• Social Science digest in #NYTimes — brief news from topics as diverse as economics, sports and love. http://j.mp/gmLwoB #

Powered by Twitter Tools

I stumbled upon a text that seems to be written for my thoughts right now — I read a little and thought a bunch about existentialism recently, but of course my perspective was influenced by what I’ve done before, and I think in terms of my philosophical foundation there is a lot of a person-centered counselor in me. So here comes an article „The Person-centered Approach from an Existential Perspective“ in that same volume of Existenzanalyse 2008–1 quoted in an earlier post, that points out the many areas of overlap as well as the substantial differences, and helps me to locate myself in between. I highly recommend the whole read, but here are some of my key points, on notable differences and additions of an existential approach to the person-centered stance:

[…]

In his „Comments on the State of Psychotherapy Research (As I See It)“ David Orlinsky points to some old wounds in psychotherapy research (and in many ways research in psychology in general). I think it is worth re-reading every now and then while you are active in the field. Right now I discovered some stimulating words on the „Placebo Effect“, something I feel will be important to really understand and utilize in practice in the next decade. Unless we want to leave it to modern shamans of good and bad intentions.

[…]

• Für mich alten Nichttrinker schwieriger und interessanter Stoff: Eine Kulturgeschichte des Rausches in der SZ http://j.mp/g3V5es #
• #travelinsight 19: Everyday awareness training: driving on the left, and an old Kawasaki motorbike with inverted gears. #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Doing some research for my 10 days of travel in India between Auroville and flying from Mumbai to Nairobi, I was very pleased to find Wikipedia has a category for „Caves around Mumbai“. And then I had to smile reading in the description of the Mahakali Caves a wonderful example of how English sounds over here:

[…]

Das vorletzte Wochenende hielt ein schönes kleines Abenteuer für mich bereit. Mit einem sehr netten Amerikaner, der schon lange in Deutschland lebt und sich als der ideale Reisegefährte und Gesprächspartner herausstellte, bin ich mit dem Motorrad ins drei Stunden entfernte Tiruvannamalai gefahren, wo es einen berühmten Tempel und Kloster („Ashram“) und heiligen Berg mit diversen Höhlen, in denen sich ein wichtiger Guru aufgehalten hatte, zu bestaunen gibt.

[…]

• Highly recommend the documentary on European eco-communities „The New We“ http://j.mp/hNem1g #
• Economist Richard B Freeman explains nicely what unions are good for http://j.mp/flwMLR Improves my opinion of his profession #
• #travelinsight 18: Hero Hondas are real heroes. A louder horn would be nice for India though. And how about a 5th gear? #
• #travelinsight 17: Will never travel without my own mosquito net again. Oh, and I’ll bring my passport next time… #

Powered by Twitter Tools

• #travelinsight 16: After some weeks of practicing „butt-wash“, I can see how the thought of rubbing poo around with paper could seem gross. #
• #travelinsight 15: Rice with pesto and old bread croutons can be a delicious dinner, if you’ve just done sports for about three hours… #
• Is Japan’s youth teaching us how to outgrow growth? And can it really work? Intriguing NYTimes Op-Ed http://nyti.ms/fT4bwF #
• Beware of second-hand science — like popular books on sex differences, put under scrutiny by a new book on NeuroSexism http://bit.ly/hF6oAq #
• Very interesting thoughts and history on „hard“ vs. „soft“ science http://bit.ly/g3x5kZ Ever heard of the Sokal Hoax? #
• #travelinsight 14: Don’t leave any trash in bed — even an empty plastic wrapping can attract legions of tiny ants. Amazing creatures, really #

Powered by Twitter Tools

• #travelinsight 16: After some weeks of practicing „butt-wash“, I can see how the thought of rubbing poo around with paper could seem gross. #
• #travelinsight 15: Rice with pesto and old bread croutons can be a delicious dinner, if you’ve just done sports for about three hours… #
• Is Japan’s youth teaching us how to outgrow growth? And can it really work? Intriguing NYTimes Op-Ed http://nyti.ms/fT4bwF #
• Beware of second-hand science — like popular books on sex differences, put under scrutiny by a new book on NeuroSexism http://bit.ly/hF6oAq #
• Very interesting thoughts and history on „hard“ vs. „soft“ science http://bit.ly/g3x5kZ Ever heard of the Sokal Hoax? #
• #travelinsight 14: Don’t leave any trash in bed — even an empty plastic wrapping can attract legions of tiny ants. Amazing creatures, really #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Jetzt geht es an einem ruhigen Sonntagnachmittag also endlich mal an die Zusammenschau der sozialen und spirituellen Lebenspraxis, die sich mir hier in Auroville präsentiert. Um ehrlich zu sein habe ich mich für Letztere am Anfang wenig interessiert, aber es stellt sich heraus, dass der soziale Aspekt hier ohne den Spirituellen kaum verstanden werden kann. Fast alle Menschen, mit denen ich über Auroville und was das Leben hier für sie bedeutet spreche, beziehen sich recht bald auf die Lehre von Sri Aurobindo und „the Mother“ (auch „la Mère“, „Mutter“ habe ich auch von Deutschen noch nie gehört).

[…]