Seeing as TED 2015: Truth and Dare started today, and people all around the world are waiting to see what groundbreaking TED talks will be given this year, I thought I'd look back on what I believed to be some of the best all-time TED talks and my personal favorites.

For those not familiar, TED stands for Technology Entertainment Design and is a series of conferences started by Chris Anderson that happen throughout the year. But despite the title, TED has really turned into a place for just about every topic imaginable.

From technology to education, to meditation, speech, mathematics, medicine, happiness, and dozens more. There really is no topic TED hasn't covered. If it's "an idea worth spreading" as the TED motto goes, it fits TED.

But there's another reason I wanted to write about TED. "TED talks", as they're called, hold a very special place in my heart. You see, I began listening to TED talks some 2 1/2 years ago, a little over 1 year before I started Buddhaimonia.

At the time, I knew what I wanted to do- meditate, study Buddhism, and help others find peace, freedom, and joy in life through meditation and the other things Buddhism had taught me. But alas, with a growing family of my own, running off to a Zen monastery and becoming a monk wasn't a choice for me.

Because of that, I was forced to try to find my way within my everyday life as it was then. And I'm so grateful it happened the way it did because, otherwise, I think it would have taken me much longer to learn what I know now.

I'd later discover that being a monk is more of a particular occupation than it is a position which allows someone to have a better chance at attaining peace through enlightenment, as the best place to meditate and the only place you can find peace is right where you are now, and running off somewhere is only running from that.

Because I had no choice, because I felt backed into a corner, looking everywhere to try and find out what else I could do with my life with this thing that I loved but which sadly had no ability (by itself) to bring food to the table for my family, I began feverishly searching for answers. And it was because of that search that I happened upon TED.

For about a year, off and on, I was repeatedly struck and inspired by TED talk after TED talk. Mind you, none of them gave me the answer I was looking for, that is, how I could take what I knew and what I loved and find out how I could devote my time to it while still supporting my family, but I felt like my mind was being open to the whole world, and that I would eventually find my answer.

TED really does open you up to the world. There's so many people doing so many different amazing and positive things that just sitting around watching a bunch of TED talks really is a great way to discover- or get a better idea of- what you want to do with your life.

And then it happened. It was no more than a week after my second son Azriel was born that I listened to a TED talk by Neil Pasricha of 1000awesomethings.com. That was when it all changed.

I can't even remember at this point what inspired me, maybe it was his story about how he got a book deal from starting a blog. I had done a lot of writing and intended on writing a few books down the line, but knowing what it was like to try to make a living as a writer just turned me away from the whole thing.

Whatever it was, it was Neil Pasricha and his TED talk that inspired me to start what would eventually become Buddhaimonia. That is, along with a little pep talk from my wife, who always encouraged my writing.

So I hope these talks can have a similar effect on you as they did I. Whether that means inspiring you to take action on something important to you, discovering your calling, giving you an important insight, or all the above. Without exception, each one of these TED talks carries with it a powerful message that can not only open your mind but inspire you in so many ways.

1. Matthieu Ricard: How to Let Altruism Be Your Guide

What you'll learn: True goodness really does exist, and we need to start using it if we want to change what's wrong with the world. Compassion, loving-kindness, meditation. Definitely one of my favorite TED talks of all time.