Saw this article on communities of practice, utilizing the internet. 

This whole space is in flux, as "communites of practice - maybe one could say "communities of interest", as this is more accurate - these tools keep changing, and getting better.

From Yahoo Groups, to Google Groups, to MySpace, to blog cross-fertilization, to mega-blogs utilizing Scoop software, to newer tools such as Multiply or Project Comet.

As a sideline - am I the only who is completely annoyed by Yahoo Groups?  And who also isn't very excited by the typical online forum space?  (Such as what is available at Integral Naked or Integral Review)

Stylistically, I don't know - these just don't motivate me.  I much prefer the blog back-and-forth, combined with RSS.

What are other people's favorite online community software/environments?

At least for me. 

How to use GMAIL as CRM. 

Tip to Lifehack, as per usual!

First this one at Indistinct Union. 

It's pretty hard to bring a holistic and spiritually informed view to subjects like "outsourceing", but CJ has a go of it.

Second, the Human Bean points me to the Ken Wilber's Towards A Comprehensive Theory of Subtle Energies.

What I like about this article are the diagrams.  But I really wish that Wilber would get better at sourcing some of the major work that has been done in this area.  

For example, as "new-agey" as it may be, there's quite a lot of work on subtle energies done by Barbara Brennan.  As a former NASA physicist, she is very aware of the the empirical methodology as well.

Please feel free to correct me, but at this moment I can't think of anytime Wilber has referenced this.

(By the by, does Wilber employ a stable of research assistants?  Even if he would "outsource" this to India, I would think the comprehensive nature of "The Theory of Everything" would require fact-checkers and research assistants...)

Last week I pointed out how a complete "physical" component of integral practice had 3 parts - cardio, resistance training, and stretching. 



Thinking about it, in my experience, this is true for meditative practice as well.

A complete meditative practice involves meditation on:

a. Awareness practice
b. Heart practice
c. The orientation and feedback with community/teacher to the Right View. (This part is what teachers/gurus are for.)

Without one of the three above, realization is missing either depth, understanding, or intimate connection.