Kundalini Splendor

I confess, I am an avid fan of the "Ancient Aliens" series on--I believe--the History 2 channel on T. V.  Some segments have suggested that tales of early gods and goddesses may in fact have been referring to visiting alien arrived on earth in space ships.  This scenario seems a bit unlikely to me, but recently it occurred to me that indeed, the ancient yogis of India and the far East were said to perform feats much like those attributed to the aliens.

These early yogis (such a Padmasambhava) were said to be able to appear in several places at once--thus they could convert large numbers of people in a relatively short time.  (Padmasambhava is credited with converting Tibet to Buddhism, rather than the more primitive Bonn religion that they had followed previously.)

They were also said to be able to"fly through the air" at will, and easily teleport themselves to other locations.  They were also able to become invisible whenever they chose.

Early Indian literature contains accounts of aerial warfare between spaceships--as if enemy alien groups were fighting one another.

The notion of an alien connection is pure speculation on my part.  But, who knows, given the mounting evidence of early day visitors from other parts of the cosmos, many things now seem possible that were not believed before.

Many of the feats described above were also included in the Star Trek series, and apparently contemporary science sometimes seeks to duplicate these phenomena in modern inventions.

Events that seemed impossible not long ago now are taking place in the present day world of science and technology.  Who is to say what our future (perhaps very near future) may hold?

Shanti for the Upanishads of the Rig Ved

Speech is based on the mind; the mind is based on speech.  O, Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me.  May you both be carriers of the Ved to me.  May not all that I have heard depart from me.  I shall join together day and night through this study.  I shall utter what is verbally true.  May That protect me; may That protect the speaker.  May that protect me; may That protect the speaker.
    Aum.  Peace!  Peace!  Peace!


http://Sanskrit.safire.com/pdf/SHANTIUP.PDF

(from Dorothy: this presentation sounds very interesting, and I believe the "Purpose" as defined here is quite attractive, but I personally believe that Evolution has a purpose well beyond what is suggested here.  Yes, evolution attempts to do what is specified in the definition, but its larger purpose (I believe) is what is sometimes called "the divinization of Matter."  We ourselves are the primary matter being worked on. And--again for me--Kundalini is one of the major techniques through which this divinization can be achieved.  Kundalini refines the nervous system so that the human and the divine seem to merge within.  Vibrations rise to a higher level, one never conceived of before.
Teilhard de Chardin called the end goal of evolution the "omega point," the place where human and divine become one.)
Listen to the discussion and see what you think.


Steve McIntosh:

“Evolution's Purpose: the Ever-Widening Realization of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness"

Sunday, August 26th, 2012
at 10:00am Pacific; 1:00pm Eastern; UTC/GMT-7





Dear Friends,

Please join us Sunday, August 26th at 10am PST for a dialog with Integral philosopher Steve McIntosh entitled “Evolution's Purpose: the Ever-Widening Realization of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness”.

We will discuss Steve's important new book: Evolution's Purpose: An Integral Interpretation of the Scientific Story of Our Origins. It is a brilliant, rational, closely-reasoned discussion of the implications of the scientific story of evolution. Steve presents evolutionary science and philosophy in a fresh and compelling way, and describes very clearly why a deeper understanding of evolution itself can lead directly to a more evolved world.

In our discussion, I hope to explore the universe's ceaseless process of evolution as it manifests, not outside of us or beyond us, but as we experience it directly. I've written a blog entry summarizing some of what we will discuss here. I invite you to take a look and to join us for the webcast!



To our evolution,
Terry

UPCOMING BEYOND AWAKENING BROADCASTS:

September 23rd:  Shyam Dodge

October 14th:  Daniel Pinchbeck

November 11th:  Peter Levine

Note: all BA broadcasts are on Sundays at 10:00am Pacific Time (US) unless otherwise indicated

 
How to Participate:
Steve McIntosh

"Evolution's Purpose: The Ever-Widening Realization of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness”

Sunday, August 26th at 10:00am Pacific*; 11:00am Mountain; 12:00pm Central; 1:00pm Eastern

*Find your local time

Listen live by phone or online, or download the recording anytime.

Access Instructions
To listen live by phone, dial:  206-402-0100  (alternate #: 501-707-0312)

Then, enter Access Code: 272072#

To listen live online go to:

http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=31230768

To download the audio after the teleseminar is complete go to the Beyond Awakening Audio Page

Join the Dialogue: About one hour into the dialogue, we'll open up the lines and you'll have the opportunity to interact with us directly over the phone or via Instant Message. Here's what to do:

1.  To interact live by voice, dial into the conference line and wait until we ask for questions

2.  Send us your question via Instant Message in the teleseminar window in the webcast interface on your computer.

Connect with us! You can always join the dialogue, before and after all the Beyond Awakening dialogues by posting your questions and comments on our Beyond Awakening blog.

You can also engage with Beyond Awakening's many fans, on our Facebook page.

About Our Guest:


STEVE MCINTOSH J.D. is a leader in the integral philosophy movement and author of the new book, Evolution’s Purpose, as well as the acclaimed 2007 book, Integral Consciousness. He is also a co-founder of the new think tank: The Institute for Cultural Evolution. In addition to the think tank and his work in philosophy, McIntosh has had a variety of other successful careers, including founding the consumer products company Now & Zen, practicing law with one of America’s biggest firms, working as an executive with Celestial Seasonings Tea Company, and Olympic-class bicycle racing. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School and the University of Southern California Business School, and now lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two sons. For more on his work, visit: www.stevemcintosh.com

To listen to all the Beyond Awakening dialogues, please visit our audio archive page, where you can browse, preview and download our complete collection of dialogues.

About Our Host:



Terry Patten co-developed Integral Life Practice with Ken Wilber and a core team at Integral Institute. He hosts the acclaimed online teleseminar series Beyond Awakening: The Future of Spiritual Practice. He speaks and consults internationally—inspiring, challenging, and connecting leaders and institutions worldwide. In his cutting-edge writings, talks and teaching, he not only inspires transcendental awakening, love and freedom, but calls us to accept and incarnate our full humanity. He was the senior writer and co-author, with Ken Wilber, of Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening. His 8-session course, Integral Spiritual Practice guides students step-by-step in establishing a heart-centered do-able daily integral practice. His personal web site is  http://integralspiritualpractice.com

 
Evolution's Purpose



Evolution's Purpose: An Integral Interpretation of the Scientific Story of Our Origins presents a fresh and compelling view of evolutionary science and philosophy, and shows how a deeper understanding of evolution itself can lead directly to a more evolved world.

For more about Evolution's Purpose, please follow this link!

http://beyondawakeningseries.com


Read Our Blog



 
Join us on
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Please join us for:

Steve McIntosh:

“Evolution's Purpose: the Ever-Widening Realization of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness"

Sunday, August 26th, 2012
at 10:00am Pacific; 1:00pm Eastern; UTC/GMT-7





Dear Friends,

Please join us Sunday, August 26th at 10am PST for a dialog with Integral philosopher Steve McIntosh entitled “Evolution's Purpose: the Ever-Widening Realization of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness”.

We will discuss Steve's important new book: Evolution's Purpose: An Integral Interpretation of the Scientific Story of Our Origins. It is a brilliant, rational, closely-reasoned discussion of the implications of the scientific story of evolution. Steve presents evolutionary science and philosophy in a fresh and compelling way, and describes very clearly why a deeper understanding of evolution itself can lead directly to a more evolved world.

In our discussion, I hope to explore the universe's ceaseless process of evolution as it manifests, not outside of us or beyond us, but as we experience it directly. I've written a blog entry summarizing some of what we will discuss here. I invite you to take a look and to join us for the webcast!



To our evolution,
Terry









UPCOMING BEYOND AWAKENING BROADCASTS:

September 23rd:  Shyam Dodge

October 14th:  Daniel Pinchbeck

November 11th:  Peter Levine

Note: all BA broadcasts are on Sundays at 10:00am Pacific Time (US) unless otherwise indicated

 
How to Participate:
Steve McIntosh

"Evolution's Purpose: The Ever-Widening Realization of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness”

Sunday, August 26th at 10:00am Pacific*; 11:00am Mountain; 12:00pm Central; 1:00pm Eastern

*Find your local time

Listen live by phone or online, or download the recording anytime.

Access Instructions
To listen live by phone, dial:  206-402-0100  (alternate #: 501-707-0312)

Then, enter Access Code: 272072#

To listen live online go to:

http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=31230768

To download the audio after the teleseminar is complete go to the Beyond Awakening Audio Page

Join the Dialogue: About one hour into the dialogue, we'll open up the lines and you'll have the opportunity to interact with us directly over the phone or via Instant Message. Here's what to do:

1.  To interact live by voice, dial into the conference line and wait until we ask for questions

2.  Send us your question via Instant Message in the teleseminar window in the webcast interface on your computer.

Connect with us! You can always join the dialogue, before and after all the Beyond Awakening dialogues by posting your questions and comments on our Beyond Awakening blog.

You can also engage with Beyond Awakening's many fans, on our Facebook page.

About Our Guest:



STEVE MCINTOSH J.D. is a leader in the integral philosophy movement and author of the new book, Evolution’s Purpose, as well as the acclaimed 2007 book, Integral Consciousness. He is also a co-founder of the new think tank: The Institute for Cultural Evolution. In addition to the think tank and his work in philosophy, McIntosh has had a variety of other successful careers, including founding the consumer products company Now & Zen, practicing law with one of America’s biggest firms, working as an executive with Celestial Seasonings Tea Company, and Olympic-class bicycle racing. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School and the University of Southern California Business School, and now lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two sons. For more on his work, visit: www.stevemcintosh.com

To listen to all the Beyond Awakening dialogues, please visit our audio archive page, where you can browse, preview and download our complete collection of dialogues.

About Our Host:



Terry Patten co-developed Integral Life Practice with Ken Wilber and a core team at Integral Institute. He hosts the acclaimed online teleseminar series Beyond Awakening: The Future of Spiritual Practice. He speaks and consults internationally—inspiring, challenging, and connecting leaders and institutions worldwide. In his cutting-edge writings, talks and teaching, he not only inspires transcendental awakening, love and freedom, but calls us to accept and incarnate our full humanity. He was the senior writer and co-author, with Ken Wilber, of Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening. His 8-session course, Integral Spiritual Practice guides students step-by-step in establishing a heart-centered do-able daily integral practice. His personal web site is  http://integralspiritualpractice.com

 
Evolution's Purpose



Evolution's Purpose: An Integral Interpretation of the Scientific Story of Our Origins presents a fresh and compelling view of evolutionary science and philosophy, and shows how a deeper understanding of evolution itself can lead directly to a more evolved world.

For more about Evolution's Purpose, please follow this link!

Did a friend forward this email to you? Sign up here to receive announcements for upcoming Beyond Awakening broadcasts:

http://beyondawakeningseries.com


Read Our Blog



 
Join us on
Facebook

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120710.html

 If you go to the above site, you will find one of the most delightful videos imaginable of people dancing in joy across the planet.  Don't miss it!

I think that many of us are fascinated by the "other world" of spirits, where, apparently, the dead speak or give signs of their presence.  Some of the signs are quite lovely, others not.  I remember a friend once describing an event connected to her dead grandfather.  She asked him to give a sign of his presence, and immediately several glass eggs, arranged on top of the (old fashioned) radio in a circle, few off in different directions.  Obviously, some energy or force caused this reaction, but there is, of course, no guarantee of who or what that might have been.

Some people "channel" information from the other side, but here again there is a bit of a problem--does the information come from a deceased source or disembodied spirit, or is it information from one's own subconscious rising to the surface?

We are often warned about the dangers of contacting spirits from elsewhere, but often we  insist on trying the experiment for ourselves.  One sometimes contacts malevolent forces, who may respond with anything from disturbing messages to actual frightening events.  On the other hand, it is, I suppose, possible to obtain reliable information in this way and important material has been received in such a manner.

I think there are a few rules it would be wise to follow if you try such experiments into the unknown:

l. First, seek protection, whether this is something you ask for, a prayer you utter, or whatever.  Ask that your communication come only from the highest source, and that your own inner guides come in to protect you.

2. Check out how the communication "feels".  Does it make you feel good?  Does it make you feel uneasy?  If the latter, desist at once.

3. Notice the language the "spirit" uses.  Is it respectful, or is it mocking or intimidating. If either of the latter, don't continue.  Some spirits appear to be "tricksters" (similar to poltergeists) who want to make fun of the human.  And, of course, some apparently wish to do harm in even more threatening ways.

4.  Keep in mind that you are entering unfamiliar territory, where you could call up any and every kind of being, from the friendly to the dangerous.  You would not put a sign on your open door saying "come in" to everyone passing by.  By the same token, be careful whom you invite into your psyche.  You could be admitting just anyone, from any culture or time period, savages not saints (who have better things to do).  Your contact could be some criminal who committed horrendous deeds in the past and who still pursues wickedness for its own sake.

Personally, I feel the best policy is to avoid such areas entirely.  Seek only the highest connections, through prayer or experience such as kundalini energies moving in appropriate ways.  Check out all "channelings" to see if you learn anything from them that you don't already know.

 

This is a day of celebration.  I just mailed the corrected proofs for my newest book of poems to the publisher.  It is the "companion" volume to "The Ley Lines of the Soul."  Called "Penelope's Loom, Poems of Turning Matter into Spirit," it contains poems that are more "secular" in tone rather than being as overtly "spiritual" as my other poetry books have been.  But writing in a secular vein is part of my own creative journey, and so these poems are also important to me for they express an essential part of who I am.

Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus (Homer's "Odyssey") who waited at home for 20 years while her husband was away fighting the Trojan War.  The suitors constantly pressed her to choose one among them as a new husband, and she promised to do so as soon as her tapestry was finished.  Each day she sat at her loom and wove, then each night she unraveled what she had done that day; thus she did not have to choose but continued to wait for her husband's return.

In these poems, Penelope is actually waiting not for her spouse but for the "lost part" of her own self to return and unite with her so that she may become complete.  I think we all are seeking to recapture that lost portion of our self so that we too may become complete human beings.

These poems were written during the same period as those of "Ley Lines."  The book should be available in a few weeks.

The photo above is the one that will appear on the cover.

When I looked up "twin flames" on the internet, I found the following interesting information:


Twin flames, also called twin souls, are literally the other half of our soul. We each have only one twin, and generally after being split the two went their separate ways, incarnating over and over to gather human experience before coming back together. Ideally, this happens in both of their last lifetimes on the planet so they can ascend together. So you probably haven't had many lifetimes with your twin.

Each twin is a complete soul, not half a soul. It is their task to become more whole, balancing their female and male sides, and ideally become enlightened, before reuniting with their twin. This reunion is of two complete and whole beings. All other relationships through all our lives could be said to be "practice" for the twin, the ultimate relationship.

What is a Soulmate?

Soulmates are our soul family, the ones we do have many lifetimes and experiences with, who help us grow and evolve, create and dissipate karma. According to ancient wisdom, when the soul is "born" or descended from Source, it is created in a group. The souls in this group are our soulmates, ones who are very like us in frequency makeup. Then each of these souls is split into two, creating the twins.

A soulmate is someone you are close to at a soul level, and with whom you have had many shared experiences in different lifetimes, in various kinds of relationships -- siblings, parent-child, best friend, as well as romantic relationships. There is a deep love for each other, and a spiritual bond that sets them apart from the superficiality of most other people in your life. Conversations are generally deep, about personal growth and service to make the world a better place. We can have many soulmates in our lives, and they come to us to help us grow spiritually.
(above from http://www.soulevolution.org/twinflames/twinflames.htm

I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this informations but it seems to be worth thinking about.


Recently, I received a note from a reader asking whether there was some relationship between "twin flames" and "kundalini".  Here is the response I wrote to him:

Have you tried to google "twin flame kundalini"?  There are several references there which look interesting.

I have little knowledge of the twin flame phenomenon, but I have heard of it and looking back I think in fact I experienced it earlier in my life.  At that time (many, many years ago) I was involved in a profound relationship that carried all the symptoms of a twin flame or perhaps a soulmate connection.  I was totally in love, and very probably the energetic connection was such that it could be called "twin flame."  Also, the connection was what I would now say included "kundalini' phenomenon, though as yet I had not "awakened" fully to the k. energies.

Once these awakened, my attention shifted from the outer to the inner lover, and I subsequently experienced much ecstatic energy through various practices (music, movement, breathing and such).  All of this is described in my spiritual memoir "Unmasking the Rose," still available on Amazon.

Your question inspired me to look up a passage in "Unmasking" that seemed especially relevant.  My relationship had entered the stage of near total "psychic merge"  in which telepathy is fairly common, as are shared dreams and common responses to whatever in the external world.  Indeed, two become one in the fullest sense.

At this point (after some ten years), the relationship threatened to fall apart and I was devastated.  This potential breakup prepared me for full K. awakening, which I experienced in a most intense way.  For me, I had to "lose what was most valuable" in order to "receive what was most valuable"
.
Each person has a unique experience.  The following excerpt consists of "wisdom teaching" offered by the "inner guru" at this time of crisis in my life.  It tells what happened to me, not what will happen to you or others:


The Task of the Lover
(from the Inner Voice)
This is one of the most painful and potentially rewarding of all paths.  It is a high risk venture.  Like the figure of the Merkabah rider, the soul may leap instantaneously into heaven or be totally annihilated.
The danger is that the soul will fasten on the beloved in its material manifestation--the body, the personality--and fail to grasp the underlying significance of the event.
The soul is opened up through love.  Every experience becomes more intense--more sensory, sensual, emotional.  This prepares the mind to open, to pierce the veil of illusion, or, rather, to allow the outer to become inner, the impulse to manifest as perception.
The ultimate aim is to still the soul.  By agitation, tumult, even frenzy--to come to a still place, proof against all distress.  Until this stage is successfully passed, there can be no movement on to the path of the sage.
Perhaps the lovers write a common script beforehand, in order to help one another.  Bargains are struck, promises made.  Each seeks to obtain that lesson it needs.


Conditions for the Journey
  A compelling attraction.  One answers some need in the other.  One fulfills some
lack, some necessity.  Psychological.  Emotional.  Even material.  “You offer
  what I seek and must have for completion.  I am compelled to merge with  you.          
The love is set at the center of the stage.  All other subplots--work, fame, friendship, social involvement--are secondary.
 In this heat, two souls are literally burned together, fused into a single psychic identity.
 This singleness then wars within itself, struggling to be free, a unique being once again.
 The souls separate, and bring out of the experience what they have gained therefrom--pain and passion turned to awareness.
If this stage is passed successfully, it results in a major initiation.

The Laws of this Relation
 There will be no rest--the lovers will be constantly propelled forward, either by ecstasy or despair.
 The intensity must be maintained.  The lovers may exhaust themselves in the dance, but then they must rise to dance again.
 There will be many masks--and masks beneath masks.  There will be no final unmasking.
  All the symbols will activate.

Kate says that our “goal” is the integration of the four levels--spiritual and emotional, mental and physical; that our “purpose” is to achieve the integration which will prepare us for our assigned task--or else the integration is itself the task.

Union
By now, my spirit had confronted its ultimate terror.  The ideal love relation, the mythology which had supported it, the sense of unassailable trust--all had been shattered irrevocably.
But, in the midst of such emotional devastation, some small seed of hope was beginning to stir.  For loss also brings with it freedom, the unleashing of the self to pursue its own destined ends, to find its own inner reality.  The inner death had prepared an opening.

For me, the threatened breakup led to the moment of full K. awakening, followed by years of unfolding as the nervous system rose to ever higher levels.

Unfortunately, my partner did not share my new spiritual interests, and, though we remained together for many years, the original connection was never restored.

The path of the lover is indeed difficult, but it makes life extremely interesting.   "Until this stage is successfully passed, there can be no movement on to the path of the sage."

(image from Hubble Space site)

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 Books including the bestseller
The Elephant Whisperer, Bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over The
 globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue Of Baghdad Zoo animals
during  US invasion in 2003.  On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died.  He is
 remembered and missed by His wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons & numerous elephants.
Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his Home led by two large
 matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in Droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.
A total of 20 Elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African House.
 

  Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe, not only because
Of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed
About Lawrence 's passing, but also because of the profound memory and
Emotion The beloved  animals evoked in such an organized way:   Walking
Slowly - for days - making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their
Habitat to his house.

Lawrence's wife, Francoise,  was especially touched, knowing that the
Elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over a year!
But yet they knew where they were going. The elephants obviously wanted
To pay  their deep respects, honouring  their friend who'd saved their lives
 So much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights.
Then one morning, They left, making their long journey back home.
http://threadsofspiderwoman.blogspot.com/2012/08/tribute-for-elephant-whisperer.html




--

Cup and Ocean

These forms we seem to be are cups floating in an ocean
of living consciousness.

They fill and sink without leaving an arc of bubbles or
any good-bye spray. What we

are is that ocean, too near to see, though we swim in it
and drink it in. Don't

be a cup with a dry rim, or someone who rides all night
and never knows the horse

beneath his thighs, the surging that carries him along.

(tr. Coleman Barks)

No doubt about it, we are now in a time of vast global crisis on all fronts.  Many of us are experiencing repercussions in our own bodies, as if we were picking up on the disturbed vibrations of the planet.  Many, many people are suffering from illnesses for which there is no discernable physical cause.  2012, the time of universal change, seems to have hit full force.

At the same time, as most of us realize, there is a widespread shift of consciousness, as if the old forms were simply being cleared away for a new era in societal evolution.  Sometimes it is hard to keep on believing that all the negative changes are ultimately for the good of all, but I think something inside us insists that such is the case.

Whatever the outcome, it is obvious that "something is happening."  I think our best course is to hold on to our faith, to know that the wonderful transformations going on all around us are evidence that good can come from such widespread destruction.  We can hold ourselves steady, in whatever way is best for us, and help our friends and neighbors who are suffering.

One person calls this state of painful shifting "ascensionitis."  We know the old Zen saying, "Without pain is no gain."  This is our time of moving toward infinite gain, and of necessity some pain will accompany it as well.



It is indeed an exciting time to be alive on  this particular planet.

(Image from wikipedia)

Of course, Rumi is wonderful in whatever form, but his  poems are especially moving when they are said aloud by an accomplished speaker, such as Andrew Harvey.  Andrew is a renowned Rumi scholar and translator of Rumi's poems, as well as being one of the great spiritual teachers of our time.  To hear him read these poems on his recent CD set called "Rumi Symphony" is truly a profound experience.  The full name of the set is "Rumi Symphony, A Journey into Divine Passion."  The experience is further enriched by the musical background provided by Hans Christian.

I am sure the CD's (2) are available from Andrew's website (www.AndrewHarvey.net) or Amazon.

Such readings are what we desperately need to get us through these difficult times.

"Love is the One
who masters all things.
I am mastered totally by love."
                       Rumi

In the past few years, many new spiritual teachers have emerged on the public scene, many of whom are quite impressive in term of their insights and observations.  In earlier times, such esoteric teachings were often carried by an "underground stream" of wizards, saints, alchemists and such, and these various perspectives were often difficult to find.

Today, with all sorts of media outlets available, such information is readily offered to a large group, and ideas spread often at warp speed.

Rupert Spira is someone whose work and perspectives are new to me, but he sounds quite interesting.  He is a poet of some talent, and is associated with the school of "non-duality," a term which always puzzles me, but which (I believe) refers to the notion that "all is one," that is to say, "God is all that is and all that is, is God."

I found this Buddha at the Gas Pump interview when I looked him up, but have not had time to listen as yet.

Rupert Spira is offering a workshop in Boulder (Colorado) at the Boulder Center for Conscious Living on Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and 19.  The address is 1637 28th St. (upstairs).   I am planning to go, and would urge others to look him up on google and learn more about him.

See http://non-duality.rupertspira.com/home  for more details.
Contact for Boulder:  francesca@rupertspira.com

Rupert Spira - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=stdMWPtZwnM

Lalla was a l4th century mystic/poet who lived in India.  At age 25, she left her
home and went about the countryside reciting her poems.
To hear these said aloud, go to the following on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9joAzzLm9c

If you're wise, be foolish.
If you can see, squint.

Though you can hear, sit
dumb as an old rock.

Whatever anyone says,
listen and agree.

This is a friendly practice,
and it leads to some truth.

- Lalla, from Naked Song - Versions by Coleman Barks

There is a community of the spirit.
Join it, and feel the delight
of walking in the noisy street
and being the noise.
Drink all your passion,
and be a disgrace.
Close both eyes
to see with the other eye.

From Essential Rumi
by Coleman Barks
This We Have Now

This we have now
is not imagination.

This is not
grief or joy.

Not a judging state,
or an elation,
or sadness.

Those come and go.
This is the presence that doesn't.

From Essential Rumi
by Coleman Barks
There is a way between voice and presence
where information flows.
In disciplined silence it opens.
With wandering talk it closes.
     Moving Water

When  you do things from your soul, you feel a river
moving in you, a joy.

When actions come from another section, the feeling
disappears.  Don't let

others lead you.  They may be blind or, worse, vultures.
Reach for the rope

of God.  And what is that?  Putting aside self-will.
Because of willfulness

people sit in jail, the trapped bird's wings are tied,
fish sizzle in the skillet.

The anger of police is willfulness.  You've seen a magistrate
inflict visible punishment.  Now

see the invisible.  If you could leave your selfishness, you
would see how you've

been torturing your soul.  We are born and live inside black water in a well.

How could we know what an open field of sunlight is? Don't
insist on going where

you think you want to go.  Ask the way to the spring.  Your
living pieces will form

a harmony.  There is a moving palace that floats in the air
with balconies and clear

water flowing through, infinity everywhere, yet contained
under a single tent.

From The Glance
by Coleman Barks

"Feelings, whether of compassion or irritation, should be
welcomed, recognized, and treated on an absolutely equal basis;
because both are ourselves. The tangerine I am eating is me. The
mustard greens I am planting are me. I plant with all my heart
and mind. I clean this teapot with the kind of attention I would
have were I giving the baby Buddha or Jesus a bath. Nothing
should be treated more carefully than anything else. In
mindfulness, compassion, irritation, mustard green plant, and
teapot are all sacred."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

(image from selfhelpmadesimple)

I just received the following announcement from "Beyond Awakening"




Please join us for:
Cynthia Bourgeault:
“Encountering the Integral Christ in Evolutionary Dialog"
Sunday, August 5th, 2012
at 10:00am Pacific; 1:00pm Eastern; UTC/GMT-7


Dear Friends,
Please join us this Sunday, August 5th at 10:00 AM Pacific, for a conversation with contemporary Christian mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader Cynthia Bourgeault entitled “Encountering the Integral Christ in Evolutionary Dialog.”
Cynthia is a deep heart-centered mystic and contemplative teacher, who has helped thousands of people to deepen in Centering Prayer. But she is also a sophisticated modern and postmodern scholar. In that sense, she is something like a “Pandit” — integrating her inner knowing with her outer study.
Through her deep reading of the original and the newly discovered “lost” gospels, she has advanced contemporary understanding of what it is to contact Jesus’ esoteric spiritual transmission and instruction. What was he really teaching and inviting us to? How can we respond now, directly, to that living spiritual invitation? And how does that require and empower us to live our lives?
Cynthia says she often works with “heartbroken Christians” (in a deeply integrally-informed way, it should be noted.) She also finds fellowship with integral evolutionary thinkers and practitioners. She writes that "... there exists a possibility for making a new and deeper connection between old and new, inner and outer, in a way that neither trashes tradition nor trashes human beings standing on the outside, yearning to be invited deeper within."   This all-quadrant approach to Christianity offers a fresh, healing and transformational spiritual school and positions it as one of the viable, critical solutions to our global crises.
She lives, speaks, and interprets holy texts through the heart, and yet with open eyes, she directly faces the challenges and diseases of Christianity in our time. She thus offers leadership in courageously engaging the deepest questions of her time. In this dialog with Terry Patten, Cynthia will consider the encounter with the Integral Christ in an emergent, evolutionary perspective.
To our evolution,
Terry
 
How to Participate:
Cynthia Bourgeault
"Encountering the Integral Christ in Evolutionary Dialog”
Sunday, August 5th at 10:00am Pacific*; 11:00am Mountain; 12:00pm Central; 1:00pm Eastern
*Find your local time
Listen live by phone or online, or download the recording anytime.
Access Instructions
To listen live by phone, dial:  206-402-0100  (alternate #: 501-707-0312)
Then, enter Access Code: 272072#
To listen live online go to:
http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventID=31225413
To download the audio after the teleseminar is complete go to the Beyond Awakening Audio Page
Join the Dialogue: About one hour into the dialogue, we'll open up the lines and you'll have the opportunity to interact with us directly over the phone or via Instant Message. Here's what to do:
1.  To interact live by voice, dial into the conference line and wait until we ask for questions
2.  Send us your question via Instant Message in the teleseminar window in the webcast interface on your computer.
Connect with us! You can always join the dialogue, before and after all the Beyond Awakening dialogues by posting your questions and comments on our Beyond Awakening blog.
You can also engage with Beyond Awakening's many fans, on our Facebook page.
About Our Guest:

Cynthia Bourgeault divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine, and a demanding schedule traveling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom path. She is the founding Director of both The Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School.
Cynthia is the author of seven books: The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Mystical Hope, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Chanting the Psalms, and Love is Stronger Than Death. She has also authored or contributed to numerous articles and courses on the Christian spiritual life. She is a past Fellow of the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural research at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN, and an oblate of New Camaldoli Monastery in Big Sur, California.
Cynthia continues to contribute to The Contemplative Society in her role as Principal Teacher and advisor. She passionately promotes the practice of Centering Prayer, and has worked closely with Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, Richard Rohr, as well as many other contemplative teachers and leaders within the Christian tradition as well as other spiritual paths.

Recently when I gave a local talk on Kundalini, someone asked me if I thought awakening had anything to do with UFO's.  My answer was no, but the truth is I am quite fascinated with the many T. V. programs now showing on ancient alien visitors, current sightings, abductions, and such.

There are many ancient monuments that appear to have been constructed by some beings with intelligence or skill other than human.  No one has really accounted for this phenomenon.  In addition, there are such things as ancient petroglyphs depicting creatures who appear to be clothed in space suits.  And, moreover, there are many Renaissance and medieval paintings  depicting strange flying objects in the sky, many with beams of light extending down to earth, some with passengers clearly visible within.

When I last saw these paintings on a recent program, they reminded me of the famous painting of the conception of the Christ child.  In this painting, the Holy Ghost impregnates Mary through a beam of light that enters her ear.  Well--could it be?  Is it possible that what is actually being shown is conception of a divine infant not from a god or godlike being, but an alien visitor, who has chosen this means of mating with a human partner?  Mythology abounds with stories of gods coupling with humans--one such story is even included in the Bible, when the "sons of god" were attracted to the "daughters of men."

Ufologists insist that the "gods" referred to in these myths and legends are in fact, alien visitors from outer space, and that we as a species are in fact their offspring.  Some propose that the "aliens" manipulated the DNA of the higher primates in order to produce the "human" version of life on this planet--part of their argument is that there is a gap in the fossil record--the transformation from ape to human is not represented--thus evolution alone does not account for the transition to the higher life form (us).

I am not insisting that any of this speculation is true, but such reflections do offer interesting ideas for consideration as possible answers to the age old question, "Where do we come from?"

(painting found on www.forbiddenhistory)