It's interesting for me, to notice from my position as an e-learning consultant, to extricate the "learning and skill building" theory that is utilized in the ILP Kit.

The ILP Kit - and I suppose most of the self-help kits out there - start from a very valid position for adult learners.

1.  Adult learning needs to be task and pragmatically based.
2.  Adults "choose" what they wish to learn
3. Self-directed

What really grounds learning and skill building for adults is small group interaction, as well absolutely relevant feedback. 

In most self-help modalites, this feedback aspect is simply - missing.  There aren't any "sounding boards" to adequately measure whether your meditation is improving, whether the usage of the physical exercise is going the right way, etc. 

I've thought that I would be able to make quite a decent living, developing the "after the training" parts of a self-help training curriculum. 

And this is definitely true in the case of ILP Kit DVD as well. 

Examples -

For the physical exercise training - there are task-based activities, but not percentage based assessment tracking.  Including this would be pretty simple - some type of broad measuring stick response, that would also go along with 2nd order assessment theories.

For the one minute modules especially - which are already on shaky ground from what is known about skill building on a physiological and the attention level - these type of included feedback forms would be a great help.

I've posted a article to Generation Sit - why is there suffering in the world? 

Go take a look, read the Wired article, and let me know your thoughts.

I have come to really love Google Reader, as a way to get my news, tag various posts, and act in some ways as an information manager. 

However, it is clear that there is simply too much to read - like music, too much out there, so I only read 'the biggies', and the people I know.

How a single SCOOP site handles posters, is that the people themselves in a scoop site, can RECOMMEND a post - thus Daily Kos recommended dairies.  So you are using the "Wisdom of Crowds" to find good posts by people you do not know.

I think you can do something similar with blog searcher engines, and blog readers.

I have some suggestions for rss readers in general, and specifically for the google setup. 

I am thinking that posts could get "rated", and I'm thinking in a 4 x 4 framework:

Style                               1   2   3   4
Importance Relevance     1   2   3   4
Informed/Accuracy         1   2   3   4
Recommend?                  1   2   3   4

This would work very well on Google Reader -

Down opposite the labels, have a "Rate It?" button, that opens up a small little grid of radio buttons for the 1-4, and each of the above qualities of rating.

Google then keeps this information in their database - across all people using Google Reader.

Then, there should be a link (or embedded) the Google Blog Search functionality, that on the Advanced Search, would incorporate these ratings (or perhaps a by? with the 4 categories).

That way, I could search blogs by utilizing not only the relevance engine already built-into google (links, popularity) but I could search by "Integral Practice", and "Recommended", and get the most recommended column ABOUT the search I am doing.

I don't know whether this is possible - but for example, technorati has begun to use authority as a way to build in relevance.  But incorporate ratings would make this even better.

Any thoughts on this?  Let me know if you think this exists somewhere.

Here is the integral bloggers wiki list.

Here is the link for the feed.

If you consider yourself an "integral" blogger, make sure to add yourself to the wiki blogger list. 

I'm also going to start using Integral Wiki to detail out a lot more about the ILP Kit - until I get some sort of cease and desist - although I doubt I will, because information "about" ILP Kit, acts more as advertisement than anything else...

Does normal life exercise the emotional body? And if not, what types of "practice" are useful?


It seems to me that this is an open question, as to "practicing emotion", being a healthy thing.  Here are the pluses and minuses -

Pluses -

When we are first born, as babies, we are ALL emotion.  Crying, screaming, laughing, beaming delightedly.  The over-abundance of emotion, is what terrorizes parents!

Of course, as we grow up, we learn - as we must - to "tone it down", "get control", etc.

And as we get older, we value calm, harmony, etc, and we don't value emotion as much.

At the same time, there is what I think is a truth - "use it or lose it".

To keep your physical body fit, you must exercise.

To keep your mind fit, you must exercise this as well - in either games, study, and other intellectual pursuits.

I think the same thing applies to interpersonal, and it definitely applies to any musical instrument.

So what happens to the emotions, if you don't "practice" the full range?  Do they also become "out of shape", "unfit"?

It's a strange thing.  I'm sure there IS a higher wisdom, in societies de-emphasis of emotion, especially as it related to lack of control.

But - if you don't use it, you lose it.

So the two truths above are both true, yet mutually contradictory.

Maybe the key is to exercise your emotions, the same way a vocalist would exercise their vocal chords?

Going up and down the "scales", every once in awhile, you would practice happiness, laughter, grief, rage, etc...

I think actors/actresses do this - keep the emotions "fresh", by practicing different emotional states.

Anyone have any thoughts on the right way to have access to full and flexible emotional states, while not getting involved in some "shout shout let it all out", wildness?

Thanks!

And I think it is even possible!

1. Simply have a very small rf or other type of transmitter in every product - or simply tape "your" rf transmitters to all your items -

2. then have the transmitters in all of your items ping the "ether" - like you can zero in on cellphones now. 

3. You have an interface to your own house, as part of "My Google".

4. Google integrates and improves various "automated bots", to give various personalities to the responsed google gives back to you.

Wham!  Instant "oscar the grouch" google keyfinder!

Per has a good article on "inner and outer integrations".

Specifically regarding recognizing non-dual Self, Big Mind, etc - there are a variety of methods which shift a person's selfhood, and yet do so in different ways.

Or some such.

First off, I read about Aeryck's "breakfast". 

I gotta say, that green glop looks like sewage, doesn't it? 

But - he points me to this Rob post at Zaadz, which extols the "best tasting and incredible for you too!" nature of the Full Strength drink.

That sounds - groovy, baby, groovy, yeah!!

BUT

I need to hear more, and Rob isn't exactly a disinterested party. 

Anyone else try out these shakes?

I completely agree with Graham here.

Of course, I disagree in that I-I "owns", in any meaningful sense, the term integral, or that "they ARE the authority".  If anyone had the "copyright" on the term, it would be Sri Aurobindo Ghose.

Also, I like the fact that there is separate Wiki for Integral - how about you?

Looking at the Fortune article, the benefits of taking time to be goal-less.

Also, the negative effects of multi-tasking.

I've gotten pretty good at multi-tasking with email and phone.  For awhile, with clients, I tried to have IM available - but that REALLY did not work.  I completely lost focus and productivity.

Another busy "practicer"...

I am more and more liking the idea of "1 Minute Modules", as a time saver, if for nothing else.

What's important to remember though - is that none of the exercises, meditations, and partipatory activities I do, do I mind doing - actually, I love doing them.  I would do more, if there WERE more time.  (What else should I be doing with my time?  Watching tv?)

I do make sure that I get  "goal-less" time.  Aimless time out in nature, nowhere to go, nothing to do, going to the beach, walking around barefoot - simply being without doing.  This is also priceless.

It is down on the right side, about 4 sections into the page.

Although again, better to simply grab the feed. - copying this link, into your feed reader.

I think this would be useful to have, especially considering that some of the features of the ILP Kit need to be built out - especially say, the Diet section - a simply "eat above the line!", isn't that useful when most of the variety of stuff is below the line.

So compiling a list of foods above the line would be pretty useful.

Also - how to get the most out of Big Mind, if you watching the video.  Umguy at Ideological Putty suggested converting Big Mind to audio, listening as a meditation, as being at least, if not more, effective than watching the video. 

More discussion of the 1 Minute Modules - does it work? build up cases for and against, etc.


(Update - Title edited for grammar - some of my poor texas white trash history showing through...)

So here is the deal -

I have created an integral wiki blogger list - this is a feed of all the bloggers that are listed at the Integral Wiki - on this page.

If you want a feed of people who are "integral bloggers", then if:

You use Google Reader, you can plug in this link: 

If you use any other reader, you can COPY this link, and plug it into the reader of your choice.

Now - and this is the crucial part - there are a LOT of integral blogs, that are not listed on the Integral Wiki.  (I'm thinking portland, deep surface, etc, etc)

Because it IS a wiki, you can add your OWN blog to the list.

I am notified of any changes on the Integral Wiki, so if I see a change, and someone has added their blog to the list, I will add them to the feed - and then your blog - or an integral blog you like - will appear in the feed (give me a day or so though).

This means you will be read automatically by anyone who subscribes to the feed. 

I'll post reminders of this for awhile as well.

I seem to have developed my own ideal 5/3 exercises life, for the basics -

Meaning 5 different modes of exercise/engagement/practice (dammit what is a good word that appeals to the masculine and feminine??) at 3 hours each a week:

3 hours of meditation
3 hours of study/listening (although I'm lumping tech study in with spiritual studies)
3 hours of weight-lifting
3 hours of cardio/yoga
3 hours blogging/communicating with network

I also am doing some community stuff, but it is a monthly thing.

Good that I don't have kids, couldn't do this otherwise!

UPDATE:  It's been pointed out to me that the last comment - the crack about kids - isn't the most enlightened comment, in the slightest.

A very fair point - apologies!   While I meant it to be humorous, clearly my comic developmental line needs a lot of work. 


I'm not getting rid of the comment though, but keeping it up, to remind everyone of what brain farts look like...

Not that there is time for them - but still, good to know!

This will be useful - chalk one more up to immediate social gratification.

Not only will I be able to create and Integral Feed - I can also show headlines on the site.

Of course, this is similar to the current Integral Feed I have - but from the same interface I read from - Google Reader.

Also based on tags you develop for each feed, which is great as well.

Go read here, but the key lines in my opinion:

One comment I have about the 321 process, however, is that in and of itself, it might only clear away minor emotional charges. I agree it's a great tool for identifying where projections might exist in relationships - and if you're lucky enough to be someone who's fairly clear and free flowing, then 321 might be all you'll ever need. But for deeply embedded or particularly snarled emotional stuff, some actual therapy and additional energy work is probably going to be required. The farther back in time an "emotional charge" is originating - in other words the farther back into your childhood or infancy a pathology goes - then the more difficult it will be to truly discharge that emotional energy and clear that block or snarl. Or you might find that you identify or clear a projection with one person, only to find the pattern repeating itself in other relationships, over and over again. It's like playing that damn gopher game at the carnival - you bash one, only to have another pop up right next to it.

The "mystery" of both our own personal emotional content and interactions, and then the emotional (and power) dynamics with others are worth commenting on, as this gets short shrift in integralism.  I think you also must have been DOING emotional work for awhile - either in therapy, or as part of some group process - to truly be able to grok this level that Jean is speaking about. (deeply embedded or snarled emotional stuff).

For myself, I was in therapy for a few years - and then also had the following.

A long time ago now, I participated in a MUCH different community, and a much different emotional practice.  I won't say too much about the community, because there were definite "cultish tendencies" happening, that I don't want to reward, even by mentioning - but there were some valuable lessons as well.

As far as the practice went, it was really "turning up the volume" on emotions, and giving it to God, praying with the emotional energy for clarity and for God to enter.

One of the revelatory aspects of that work, was FEELING - on a deep, existential level - just how much how I act, and everyone acts - is based on a constricted, egotistical self-justifying, emotional and defensive ego structure, rather than truly being PRESENT.

Basically, I - and we - act out of bure bullshit a hell of a lot more than I - and we -  think. 

Imagine this scenario -

Every time you act out of something other than "love" or "truth", or "wisdom" - and the same with others around you - you feel it, like a pain, or like a nails across a chalkboard.

When someone acts with a very constricted emotionality -
When I or someone justifies their position
When I or someone gossips,
when I or someone is mean,
when I or someone is defensive,
when I or someone is irrational,
when I or someone makes unnecessary conflict.

You feel it.  Like a throbbing toothache,  or a stab in the heart, I feel the consequences of being divorced from God, in how I defend, in every rude comment, in every lost soul on the street, in every snobbish intellectual commentary proclaiming union with source (as opposed to actual union with source)

That ability to feel separation from source, from being present - this was both a blessing and a curse (and in the end, more of a curse).

And the thing is - I would feel on a gut level that the daily actions and interactions from separation from source, quite outnumber the interaction from being one with source. 

And yet, nothing can be done about it - I feel my own limitations to "act" in a more loving, true way, and definitely with others, I cannot do much, except to feel the separation. Although slowly, I would end up being more present.

As one can imagine, confrontation was sometimes utilized in this mode of interaction, and being made aware of acting from that which is not source - "acting from illusion", as the case is made.

This was sometimes painful and rewarding - as truth is rewarding, when the confrontation was focused on my own limitations/games.

And sometimes this was painful and not rewarding - when the confrontation was meant to prop up the cultish aspects of the organization.

This "emotional and existential separation from God" - that can be delved into and felt by anyone, and with it my own and other people's ACTS are also felt - as coming from separation or not, or some combiation of the two.

It's a powerful ability, but a bit of a hopeless one as well.

At any rate - the integral approach offers nothing I have seen to facilitate growth on this particular level.  This level of emotional and gut truthfulness of being separate - acting out of fear, ego, greed, etc (seven deadly sins and more) or acting out of a deep, solid, loving, and strong, emotional open and flexible- "real" presence.

Are you LOVE or are you separate?  Who and what do you SERVE? In this moment?  And this moment?

On the other hand, experiences of oneness can happen on a level OUTSIDE the normal mode of mind/body emotional and will interactions.  And focusing on the separation AT THE LEVEL of emotion and will - is this useful, or is this in itself, reinforcing the separate world??

At the end, I had to disconnect myself from the process - not only because of the cultish tendencies of the organization (I always kept a distance from the org), but also because the process ended up being too painful - the daily grind of feeling separation both in myself and around me, mellowed by the sense of emotional merging with the Divine that the practice encouraged.

And now, I have more peace.  Less agony/ecstasy.  Also, I am still "aware" of the B.S., of separation - but now I "see" it, rather than "feeling" it, on an ongoing basis.

And I don't know whether this is good or bad.  During that time, I was more emotionally connected to others - and people felt this - but I was suffering a hell of a lot more.  Now, I am less emotionally connected to others - but I am much happier and more at peace.

I've wandered far afield from  Jean's original post.  

But what is clear is - and this goes back to the issue of things that are emotionally and gut charged -  there is very little in integralism itself which deals with the immediacy of FEELING the daily separation from source, and how to integrate this, on a gut and emotional level.  There is a lot of "assuming the close" - we are already one with THAT SOURCE - which of course is also TRUE, at one level.

I'm not sure this core PERSONAL level - of being truly present or being separate - must be worked through to truly be FULLY realized.

But my gut feeling is, yes, this PERSONAL knot of separation must be untangled, or released.

By at least a bit. I'd say this month - in which I've been fairly successful in tracking spending (yay!) I've also reduced spending by about 20% - without consciously "spending less". But still being aware of how much was spent today, or yesterday, or the day before, had an effect on frivolous spending. Now of course, if I reduced a lot of things I really don't need to spend on, such as eating out, Starbucks, etc - the effect would be increased. But simply by tracking everything, I feel the impact of "each dollar", so to speak, and there is a more natural tendency to be a bit more conservative.   more »

I'm a sucker for hokey, bad movies, so this particular story had me chuckling.

At any rate, start with this post.

And then continue on to the trailer.

Great post from coolmel, regarding his flow of blogging - basically, he is "being blogged" by flow, rather than being a guy just blogging.

Now - is this just a function of creativity?  I posted this as a comment - that creativity is touched by God, and can flow through any type of activity - Quarterbacks have reported it while playing football, dancers have reported it while dancing, scientists have reported it, etc.

Now, is "flow", its own type of realization?  A glimpse into the realization of what already is so? Or is flow a glimpse of future human's capabilities?

I would hate to say that "blogging is spiritual practice", as clearly blogging is not physical practice.

But of course, divine creeps in everywhere - so is flow and inspiration from the self, the super-self, or the Divine?

Or all three?

Jean at the Human Bean has a pointer to the type of sychronicity and flow that Rommel speaks about - worth a read to hear Philip K. Dick speak.

Here is a great link that delineates the organizational nature of communities that come together for practice.

Something to keep in mind, and something for us to consider while starting to form loosely connected - to eventually more deeply connected - communities of interest around Integral Practice.

For the most part, the Stage of Development for Integral Practice is Potential, and Coalescing.

There are some significant difficulties right now for forming communities of practice however:

1. Significant overlap with similar entities.  There are already several spiritual and health organizations that do similar things.  Is Integral simply a larger mental superstructure, that actually contributes nothing unique, in the way of skillful means?
2. Diffusion of goals - is it personal practice?  Spiritual growth?  What methods?  Is everything allowed?  What is the container of practices that everyone can coalesce around?
3. Responsibilites of the core community - do these exist?  Is there buy-in? 
4. Inspirational leadership leading to a collective action plan.  There is a large gap here for the Integral Community.  After reading one of Ken books, you are fired up, ready to go and "be integral", and then...um...well, I guess I can start meditating?

These begin to be answered by the Integral Life Practice kit.  These are practices that people can begin to coalesce around.  But there is a lot of refinement work to be done here.

Really, what integral can contribute is the following:

a. Agency of discernment - THIS practice - of the hundreds of practices out there, is reliable. 
b. Exercises and research into cross-training - combining THIS daily exercise with THIS daily exercise - gives cumulative beneficial effects.

For myself, this is about joining with others:

a. meditation
b. advaita
c. skillful means for body, mind, community.

I wonder how tongue in cheeck this is?

Hmm, somehow I doubt that blogging counts as transformational, although it can be very translational.

I'm going to borrow Vince's excellent post to deal with the category confusion apparent here.

Still, the value of blogging is perspectival, and ongoing dialogue, can point to the real, as much as the false.

There's a decent chance that blogs like Mystery of Existence , may have the ability to shift the perspective of identity from the false to the real.

When multi-media gets incorporated, shift is here!

Open source brain training.

Check it out.

UPDATE - don't click the link - while it was the right link, this is now gone. 

I don't have access to the whole article, but interesting abstract:

Here is the link

Thoughts?

UP

After reviewing some of the Big Mind, and talking about it with a couple of other people:

It makes a big difference in the effect of Big Mind, if you do it in a live group, with a good facilitator, as opposed to watching a video.

Huge difference. 

The whole flavor seems to be lost, without this. 

Anyone else experience this?

Here's the information.

ILP Kit discussion - should be fun!

and why it will stay that way for awhile.

The article identifies six reasons why the ipod succeeds - and how difficult it is for any single player to match all six competitive advantages.

With apologies to VC!

I've been enjoying going through the ILP Kit, and listening to the Dvd's.

One of the things I am pleased about, is the "Integral Inquiry" long form.  This is your basic eastern meditation practice - and actually, is the variation that I adopted for "ease in a busy life", over 10 years ago.

the basic practice is a quick centering, and then breath counting - and then I use the same thing, in that the breath counting stops after awhile, and the breath is simply paid attention to.

So that is simply good to know.  This basic practice in various traditions can get a lot of refinements, such as breathing in one notril, then the other.  Breathing in energy, breathing it out, etc.  But the basic practice of counting breaths and resting in awareness, is the ground.

For me, when this practice is very deep, therre is a subtle dissolving of the inner and outer awareness, into just awareness meeting what is arising - in and out.

This is a fundamentally different practice - and a different viewpoint - than say, Big Mind, or Advaita pointing out instructions.   In that type of embracing the "view" - there is a fundamental shift of identity - somewhat separate from awareness arising.  In this "seeing" is different, in that the identity shifts to this subtle quietly joyful identity, that arises moment by moment, breath by breath.

the two have not met, for me - which eventually is supposed to happen.  

People like Brad Warner (assuming he is being honest and on the level) look at Big Mind, Advaita Vedanta, and says they are B.S.  Just sit, until all the contents of consciousness are met, and the clarity of what is will shine through. 

However, there is a profound awakening that happens through BigMind, Advaita Vedanta, Course in Miracles, Tibetan Buddhism, etc. 

Because that understanding is so profound -and yet can also fall away (in my experience) - it's still an open question whether "the view" - which is open for anybody to shift into, and experience the profoundness of - is some type of final end.

Was browsing through some of Bill's earlier postings on Integral-Fitness Options.

Came across this one.

I think these hints still work now, don't you?