The pre-frontal cortex, the most recently evolved part of our human brain, is the seat of both higher integrative functions and the non-reactive awareness that can allow us to live more truly in the present at a more unified level of perception and awareness. It also enables "interoception," our capacity to see of feel inward into our physical and emotional state of being. All of this is essential for functioning at our most mature capacity for insight, choice, self-healing, creative problem solving, and attunement to others and to the world around us. It also opens the door to deeper levels of spiritual communion. Meditation and contemplation training teaches us to activate the higher centers of our brain in ways that are natural to us; and which can enable anyone to learn to function at a more mature level of emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual development.
These programs focus on deepening the coherence of our body, breath, and states of being; cultivating a more comprehensive and illuminating awareness; utilizing meditation practices for somatic/emotional integration and healing; and participating more deeply in the reciprocal worlds of psyche and spirit.
2. Attuned Compassion & Heartful Integration
As we learn to cultivate a resonance circuit between the heart and the higher brain centers (as our evolution intends), we deepen our capacity for compassionate presence, and for a growing empathy and attunement to ourselves and to others. This compassionate presence allows for a greater degree of integration and healing within our own personal dynamics, and in the dynamics of our interpersonal relationships. It is also the foundation of genuine and authentic communication. Our programs in the area of compassion, integration and healing build systematic capacity and skills in harmonizing and integrating every area of our thinking, feeling and doing at progressive levels of perception and self-realization.
Much of our work has creatively evolved from the template offered by the ancient Buddhist practice of tonglen, a meditative practice of compassion and reciprocity that is at the heart of both Buddhist and Christian spirituality. We have applied the integrative dynamics of tonglen to a fundamental understanding of how the heart and nervous system flinches, protects, shuts down, and goes unconscious in the face of our own pain or the pain of others; or in the face of perceived threat, overwhelm, otherness or negative projection. And, conversely, to our conscious human capacity to override fear or negativity, stay present, open the heart, extend ourselves, and embrace all experience in a compassionate and empathetic way. Read More
3. Attuned Communication & Mutual Integration
Attuned and authentic communication arises between people to the extent that each is able to remain in a state of true presence – when no distraction, projection, agenda, or motivation competes with our conscious mutual contact, and with the honest intention to know and be known. The state of presence is characterized by a sense of "wholeness" of self, and an availability to the integrity of our own feelings and perceptions, simultaneously with a simple receptivity and availability to the presence of others, and a capacity to appreciate and support their wholeness and integrity. It contributes to the next level of integrity, reciprocity and recognition between people.
4. Attuned Energy and Dynamic Integration
We have long put great emphasis on the teaching of the Taoist arts of qigong and taiji for, aside from their pleasurability, they address the nature of health and illness at the deepest level of energetic rejuvenation, relaxed fluency of movement, balancing of all physiological systems, and harmonizing mind and body.
Our mind/body system acquires fixations and imbalances in function which cause it to lose coherence with the fluid and transparent energetic, or etheric, grid out of which it arises. Qi gong, as we work with it, is the very holistic path of practice by which we address the totality of this disharmony and this dysfunction and restore our expressive being of coherence, flow and transparency. First, we cultivate and restore the coherent functioning of body, mind, breath, and heart within our dynamic energetic field. Then this entire coherent system becomes naturally transparent to the awake, joyful, and infinite nature of being.
5. True Heart, True Mind – The Enlightenment Intensive
True Heart/True Mind has been our “flagship” retreat for forty-one years. It is a laboratory for the "real-time" implementation and practice of so many of the principles and practices that we have long taught. It is an otherwise silent retreat in which communication, as well as contemplation, becomes the vehicle for taking us deeply into the mysteries of self- realization. We learn to sit with the timeless question “Who Am I?,” not to be answered intellectually, but to be opened to with deepening contemplative awareness.
The True Heart/True Mind retreat is a highly structured, safe, and supportive setting in which everything you are becomes the object of your simple contemplative investigation into the nature of self and reality, without judgments, comparison or rejection. We learn to be fully present for our experience while becoming newly aware of the one who is present, with deepening integration, insight, and often a mind-liberating breakthrough. And this learning occurs in the context of a two-person communication process that fosters trust, reciprocity, receptivity, non-judgmental attention, a deepening bonding, and surrender to a truth that lies outside our own mental constructs and projections.
This demanding and gratifying Intensive process is integrating, revelatory, and often life- changing. It offers a practical introduction to non-dual spirituality and is also a great tonic for anyone’s current spiritual practice. With its equal emphasis on contemplation and communication, it helps us take responsibility for both our inner life and our outer life. With its emphasis on deepening our intention, our openness, and our honest accountability, it is the foundation of all spiritual growth work. Read More
6. Mastering the Reciprocal Field – An Introductory Training
This condensed training program is designed to support your organization, business, school, or community group to function at a higher level of awareness, effectiveness, compassion and mutual recognition. The series of four one-day training workshops targets the first three essential areas of integration, healing, and skill building mentioned above. Together they contribute to the health, integrity, reciprocity, and effectiveness of our work relationships, of our most personal relationships, and even of our relationship to ourselves. Either we are learning to strengthen the brain circuitry that makes us more conscious, present, and responsive, or we are relying on old circuitry that leaves us more automatic and reactive. "Conscious, present, and responsive" is not only more skillful and effective, it also leads to a more satisfying experience of ourselves. Read More
