Occupy Love

This evening, I saw Velcrow Ripper’s film Occupy Love. It’s the third in the series, after Scared Sacred and Fierce Light. It was held as a free showing in a local church, a rare showing in his home town. (the previous 2 had theatre runs) It was also crowd funded.

“Occupy Love explores the growing realization that the dominant system of power is failing to provide us with health, happiness or meaning. The old paradigm that concentrates wealth, founded on the greed of the few, is causing economic and ecological collapse. The resulting crisis has become the catalyst for a profound awakening: millions of people are deciding that enough is enough – the time has come to create a new world, a world that works for all life.”

He asks “How can the crisis we’re facing become a love story?” The film explores the Alberta oil sands project, the Occupy movement where he spends time during the Wall St. protest, and several other events. He speaks with a number of participants and experts on social change. It shows the Occupy Movement from a different reference point than was common in the media. For example, they used horizontal organization which was foreign to those used to hierarchy. And love was a major theme. Did you know that?

The film speaks of solutions revolving around raising consciousness, changing paradigms, and love. In discussions afterwards, it was clear some attendees viewed these as abstractions rather than practical solutions. That was a good reminder. And we discussed how things have evolved since Occupy, such as with Idle No More. Non-violent or Compassionate Communication was also observed to be growing.

“We live in a time of record-breaking crisis, but it’s also a time of record-breaking vision.” Not “the 99%”, 100%.

The State of Illusion

Finally got a chance to see Austin Vickers film People vs The State of Illusion. As a former lawyer, he sets the story of the film in a trial and prison as metaphors for the prisons of belief we build for ourselves.

Like the film What the Bleep, it’s a series of experts talking about our personal reality, interspersed with the story of a man jailed for causing a fatal accident. The information comes fast, with quick edits from commentary to commentary. Also like What the Bleep, the (few) film critics generally hated it while the audience loves it. Anything that suggests we can have a direct effect on our reality is rejected by some outright.

We got Vickers himself for a Q&A afterwards. Judging by the questions, many people missed some of the main points in the deluge of info, but the subtlety of the message was also unfamiliar to many.

The key message is recognizing the difference between content and process. Most of the time, we ignore how we are relating to people and events, focusing on the what or content. What is being said, what is happening, and judging the what as good or bad. But if we’re unconscious of the process underlying the content, we’re unable to separate ourselves from it and are caught in a reactive mode. We feel like a victim.

If we take a step back and notice the process of the interaction, and under that, the process of how we’re internally responding, we begin to have choice in how we’re responding. I’ve spoken about this in a number of ways before. A deeper stepping back means the observer or witness mode. Then recognizing ourselves as the awareness in which the process is taking place. Then we see the meaning and judgements are what we add to it, our story, not what is actually taking place.

Unlike the film, he also framed it as learning to listen. What are we being called to do? This is aligning with the universe, God or whatever you’d like to call it.

The various speakers illustrated how we see the world says more about us than the world. Two you may have met in What the Bleep. Two others were a part of Princeton’s PEAR (“Scientific Study of Consciousness-Related Physical Phenomena”) project.

He noted (and the story illustrated) that if we see our behaviour as negative, it won’t change. We’re focused on the problem. Whereas if we ask what value the negative behaviour has for us (eg: drinking to mute feelings), we can see it as it is and can change. If we believe ourselves to be broken, we will remain so. Healing is much easier when we see ourselves as whole rather than broken.

Vikers observed that the clothes we’re wearing all started as an idea. And the chair we were sitting in, and the building, the city, the province, the country – all ideas. He said the Law of Attraction (The Secret) did not work from simple intention alone but rather from belief. Watching our process reveals what the underlying beliefs are. Expectations also point to beliefs.

On several questions, Vickers turned the question back on the questioner as they were not recognizing their own process [story] and resulting assumptions. Like using “we” to assume everyone thinks like me. It’s so ingrained that we may not even realize we’re doing it, assuming our stories about the world to be true. And because we identify with our beliefs, we associate them with ourselves. When they’re questioned, this can trigger ego defenses. We take it personally and are emotionally reactive. If we notice we’re reacting, it’s a good sign there’s something to notice and resolve. We can follow the feeling back to its assumption.

It’s the kind of film you may want to see more than once to digest. There’s a lot of information, some of which is framed uniquely. And it doesn’t summarize main points. The DVD evidently has another hour of footage from the source interviews too.
Davidya

Bits of Time

Time is a very curious thing. Some say it’s an illusion but I’d suggest it’s better to understand it as an experiential effect.

Fundamentally, the seed of time arises in the initial dynamics of creation. Awareness curves back on itself and becomes self-aware. In the subtle space between awareness and itself is born space and in the process of recognizing itself, time.

Time on this level is a reflection of the flow of awareness, a dynamic of experience. Individually, however, we experience time from a focal point of attention. Thus, we notice a series of sequential experiences: this, then this, then this. The mind & brain ties it together for us.

This is much like going to a movie. When we watch a film, we see the flow of a story unfolding. But the film (even digital) is made of a sequence of frames or still pictures. Projected at sufficient speed, our mind merges them into a flow just as it does the world.

The recent Hobbit film was displayed in some theatres at 48 fps, twice the old film rate and 38% faster than digitals usual 30 fps. Curiously, this made it seem artificially more real, suggesting it was faster than necessary. However, this may also have been an effect of newness.

Recently, I saw a talk by Dr. Renate Loll on a theory of Quantum time, suggesting time existed before the big bang (creation of the universe) but space began with it. I would suggest that based on the above, this is partly accurate. Local or universe-space begins with the universe but the universe originates in a larger creation-space mentioned above in the fundamental dynamics of self-awareness. The creation-space holds multiple non-parallel universes, each with variations in laws of nature relative to our own. Time as an effect of the process of experience originates in the creation-space also, concurrently with space.

Every object we experience originates in a self-aware dynamic and we experience the world through our own personal experiential space or me-space. This is a fundamental aspect of awareness. Thus, clearly we see space is nested. We share a common universe-space and creation-space.

Recent research published in the journal Psychological Science suggests “our perceptions of time are grounded in our experiences of movement through space: We tend to feel closer to the future because we feel like we’re moving toward it.” That would be describing local or me-space.

There are a number of ways of experiencing time between a series of small bits and original flow. There is the experience of larger and larger hunks of time being present now, such as being inclusive of ones past or all past and future. There is the sense of being in the present now where time seems to stop incrementing. There is the sense of eternity or all time in the present. And the sense of timelessness or the sense of time never having been. Each of these are shifts in our relationship with the way experience unfolds, mainly because of shifts in our relationship with who we are.

But even cosmically, our sensory experience of the world still comes through a focal point of awareness and thus is experienced this way or that rather than all at once.
And that’s a relief.
Davidya

Father Thomas Keating

My first real exposure to Father Keating was in the film One, the Movie (2005). I bought the DVD and the extras DVD that included the entire interviews*. More recently, I discovered he played a key role in helping a contacts healing from a cult I knew of.

I recently had the pleasure of hearing a new interview with Father Keating. While a Christian Father, he is well-versed in the faiths and philosophies of the world, is active in Inter-spirituality, and developed and promotes Centering Prayer. The last is a practice that is surprisingly like Effortless Meditation that I recommend. (see also Jewish Sh’ma “meditation.”)

If you read the article What is Consciousness?, you’ll know the importance of the means to direct experience of our spiritual nature. Father Keating similarly emphasizes this. The interviewer has a background in the Vedic tradition of India but Father Keating has no trouble speaking to his terminology and questions.

Father Keating speaks of Unity without recognizing the full depth of it, suggesting the Isness aspect of God and the expressed God, or Father and Son, can never unite. As I’ve explained here, even the Holy Trinity unites in advanced Unity. However, the few minor points like this are just quibbles with the extent of it, not with the content. He is a remarkable example of the value of surrender and gratitude, common subjects on this blog.

1 hr 50 min

On BATGAP

Contemplative Outreach
See the link on the left for Contemplative Prayer. That page includes instruction documents and the workshops he recommends to help you establish the practice correctly. As I’ve mentioned here, it’s very easy to mess up effortless practices as it’s such a habit to try. And that small change is the difference between direct experience of Divinity and a headache.
Davidya

*They now sell the full interviews as audio files separately, probably due to the expense of mastering another DVD. My original purchase was burned, not produced, an early home-brew of the project that was later manufactured when the funds were raised.

Gratitude for Self

I’ve spoken here a lot about the importance of gratitude. Being thankful for what’s in our lives helps culture an openness and allowing. It also helps enable support.

But there’s a deeper aspect of gratitude than just being thankful for the people and things in our life. It’s being grateful for ourselves.

This may, like self-love, sound like narcissism. What we’re talking about is something much deeper. For most of us, buried under all our emotional drama is a wounded self, a self that feels alone, unworthy and/or unsafe.

For some seekers it is very easy to accept that the ego is bad and needs to die. It builds on the old unworthiness. But this is just more story. Even though some may experience a sense of “ego-death” in awakening, the ego function remains and continues. Otherwise we could not function in the world. The actual shift is from identification with an ego concept of self to cosmic Self (or no-self). And that takes place through allowing, not rejecting.

It takes great courage to reach beyond gratitude for what is in our lives to being grateful for our life itself and who we are. We would not be here if we had no purpose or function. In the film It’s A Wonderful Life, Bailey questions the value of his life and is shown what it would have been like without him. While you may consider this a little maudlin, it illustrates how we often don’t recognize the impact we’ve had on others and the benefits we’ve brought the world. Our natural gifts can be least obvious to us as they come so naturally.

Sure, we’re not perfect in a superficial sense. That’s the nature of living in a divided reality. But finding gratitude in what we can offer is profoundly healing. It brings light to what is often a very dark place for us.

And that’s a fine thing indeed.
Davidya

Sacred Economics

A local filmmaker has made a short film to highlight the book Sacred Economics.

I’ve not yet read the book but enjoyed the film. As a number of historians have observed, when the spread between rich and poor gets as great as it is now, it’s usually the downfall of the civilization. And we certainly need a better understanding of economics and alternative solutions if we’re going to create a more equitable and sustainable culture.

The book is available in print, ePub, and as a “gift” on-line through the site.

“Sacred Economics traces the history of money from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, revealing how the money system has contributed to alienation, competition, and scarcity, destroyed community, and necessitated endless growth. Today, these trends have reached their extreme but in the wake of their collapse, we may find great opportunity to transition to a more connected, ecological, and sustainable way of being.

This book is about how the money system will have to change and is already changing to embody this transition. A broadly integrated synthesis of theory, policy, and practice, Sacred Economics explores avant-garde concepts of the New Economics, including negative-interest currencies, local currencies, resource-based economics, gift economies, and the restoration of the commons. Author Charles Eisenstein also considers the personal dimensions of this transition, speaking to those concerned with “right livelihood” and how to live according to their ideals in a world seemingly ruled by money. Tapping into a rich lineage of conventional and unconventional economic thought, Sacred Economics presents a vision that is original yet commonsense, radical yet gentle, and increasingly relevant as the crises of our civilization deepen.”

Super, Natural BC

And on that theme, while not as fun, my home…

You gotta be here…. 

Inspired by Iceland

And now for something Completely Different, as Monty Python liked to say…

Who knew Iceland could be so much fun…

Thanks Maja

Oh My God

This evening, I watched the Peter Rodger film Oh My God. The film is said to be a journey through 23 countries asking one question, “What is God?” He did however venture into some other questions, like “why do people fight in the name of religion?” He expressed surprise at how many Palestinians and Jews saw the conflict as unnecessary. And he included a few extremists. And a few of the famous. Bob Geldof was surprisingly negative. Ringo Starr and Hugh Jackman were unexpectedly clear. After saying that Buddhists don’t believe in God, some renowned Buddhists answered the question.

Regularly during the film, the filmmaker comments on recent interviews. Some of his thoughts I found summarized recent points. Others expressed his own lack of certainty or clarity. They occasionally seemed irrelevant. On a few occasions, interviewees made very clear comments about the nature of God and he blew past it. The editing also didn’t really take us into some of the deeper interviews.

What I saw was an apparent resistance to God being anything more than a choice of faith or an intellectual concept. One of the earlier interviewees commented that Carl Jung said he no longer believed in God, he knew God to be real. But no interviewees managed to get any closer than that.

Given that God (by whatever name you prefer) can be discovered, experienced, and known, there was a sorry lack of that in the film. Those who began to point to that were cut away from too quickly. Including one who observed that the film was based on the wrong question. Perhaps that was part of the issue.

One fellow commented that faith is a key factor early on. You need a ladder to get to the roof. But once on the roof, pass the ladder to someone else. Good advice. When experience begins, just a little faith or openness is required to not push it away. Once that connection is established, it ceases being a question of belief. But note that faith is not quite the same thing as belief. Belief is a concept and like all concepts, can be a barrier to experiencing what is beyond concepts. True faith on the other hand is an openness of the heart.

The role of the heart was briefly touched on, as was that God is within everything and in the space between us. He could also have touched on Interfaith. And where was the person saying “What is Not God?”

The film reminded me of One, the Movie. That one began with 20 questions but the film was allowed to evolve and came to focus on the common answer that We are One. The result was a more satisfying film than Oh My God.

The closing had good messages about finding out for yourself and that all faiths really preach peace and love. But the smorgasbord of variety didn’t communicate a core message. I notice this complaint in a few reviews as well.

Still, there was gorgeous photography and certainly a diverse presentation of answers to the question, even if the greater opportunity was missed.
Davidya

Related posts:
Cycles of Faith
Do you Believe in God?
Unfolding God

Understanding God Realization from a Western standpoint
More God Realization
Understanding God Realization

The Shadow Effect

Last summer, I mentioned the new flick by Debbie Ford, The Shadow Effect. Basically a film leading you to take a look at your dark side.

In our culture, we tend to take the Star Wars approach. Stay with the light or you’ll be lost to the Dark Side and never escape the evil power. Yet those ruled by the dark side were actually so because they HADN’T faced their dark side. That’s why it could control them. Unless we face our dark side, we will never be complete. This is not only true for our spiritual evolution but for our health and well-being as well.

From an energetic perspective, our dark side is associated with our lower chakras. If this is plugged up, we can be ungrounded, feel powerless, lack confidence, feel fearful, ashamed or otherwise unworthy, have trouble connecting with others and in intimate relationships, and so forth. These are the centers of our power, ability to relate, our feelings, our passion, and our physicality.

As I mentioned in the prior post, I talk of the shadow story, a sub-conscious back-story to our life that informs many of our responses to circumstances that arise. The only problem is, that story is usually one built on pain and resistance. We are thus running hunks of our life based on fighting what doesn’t work for us rather than working with what does.

Some may consider this sort of self examination as self indulgent. Others will find it quite scary or uncomfortable to look at. But it’s the old bogeyman under the bed thing. The fear we have of the shadow can be greater than what awaits there. That’s not to say it will be easy to face, but in facing it, we clear those obstacles in our lives that may have thwarted our happiness and success for years.

In many ways, this is an ongoing process. After we begin looking at our baggage, we’ll soon find we need a habit of stopping to take a look when a disproportionate or questionable response shows up. Where did that come from? With tools like this, we’ll find ways to look and release.

This not only fixes the tendency to react rather than respond, but it unloads the baggage we’ve carried that drains our energy, happiness, and ability to give. As we do the work, our experience of life gets progressively better and life responds in kind.

Others I know recommend Sedona Method or Byron Katies The Work. The second you can start free on her site. But I would certainly call this DVD a great introduction to your other side. I found it quite potent and surprisingly effective even though I’ve done such work for awhile. Just it’s unique approach gave me another perspective I’d not tried before.

You’ll want to get the Interactive version of the DVD. It consists of the movie, then on a second DVD, the movie interspersed with the exercises that help you see your own shadow. This way, you can watch the film and get familiar with the ideas, then watch it again doing the exercises.

For example, in one of the simple exercises we’re shown the shadow side of what we value most. A force in us that, unseen, can thwart our success and happiness. But it’s a force that is also “gold” if we learn to accept it as an aspect of ourselves.

In the film, there is clip of Marianne Williamson reading her famous quote that has oft been attributed to Nelson Mandela.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…”

I notice the Shadow Effect book is structured quite differently. I’ve not seen it. Rather than a conversation about the shadow with a wide range of speakers, the book is presented as being in 3 parts, each by Deepak Chopra, Ford and Williamson.

Debbie also offers several related on-line courses. 2 of them are available free on Oprah’s site. The 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse series as well as a 6 week Shadow Effect series.

For more:
theshadoweffect.com

Funnily enough, after you get a little practice at this sort of looking, it can actually be fun. Like a sort of hide and seek game. We’re getting to know parts of ourselves that our shadow has tried to hide. When we see them, many of the running assumptions we picked up as children can seem silly to adult eyes. But their effect on our lives can be surprising. And each seeing brings with it a tonic of relief. And a deeper understanding of who we are and what we have to offer.
Davidya