GREAT meeting in Nashville and a big thanks to Tim Miner and OUnI. And, by the way, Fr. Keating has now sent an Endorsement for The Coming Interspiritual Age.
My recent on-line discussions with Ken Wilber (at Integrallife.com under NOW) and with Rick Archer (at BATGAP.com) show interesting patterns in the responses to which a number of people have already called attention.
Whereas, the discussion at Integral Life– a discussion of full-spectrum engagement in the word by Awakened Awareness– has gotten over 200 LIKES, the discussion at BATGAP — where many proponents of “Neo-Advaita” tune in– has shown a propensity of responses saying “It is not enlightened to want to help the world” “the world is an illusion” “anyone wanting to help the world is not enlightened” “we only have the responsibility to awaken, not to try to help the world” ETC. And, of course, they quote the great sages to buttress this “escapist” AND DUALISTIC point of view. They do not seem aware that this is an evolving paradigm. Have the missed the entire Evolutionary Consciousness discussion?????
This is very interesting! Of course it shows that people are concerned about their I quadrant first, the We quadrant second and, somewhere down the line, if at all, occurs their concern about the It and It’s quadrant. But it also brings up the concern that Rabbi Rami Shapiro at Nashville that, indeed, there may not be time for humanity to save itself by full spectrum awakening.
I just wanted to comment on how this pattern of “spiritual bypass” is still SO BIG and SO POPULAR in the “Dharma community”. We have a lot of work to do! And several dharma teachers who have responded to me also say that they are amazed at the prevelence of these view in their communities.
see quote from Wayne at bottom:
By the way, I’m doing 2-3 events a week now re: The Coming Interspiritual Age (and the Ezine, and the website also, should emerge very soon). TCIA remains in Amazon’s top 10 and 20 in Spirituality depending on the list but seems to reflect interest in our passion……
We also see some “conflictedness” erupting…. some of the interviews and resultant blogs have particularly centered on this debate (which would seem strange to us, I know, but is still big in some of the dharma community) about whether spiritual awakening has any responsibility re: helping other people or the world (i. e. “activism”). There is still a significant part of the “otherworldly” dharma traditions that still teach that the world is an illusion so therefore anyone who is “awake” knows there is no need to help anyone. I wonder if they call 911 when someone is urgently ill in their household? hum….. but the blogs have reflected this– that anyone with skills, or education, etc. cannot be “spiritual awake” because spiritual awakening means complete obliteration of the ego. It is a misunderstanding, I know, but surprisingly prevalent, esp. in “Neo-Advaita”.
thought you might enjoy those comments… of course TCIA is all about “engagement” so “the world is already perfect, no need to do anything school” is striking back a little. Where is the Heart in that? makes you wonder… I think of course the answer is that initial “awakenings” are often mental and don’t engage the Heart….
here is the great line from Bro. Wayne:
“If transformation is only a matter of consciousness then there is always the risk that the change many never touch the deeply hidden intentions of the heart. If the will is not involved in the radical change the spiritual process initiates, then the resultant “enlightenment” is only partial. Clearly, if the mystical process is to be complete, it must include a profound transformation in the will. Achieving an ultimate awareness of the way things are is simply not enough!” (MH, p. 89).
love from here
kurt