Integral Way Community Update
Welcome to the Integral Way Community. We invite you to share and learn along with us through blogging, interactive forums and online classes. For detailed information please check out our website at www.integralway.org. Here are a few highlights from recent activities in the website.
Omni's talk at Yo San University
We had a rare treat in early December as Omni, also known as Master Ni, came to speak at Yo San University. His message is "you need to build your strength above the trouble from life." He said that our virtues are our strength. He suggested to use "Workbook for spiritual development" and the booklet "heavenly way" to do daily introspection, a very direct and effective way of self-cultivation. When answering a question about the crisis around us, he said: “Don’t be pessimistic, when you are achieved, the world will be achieved.” He said that the humanistic heart is one we all share together. We will have reflections and notes from Omni's talk on the website shortly, check out on our community homepage at www.integralway.org.
Dr. Mao's recent Sunday talk
In this monthly tele-talk, Dr. Mao talked about what lies behind some of the stress people feel around the holidays. Much of it arises from old childhood conflicts which have never been resolved. When families get together some of us regress to our childhood state. He suggested that to help overcome this we should try to facilitate a moment that allows people to share what has happened in the past year and during this make sure all are open and have no judgments. This can help family members connect with each other in this openness of expression and can allow everyone to feel love for each other.
Dr. Mao also talked about how to become less stressed with giving presents while also emphasizing the benefits of non-material type of gifts. He gives an example of his own family where they take a portion of the kid's gifting money and plant trees. In this way kids can learn the wonderful lesson of giving back to the world.
To listen to the entire talk go to Resources in the Community. His next talk will be January 17th at 7:00 PST and for detailed information go to www.integralway.org.
Barbara Wolff, the editor of Omni's book "Love of Mother Universe", invites you to participate in the book discussion with her:
Dear Friends,
We will begin our journey into Love of Mother Universe on Dec. 11. If you would like to participate please read the Preface, Introduction and Chapters 1 through 8, which is Part 1 of the book. We will spend two or so weeks on each Part. If the readings generate a lot of interest, sharings and questionings, we may spend longer-it depends on the feeling and response of the group.
To prepare, I suggest that we take the time to feel beneath the words as we read them, especially those phrases, paragraphs or sentences that touch us. If questions or wonderings arise, do not immediately post them, but quieten and hold the question in your mind to receive your own internal guidance in that moment or throughout the weeks. This way we can begin to form a deeper relationship with and trust of our subtle energies, which we can all gain the benefit of in our subsequent dialogues.
The journey is your own, so whether you read three pages or all of them is OK. What matters is the quality of how you read, wonder, reflect and be with the energy of the expressions. Sharing your insights, questions or expressions, however small, have the possibility of touching or moving others in untold and transformative ways.
Appreciatively,
Barbara
Excerpt from the discussions:
For me the nature of insistence plays through my body and mind as a tightness; force and extra tension. Depending on its degree, my vision tends to narrow and breathing stops or shortens. ...Because I am insisting on my way, my belief, my expectation rather than the natural flow and pattern of Great Nature’s way. I am essentially shaping her pure energy into patterns that I have learned to do consciously or unconsciously. Of course on our journey of self cultivation and purification we may have unlearned some of these habits, but if we look honestly and subtly we will notice that there are many that still exist (and which we may continue to pick up) dictating and shaping our cultivation efforts. Purification requires a sincere willingness to see all of what we are; to see into the roots of our emotions, intellectualism and psychology. Some of this is blind to us and this is why we have each other to help see, such as in PCL coaching tool or Wu Dao.
For more just go the Sharing Forum in the Community.
Our Recent Blogging:
Excerpt from recent post from Laraine: Wall to wall...Music:
"...Thinking about this principle of self-responsibility--choosing the 'music' of your life, as my friend did when he selected a bluegrass CD rather than just complain about carols--brings me back to a comment that OmNi, or Master Hua-Ching Ni, made earlier this week...he mentioned many contemporary problems... and said the only way to change/help the world is to "be responsible for your own life. Prove to the leaders through your own health the correct way of life."
What will you do to avert disaster in the holidays, or to phrase it more positively, what choices will you be making that reflect your commitment to health and balance? I'm really enjoying the opportunity for earlier bedtimes and more sleep in the cozy warm blankets in the mornings--hybernating appropriate to the season! What is your strategy for surviving this year's holiday challenges?"
Excerpt from Steven Sharkey: A limited Conceptual Understanding:
"...Now many years later, I understand that to study written books alone is not enough, and if one is not availing oneself of some sort of chi practice, then one is missing a wonderful opportunity for the potential of truly integrating these principals we study so enthusiastically with the rest of our being...In fact, it seems that when we cultivate effectively with constancy, faithfulness and sincerity, this integration just happens of its own accord. Simultaneously arising, is the realization that it is the responsibility of a life to develop itself, not for its own sake, but rather in the interest of unfolding the divine Universal Life itself."
For more go to the blog "Bamboo Grove" in the Community.
More from the Sharing Forum:
In our "excerpts from Omni's books and reflection" Vlasta shares several readings with us which brought out many insights and wisdom from Omni's teaching. Here is one of our favorites:
"... Trying to catch wisdom is like fishing: even if you are ready with your pole, line and bait, there is one more important requirement. You need to remain quiet, not move too often, be patiently still and wait for the fish to take the bait. Surely there are special techniques to fishing, but the most important one is controlling yourself in order to get the fish. So if you wish to obtain wisdom in a situation, use the same advice for successful fishing: remain quiet, sit still and wait patiently." (Enlightenment: Mother of Spiritual Independence, Teachings of Hui Neng, Chapter 8 by Ni. Hua-Ching)
Upcoming Retreat:
Our Chinese New year celebration and College of Tao 2010 retreat will be held at Yo San University at the weekend of 12-14 of February. For detailed information, please go to www.integralway.org.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
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