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Ep. 162 (Part 1 of 2) | In the sixth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali tells us that whereas pure consciousness is already perfect and does not change or grow, individual consciousness is an impressionable organism—alive, changing, moving, developing. Hameed explains that because the soul is impressionable, the impacts of experience are imprinted upon it, shaping our very consciousness. Ego structures form from repeated impressions, and although they are necessary for survival and to function in a relational world, these structures make it difficult to experience the living presence of our true nature. We experience the ego self instead, mistaking our self-image for what we truly are. When we loosen our conditioning, with help from practices like inquiry and bodywork, our soul becomes free of its imprint and our true potential arises naturally, along with greater compassion and other qualities of the soul.
Simply and clearly, Hameed brings us to a deeper understanding of our soul, elucidating what holds us to our limited self-identity and describing what we have to look forward to as the myriad imprints hammered into us by experience become diaphanous, and new impressions no longer make indelible imprints. Hameed also delves into the different ways various traditions talk about the soul, the difference between ordinary knowledge and “knowing,” or gnosis, and tells us that sudden enlightenment and gradual enlightenment are an artificial dichotomy, sharing a story of a sudden enlightenment experience of his own. Once again, Hameed transmits an extraordinary amount of wisdom in a relatively short time, and we emerge brighter, hopeful, and inspired as to our boundless spiritual potential. Recorded November 14, 2024.
“Self-image is not just in the mind, it actually shapes our consciousness.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the 6th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, beginning with chapter 7 of The Inner Journey Home: the impressionability of the soul (00:51)One of individual consciousness’ properties is impressionability; without it, there would be no learning (02:39)It’s not easy to experience the soul as a living presence because of its impressionability (05:43)The mind is just one of the faculties of the soul (08:10)Like a child, the soul retains affect, feelings, impacts; these traces make it possible for individual consciousness to be structured (10:19)Self-image, self-identity, come from more long lasting types of impressions (12:49)Without impressionability, there wouldn’t be trauma (13:23)Painful, pleasurable, or neutral, some impressions become patterns of behavior (13:47)When we study the soul, we can find the ego structures: rigid, unchanging, the impressions have made an indelible imprint (14:29)Self-image affects consciousness by limiting it: the medium of presence is hidden by the accumulation of impressions (17:35)Self-image actually shapes our consciousness: the soul mistakes itself for the self (23:32)The malleability of the soul is responsible for both conditioning and learning (25:31)How open we are depends on our early experience; also, different souls come in with different capacities... -
Ep. 161 (Part 2 of 2) | In this profoundly moving and inspiring conversation, GRIP Training Institute CEO, Kim Moore, and facilitator/trainer Fateen Jackson, Sr., also a GRIP graduate, educate us as to the power and magic of the GRIP prison movement, based on Jacques Verduin’s model: Leaving Prison Before You Get Out. This yearlong trauma healing and accountability program is unique in the degree of radical transformation it aims for—and delivers. It is about freeing minds, and as Kim points out, goes beyond the duality of teacher/student, inmate/not inmate, victim/offender to where everyone joins in a mutual journey of healing, transformation, and liberation.The program is so transformative that ripple effects from GRIP students can be felt throughout the prison, and GRIP graduates often struggle with how little emotional intelligence and trauma healing work the rest of us have done when they get out.
Kim and Fateen shine a bright light on the inestimable value of a caring, compassionate community, pointing out that deep personal transformation and taking responsibility doesn’t happen in isolation. They share illuminating stories of their own experiences, and the dedication and gladness they exude in this talk is itself impactful and inspiring. There is something in this conversation, maybe because it touches our deepest brokenness and then lifts it up and redeems it, that reaches right into one’s heart and infuses it with inspiration, hope, compassion, and love. Recorded November 21, 2024.
“Who have you left out of your heart? How can you expand your sphere of human concern?”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Roger acknowledges the power of GRIP’s processes (01:20)What are the most impactful processes that participants go through? (02:18)Transforming shame into remorse: you are not your crime (05:17)The importance of self-care for facilitators: what practices do Kim & Fateen do? (06:39)Reminding participants who they truly are: you can give love and you can receive love (10:36) Moving beyond the duality of giver/receiver, victim/offender, teacher/student (12:31) Transforming belief systems: You are not in prison because of what you did, but because you believed the thoughts that justified the actions you took (14:06) A longing to hear a genuine apology (16:40)Opening your heart to every offender, no matter what they’ve done (18:25)The transformational power of this work: engendering hope, compassion, redemption, wisdom (21:22)GRIP graduates struggle with how little emotional intelligence and trauma healing work the rest of us have done when they get out (24:25)Can people accept that you are a changed, transformed individual? (25:03)The diversity of this program: everyone is welcome, everyone learns from everyone else (26:29)Meditation: stopping the violence with awareness (29:40)The wisdom that is born in these groups goes way beyond prison (32:56)If you would like to be part of the GRIP family (34:12)What is the vision for GRIP’s future? GRIP’s scaling strategy; connecting with incoming lifers from day one... -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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Ep. 160 (Part 1 of 2) | In this profoundly moving and inspiring conversation, GRIP Training Institute CEO, Kim Moore, and facilitator/trainer Fateen Jackson, Sr., also a GRIP graduate, educate us as to the power and magic of the GRIP prison movement, based on Jacques Verduin’s model: Leaving Prison Before You Get Out. This yearlong trauma healing and accountability program is unique in the degree of radical transformation it aims for—and delivers. It is about freeing minds, and as Kim points out, goes beyond the duality of teacher/student, inmate/not inmate, victim/offender to where everyone joins in a mutual journey of healing, transformation, and liberation.The program is so transformative that ripple effects from GRIP students can be felt throughout the prison, and GRIP graduates often struggle with how little emotional intelligence and trauma healing work the rest of us have done when they get out.
Kim and Fateen shine a bright light on the inestimable value of a caring, compassionate community, pointing out that deep personal transformation and taking responsibility doesn’t happen in isolation. They share illuminating stories of their own experiences, and the dedication and gladness they exude in this talk is itself impactful and inspiring. There is something in this conversation, maybe because it touches our deepest brokenness and then lifts it up and redeems it, that reaches right into one’s heart and infuses it with inspiration, hope, compassion, and love. Recorded November 21, 2024.
“The wisdom that is born in these groups goes way beyond prison.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing GRIP CEO Kim Moore, facilitator/trainer Fateen Jackson, and the remarkable program Guiding Rage into Power (01:15)How did Kim come to have a life purpose of facilitating transformation? (04:06)Moving out of privilege into direct relationship with the realities of criminal justice (06:25)Fateen’s story and how GRIP allowed him to source the trauma that led to prison and transform it (09:19)The morning Fateen was released and the ripple effects of GRIP (16:03)4 foundations of GRIP: cultivating mindfulness, developing emotional intelligence, doing no harm, understanding victim & survivor impact (19:39)The importance of building a safe container and building trust (20:52)GRIP assignments: the unfinished business letter, apology to the victims letter, and more (22:18)The emotional/energetic arc the group goes through, ending with a deep sense of empathy for the survivors or victims (25:33)What is the power and the magic of GRIP? 1) instruction, 2) practice/tools, 3) processing (28:36)The incredible power of a healing community (30:07)Leaving prison mentally, emotionally, spiritually can happen even while still in prison, without hope of release (30:55) The healing itself is the reward—that’s where the freedom comes from (32:12) How GRIP students affect the rest of the prison: flipping the culture of the yard (33:20)Becoming peacemakers: taking responsibility for your own healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community (34:39)What happens when you get out of prison? -
Ep. 159 (Part 2 of 2) | In the 5th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher and author Hameed Ali discusses the dynamic, ever changing, infinitely creative nature of the universe, and explains that our individual souls are in some sense a microcosm of this energy, with endless potentials and possibilities. We can experience creative dynamism, Hameed says, as “a sense of infinite energy, pulsing and throbbing, where we see the whole universe in continual emergence, every moment new.” Although the soul has boundless potential, we tend to take the limited approach that what we already know is the extent of things; the key to loosening the limits we place upon ourselves is to practice inquiry and remain open to all directions of possibilities. Each individual experiences the dynamism in a different way and expresses the potentiality of reality in a different way, says Hameed. When we are in touch with our true nature, we share in the creativity of the divine.
In this conversation, Hameed also talks about death: how we can be curious about it, how it is the ultimate in finality, one more possibility of reality, and that he doesn’t presume to know it, only that true nature is the source of time and does not die. Life can be experienced like a fountain rather than a flowing river, Hameed relates. And the more our ego structures are released, the more we can open to its beautiful array of endless possibilities. Another profoundly intriguing, subtly humorous, and absolutely enlightening conversation with Hameed Ali. Recorded October 10, 2024.
“We are thoughts in the mind of God, but God’s thoughts are not like human thoughts, they are creations.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Ordinary knowledge is a subset of basic knowledge, which is implicit in the beingness of what is manifesting; spirituality has to do with basic knowledge (00:59) What Hameed would like to add to the theory of evolution (04:47)It is possible for the soul to know itself; nothing else we achieve in life will bring total fulfillment (07:44) The logos is manifesting the potential of reality; part of this potential is for true nature to know itself through the organs of perception of the individual soul (10:06)The human being is designed to fill its purpose, but when you get into true nature, purpose doesn’t apply (12:08)Beyond Maslow’s motivation of self-transcendence: selfless service, transpersonal spontaneity, and the motivation to go beyond what we know (15:14)What about death? Nothing else has the finality of death (21:39)True nature doesn’t die; it is the source of time, pure timelessness (24:35)Dogen drops causality: ash is ash, wood is wood; life is life, death is death (26:48)Death is another possibility of reality (29:06)Experiencing life as a fountain rather than a flowing river (31:51)The more ego structures are released, the more we open to a beautiful array of possibilities & potentials (36:29)The ego is not false, it’s just limited (40:12)What the human being is free to actualize is to be open to all directions of possibilities (41:16)
Resources & References – Part 2 -
Ep. 158 (Part 1 of 2) | In the 5th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher and author Hameed Ali discusses the dynamic, ever changing, infinitely creative nature of the universe, and explains that our individual souls are in some sense a microcosm of this energy, with endless potentials and possibilities. We can experience creative dynamism, Hameed says, as “a sense of infinite energy, pulsing and throbbing, where we see the whole universe in continual emergence, every moment new.” Although the soul has boundless potential, we tend to take the limited approach that what we already know is the extent of things; the key to loosening the limits we place upon ourselves is to practice inquiry and remain open to all directions of possibilities. Each individual experiences the dynamism in a different way and expresses the potentiality of reality in a different way, says Hameed. When we are in touch with our true nature, we share in the creativity of the divine.
In this conversation, Hameed also talks about death: how we can be curious about it, how it is the ultimate in finality, one more possibility of reality, and that he doesn’t presume to know it, only that true nature is the source of time and does not die. Life can be experienced like a fountain rather than a flowing river, Hameed relates. And the more our ego structures are released, the more we can open to its beautiful array of endless possibilities. Another profoundly intriguing, subtly humorous, and absolutely enlightening conversation with Hameed Ali. Recorded October 10, 2024.
“The soul is a living expression of the fundamental nature of reality. There’s no end to the potentiality.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the fifth A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series with Hameed Ali, focusing on the soul’s infinite potential and the creative dynamism of reality (01:07)The soul has boundless potential, but we tend to take the limited approach that what we know already is the extent of things (04:07)We don’t have to look for the boundless possibilities—we just need to be open (08:16)The main tool for fostering this openness is inquiry: what is presenting itself? (10:01)We all share the potential; we are all fundamentally connected (12:16)Reality, true nature, is in constant creative dynamism (13:34)The logos of the integration of spirituality and rational knowing can be applied to every field of knowledge (14:33)Imagine a community of scientists who are all realized spiritually, their inquiry powerfully infused by spiritual understanding (15:50)We are just at the beginning of understanding the physical world (18:22)Just because something is true doesn’t mean it’s complete (21:55)Einstein’s theory of relativity and the Riemannian manifold (26:03)The nondual is never separate from the dual (28:25)Distinguishing between the fundamental nature of pure awareness and the nature of the soul (30:27)The close connection between individual potential and creativity and universal dynamism and creativity (32:24)We can experience creative dynamism: a sense of infinite energy, where we see the universe in continual emergence, every moment new... -
Ep. 157 (Part 3 of 3) | Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.
Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality's history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.
“I want to come back to how we can operationalize this in our own lives…and how it can inform ourselves as practitioners in our journey of realization.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3Is there a process for stabilization of these realizations? (01:25) 4 primary polarities across traditions: the goal, path, context, and practices (04:16)2 types of practice: apophatic and cataphatic (07:06)Service is another profound approach to “not two” nonduality (09:49)Enlightened action: no self, being in the flow; reality serves itself through awakened beings (11:46)What is going on psychologically as people move into nondual experiences? (17:18)Like in developmental models, the subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives all evolve in nondual awareness (20:42)Invitation to explore the richness of different nondual traditions and the potential for a deeper cross-tradition dialogue (25:47) Sean’s 10-week online course Varieties of Nonduality beginning in January 2025 (26:51)
Resources & References – Part 3Advaita VedantaKashmir... -
Ep. 156 (Part 2 of 3) | Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.
Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality's history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.
“Our nondual traditions are one of the best things people have created – ever!”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Science and the new relationship between subject and object (00:50) 6 subject-object strategies that nondual traditions embrace (02:51)Roger’s acknowledgment of the enormous contribution Sean is making as the first comparative scholar to differentiate the varieties of nonduality (04:59)Provocative patterns in the history of nonduality and the mysterious flourishing of nondual traditions from around the 11th to the 14th century (09:28)Nondual texts that only emerged in the last 100 years have expanded our nondual horizons—and there’s a lot more to discover (13:08)The ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization (16:04)What are our nondual traditions going to look like in 1,000 years? (17:32)The concept of endless realizations and awakenings liberates us from needing to find the ultimate nondual realization (18:29)Dr. Jeffery Martin’s research: 32 fundamental positions on nonduality (20:29)Sequential realizations and why you might go back to a previous realization (21:43)What makes a global, comparative nondual analysis so worthwhile (26:04) You have to become someone before you become no one; and now you can become everyone (27:48)Merging consciousness with another’s unique realization: all one, empty, while also distinct and unique (30:02)
Resources & References – Part 2 -
Ep. 155 (Part 1 of 3) | Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.
Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality's history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.
“How do we understand the relationship between consciousness, reality, and practice?”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, author, Dean of Integral Education & Integral Noetic Sciences Program Director at CIHS, founder of MetaIntegral (00:59)How was Sean drawn to exploring the topic of nonduality? (05:03)There are over 40 distinct nondual traditions on the planet (07:31)When you say nonduality, what do you mean? (11:02)Advaita Vedanta’s “not two”; there’s only Self, only divine awareness (11:43)3 major nondual ultimacies: nondual oneness, nondual tantra, nondual union (12:49)In nondual traditions, does divinizing the self lead to the same experience as annihilating the self? (17:43)The I-sphere of nonduality, the we-sphere of nonduality, and the it-sphere of nonduality (19:51)Ken Wilber’s notion of emptiness + view: emptiness doesn’t change but view does, so nonduality evolves (22:00)Varieties of nonduality emphasize different qualities: emptiness + omnipresence, emptiness + bliss, emptiness + luminosity, emptiness + embodiment (23:33)Nonduality is developmental in terms of states: each realization is a deeper, wider experience of nonduality (25:45)Realization is just going to keep going; there is a way in which all views are equal and a way in which some views are better than others (29:41)
Resources & References – Part 1 -
Ep. 154 (Part 2 of 2) | In this 4th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher Hameed Ali explains that much of the beginning of the spiritual path is spent clarifying our individual consciousness from the conditioning of the past in order to wake up and discover our true nature. In the Diamond Approach, this is accomplished using the practice of inquiry, and as we inquire deeply within, qualities intrinsic to consciousness emerge in our awareness. These qualities—like truth, courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love—each have their own particular sensory expression: a certain color, texture, warmth or coolness, varying degrees of sweetness. The more these qualities emerge, Hameed says, the more powerful our practice and the more authentic our life. He calls these qualities treasures of the soul.
This beautiful conversation ranges from profoundly moving, as Hameed evokes specific qualities of presence, to humorous, when he tells a funny story about Maharishi Yogi, to intensely illuminating as Hameed talks about the teaching of the first turning, the miracle of ordinary life, what it means to be spiritually mature, the nature of true sorrow, the fact that we are the universe being conscious, and how fundamental nature lies deeper than consciousness, deeper than awareness. It is a multifaceted gem, not to be missed. Recorded September 19, 2024.
“The soul is the organ of knowledge of the universe.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2We have to take the dualistic world into account (00:59)Mature spirituality: just live your life; you have to start with ordinary life (02:31)The second (nondual), third & fourth turnings recognize there are other ways that reality appears (05:43)You can be pure consciousness living in a world of matter: in some sense, this is more miraculous than that everything is consciousness (07:01)Courage’s presence is like red lava, fiery and ruby red (09:39)Truth is also a quality: when I experience myself as truth, I feel myself as made out of pure gold, the gold of consciousness (10:24)Roger is deeply touched when Hameed evokes the sensory characteristics of the essential qualities; Hameed agrees it is very moving (13:43)To what extent are these sensory experiences specific to Hameed? Or are they universal? (15:02)Sincerity is a quality of presence (17:55)What do all these inherent qualities tell us about the nature of reality? (19:09)Fundamental nature is deeper than consciousness, deeper than awareness: I am is completely indeterminate (20:43)The nature of rational thought, discriminating awareness (24:22)Can we integrate ordinary knowledge with true knowing? (27:15)It’s important for people to know that consciousness can appear as a particular quality (29:13)These qualities are the treasures of the soul and the journey of learning about them is a beautiful adventure of discovery (31:41)The word brings out the quality and the quality brings out the word (35:21)
Resources & References – Part 2A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder... -
Ep. 153 (Part 1 of 2) | In this 4th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher Hameed Ali explains that much of the beginning of the spiritual path is spent clarifying our individual consciousness from the conditioning of the past in order to wake up and discover our true nature. In the Diamond Approach, this is accomplished using the practice of inquiry, and as we inquire deeply within, qualities intrinsic to consciousness emerge in our awareness. These qualities—like truth, courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love—each have their own particular sensory expression: a certain color, texture, warmth or coolness, varying degrees of sweetness. The more these qualities emerge, Hameed says, the more powerful our practice and the more authentic our life. He calls these qualities treasures of the soul.
This beautiful conversation ranges from profoundly moving, as Hameed evokes specific qualities of presence, to humorous, when he tells a funny story about Maharishi Yogi, to intensely illuminating as Hameed talks about the teaching of the first turning, the miracle of ordinary life, what it means to be spiritually mature, the nature of true sorrow, the fact that we are the universe being conscious, and how fundamental nature lies deeper than consciousness, deeper than awareness. It is a multifaceted gem, not to be missed. Recorded September 19, 2024.
“Courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love are all expressions of our pure consciousness appearing as specific qualities.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the 4th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, focusing on the soul as “organism of consciousness” (00:59)The distinction between universal consciousness and individual consciousness (03:04)Much of the beginning of the path is spent clarifying individual consciousness from the conditioning of the past (05:50)The practice of inquiry is for the individual consciousness to wake up and discover what it is fundamentally (07:25)Courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love are all expressions of pure consciousness appearing as specific qualities (11:04)Why we need these essential qualities: the more these qualities emerge, the more powerful the practice (13:21)How can you live your life authentically, without the qualities of integrity, courage, intelligence, clarity, inner peacefulness, and true sorrow? (16:02)True sorrow is a quality of presence—sorrow for the suffering, for what’s happening in the world (16:57)These qualities are the closest thing to the Platonic forms, necessary for the spiritual path and necessary for living (19:47)The incomparable or precious pearl at our center and the difference between personal essence and the individual soul (20:58)Psychological individuation is a forerunner for true individuation (23:33)Free of conditioning, we wake up to what we really are (24:59)The essential qualities are implicit in pure consciousness but they become differentiated in the soul (27:24)The teaching of the first turning is that the ordinary world is one way reality manifests—it’s not the product of our ignorance; it has its own spirituality (28:37)Ordinary life is miraculous! (34:36)As Parmenides... -
Ep. 152 (Part 2 of 2) | Life coach, recovery coach, and plant medicine ceremonialist Ron Interpreter has created a multidimensional, whole person healing modality that integrates Navajo spiritual teachings and traditions with Ken Wilber’s Integral Model and Integral spirituality. Humanity is shifting, Ron explains, and is now looking to the teachings of the ancestors and Indigenous practices that can bring a sense of authenticity, purpose, and meaning to our lives. Native spirituality teaches us how we can relate to the elements of earth, fire, water and air in terms of remedies and medicines, and also in terms of beliefs and emotional connections. Plant medicine and other mind-altering ceremonies provide us with the means to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves, attain higher states of consciousness, and receive answers to our deepest questions.
With a calm, articulate fervency, Ron shares the ancestral wisdom he teaches to people in recovery or who are suffering from trauma, including special ops forces and veterans: the Native concepts of taking responsibility, being accountable, forging a relationship with God or Spirit, and living from a profound understanding of what it means to be a human being. “We are in the creation of self—how do we practice our selves?” Ron asks. The Indigenous teachings that Ron brings forward provide a deep sense of grounding in Nature and Spirit, as we come to a better understanding of our place in the universe and the practices that can open us up to living in a sacred way, in connection with divine being. Recorded August 1, 2024.
“We have to see ourselves as human beings first.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Stopping the blame game—blaming colonialism—and healing intergenerational trauma (01:28)How do we practice our selves? Get back to our ancestral ways, see ourselves as human beings first (05:06)The future of recovery depends on the expansion of the practitioner’s approach and getting back to the elementals (11:00)What are the most valuable Native practices for healing and recovery? (18:10)Psychedelic medicines are tools to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves (23:52)Ceremony is vitally important to give context and reverence to a plant medicine experience (25:04)Building character in young people (26:11)In order for you to receive the medicine, you need to have a spiritual practice (28:29)At Ron’s church, a long period of practicing breathwork and other modalities will often precede the use of psychedelic tools (32:15)Facilitating plant medicine ceremonies for special ops forces and veterans (34:55)Native traditions are now accessible to help people understand what it means to be human (40:02)The future of addiction, especially with addictive potentials increasing exponentially (42:49) We have to stop looking at addiction as your experience, my experience (48:49)
Resources & References – Part 2Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs -
Ep. 151 (Part 1 of 2) | Life coach, recovery coach, and plant medicine ceremonialist Ron Interpreter has created a multidimensional, whole person healing modality that integrates Navajo spiritual teachings and traditions with Ken Wilber’s Integral Model and Integral spirituality. Humanity is shifting, Ron explains, and is now looking to the teachings of the ancestors and Indigenous practices that can bring a sense of authenticity, purpose, and meaning to our lives. Native spirituality teaches us how we can relate to the elements of earth, fire, water and air in terms of remedies and medicines, and also in terms of beliefs and emotional connections. Plant medicine and other mind-altering ceremonies provide us with the means to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves, attain higher states of consciousness, and receive answers to our deepest questions.
With a calm, articulate fervency, Ron shares the ancestral wisdom he teaches to people in recovery or who are suffering from trauma, including special ops forces and veterans: the Native concepts of taking responsibility, being accountable, forging a relationship with God or Spirit, and living from a profound understanding of what it means to be a human being. “We are in the creation of self—how do we practice ourselves?” Ron asks. The Indigenous teachings that Ron brings forward provide a deep sense of grounding in Nature and Spirit, as we come to a better understanding of our place in the universe and the practices that can open us up to living in a sacred way, in connection with divine being. Recorded August 1, 2024.
“What life am I practicing? Am I understanding who I am?”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing business consultant, integral life coach, recovery coach, and co-founder of the Sanctuary of Consciousness, Ron Interpreter of the Navajo tribe (00:59)How Ron came to work in recovery as well as teach wellness, yoga & personal development (02:59)Growing up on the Navajo Nation learning about our spiritual relationship with the universe, how to cultivate meaning & purpose, and using peyote medicine as a sacrament (08:11)On to architecture, consulting, wellness, and life coaching (10:01)Enter Integral Theory, which covered all the fundamental bases of Native traditions and philosophies (11:46)From integral coaching to recovery coaching, discovering John’s book Integral Recovery & Ken Wilber’s Integral Spirituality (13:38)In the ancestral teachings of the Navajo Way, the peyote way, and the Presbyterian Church, the voice of God is all the same (18:21)How humanity is starting to look to Indigenous people to understand relating to elementals, cultivating community & authenticity, and finding the meaning of life in psychedelic experiences (20:10)John’s experience of Native American spirituality, the mystical spirituality of AA, awakening to Integral, and writing Integral Recovery (23:08)Everything in life is really up to you (28:23)Ancestral 4-quadrant teachings: the mystical & spiritual; the human experience; what are the practices; where is community in this? (29:31)Integral medicine—the whole person approach (31:22)Integral’s -
Ep. 150 (Part 2 of 2) | In the third dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali brings us to a deeper understanding of individual consciousness, our true nature, in relation to pure consciousness. Once we come to know what consciousness is, he says, our spiritual experience truly begins. The conversation flows through many illuminating teachings: how true nature manifests itself in many ways—there is no one way, no final way; reality is only what we perceive it to be—there is no hard and fast reality “out there;” and the ego is not some sort of developmental mistake—it only becomes a problem if we become fixated on it. Psychology helps us see how the soul became the ego, Hameed explains, and psychodynamics reflect how our individual consciousness becomes imprinted by experience, the effects of which can be unraveled through spiritual inquiry.
When asked how he is able to write so remarkably clearly and concisely, fine-cut like a diamond, Hameed explains that the teachings articulate themselves as he writes by becoming his direct experience in the moment. He is not channeling, nor is his individual self expressing an opinion, the teaching simply expresses itself by becoming his true nature. This conversation is inspiring on many levels as consciousness becomes more graspable and because, as Roger says, Hameed’s teaching is grounded in our being capable of realizing being. At the end, Hameed gives a beautifully resonant account of why we love freedom. Once again, Hameed’s profound teachings come as a transmission and are a joy to receive. Recorded August 8, 2024.
“Depth psychology helps us understand how our soul became our ego.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2How Hameed came to think that soul is the best word to describe a human being (00:45) The soul is pure consciousness with an aliveness added to it; the soul is always learning (04:26)Knowing what consciousness is is the true opening to spirituality (05:52)Development of the ego is necessary for physical survival, it is not a mistake unless we become fixated upon it (07:32)Arrested development: bottled up consciousness experiences pressure, a sense of pain & suffering (11:49)The ancient concept of soul was replaced by the idea of a separate self (13:14)Unity, disunity, and beyond (14:37)Psychology helps us understand how our soul became our ego (15:41)Psychodynamics show us how early experience impacts current experience, and it is inquiry that helps us unravel the ego (18:26)Our consciousness is a living organism (22:25)Grasping the nature of our soul is not easy, because it’s holographic, dynamic—you can’t give it a form (24:46)There is a nondual unity—united in the medium of consciousness—but it is also holographic: each point contains all other points (27:29)The difference between the holographic Huayan Buddhist perspective and the Zen perspective, where individual uniqueness becomes important (30:11)Do different teachings lead to different experiences of freedom? (33:38)Freedom is a sacred right of each individual (36:21)
Resources & References – Part 2 -
Ep. 149 (Part 1 of 2) | In the third dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali brings us to a deeper understanding of individual consciousness, our true nature, in relation to pure consciousness. Once we come to know what consciousness is, he says, our spiritual experience truly begins. The conversation flows through many illuminating teachings: how true nature manifests itself in many ways—there is no one way, no final way; reality is only what we perceive it to be—there is no hard and fast reality “out there;” and the ego is not some sort of developmental mistake—it only becomes a problem if we become fixated on it. Psychology helps us see how the soul became the ego, Hameed explains, and psychodynamics reflect how our individual consciousness becomes imprinted by experience, the effects of which can be unraveled through spiritual inquiry.
When asked how he is able to write so remarkably clearly and concisely, fine-cut like a diamond, Hameed explains that the teachings articulate themselves as he writes by becoming his direct experience in the moment. He is not channeling, nor is his individual self expressing an opinion, the teaching simply expresses itself by becoming his true nature. This conversation is inspiring on many levels as consciousness becomes more graspable and because, as Roger says, Hameed’s teaching is grounded in our being capable of realizing being. At the end, Hameed gives a beautifully resonant account of why we love freedom. Once again, Hameed’s profound teachings come as a transmission and are a joy to receive. Recorded August 8, 2024.
“Humanity needs realized individuals, sources of light and understanding, to keep the true spirit of what a human being is alive.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the third dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, focused on the introduction of The Inner Journey Home, a diagnosis of our root challenge: dissociation (01:02)On humanity’s capacity to wake up from being asleep to who we really are (04:15)This path is a journey into reality, not focused specifically on relief from suffering (07:00)Reality is only what we perceive it to be (08:31)The main delusion we suffer from is believing the way we experience this world is the only way (10:48)Spiritual work doesn’t try to resolve social conflicts—it is for individuals and small groups to transform (13:41)Humanity needs realized individuals, sources of light and understanding, to keep the true spirit of what a human being is alive (15:28)Hameed’s experience of writing: the teaching articulates itself and becomes his experience in the moment—that’s why there is a transmission (16:42)True nature is the fundamental truth of human beings, the nature of consciousness—it’s not physical but at some point the distinction between physical and spiritual disappears (24:27)True nature manifests itself in many ways: there is no one way, no final way (26:00)The journey of ascent and descent: how we come to recognize ourselves as the absolute dimension and how we bring the vastness back into the realm of life (28:47)An individual is not a separate person; the complete human being is one who integrates both heaven and earth (32:45)When did Hameed start... -
Cindy Wigglesworth, trailblazer in the field of spiritual intelligence, has created an assessment tool that identifies our spiritual strengths and weaknesses—qualities that fall outside the traditional IQ or emotional intelligence (EQ) parameters—in order to provide a guide for determining which skills we as individuals need to develop in order to show up in the world as love in action. Early on, Cindy recognized the profound benefits that both spiritual practice and EQ assessments had in her leadership development work, wishing only there was a map similar to what EQ offers but going one step higher, to lead people in the realm of spiritual development. So she created a multidimensional self-assessment tool to do just that, wrote the book SQ21: The 21 Skills of Spiritual Intelligence, and founded the global leadership development network Deep Change.
Cindy’s dedication, brilliant intellect, integral understanding, and the effects of a lifetime of spiritual motivation and practice are abundantly evident in this warmly personal, articulate, and inspiring conversation about spirituality and how we can come to embody the values we aspire to. It’s easy to love people in the abstract, Cindy points out, but how we actually behave is what’s critical. What would love see? she asks, when talking about the practice of reframing. As co-host John Dupuy said, this conversation is like “an infusion of spiritual vitamins.” It’s also very timely—Cindy reflects that spiritual intelligence skills and learning how to sustain faith are more important than ever in these times of polarization and crisis. Recorded July 18, 2024.
“Spiritual intelligence is the ability to behave with wisdom and compassion while maintaining inner and outer peace regardless of the situation.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time StampsIntroducing Cindy Wigglesworth, world authority on spirituality, creator of the SQ21 assessment that measures spiritual intelligence (01:25)How did Cindy come to focus on the field of spiritual intelligence? (04:18)Cindy’s existential quest began with moving to India at the age of six (05:59)Leadership development skills benefit directly from spiritual practice (10:08)Discovering Goleman & Boyatzis’ work on emotional intelligence (EQ)—where was the equivalent on spiritual intelligence? (11:58)Defining the terms spirituality and spiritual intelligence (15:21)Spiritual intelligence = love in action (18:21)State experiences are not sufficient for showing up as love in the world (20:35)Exemplars of spiritual intelligence and the quality of equanimity (21:53)The road to a pluralistic understanding of Christianity (24:49)Inheriting both strengths & weaknesses of her parents (29:40)Cindy’s SQ model emulates the EQ model with 4 quadrants (31:05)How Cindy developed the 21 skills and survey for her SQ assessment (32:56)A positive age correlation for skills, which grow over time, is essential (36:00)What strikes Cindy having given this test to so many? The 3 levels of value (37:06)The SQ test can uncover weak foundations under skills people thought they had down (39:59)How has Cindy’s understanding of... -
Ep. 147 (Part 3 of 3) | Award-winning author, Zen priest and teacher, Kung Fu master, and professional advisor and trainer, Keith Martin-Smith, took a good look at the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement when he began to notice the damage it was causing people he knew under the guise of progress, or equity. Putting his keen mind to the task, Keith identified seven key areas where the DEI movement goes markedly astray from the values it aspires to. Coming from an integral understanding, Keith does more than simply point out where the movement has backfired. We learn that postmodern thinking is how we became aware of the “subtle soup of racism [and bias] in the cultural field itself”—beyond the concrete, obvious social injustices that activists fought in the 20th century. This more subtle field of bias is responsible for the inequalities we see in society today, which is what the DEI movement would like to tear down. But the ways in which DEI acts to make this happen, ironically, are characterized by exactly the things that DEI is against: intolerance, inequity, undiversity, tribalism, and anti-liberalism.
In his wise, articulate, and gracious way, Keith makes sense of why the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement has become a political flashpoint, raising the hackles of not only rightwing conservatives but also liberal progressives. Sympathetic to the values of DEI, Keith is all about helping to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement. When asked how the values of DEI could be fulfilled to make it the harmonious, effective, correcting movement it aspires to be, Keith responded, “with conversations like this, for one thing,” adding, “we need to realize that everyone has a portion of truth—we just need to connect everyone’s portion of truth with their heart.” Recorded June 6, 2024.
“Everybody cares…they just care about different things. Consensus and change come from being willing to listen to what people care about and finding space to honor that.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3What is liberalism? (01:18)The nature of DEI’s anti-liberalism: banning free speech and more (05:08)White fragility is a non-argument and it’s anti-liberal (09:30)Another dangerous idea: silence is violence (10:44)Allowing trial by public opinion (11:41)Creating a true meritocracy: results from blind auditioning symphony musicians (14:13)Forced equality of outcome: is forcing 20% of symphony goers to be black a good idea? (15:31)Going far right and far left, you find they mirror each other (18:32)The klansmen who turned in their robes after talking to a black man (21:11)What could be done to fulfill the values of DEI and make it the effective correcting movement it aspires to be? (23:39)DEI at its best: recognizing the subtle ways in which cognitive bias affects the culture (27:05)The postmodern/DEI point of view doesn’t see how they are projecting their beliefs onto the culture (29:45)Microaggressions are real—but DEI proponents conflate microaggressions with macroaggressions (34:46)Critical race theory is the only explanatory theory in the DEI toolbox (39:33)Critical theory says power dynamics distort all interactions... -
Ep. 146 (Part 2 of 3) | Award-winning author, Zen priest and teacher, Kung Fu master, and professional advisor and trainer, Keith Martin-Smith, took a good look at the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement when he began to notice the damage it was causing people he knew under the guise of progress, or equity. Putting his keen mind to the task, Keith identified seven key areas where the DEI movement goes markedly astray from the values it aspires to. Coming from an integral understanding, Keith does more than simply point out where the movement has backfired. We learn that postmodern thinking is how we became aware of the “subtle soup of racism [and bias] in the cultural field itself”—beyond the concrete, obvious social injustices that activists fought in the 20th century. This more subtle field of bias is responsible for the inequalities we see in society today, which is what the DEI movement would like to tear down. But the ways in which DEI acts to make this happen, ironically, are characterized by exactly the things that DEI is against: intolerance, inequity, undiversity, tribalism, and anti-liberalism.
In his wise, articulate, and gracious way, Keith makes sense of why the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement has become a political flashpoint, raising the hackles of not only rightwing conservatives but also liberal progressives. Sympathetic to the values of DEI, Keith is all about helping to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement. When asked how the values of DEI could be fulfilled to make it the harmonious, effective, correcting movement it aspires to be, Keith responded, “with conversations like this, for one thing,” adding, “we need to realize that everyone has a portion of truth—we just need to connect everyone’s portion of truth with their heart.” Recorded June 6, 2024.
“All of us deserve to be treated with dignity that is innate in all of us.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2DEI’s overemphasis on oppression and power: how it started (00:50)Critical race theory’s metaview is that the world operates on principles of power and oppression (01:57)The single cause fallacy (02:59) Drawing the wrong conclusions: Kenyans and marathons, women and STEM fields (04:10)Male dominance in sports caused by bias rather than biology? (12:03)The wage gap between men and women and significant difference it makes to control for factors (18:51)Why men outearn women at Uber: subtle differences in the way men and women behave (27:39)IQ and how men dominate the extremes of the Bell Curve (29:34)Fairness demands that everyone is treated the best way possible (34:18)Brief review of the main DEI flaws covered so far: DEI’s simplistic view of privilege; how DEI’s diversity doesn’t look at diverse mindsets; intolerance of other viewpoints; pushing everything through critical race theory; and how equality of outcomes can be oppressive, unfair, sexist & racist (35:31)Tribalism: DEI compartmentalizes everyone to a tribalistic identity, with the focus on race and sex (40:05)How to explain a white supremacist group run by people who are not white: multiracial whiteness (46:00)The primary goal should be to cultivate relationship rather than projecting a whole history on an individual based on... -
Ep. 145 (Part 1 of 3) | Award-winning author, Zen priest and teacher, Kung Fu master, and professional advisor and trainer, Keith Martin-Smith, took a good look at the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement when he began to notice the damage it was causing people he knew under the guise of progress, or equity. Putting his keen mind to the task, Keith identified seven key areas where the DEI movement goes markedly astray from the values it aspires to. Coming from an integral understanding, Keith does more than simply point out where the movement has backfired. We learn that postmodern thinking is how we became aware of the “subtle soup of racism [and bias] in the cultural field itself”—beyond the concrete, obvious social injustices that activists fought in the 20th century. This more subtle field of bias is responsible for the inequalities we see in society today, which is what the DEI movement would like to tear down. But the ways in which DEI acts to make this happen, ironically, are characterized by exactly the things that DEI is against: intolerance, inequity, undiversity, tribalism, and anti-liberalism.
In his wise, articulate, and gracious way, Keith makes sense of why the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement has become a political flashpoint, raising the hackles of not only rightwing conservatives but also liberal progressives. Sympathetic to the values of DEI, Keith is all about helping to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement. When asked how the values of DEI could be fulfilled to make it the harmonious, effective, correcting movement it aspires to be, Keith responded, “with conversations like this, for one thing,” adding, “we need to realize that everyone has a portion of truth—we just need to connect everyone’s portion of truth with their heart.” Recorded June 6, 2024.
“Everybody cares…they just care about different things. Consensus and change come from being willing to listen to what people care about and finding space to honor that.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing award-winning author, professional advisor & trainer, martial arts master, Zen priest & teacher Keith Martin-Smith (01:12) How Keith came to articulate what has gone wrong with the diversity, equity & inclusion movement (01:49)The divisiveness of DEI and the need to bring in an integral understanding (06:22)The difference between concrete, overt injustices and systemic injustice (08:27)The subtle soup of racism in the cultural field that we have become aware of in the postmodern period (11:19)All the punches at DEI are being thrown from an early rational or prerational worldview (15:26)What are the seven deadly sins of DEI? (18:15)DEI’s simplistic view of privilege, considering race, sex & gender, but not class, education & family of origin (19:00)What are healthy responses to having been given privilege (as opposed to shame and guilt)? (23:37)DEI proponents lecturing us about privilege don’t talk about their own privilege (26:50)The effect of neglecting class in DEI’s reductionist view of privilege (29:56)The problematic (undiverse) way the DEI movement treats diversity (34:31)Concrete racism versus subtle racism/microaggressions (37:49)Because... -
Ep. 144 (Part 2 of 2) | In the second A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series conversation, Hameed Ali describes how the practice of inquiry can aid us on our spiritual journey, illuminating our understanding of our personal experience and our soul. He uses the example of inquiring into a sense of worthlessness to illustrate what happens as we begin to investigate the terrain of our consciousness. There comes a point when the inquiry leads beyond where a psychologist would normally end—when it slips from psychological into spiritual inquiry. “If you stay with the wounding, something will emerge: a sense of inherent value. You recognize ‘I am presence’ and this presence has value—all the way to nondual presence and beyond.”
In introducing us to the Diamond Approach’s inquiry technique, Hameed covers a rich array of topics: the dynamism of consciousness; the importance of scientific objectivity in our exploration of inner experience; modern psychology’s revelation of how our sense of self develops; the essential qualities of curiosity and love of truth; and how understanding the ways in which the past influences the present disentangles it. Hameed is a masterful teacher—with just a few words he can illuminate vast territories of spiritual landscape for the purpose of helping his students learn to live their lives from a deeper, liberated condition. Rather than aiming to transcend our experience, Hameed assures us there is a way through, an unraveling we can do, as we discover never-ending realizations about individual consciousness and the nature of reality. Recorded July 4, 2024.
“The soul is a living embodiment of the life force.”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Basic trust: fundamentally we are an indestructible nature, but our basic trust can get whittled away (00:50)Feeling the love inherent to reality (05:27)Marrying ancient knowledge of the soul with advancements in modern psychology (06:09) Psychology provides us with answers about how our sense of self develops but not about what gets structured—the soul (09:35)Individual consciousness is impressionable, otherwise learning would not be possible (12:31)The self is nothing but the soul structured through the ego stages of development (14:28)Psychodynamics and the self-liberating quality of the soul (15:29)We need our sense of self in order to survive—and in order to become become illuminated, we need a body (17:21)To stay with the ego self is arrested development, but we can develop further to become conscious of consciousness itself (19:53)We can understand the terrain of experience rather than simply transcend it—we can go through it, unravel it, and open up different dimensions of reality as we go (21:40)As we inquire we go deeper, bringing liberation into ordinary life (24:58)The emphasis in the East is on liberation—the emphasis in the West is on how to fulfill life (26:06)What many nondual teachings don’t understand is the individual soul (27:14)The enlightenment drive: motivation beyond ego (30:38)Beyond the enlightenment drive: pure being coming through individual consciousness (34:45)
Resources & References – Part 2 -
Ep. 143 (Part 1 of 2) | In the second A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series conversation, Hameed Ali describes how the practice of inquiry can aid us on our spiritual journey, illuminating our understanding of our personal experience and our soul. He uses the example of inquiring into a sense of worthlessness to illustrate what happens as we begin to investigate the terrain of our consciousness. There comes a point when the inquiry leads beyond where a psychologist would normally end—when it slips from psychological into spiritual inquiry. “If you stay with the wounding, something will emerge: a sense of inherent value. You recognize ‘I am presence’ and this presence has value—all the way to nondual presence and beyond.”
In introducing us to the Diamond Approach’s inquiry technique, Hameed covers a rich array of topics: the dynamism of consciousness; the importance of scientific objectivity in our exploration of inner experience; modern psychology’s revelation of how our sense of self develops; the essential qualities of curiosity and love of truth; and how understanding the ways in which the past influences the present disentangles it. Hameed is a masterful teacher—with just a few words he can illuminate vast territories of spiritual landscape for the purpose of helping his students learn to live their lives from a deeper, liberated condition. Rather than aiming to transcend our experience, Hameed assures us there is a way through, an unraveling we can do, as we discover never-ending realizations about individual consciousness and the nature of reality. Recorded July 4, 2024.
“What does it mean that ‘I am spiritual in nature’ and what psychological constellation prevents us from knowing this?”
(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)
Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas), founder of the Diamond Approach, the Ridhwan School, and author of The Inner Journey Home and many more (00:59)Why inquiry is essential for transformation, beginning with an investigation of our own subjective, personal experience (04:13)Consciousness is a whole terrain of sensations, emotions, thoughts, reactions, images (09:47) First we need to become aware of what is obstructing our awareness, then inquire into why that block is there (10:54)Exploring the content of the self: start from the premise we don’t know everything that is going on and be open to finding out (12:57)Two essential ingredients for inquiry: curiosity and a love of the truth for its own sake (14:26)As you get better at inquiry, you learn not to interfere with the experience, to have no end in mind (18:05)Although practiced in the present, inquiry does not deny the impact of the past—it’s open to all time and space (21:35)Inquiring into the wound of worthlessness can bring up fear, then hurt—so we inquire into the fear (24:17)Everything is a question—nothing is left as ultimate truth (25:51)Deficient emptiness can turn into spaciousness (27:48)Roger’s synopsis of the elements of inquiry that Hameed has discussed so far (30:18)If you stay with the wounding, something will emerge: a sense of inherent value (35:46)What does it mean that I am spiritual nature and what psychological constellation prevents us from knowing... - Visa fler
