Gaia Community: Miles' Blog

Montreux Aikido Seminar Video

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:45:54 GMT

This is a video of a seminar co-taught by Patrick Cassidy (6th dan) and Miles Kessler (5th dan) on May 29th ~ 31st, 2009 in Cully, Switzerland. This was the 4th annual gathering of the “Aikido: Practice and Inquiry” seminar in Switzerland and this year we shared the joy with over 70 people attend from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.S. We hope that you can join us next year! Enjoy!

Montreux Aikido Seminar,'09 - Redux ~ Rap Version

Tags: Miles Kessler Integral Aikido Montreux Cully P

Aikido Bokken Jiyu Waza

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:49:18 GMT

This video was taken from a seminar I did in Torino, Italy, in October, 2008. It is from a class on “Bokken Jiyu waza” (free techniques of sword) and includes exercises on “form transcendence”, body/ ken integration, applied techniques and applied principles.This aspect of weapons work comes at the end of the weapons system we practice and is based on the foundation of the complete aiki-ken system. Bokken Jiyu waza should be considered the fruit of the practice as it is the peak of “applications” training and is “beyond form”. For a reference of our more form based practices check out these videos from an earlier post.

Watching the two videos in comparison should show the different expressions of the practices while at the same time recognizing the thread of unity that runs through both. It is all the same aikido.

“A wise man will understand the need to use a boat to cross the river. Only a fool will continue to carry the boat with him once the river has been crossed.“

~ Wan Shu~

So, here’s the Aikido Bokken Jiyu Waza.

Aikido Bokken Jiyu Waza - Miles Kessler

Tags: aiki-ken, bokken, integral aikido, jiyu waza, Miles Kessler

Awakening Integral: Part 8 - Crisis? What Crisis?

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:33:34 GMT

It seems that where ever we look these days our home planet and beloved Earth is in Crisis. Whether it is environmental, financial, political, ecological, social, or cultural, there is no denying that things are pretty bad these days. So in the face of our current global predicament just how are we to respond? Do we allow the global crisis in all its myriad of forms to aggravate the tendency for self and culture to contract and increase the worlds separation and fragmentation? Or do we chose to meet our current challenges by not losing sight of our higher vision and integral perspective?

Which ever direction humanity will go still remains to be seen but I am personally optimistic. Isn’t it possible that this current crisis is exactly what we need to catalyze humanities shift to a higher level of complexity, concern, and consciousness? Looking back over history this has obviously been the case. But will we make the evolutionary cut this time around? Well, I guess that depends on you and me. What will we do and how do we respond to the current crisis? It could go either way, but like I said, I’m an optimist. Looking around at the amazing minds and creative solutions that are emerging in the world today (even amongst all the bad news) I feel that we still have a lot of potential.

Integral Naked published an episode a while back of The Stuart Davis Show on this very issue. Stuart is an Integral rocker and bad boy who likes to shine an integral light on all taboo subjects that are near and dear to the hearts of the “mean green meme”. The “green meme” refers to those of us whose values are grounded in pluralism, and “mean green meme” is a rather radical version that is as serious as cancer and tends to lack a sense of humor, especially when one brings a little levity to the issues that deserve a lot of gravity ( which, in fact, they do). One of today's comics who brilliantly pokes fun at the green pluralist's blind spot is Sacha Baron Cohen with his characters Ali G, Borat and Bruno. Another is Stuart Davis.

In the below clip Stuart rationally dissects many of the sacred cows of the green paradigm. And he does so in a beautifully integral way. Enjoy!....or not, depending on your level of consciousness, of course (if you'll pardon my ranking...)

The Stuart Davis Show - Episode 12 - A Foothill in the Mouth

Tags: aikido, crisis, integral, global warming, the stuart davis show

Awakening Integral: Part 7 - Before All Else There Is Perspective

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:29:34 GMT

It is really all about point of view. Watch the vid, take the awareness test, then read what’s written below.

Test Your Awareness: Do The Test

Before all else there is perspective.

What ever perspective you happen to be taking, depending on the point of view, or the lens you are looking through, it will actually determine what you will see. Like with the moonwalking bear. On average more than 80% of people miss it in the first viewing (if you’re really focusing on the passes). If you change the perspective from a partial whole (the white team’s passes) to a more global view of the whole picture then it is quite obvious. You’d have to be blind to miss it.

Whether from an interior or exterior p.o.v. (point of view), an individual or collective p.o.v., an ego-centric, ethno-centric or world-centric p.o.v., a gross, subtle or causal state p.o.v., or what ever the specific perspective may be, reality does not just exist out there on it’s own. It co-arises together with the perspective one takes. Just like with the proverbial rose colored glasses, what ever lens you may be looking through will color your experience of it.

It is important to see perspective taking as a practice. The practice of “taking multiple perspectives”. Integral attempts at the very least to take into consideration as many perspectives as possible. And a good integral practice will attempt to continuously open us up to these perspectives by making them part of our practice. A never ending practice of feeling into reality, into any given perspective, deepening our understanding of life’s richness and increasing our overall functionality in the world. The perspective will arise and become available to us. But only with practice.

As a test watch the video one more time. Again focus on the white team and see if the moonwalking bear is part of you view. Most likely it will be.

Like the old saying goes;

Q: What does a pick pocket see in a crowd if saints?
A: Pockets

Conversely, and with some practice, we could extend the saying;

Q: What does a saint see in a crowd pick pockets?
A: Potential saints.

It really is all about perspective. So when it comes to practice it is very helpful to always ask yourself “did you see the moonwalking bear?”

“When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.”
Max Plank

Tags: awakening integral, integral aikido, Integral Practice, Miles Kessler, moonwalking bear, p.o.v., perspectivies

Bruce Lee the Ping Pong Master....Wow!

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:07:26 GMT

This one just for fun...

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Tags: bruce lee, ping pong, integral aikido

Elizabeth Gilbert: Perspectives on the nature of creative genius

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:38:22 GMT

Below I’ve posted a TED video of a talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the best selling book “Eat, Pray, Love”. In this vid she gives a beautiful talk about the nature of creative genius that questions the modern/ post-modern assumption that acts of genius come from and belong to the self. In a nut shell, Gilbert challenges us to ask the question “is creative genius something that comes “from” us, or is it something that comes “through” us?” These two points of view are easy to confuse but as it turns out the ability to discriminate between them is truly important to the psycho-spiritual health and happiness of the creative-self.

Taking a 1st person ownership of any of our creative achievements may indeed bring a certain amount of narcissistic satisfaction. But taking this ownership often results in leaving the self pressed (and perhaps, as Gilbert suggests, even doomed) to repeat previous moments of grace. However, if we shift our perspective of creative genius to a 3rd person "thing" that we have a 2nd person relationship with, everything changes. Creative Genius then becomes a “thing” that is outside of us, a “force” that we surrender to and make ourselves a channel for. When we make this shift the genius we participate with is allowed to move through us, taking the pressure of the whole universe off of the self. This simple shift in perspective from 1st person owner ship to 2nd person surrender, relieves the self of the heavy burden of being the creative source of the universe (which is quite a burden to carry).

We both come from and return to the source greater than the self. In moments of grace the self can become a manifestation of this source. But as for the “source of the source”, it is beyond anything belonging to the personal self regardless of any confusion we may have. Our job in relation to the creative genius is simply to surrender the personal and all its agendas, and to allow this creative genius to come through should it choose.

A mistake in these perspectives can have dire consiequences for the self. As Gilbert says:

“One of the most painful reconciliation's for any artist to make is accepting that maybe he may never ascend to the genius, or glimpse of God again. This can be hard. What is he supposed to do with the rest of his life? This is one of the most painful reconciliations to make in life. But maybe it doesn’t have to be full of anguish if you never believe in the first place that the most extraordinary aspects of your being don’t come from you. But maybe if you believe that they are just on loan to you, form some unimaginable source to be passed along to someone else when you’re finished... If we think about it this way, it starts to change everything.”

In the below vid Gilbert cleary articulates the nature of the creative genius, and in doing so it appears before our very eyes. There it is....there's God, Allah, Allah, Allah...

Ole! Ole! Ole!

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Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about creativity

Tags: elizabeth gilbert, creativity, genius, perspectivies, integral

Awakening Integral: Part 6 Aikido as art & Integral application

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:21:12 GMT

Two of the most challenging aspects for anyone claiming the Integral perspective is first discovering how to translate Integral into their life, and then actually applying that translation as a practice personally, culturally and professionally. Here at Integral Aikido we are constantly pursuing these two aspects. We place a high value in having a solid foundation in traditional aikido practice but what really excites us is using our practice as a vehicle to push the leading edge in the evolution of consciousness and culture.

As a transformational path Aikido provides a traditional cultural context, a trans-personal philosophy and effective practices that nurture development across many lines. Aikido is a well established way and point of view from which to translate and give meaning to the world. It has been around a while and you pretty much know what you’ll get.

Integral, on the other hand is still an emerging structure in consciousness and culture and it’s applications are in a dynamic process of discovery. As an emerging potential for me Integral’s real gift is that it gives us permission to venture out there on the evolutionary cutting edge where we become the agents for change. By applying the integral frame to aikido we are laying down tracks for aikido’s culture to evolve in an integral way. Where as traditional aikido gives us a beautiful holding and depth of established traditional structures, Integral gives us an evolutionary orientation and permission for exploration, discovery and creativity. It supports and encourages us to manifest the world we want to live in.

Over the past 3 1/2/ years Integral Aikido has endeavored to provide a traditional aikido learning context with (almost) daily aikido classes, periodic aikido seminars and workshops, and regular meditation gatherings and retreats. Furthermore, we have hosted traditional events such as an International Aikido seminar with Christian Tissier Sensei, 7th dan, as well as 3 10-day Vipassana meditation retreats with Sayadaw U vivekananda.

As for pushing the leading edge of culture and consciousness, Integral Aikido’s past evolutionary activities have included regular Integral Practice workshops, Integral Aikido seminars, Integral Meditation workshops and courses, and the innovative merging of aikido and contact improvisation w/ our “Aiki-contact” jam sessions. We have also been honored to host Integral teachers such as Integral Zen Sensei and Big Mind facilitator Diane Musho Hamilton and Aikido Sensei Patrick Cassidy. And, of course this includes the project that is dear to our hearts “Aikido Without Borders”, which is an Integrally informed N.P.O.

Below is a quote form Integral musician Corrado Rustici that expresses beautifully the exciting potential for all of us riding on the emerging wave of integral.

“From one point of view, you can say that if you're a person who's into integrative activities, then you will obviously manifest that in whatever you do. But from my point of view as a musician, I enjoy the fact that I can also be very pragmatic about defining this new genre. To me, being an integral musician is not only about where I'm coming from as an individual but about pushing the edge technologically and culturally as well.... By accepting and not refusing new technologies, [we] are creating a new art form that will mirror the trans-modern world that humanity will eventually belong to.”

Corrado Rustici
Integral Musician
EnlightenNext magazine, Oct-Dec 2007

“We are creating a new art form that will mirror the trans-modern world that humanity will eventually belong to.”

What a beautiful quote. Integral brings a depth, breadth and greater meaning to an art that is already rich and boon bestowing. How we apply that to a world that humanity will eventually belong to is totally up to us.

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*I've included some of the flyers of our activities that express how we are exploring the leading edge of Integral in both consciousness and culture.

Tags: integral, aikido, consciousness, culture, art, emerging

"Body Being" and the Beauty Of Brick Stacking

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:05:16 GMT

For anyone who's integral practice includes a body module, you are likely to appreciate the video I've posted below. Regardless of the particular body practice one is engaged in, it will be considered integral as long as it has an orientation that proceeds from gross practices, towards more, and more subtle practices. As one's practice follows this trajectory, the awareness will naturally shift from a more physical/technical based practice, towards an energetic/principle based practice. Basically, your point of view will shift from external, physical "ways of doing", and into internal, principles based "ways of being". It is from this internal point of view that the practices are often refered to as "Body Being" exercises.

Embodying the principles of "Body Being" in action is always a satisfying experience and captivating to watch. Just consider any "master" that you have seen. No matter how they express their art, be it in dance, sports, yoga, aikido, or what ever, it is pure beauty in action. This even includes the fine art of brick stacking, as you will see in this video. How many bricks can a skilled brick wallah stack on his head? And on a boat no less? Well, that depends of his level of "Body Being". Check out the master at work.

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The Brick Wallah

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By the way, I came across this video on Steve Self's Formless Mountian web site. Steve is a fellow "Integral Aikido" explorer and his site is integral in both design and content. Click the above link to check it out. There is some great integral reference material there.

Tags: brick wallah, body being, integral aikido, gross, subtle

Is Barak Obama Integral? Thoughts by Ken Wilber

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:36:21 GMT

Obama Perspectives

We are witnesses to an exciting time with the recent U.S. election and the inspiring change that has swept into the new American leadership. But could the historical significance of the election of Barak Obama as President of the United States go beyond the obvious? Could the significance transcend the facts that he is the first African-American president and first post-baby boomer generation president? Is it possible that President Obama could also be the first "integrally oriented" president?

Watching Obama conduct himself over the past several months through the rigors of the campaign and up to the inauguration, I was struck again and again by hints of Integral in his thoughts, words and actions. Of course, time will tell if President Obama emerges as a truly "Integral Leader", or not. But if he does, then this is a significance that is far greater than being the first black, post-baby boomer president. Of course, with the weight that such a position carries, and a national and international political system that is thoroughly entrenched in pre-integral structures, this may be too much to hope for. But if there is anyone who can give us hope, then it is this new American President.

Could we actually be seeing the worlds first "Integral Leader"? Below is a recent thought provoking post by Ken Wilber on this topic that is up on Integral Life (in fact, if you're interested you can click the link to see other integral voices addressing the question). Who better to look into this question than Mr. Integral himself? Take it away Ken.....

~ ~ ~

There probably hasn’t been as much rampantly enthusiastic idealism surrounding a president since the election of John F. Kennedy than there is around Barack Obama. In the Integral community, this naturally translates into the question, “Is Obama Integral?”

I have put off responding to this question until now, first, because I didn’t want to get involved in active politics (because there is as yet no Integral Politics in place), but second (and over-riding the first), I don’t think we’ve have enough genuine information to tell. Notice, for example, that a major watchdog organization ranked Obama in the top 1 or 2 most liberal senators in Congress—hardly a badge of integral inclusiveness.

And yet, particularly as the campaign progressed, Obama began making increasingly Integral-sounding pronouncements. In fact, an Integral analysis of his acceptance speech by Corey deVos and Clint Fuhs showed a genuinely high percentage of Integrally-comprehensive language and ideas (especially compared to the other candidates). It seems, in fact, that somewhere during the campaign itself, Obama went from green exit (the pluralistic stage of development, with its inherently high liberalism) to initial teal Integral waves (the first Integral stages of development, with inherent Integrally-oriented political stances). Increasingly his language and his values systems seemed to shift, right before one’s eyes, into Integral spaces.

It is, of course, still too soon to make a solid judgment about this, but it seems safe to say that Barack Obama is likely moving into truly Integral waves of development and therefore beginning to evidence truly Integral values and positions. Combined with his already significantly developed states (which gives the very notable Radiance and Presence to his being), this means we might very well be seeing, certainly for the first time in this century, a truly Integrally-oriented President of the United States. In this climate of possibility, reigns the intense idealism and sense of promise that this new President brings with him: the hope and promise that a new tomorrow is truly possible, and that it is beginning now, right now. If so, this is indeed a genuinely historical moment, when Integral consciousness has actually descended in and through the voice and vision of the most powerful person on the planet. We are truly beginning to enter the Integral Age, and Barack Obama’s voice might be the most notable and important Integral voice in the political arena. How can we know for sure? Stay tuned!

Tags: integral, barak obama, ken wilber

Aikido weapons on youtube

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:21:41 GMT

Just a quick note to all of you aikido weapon's enthusiasts. Last fall I did some filming for a martial arts "Akban" organization. They are putting together a "martial arts wiki" and it is their goal to video document the main techniques from the different martial traditions. I was asked to be part of this project and so far we've filmed the basic jo and bokken weapons practices from the Iwama aikido tradition. You can see a sample of the videos below that we filmed on the Tel Aviv beach with my student Nadav Solomon as my training partner.

The weapons of aikido are beautiful practices that develop important principles such as center, timing, precision, "awase" (blending), "maai" (distance), "shisei" (posture), and "zanshin" (sustained presence), to name a few. Even if you don't practice the weapons arts of ken and jo you can get a taste of these principles by watching the video's below.

Here is the link to the Aikido page on the akban wiki. You can also go to my personal page on the akban web site. The info on my page on this site is in Hebrew but there are about 10 videos there to watch. And if you like you can go to youtube to see the whole series of 48 video clips on Akban's channel (however, the videos have been posted there in random order).

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Jo kata - ju san no jo - Aikido weapons in the Akban wiki

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ki musubi no tachi - Aikido weapons in the Akban wiki

Tags: miles kessler, aikido, weapons, ken, jo, aiki-ken, aiki-jo, integral, akban

Big Mind intensive with Genpo Roshi and Diane Musho Hamilton

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:50:38 GMT

Big Mind intensive with Genpo Roshi and Diane Musho Hamilton Sensei

Last Nov. 8th ~ 22nd I attended 2 weeks of the month long Big Mind Intensive. at the Kanzeon Zen center in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was quite an amazing event that was led by Big Mind innovator Genpo Roshi and Diane Musho Hamilton sensei. In the two weeks that I attended there were about 75 participants that came from all around the world and it was great meeting old and new friends from this world wide Sangha.

Morning sessions were lead by Diane and were the facilitators training sessions. In these sessions we would cover the "how?", "why?" and "what ?" of Big Mind facilitation. Diane would begin by going over any questions from the previous days group practice. Some of typical topics she would cover were how to deal with resistance, difficulties that can come up in group facilitation, more functional ways to apply the process, when does the facilitation process need more structure, when more creative applications are appropriate, and so on.

After covering facilitation questions Diane would then lead us in a session of the Big Mind process. Each day was a different set of voices depending on what was emerging as a need for the group. For a few days we worked on cultural voices at ego-centric, ethno-centric, and world-centric levels. On another occasion Diane lead us through the voices of "giving" and "receiving", but not only the straight voices. Diane facilitated these voices as they manifest moving through the chakras (up and down!) giving a beautiful developmental view of how the same voice manifests diffirently at diffirent stages.

After doing the Big Mind with Diane we would end our morning sessions with facilitation practice by breaking up into small groups to practice Big Mind with each other.

As usual working with Diane as a facilitator was totally impressive as she has a great skill in helping the participants create the abilities necessary for good facilatation. Doing the training under her is such a blessing.

After the communal lunch and long conversations at the local cafes we would return to the zendo for the afternoon Big Mind session with Genpo Roshi.

Genpo Roshi’s skill in leading the Big Mind process is amazing and every time I see him he continues to develop applications of the process. He has a beautiful ability to hold the space as a true Zen master, create a container of impersonal Big Mind and Zen consciousness, skillfully lead each participant through the labyrinth of dualistic voices and open the participants up to the first person experience of a direct non-dual realization.

I was especially touched by Roshi’s latest direction in the process by bringing in the developmental stages. He did this by leading the group through a voice's “immature stage”, then onto the “dis-owned stage”, and finally the “mature stage”. This application models beautifully the natural process of growth. How one goes from an "immature stage” which is equivalent to “initial identification”, gradually moves onto the “dis-owned stage” that is equivalent to dissociation and separation from the identification of the immature stage, and finally moving into the “mature stage” through re-owning the identification and integrating it at a higher level of functinal wholeness.

What was truly impressive for me was how these three developmental stages not only applied to the dualistic voices but also applied to the non-dual voices. For example, immature Big Mind, dis-owned Big Mind and mature Big Mind. In other words, the ever present, timeless and changeless nature of spirit, actually does change when experienced in the field of time. Once again it shows in a very integral way that even spirit evolves.

Big Mind = States, Stages, and Shadow

It never ceases to amaze me how the practice of Big Mind is a truly and totally an Integral Practice. In fact it blows my mind because I’ve never seen another single practice as integral as Big Mind.

“Integral Practice” can be defined in many ways but the basic realms of development that need to be practice to be integral are “states, stages, and shadow”. Big Mind covers all the bases. For states, Big Mind is a practice that effectively leads one into non-dual states. For stages, working with the immature, dis-owned and mature voices, as well as moving up the chakras with the voices facilitates stage growth beautifully. And as for the shadow, by systematically going through the dualistic voices the process not only clarifies confused aspects of self, but also uncovers shadow aspects of the self in the process. As Roshi says “what ever aspect you can find out there in the world, you can also find in your self.” It is all within us. Identify it, speak as it and integrate it into a greater sense of self. Big Mind contains it all*.

Big Mind rocks!

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*Of course, if you know your ILP you will realize that the body module is missing. But the Big Mind practice can easily and effectively be applied in body based practices...like, say aikido. But that's for another post. ;-)

Tags: Big Mind, Genpo Roshi, Diane Musho Hamilton, Zen, meditation, Kanzeon, Integral Practice, integral, Miles Kessler

iEvolve - Global Practice Community

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:42:26 GMT

There is a new intergral community on the scene and it is called iEvolve. iEvolve was created to fill the gap left when Integral Intsitute eased off on producing Integral seminars about a year back. This new entity has been set up by several of Integral institue's teachers and founding members and it defines itself as nothing less than a "Global Practice Community". A global community and a global sangha with a commitment to both personal and global evolutionary practice. How cool is that?

The Face Of Our World

iEvolve's core founders and faculty are Diane Musho Hamilton Sensei, Dr. Marc Gafni, Sofia Diaz and Sally Kempton. In addition to the founders iEvolve has put together an impressive group of visiting teachers, lineage holders and evolutionary partners. And I am very happy to say that myself, Integral Aikido and Aikido Without Borders has been invited to be an evolutionary partner with iEvolve.

We here at Integral Aikido expect that iEvolve will be producing some great events and doing some great work ahead. Keep your eyes open for future exciting Integral happenings from iEvolve including a big international Integral retreat in Berlin this fall around the theam of "healing the worlds wounds".

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iEvolve's 10 Commitments To Practice

For any true practioner it is important to have a commitment to your practice. And being a practice community iEvolve has laid out what it means to be a practioner in such a commnuity. Here are iEvolve's 10 commitments to practice:

1. The Commitment to Personal Story:

The iEvolve journey begins with a recognition of the unique path of each person, to the specific experience, and innate dignity of every human life.

2. The Commitment to Awakened Heart:

Awakened heart is set of meditative practices which open the practitioner to the subtle dimensions of the heart, fostering the fullness of love and compassion.

3. The Commitment to Big Mind:

Big Mind, developed by Genpo Roshi, is a simple skillful means which points the person beyond ego consciousness and towards the realization of their true, expansive nature.

4. The Commitment to Unique Self:

Unique Self is a typology identification practice containing maps and technologies which allow a person to identify the nature of their Unique Self and in doing so identify and embrace the Unique Life Mission for which they were born on this planet in this time and this place.

5. The Commitment to Shadow Work:

Shadow Work is an intensive surfacing and cleansing practice, which shatters the lies of shadow and allows the person to once again tell the truth about who they really are. iEvolve shadow work directly causes a person to reconnect, evolve, purify or simply reclaim the dis-owned shadow dimension of their authentic and unique self.

6. The Commitment to Awakened Eros:

Awakened Eros is an embodiment practice in which the full power, aliveness and wisdom of the human body is accessed and integrated into the fullness of the person’s life.

7. The Commitment to State and Stage Evolution:

States and Stages are both an experiential and mapping practice. In state practice a person gains access to state experiences, which tells the person something important about their true nature and mission in the world. In stage practice a person studies the trajectory of human evolution in the life of the individual and in the lifespan of human history and culture along the major lines of development. In so doing, one is able to identify both their own location and to set concrete goals for the next stage of their evolution.

8. The Commitment to Social Service:

Social Service practice is the commitment of iEvolve as a Global Community and as individuals to commit significant time to the betterment of the lives of others.

9. The Commitment to Skillful Means:

Skillful means practice are a set of understandings, insights and technologies that foster effective communication, teamwork, and relationship building skills.

10. The Commitment to Devotion:

Devotional Work Practice serves the Divine within us and beyond us by recognizing, praising, honoring, connecting and disclosing that very divinity.

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Here's to the success of iEvolve! May it bring us a bit closer to creating a greater Global Practice Community.

"When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change."

Max Planck

Tags: iEvolve, Diane Musho Hamilton, Marc Gafni, Sofia Diaz, Sally Kempton, Integral Aikido, Aikido Without Borders

Integral and Pop Culture

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:10:22 GMT

It is so nice when we see the Integral perspective showing up in the world around us. In fact, as the integral view awakens within, the world without is seen a fresh and new way. However, where as the outer world and main stream culture can be a manifestation of Integral, it isn't often that culture explicitly uses Integral to prove a point.

In the recent re-make of the movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" there is a scene where the star, Nicole Kidman's character was being presented with a philosophical "flatland" argument on the nature of humanity. Where the "flatlanded" approach fails to give a satisfying answer, Integral and evolutionary levels illuminate the matter simply and beautifully. Not only is the integral perspective used to encompass the argument but Ken Wilber himself is cited. What better proof that the Integral wave of consciousness has "arrived" than to have it used in pop culture.

Like Nicole Kidman says, "We are evolving, our consciousness is changing". Yes indeed. And not only is our consciousness evolving and changing, but so too is our culture. It's about time.

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Wilber cited in "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers"

Tags: integral, ken wilber. nicole kidman, aikido

Charter for Compassion

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:37:44 GMT

How do we as humans move from a healthy ethno-centric identification ("amber altitude") of culture and religion, towards a trans-personal and trans-cultural perspective that embraces the oneness of humanity? Here is a message to all people, all nations, all faiths and all cultures. With a little compassion and wisdom, patience and unfaltering persistence, it is time to re-own, re-inhabit, and re-claim the very ground from which we've come...for the sake of all.

Despite what it looks like, we are not alone. Are you up for the task?

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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

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Charter for Compassion

Tags: charter for compassion, integral aikido, Karen Armstrong

Wassup America?

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:56:33 GMT

And this just in......

Wassup America?

Tags: wassup, change, obama

Aikido Without Borders

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:11:04 GMT

Historical first – Aikido demonstration and children’s class in Bethlehem.

On Sunday, Oct. 19th, 2008, “Aikido Without Borders” conducted a historical first aikido demonstration and children’s class in Bethlehem.

A.W.B. is a fledgling N.G.O. primarily working in Israel/ Palestine that is dedicated to bringing the practice of aikido to troubled areas where borders, both real and imagined, perpetuate a culture of separation and conflict. Since 2005 we have been active in Israel, East Jerusalem and the West Bank. For the Bethlehem demonstration we had A.W.B. students participating from Ramallah, Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Japan and the United States.

The demonstration and class were held at Bethlehem’s SOS Children’s village. SOS is an international NGO that has children’s villages in 132 countries and territories around the world. They have been active in the field of children's rights, needs and concerns since 1949. SOS’s activities focus on children without parental care and children of families in difficult circumstances.

After the demonstration the members of "Aikido Without Borders" gave an aikido introduction class for the children of the village. There were about 50 kids who participated in the class and it was lots of fun. Once we got into the “ukemi” (rolling practice) the kids were able to get their first experience of aikido’s “art of falling”.

I was happy to lead the class together with a special guest from Japan, Makiko Sakurai who is a visiting student at Tel Aviv university. Makiko san is a 4th degree black belt out of Hombu dojo in Japan who also has a professional background in social work with disadvantaged children.

Makiko lead the kids in basic aikido movements and also taught them how to count and say thank you in Japanese. Arigato gozaimashita Makiko san!

I want to give a big thanks to all the students form Ramallah and East Jerusalem as well as Deborah Hyams for helping set up this event for the kids.

Aikido Without Borders will be starting a regular Aikido Kids project at the SOS school in Bethlehem. O’sensei said that “aikido is for the whole world”. By crossing borders, going beyond the walls, and meeting on the mat through this art, it is easy to understand how we truly are all part of one world.

Tags: aikido without borders, israel, palestine, sos, bethlehem, miles kessler, makiko sakurai

Let the Leader Lead

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:12:26 GMT

Let the Leader Lead

Let the Leader lead!

It isn't every day that a true leader comes along. Certainly not at the level of what we are witnessing today. There are many “leaders” in many aspects of our society but I’m speaking about something different than the conventional leader. I speaking about that rare individual whose ideals, abilities, words and actions all line up and consistently show a higher level of development. There is something about such a person’s character, something in their body language, something about their total package that serves as a shining light and an example of our very own potential both individually and collectively.

Through almost two years of close scrutiny under a campaign spotlight Barak Obama has consistently shown balanced calm, grace under fire, poise in battles both lost and won, and an equanimity that would make a Zen monk jealous. He connects, he listens, and he includes in a way that makes you feel, well, included.

At the outset of the U.S. presidential race Barak Obama was some 30 points behind in the polls. Now he is very probably set to become the next president of the United States. How did he do this? Through inspiring leadership Barak Obama built what is likely the most effective political organization in history.

Garrison Keillor (of lake Wobegon fame) recently summed it up beautifully in the New York Times:

“….Barack's cool poise in the face of blather is some sort of testament to American heart and humor. The man has walked tall…Onward, America. We've all seen plenty of the worst - the sly cruelty, the arrogant ignorance, the fascination with trivia, the cheats, the weaselish and piggish and the buzzardly - but we can rise above it if we will only recognize a leader when one comes along and have the sense to let him lead.”

"If we can only recognize a leader when he comes along and have the sense to let him lead"…..Indeed!

~ ~ ~

Here is a video of Barak giving a talk to his team at his Chicago HQ after gaining the democratic presidential nomination. You can see that here is a man who is totally in his element, acknowledging good work done, preparing for what is yet to come and, in his cool and natural way, inspiring others to be responsible for change. After 10 min.s you are ready to follow this man anywhere. For those interested in leadership, this is a must see.

Barack Speaks To HQ Staff & Volunteers

Tags: Barak Obama, leadership, garrison keillor

Awakening Integral: Part 5 - Changing Kosmic Habits

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:58:42 GMT

Creating new habits in consciousness and culture

When we approach practice from an Integral Perspective it is very helpful to understand the influence that “habits” have on the development of consciousness and culture. Often what will prevent an individual’s, or group's growth is simply being stuck in a bad habit. Perhaps it is a habit that had a function at some point in the past but if something is stuck, then it is no longer functional, and no longer serves growth. At the same time it is our intentional work of laying down good habits that lead us forward in growth and evolution.

Ultimately this is what it means to be on a “path”, or to walk as a "conscious practitioner". By taking on a “path” practice we intentionallyy choose to hold a higher discipline in two ways. One way is by overcoming negative tendencies, dysfunctional patterns and “bad” habits that hold back growth. The other way is by developing new capacities, perspectives and abilities that become our new “good” habits as we grow. This applies both in the individual self (our consciousness) and in the collective world (our culture).

I just received this video from EnlightenNext of a dialogue between spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen and Evolutionary Biologist Rupert Sheldrake where they explore the issue of “habits” in consciousness and culture.

Rupert lays it out succently:

“The good news is that we can change. The bad news is that we are all gripped by unconscious habits we've inherited from the past.”

And Andrew puts us in the context:

“What does it mean for the human being who’s passionately interested in the evolution of consciousness and culture to deliberately and intentionally chose to create new habits individually and collectively?”

Check out their dialogue about how habits effect our lives. It is very good.

Changing Kosmic Habits

Tags: Rupert Sheldrake, Andrew Cohen, Consciousness, Evolution, Enlightenment, Integral

Speaking of a grain of sand, Sting sending Love..........

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:38:07 GMT

Sting - Send Your Love

I love syncronicity. No sooner did I do my last post ending with William Blake's "Grain of Sand" poem than I received notice from Julian's blog over at Big Sky Yoga with this Sting video. The man just keeps rocking our souls through eternity and brings us back to our home. Timeless, spaceless and all Love.

Forgive the copy cat post this time and click on the vid below. Let Sting's message sink in and allow the soul to rise up from the depths and take a full breath of fresh air.

As I said, such wisdon, such a beautiful heart, such a beautiful contemplation. Check out these lines:

"There's no religion but sex and music
There's no religion but sound and dancing
There's no religion but line and color
There's no religion but sacred trance"

~ ~ ~

"There's no religion but the joys of rhythm
There's no religion but the rites of Spring
There's no religion in the path of hate
No prayer but the one I sing"

Sing on brother Sting! Bring us home...

Sting Send Your Love

Finding the world in the smallness of a grain of sand
And holding infinities in the palm of your hand
And Heaven's realms in the seedlings of this tiny flower
And eternities in the space of a single hour

Send your love into the future
Send your love into the distant dawn

Inside your mind is a relay station
A mission probe into the unknowing
We send a seed to a distant future
Then we can watch the galaxies growing

This ain't no time for doubting your power
This ain't no time for hiding your care
You're climbing down from an ivory tower
You've got a stake in the world we ought to share

You see the stars are moving so slowly
But still the earth is moving so fast
Can't you see the moon is so lonely
She's still trapped in the pain of the past

This is the time of the worlds colliding
This is the time of kingdoms falling
This is the time of the worlds dividing
Time to heed your call

Send your love into the future
Send your precious love into some distant time
And fix that wounded planet with the love of your healing
Send your love
Send your love

There's no religion but sex and music
There's no religion but sound and dancing
There's no religion but line and color
There's no religion but sacred trance

There's no religion but the endless ocean
There's no religion but the moon and stars
There's no religion but time and motion
There's no religion, just tribal scars

Throw a pebble in and watch the ocean
See the ripples vanish in the distance
It's just the same with all the emotions
It's just the same in every instance

There's no religion but the joys of rhythm
There's no religion but the rites of Spring
There's no religion in the path of hate
No prayer but the one I sing

Send your love into the future
Send your precious love into some distant time
And fix that wounded planet with the love of your healing
Send your love
Send your love

There's no religion but sex and music
There's no religion that's right or winning
There's no religion in the path of hatred
Ain't no prayer but the one I'm singing

Send your love
Send your love

Tags: sting, send your love, integral aikido

Awakening Integral: Part 4 - Fractles of nature

http://mileskessler.gaia.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:36:04 GMT

I just received these thought provoking images from "What Is Enlightenment?" magazine's weekly "Think About This" e-mail:

Microcosm, Macrocosm

"This image comparison, first featured in The New York Times, definitely gives one something to think about. On the left is a microscopic image of a mouse brain's neuronal network produced by Mark N. Miller of Brandeis University's Nelson Lab. On the right is the Max Planck Institute's computer simulation of the vast dark matter network (purple) connecting visible-matter galaxies (yellow) across the universe. “Together,” observes New York Times journalist David Constantine, “they suggest the surprisingly similar patterns found in vastly different natural phenomena.”

Nurons To Cosmos

~ ~ ~

Part of the awakening of Integral is that as we are increasingly able to take more and more perspectives on reality, our intuitive understanding of the Kosmos grows. And as we grow, gradually the "Integral Map" becomes the "Integral Territory". From the microscopic patterns of physical phenomena, and the extreme subtleties of meditation, all the way to the infinite vastness of galaxies, and the dark matter in the Kosmos, fractal patterns repeat themselves again and again. And this understanding begins to enter into us as a felt and intuitive sense. We begin to actually get what Ken Wilber means when he says: "Turtles all the way up, turtles all the way down."

Taking a new point of view is essential for growth. But it is just the beginning of a good Integral Practice. We must first take a perspective and then we must make a contemplation of it. Contemplate, contemplate, contemplate. Contemplate to the point where the outer merges with the inner, where the microcosm is seen in the macrocosm, and where fractals are seen all way up and all the way down. This is an extremely necessary part of the practice so that the perspective fully sinks into consciousness.

When a perspective fully sinks into us at the level of consciousness, the felt sense is that it hits home. The perspective then arises as an intuitive insight, and it becomes ours. It is no longer an intelectual perspective that is "out there", but rather it becomes an intuitive perspective that is "in here". It becomes an expression of who we are, and we become a manifestation of it. A gift that naturally radiates outward and is expressed onto the Kosmos.

OK. So, then what? Well, then we write poetry....

To see a world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.

William Blake

Tags: awakening integral, part 4, what is enlightenment, aikido, dark matter, nuron of a mouse, william blake