Laughed to myself driving home, listening to some Radio4 piece on the quiet carriage on trains, how a nice idea just begs to invite disappointment and the repressed English sulkiness that comes from a reluctance to confront.

Alain de Boton pointed out that the reason we hate people who use their mobile phones in the quiet carriage, is because they are basically being selfish and getting away with it; which of course, is what we all, in our childish egotistical state, would also like to do but spend our lives being socialized into not doing.

I could be that person, taking refuge in my noise cancelling headphones, the only way to avoid fuming at the selfishness of others, protecting my "right" to silence in a social world.

Marc Ian Barasch points out that our modern society is founded on a "people-friendly narcissism".  We believe that to have a meaningful life, we must first develop self-esteem, that can then drive us onwards on a path of achievement.

A Tibetan teacher once said, that you know when your spiritual practice is progressing well when you stop caring about achieving enlightenment, and start caring for all human souls.

There is a love that "melts people – not who they are, but who they aren't", said a wise friend to Barasch.