Devotion, Discernment and Cults
Devotion is essential on the spiritual path, but we must also avoid cults and cultishness. Some points from Khandro Rinpoche are summarized here.
Understanding Spirituality
A forum devoted to deepening spiritual understanding.
On Self-Remembering
The first in a series of posts about self-remembering and self-recognition. The work of George Gurdjieff, A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali) and Faisal Muqaddam, among others, will be explored. This post contains a poem by Derek Walcott that speaks beautifully to the subject.
The Superego (Inner Critic) and Mediation
It is a true joy to live life free of a punitive superego (inner critic). In order to do this, though, we have to learn about the phenomenon of judgment, the superego and the inner critic. In a previous post, the basic structure and function of the superego was described. In this post, the superego’s (inner critic’s) relationship to conflict and conflict resolution is discussed.
Beyond the Superego: A Musical Offering
A wonderful video for inspiration, meditation and reflection. Jennifer Berezan and her friends demonstrate collaborative spirituality by weaving their voices together in a spirit of lovingkindness for all.
Beyond Technique: Trauma Healing, Mediation and Spirituality (Wu wei or 無為)
A post about the tension between technique and presence during deep moments of resolution in trauma healing, spirituality and mediation. True mastery is not “doing” but wu wei, the ability to act while holding this tension. Draws on Peter Levine’s trauma work, (Somatic Experiencing®), the work of Daniel Stern, the Theory of Holes (A. H. Almaas and Faisal Muqaddam), and the work of J.G. Bennett, as well as Elizabeth Bader’s writings on the IDR cycle.
Appendix to “Beyond Technique: Trauma Healing, Mediation and Spirituality”
In “Beyond Technique: Trauma Healing, Mediation and Spirituality,” Elizabeth Bader uses several terms from Daniel Stern repeatedly. However, Stern uses these key terms in ways that do not necessarily conform to their obvious meaning or normal usage. For that reason, this post provides those definitions. All definitions are from Daniel Stern’s book, The Present Moment in Psychotherapy and Everyday Life (W. W. Norton & Company, 2004).
Mediating with Genghis Khan: On Working with Difficult People (Yeh-Lu Ch’u Tsai; Yelu Chucai)
Yeh-Lu Ch’u Tsai saved millions of lives through his work with difficult people, including Genghis Khan. Using his life as a model, this post discusses how to work with difficult people, and how respect and spiritual integrity, combined with hard-headed realism and objectivity, form the basis for service to others.
Recovering Essence on the Spiritual Journey (Almaas, Muqaddam and the Theory of Holes)
The “Theory of Holes” developed by Hameed Ali (pen name, A. H. Almaas) and Faisal Muqaddam with Karen Johnson provides a map for the process of recovering essence on the spiritual journey. Limitations in cases of trauma are noted.
Freud Encounters the Spiritual Journey: An Early Theory of Holes
The Theory of Holes articulated by Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) and Faisal Muqaddam explains how essence can be recovered during the spiritual journey. Freud articulated many elements of the theory nearly a century ago.
From Judgment to Compassion: The Superego (Inner Critic) In Spirituality & Conflict Resolution
In order to move to a place of compassion we each must dissolve the internal psychological structure known as the inner critic or superego. This post, the first in a series, discusses this core work on the path of integrating psychology, spirituality and conflict resolution. We begin with the first step in this process: learning to recognize the inner critic inside.