Progressive SBNR Motivationals

The Three Laughing Monks

In China, there is the legend of the three laughing monks. They are also today sometimes referred to as the three laughing saints (but of course in a very SBNR way). The monks only ever did one thing: on entering a new village, they would stand in the market place and start laughing. They would laugh with their whole being (mind, body, heart, and soul) and suddenly people would wake up to the Life... 

The Godless Saint

In Albert Camus’ novel The Plague, there is a curious character named Tarrou who organizes the volunteer sanitary teams in the city of Oran, a town afflicted by the bubonic plague. He also assists the lead doctor in his rounds helping patients. Tarrou does this for no other reason he says than his code of morals, which he defines as “common decency. A little bit later in the book, though,... 

The Devout Temper

William James once remarked that while scientists often possess no religious creed, their temper is devout. In other words, most scientists are deeply awed by the majesty of the universe. Thus they approach their work in a way that is earnest, patient, and humble before the face of the world’s grand complexity–regardless of whether or not they possess a religious faith. These days it often... 

Kerouac – God is Pooh Bear

Towards the very end of Jack Kerouac’s classic novel On the Road, he writes several memorable lines, which he read famously on The Steve Allen Show in 1956. One passage is as follows: “In Iowa I know by now the children must be crying in the land where they let the children cry, and tonight the stars’ll be out, and don’t you know that God is Pooh-Bear?… The comment that... 

Same As It Ever Was

In the world of Progressive Christianity and the SBNR (in its various forms), there seems to be a growing belief that we are on the cusp of a new age of spiritual enlightenment. This has engendered an enthusiasm much like in the 1960s, when the “spiritual but not religious” of that time thought they were ushering in the Age of Aquarius–a time when peace, love, and understanding would... 

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Book: The Living Hour is Now

Where is Our Joy?

Henry David Thoreau, tucked away in his Walden cabin, famously said that most of us lead lives of quiet desperation. That was in 1845. Today, things are not so quiet. Anxiety and depression are regular rites of passage from which millions of Americans never graduate. Civility meanwhile has long been dropped from our national discourse. It’s a sad indictment of a country where so many pride themselves in a Christian heritage. We have the highest levels of... 

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Thailand Professional Community Forum

Join The Thailand GREEEN Schools & Village Initiative

The Ysaan Institute would like to share the goals and strategies of our friends and colleagues who are now initiating the Thailand GREEEN Schools and Villages project. If you would like to get involved please join our Thailand PRO Forum and introduce yourself in the GREEEN sub-forum. You can also email us at living (at) livinghour.org for more information. More details on the... 

Thailand PRO Forum: Ask Us Questions, Network, & More

The Ysaan Institute in conjunction with LivingHour.org is pleased to announce the first online development forum dedicated to serving education, business, and NGO professionals working in Thailand and Southeast Asia, as well as students preparing to begin their careers as university students or professionals. The forum is also a place where Thai language learners can ask us questions... 

Learn Thai: Language Books & eBooks

Teach Yourself Thai Language & Have Fun Learning It!

Certain subjects require a level of seriousness to learn, but when it comes to Teaching Yourself Thai it is the fun factor that matters most. The vast majority of adult language learners quit after a few weeks or months out of boredom or because they find the language too difficult. This is not the case though when Thai language... 

Student Workbook: Learn Thai & English Idioms & Slang

If you are a Thai or English language student in Thailand who wants to speak more like a native speaker, then the Generation Next workbook is the resource for you. Written by the Ysaan Institute & Sam Kittayapong, this workbook version of our popular paperback and eBook includes common Thai and English slang, idioms, and... 

Thai-English Cognate Dictionary: Quick Vocabulary Builder

The Original Thai-English Language Cognate Dictionary & Learning Tool is loaded with entertaining Thai sample sentences and figurative + literal English translations that will quickly get you speaking the Thai language more like a native speaker and less like a tourist. Available now in paperback, eBook, and a workbook... 

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Ebook Lessons: Learn Thai & Isaan Top 40

Learn Thai Heart to Heart Talk

The mini-ebook Heart to Heart Talk, the 2nd book in our Learn Thai Top 40™ series, is now for sale. Whether you are an expat or a tourist in Thailand, Heart to Heart Talk will be an essential language resource for making the most out of your stay in the kingdom. Like our Original Thai-English Cognate Dictionary, each entry is complimented with a colloquial... 

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