Awakening Integral: Part 1 – Ideas are Bullet Proof

When speaking about “Integral” in the context of next wave of consciousness it can be defined in many ways. Through my contact with Diane Hamilton (Zen sensei, Big Mind facilitator, and senior teacher at Integral Institute) I have come to greatly appreciate the fundamental definition she gives to the term “Integral”. Being “Integral”, Diane says, means nothing less than having the ability to take multiple perspectives. This is important to understand.

So, how does this happen?

As an individual evolves, their consciousness expands into increasing circles of care, concern, complexity and inclusiveness. From ego-centric, to ethno-centric, to word-centric, to kosmo-centric. Ones perspective expands from my perspective, to my people’s perspective, to all the humanities perspective, and finally to the perspective of all living Beings.

In the trajectory of this process the developmental line that tends to lead the way forward is the cognitive line. This means that before one can take a perspective, one must be able to imagine that perspective. The potential must be allowed to awaken within the mind of an individual, or group of individuals. This is a prerequisite for conscious evolution. Only when one can cognitively take a perspective can they then to feel into it, try it on, inhabited it, live it and finally, establish it in consciousness. First learn to talk the talk, then with practice, learning to walk the talk.

Evolution at the level of consciousness starts as potential in the mind. And the movement of this evolution starts with a thought, an idea, and imagination. All abilities of any perspective begin with an idea.

~ ~ ~

 
In 2007 the movie “V for vendetta” was released. The screenplay was written by the Wachowski brothers of  “The Matrix Trilogy” fame. In the integral scene it is well known that the Wachowski’s are integrally informed and good friends with Ken Wilber. So it is no surprise that “V for vendetta” is full of integral perspectives ranging from the movie’s themes, to it’s philosophy, the characters, the script, it’s message, it’s imagery and it’s cinematography. Including, of course, it’s inspiration.

I won’t go too much into the plot here but as a context I’ll say that it is basically a story based on the “pre-trans fallacy” and the confusion of what is a “freedom fighter” vs. what is a “terrorist”. The time is a not too distant future where the world has fallen into war, anarchy, and chaos and only “England prevails” thanks solely to the vigilance of it’s elected government.




A jack-booted fascist regime that slid into power after a series of dubious terrorist attacks against England that killed thousands and left the public in total fear. Through shameless manipulation of a complacent societies fear the state easily managed to imposed martial law and completely erase all civil liberties. Their motto “Strength through unity, unity through faith” basically means “you had better be with us, only we can protect you, don’t ask any questions!”.



Enter our hero V. A masked man who dares to stand up against the state with explosively dangerous actions, and even more dangerous words. His actions get the attention of the masses, but his words stir their hearts and shake their complacency. Personally, I was totally hooked on this movie in an early scene where V hijacked the national TV station and gave a revolutionary broadcast where he said the following:


Integral rocks! It isn’t necessary to go into any of the films other themes here,  like Natalie Portman’s satori experience, or Chief Inspector Finch’s awakening to the integral view (see up-coming blog!), vengeance vs. justice, V's own ego-centric actions, or the film’s homosexual perspectives. Rather, here I’ll just stay with the transformation V brought to the world through his perspective.




With his actions, and even more so his words and ideas, V lead the people beyond an ego-centric and ethno-centric based fear that limited and controlled them. He challenged the status quo and brought the masses into a world-centric, and even kosmo-centric perspective that could no longer tolerate the powers that be and their culture of fear. V’s actions certainly got the publics attention (with his bombs, broadcasts, bloody knives and karate gimmicks), but it was his words that had the real power to moved them. By holding his perspective with his thoughts, words and deeds, V awakened the people’s potential, awakened their ideas, and awakened their imagination. And a revolution was borne.




Here is the climax fight scene from the movie between V and the “stasi” like “fingermen” of fascist state. It is a bit on the violent side, but only in a comic book sort of way.  Pay attention to V’s final words of the scene. They say it all.




Mr. Creddy: Die! Die! Why wont you die? Why wont you die?

V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea Mr. Creedy. And ideas are bullet proof.


On a reletive level we are all different. But at the level of consciousness, at the level of ideas, at the level of our true potential, we all belong to one integrated whole. This perspective  may be a reach for some as it's possible it has not yet risen in consciousness. But it will arise if we grow. And when it does we will see that at this level we truly are bullet proof.

Last May I was in Cully, Switzerland to teach another “Aikido: Practice and Inquiry” seminar together with Patrick Cassidy of Aikido Montreux. This is the 4th time that Patrick and I have taught this seminar in Cully (plus one at the Dead Sea in Israel – see earlier post below) and these seminars continue to evolve and deepen. Not just in the way Patrick and I are teaching but also among the participants. The seminar keeps growing and this time we had over 60 participants who joined us from around Europe, Canada, and the U.S.



It was clear from the opening meditation that the group was quickly dropping into the present as a preparation for the practice. After we bowed in Patrick set the context for the weekend by touching on our API training guidelines:

1. Keep an open mind
2. Suspend judgment
3. Allow yourself to not know
4. Listen deeply
5. Include others
6. Feel yourself (body, heart, mind and spirit)
7. Commit to your highest intention
8. Accept all that is

I followed by evoking a wish from an old African proverb:


As usual Patrick and I set out to unify the intention of the group from the outset so we can move forward – together. In our past experience with these seminars it would take a day or so for the group to drop into the context of inquiry as a whole. But now it is as if the group shows up already in that space. With each year we are seeing a clear shift take place in the culture and context within which we meet. The groves we have been laying down are making it easier for all to slip into the context and collective intention.




We usually choose a theme for these API seminars and this weekend we looked into the question “What is evolutionary aikido?” Both Patrick and I have been exploring this question independently for a few years now and we have come up with our own slightly different models for evolutionary aikido. However, even though our models are different they both take in the integral perspective. Patrick calls his modal “the evolution of uke/ nage”, and I call mine the “evolution of response”.






On Thursday we began the training/ inquiry by looking into our most basic instinctive “low road reactions” of fear and emotions, and basically identified with the resistance. We did several practices working with our lower base responses in order to become familiar with these innate tendencies we all have in stress and conflict.



After becoming familiar with the way resistance and fear arise in the practice rounded off the evening with a jiyu waza practice in order to open up the energy and give us a taste of the direction of the weekend. A direction  towards free and spontaneous movement that reflects our higher evolutionary capacities.




The next day we continued with our inquiry and proceeded to move up the evolutionary scale with different centering and connecting practices. Patrick led us in several exercises that worked to bring us into alignment with the intelligence of the system.



I introduced exercises where we worked on relaxing the tendency for fear and emotional based responses and worked towards remaining in centered awareness and tapping into the intuitive connection of the partner.




After training on Saturday we all gathered for dinner up in the mountains above Lake Geneva. We continued the conversations and inquiries into the night while enjoying the fresh mountain air, the beautiful view and the delicious goat cheese fondue.



On Saturday we had great weather so I took the group outside to give a bokken jyuwaza class by the lakeside.



In this class we continued our exploration of the evolution of response through a series of exercises that focused on the stages of centered awareness and intuitive response. 






After Patrick lead the final training we ended the seminar with a group dialogue on three questions: 1) What did you feel? 2) What did you see? 3) What was the communal experience?






Thanks to Patrick and his students who did a wonderful job of organizing and hosting us all. Our next API seminar will be in December at the Dead Sea in Israel. We hope you can join us!

Awakening Integral – part 2: Tearing down walls

On July 24th, 2008 Barak Obama gave a speech at Berlin’s "Siegessäule", near the historic Brandenburg gate. Prior to Obama’s speech there was concern that he shouldn’t speak at the Brandenburg Gate. Some felt that such a symbolic land mark, with it’s history of the Berlin Wall’s physical and ideological division, is not the appropriate place for a partisan speech by a U.S. presidential candidate. Well, those concerns proved unfounded as there was nothing “partisan” about Barak Obama’s speech. It was far more than that. And because it was far more, it was the perfect place for his speech.




In the previous blog "Awakening Integral: Part 1" I spoke about how integral theory shows development as an evolution of perspectives. From ego-centric, to ethno-centric, to world-centric, to kosmo-centric, growth is reflected by increasing circles of complexity, care and concern. When one awakens to the integral perspective (world-centric to kosmo-centric) there is recognition that many of our global problems have ethno-centric, or ego-centric causes. And where as these problems need to be addressed at their level, in this era of globalization it is essential that  any solutions come from a world-centric to kosmo-centric perspective.

Barak Obama clearly holds such a perspective. His words, values, and indeed his perspective reflects a level of growth that transcends anything partisan, ethnic, cultural, national, religious, or ideological. He speaks from a perspective that transcends ethno-centric and he embodies the global values that includes all of humanity as a whole. Barak Obama is well grounded in the integral perspective and for anyone who shares such values the words of his speech will light up your being.

Before the Berlin speech Barak Obama had toured Afganistan, Iraq, Jordan and then he came here to Israel. By coincendence on the day of his arrival I was due to go to the West Bank to teach in Ramallah for Aikido Without Borders. Just before leaving Tel Aviv there was a "terrorist" attack in Jerusalem. Another bull dozer attack that was a copy cat from 2 weeks before. The standard opperating procedure when an attack occures is to close all check points out of the West Bank so, unfortunatly I had to cancle my visit. The following day Barak Obama was in the West Bank meeting with Abbas and other Palestinian leaders. One cannot make a trip to the West bank without passing through the wall (the so-called "security fence") that surrounds the entire occupied terretories. It is very impressive. I find it courious that a day later, in Obama's speech in Berlin, he used the metaphore of "walls" no less than 14 times.

Here is a short excerpt from his speech about the the obligation to build bridges and tear down walls:




For those who have awakened to the world-centric, or even integral perspective then the work must begin. It is the work of going beyond boundaries, it is the work of building bridges, it is the work of tearing down walls, of healing and integrating the fragmented and traumatized parts both in ourselves and in the world. This is the movement and the obligation of an awakened integral perspective. And if you are among the many who get what Barak Obama is saying, then you will understand what he means when he says "the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together”.

“The greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another….these now are the walls that we must tear down”.

We have our work cut out for us.