We are currently experiencing a severe economic recession—one that portends extremely difficult times ahead It is true that some people prosper whether it is good times or bad times—although even they face hard challenges

The war is on—that is the war against the ravaging force of deflation “Economists” declare that an all out effort must be made to eradicate that demon known as deflation

Everyday we are swamped with bad news The deluge of unwanted news arrives in the form of bank failures, old established financial firms biting the dust, stock markets plunging, precipitous drops in consumer spending, unemployment soaring, etc

Western Civilization is crumbling under the burdensome weight of destructive social ideas and false moralities And the crushing weight continues to increase—day after day

The last work Ayn Rand planned before her death in 1982 was a series of essays released as the book “Philosophy: Who Needs It” Her conclusion is that everyone needs philosophy

In the song “Pilgrim” Enya beautifully sings about a philosophy of being—a metaphysical way to joyously live your life The second verse reveals timeless wisdom

Many people have pondered the question: What is the meaning of life—why are we here After much reflection, most conclude that this question is unanswerable

Many people have undoubtedly asked themselves what their purpose in life is Others go through life without any purpose—drifting aimlessly—seeking instant gratification

You believe that you are a rational individual who has control over his thoughts, feelings and emotions You take effective actions to achieve your goals

A person may believe that he embraces the philosophy of rational selfishness—but still not have control of his thoughts, feelings and emotions Because of this he acts in an irrationally selfish manner—especially when presented with unpleasant circumstances

Beginning with the creation of those wealth destroying entities called the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Income Tax—politicians, altruists, government bureaucrats and the establishment media have existed for one purpose—and one purpose only—to destroy the capitalistic system and “The American Way of Life

In Part 1, I mentioned that you must avoid the social philosophy of altruism In Part 2, I explained how irrational selfishness in others and yourself is detrimental to your success and happiness

In Part 1 I discussed the destructiveness of social altruism and the pitfalls of personal altruism Irrational selfishness ties in with altruism because altruists need irrationally selfish people

The thing we fear most has come upon us—and that is extreme economic crisis Years of government intervention is reaping havoc on the market place

People act as if the government possesses magical powers that can solve all of our individual and social ills All this mythical entity has to do is wave its wand and all our problems vanish in a blink of an eye

It is obvious that America has become a nation of individuals who want immediate satisfaction and short-term "solutions" A perfect example is our current financial crisis-a crisis caused by the easy money policy of The Federal Reserve System

Some would shockingly exclaim "Objectivism dating New Age Spirituality-you've got to be kidding" Others would speak about the incompatibility of the two

How many people awaken in the morning hoping to be renewed—only to unhappily discover that instead—it is their suffering and despair that has been renewed They think “My God—another day without hope—a day of drudgery—a day without any pleasure or satisfaction

In one of the great songs about the cycles of life—a song that captures the feelings of the moment—Joni Mitchell wrote and sang: “And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can’t return we can only look behind From where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game” Are we captured on the carousel of time—experiencing fleeting moments of joy, suffering and some pain along the way—thrilling to victory one day, reeling in defeat the next—until we finally take that one last ride—when the painted pony goes up and comes down for the final time

How difficult the search for truth and enlightenment can be In fact the path can seem so impassable that many give up without further effort

In Carlos Castaneda’s book “The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge” and his subsequent works he imparts much knowledge about the states of Ordinary and Non-Ordinary Reality In the following I am supplying my interpretation of these states of knowing

I am holding a can of peanuts in my hand and reading the label The front of the can says it contains Roasted Peanuts

Legend Eons ago some wandering souls discovered the planet Earth These beings were advanced and highly enlightened

Today I noticed a billboard that had the following: “Does your vote reflect your morals” At first glance it might seem reasonable that an individual should vote according to their moral principles

The poets and philosophers have waxed on about the sublimity and ecstasy of love for centuries Unfortunately many cry out "Oh love, sweet love why do you forsake me

Although squarely facing the facts of reality is necessary—it is easy to suffer overwhelm by the ignorance and negativity surrounding you Life has its everyday challenges

We live in a society where many courses of action are open to the individual—despite the laws and regulations passed by would-be dictators and absolute moralists You, as an individual, can control your life and the direction you desire it to go

The acceleration principle If time is exact, why does it sometimes seem to fly and at other times to slow to a crawl The answer to this is obvious

Can a new beginning come from the ashes of despair Or does despair result in total defeat

A woman has discovered that everyday can be one of joy and pleasure Following is her story of another wonderful day in her life—a life of continuous fulfillment and achievement

Demolishing the myths of existence There are basically two ways of looking at your existence One is from the point of view of you as an individual

Individuals on a spiritual path eventually hear about the virtues of renunciation and non-attachment They are told or they read that desire causes all pain and suffering

Praxeology - The Science of Human Action Praxeology (Human Action) is the study of individuals and their actions Unfortunately, the term and the science are pretty much unknown

Maker of despair Oh change, cruel change Just as a fickle love can be, change is a maker of despair