirror obsession and reflect unmet childhood needs. It challenges readers to examine whether their love is truly unconditional or rooted in subconscious fear and validation-seeking. Ultimately, it points to a more conscious and liberating form of love—one that emerges from inner wholeness, not emotional bartering.

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THE PERILS OF EROS (INFATUATION) LOVE
David Gieske David Gieske

THE PERILS OF EROS (INFATUATION) LOVE

This essay deconstructs the illusion of romantic love as most of us know it—revealing it as a biochemical obsession rooted in insecurity, childhood wounding, and unconscious codependency. Through metaphor, psychology, and spiritual insight, it shows how what we call “love” is often emotional bartering masked as devotion. It challenges the idea that love should possess or complete us and instead presents true love as something we become—once we stop seeking worth through others and heal from within.

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HOW TO "MINDFULLY" APPROACH ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
David Gieske David Gieske

HOW TO "MINDFULLY" APPROACH ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

This essay explores why mainstream relationship advice misses the mark—it rarely addresses the root cause of emotional suffering: the internal void we carry into love. In a society obsessed with consumerism and validation, we confuse romance with relevance and mistake codependency for connection. Most relationships are built on neediness, not wholeness, and collapse when that illusion fades. Until we face our own wounds and find self-worth within, love will remain an external pursuit that evades us. True love isn’t something we find—it’s something we are.

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