The Integral Dojo is now offering a full time Uchi Deshi program in Tel Aviv.  This is a unique opportunity to experience an Uchi Deshi life-style in an “Integral Practice Community” directed by Miles Kessler Sensei, a dual lineage holder in the Iwama tradition of aikido, and the Mahasi tradition of Buddhist meditation.

“Uchi Deshi” (“inside student”, or “live-in student”) is one who decides to make a greater commitment to aikido and related practices in a full time, total emersion environment. As a member of a practice community an uchi deshi will be engaged in the foundational practices of the Integral Dojo that include the following:

• Aikido
• Vipassana Meditation
• Dojo service
• Dharma Discussions
• Integral study
• Shadow work
• Big Mind/ Big Heart
• Spiritual Inquiry

A typical week’s schedule involves about 27 hours of classes in aikido and related practices, as well as a weekly private interview with the guiding teachers. Further more, an uchi deshi is empowered to be a “holder of the dojo as sacred space” and participates in all of the activities that contribute to creating and maintaining that space.

The Integral Dojo is located in Tel Aviv, Israel, near the vibrant city center and just a short 30 min. walk from its beautiful Mediterranean beaches. A typical day for uchi deshi involves training and work but also allows plenty of free time for resting, studying, processing and hanging out with friends.

The Integral Dojo “uchi deshi” program is for those who are looking to make a higher commitment towards the development of aikido, knowledge and self-realization. An uchi deshi commitment can be either short, or long term.

If you are interested in joining the “uchi deshi” program then please contact the Integral Dojo for further details: info@integralaikido.org

Regards,

Integral Dojo-Cho

“It is the difference between knowing the Path, and walking the Path.”

Integrate your Meditative Mind into the World

June 22nd ~ Aug. 10th, 2010 Tuesdays, 20:00 ~ 21:30

Free Introduction evening June 15th, 20:00!

8 meetings of practice, study, and Inquiry

Integral Meditation is an evolutionary approach to spiritual growth that blends traditional and modern practices in ways that are truly relevant to life in today’s world. In this course you will learn:

• Meditation techniques to establish your own daily practice
• Greater integration of mindfulness into all aspects of your life
• Cognitive maps to illuminate the territory of body, mind, heart and spirit
• How a meditation practice brings greater freedom and clarity into life
• How meditation transcends and integrates the blocks that hold us back
• To develop an understanding of the path of Insight Knowledge
• To illuminate your unconsciousness shadows with the practice of inquiry

This course will be lead by Miles Kessler sensei who has over 10 years experience in practicing and guiding yogis in meditation. In addition to the 8 meetings Miles will conduct regular private interviews with each of the participants. There is also the chance for deepening the practice by attending 2 one day retreats at the Integral Dojo in the middle and at the end of the course.

Come and be a part of an emerging community of Integral practitioners.

Location: The Integral Dojo, Ha’achim Mislavita 7, 2nd floor, Tel Aviv
(10 min. walk from the cinematheque and Azreli center. Unlimited free parking!)
Cost: 500 nis
To register contact: info@integralaikido.org  - Tel. 03-562-4164

~~~

About the teacher:

Miles Kessler Sensei is a teacher of Vipassana meditation, Aikido and Integral Practice. He completed his formal Vipassana practice in the Mahasi tradition under Sayadaws U Pandita of Burma and U Vivekanada of Lumbini, Nepal. He has studied Big Mind facilitation under Zen master Genpo Roshi and Big Mind and Integral Practice under Diane Musho Hamilton sensei. Miles regularly leads retreats and seminars in Israel, Europe and the U.S. He lives in Tel Aviv, Israel where he teaches full time at the Integral Dojo.

7-day Urban Retreat In Tel Aviv
May 9th ~ 15th, 09:00 ~ 17:00 daily

The Integral Dojo will be hosting a 7-day Vipassana Urban Retreat w/ Sayadaw Vivekananda. This Urban Retreat is designed to give the  opportunity to experience an intensive practice in daily life in the heart of Tel Aviv. The schedule will consist of alternating periods of 1 hour sitting and walking meditation, practical instructions and Dharma talks. Each committed yogi will have daily interviews with Sayadaw to help with their progress in the practice.

*Participation is flexible and it is possible to attend only portions of the retreat. Pre-registration required. To register contact: vivekanandail2010@gmail.com

This retreat is being offered free of charge and is based on the traditional “dana” system of donations.

~ ~ ~

Special Event!

The Visionary and the Monk: A Dialogue w/ Vivekananda and Thomas Huebl
May 11th, 19:00 ~ 21:00, Integral Dojo, Tel Aviv

“The Integral Dojo invites you to join us for an extraordinary evening dialogue with Buddhist Monk Vivekananda, and  contemporary spiritual teacher Thomas Huebl. Vivekananda is abbot of Panditarama Int. Meditation Center in Lumbini, Napal, and Thomas Huebl is the founder of the “Academy of Inner Science” in Germany. They are both international teachers who are known for being extremely clear, sharp and uncompromising in their practice. The two will discus the challenges of spiritual practice in a post-modern world, the timeless nature of enlightenment, the need to up-date the spiritual traditions to face today’s challenges, and the dangers of such adaptation. Come and enjoy a rich, divers and fruitful dialog at the integral dojo

~ ~ ~

Public Dharma Talks w/ Vivekananda in Tel Aviv

During Sayadaw U Vivekananda’s visit to Israel he will be giving a series of evening Dharma talks in Tel Aviv. These talks are open to the public and will be covering various aspects of meditation and spiritual practice. No pre-registration required.

• Monday, May 3rd, 19:00 ~ 21:00: “The Significance of Insight on the Meditative Path”
  Sangha House, 21 Ovadya Mibartua, apt. 15, 3rd floor ( map )

• Tuesday, May 4th, 19:00 ~ 21:00: “Why We Practice”
  The Integral Dojo, Ha’achim Mislavita 7, 2nd fl. (map)

• Wednesday, May 5th, 20:00 ~ 22:00: “Satipatthana: Mindfulness Practice”
  Bhavana House,  Miriam HaHashmonait 16 ( map )

• Tuesday, May 11th, 19:00 ~ 21:00: “Dialogue w/ Thomas Huebl” (see below)
  The Integral Dojo, Ha’achim Mislavita 7, 2nd fl. (map)

• Saturday May 15th, 19:00 ~ 21:00: *Topic to be announced.
  The Integral Dojo, Ha’achim Mislavita 7, 2nd fl. (map)

• Monday, May 24th, 19:00 ~ 21:00: *Topic to be announced.
  Sangha House, 21 Ovadya Mibartua, apt. 15, 3rd floor ( map )

• Tuesday, May 25th, 19:00 ~ 21:00: *Topic to be announced.
  The Integral Dojo, Ha’achim Mislavita 7, 2nd fl. (map)

~ ~ ~

The Integral Dojo is happy to announce a 3-week Vipassana meditation program with Sayadaw U Vivekananda.

This year U Vivekananda’s teaching program consists of two retreats at Ein Dor, a Tel Aviv urban retreat, and a number of evening Dhamma talks. Each event offered in this program is an excellent opportunity to experience a traditional meditation practice with a highly skilled teacher. This program will offer you a chance to get meditation guidance in an extremely clear and straight forward way. If you are interested in awakening the Dhamma in your life and deepening your understanding of the path then please join Sayadaw U Vivekananda for his Israel Dhamma Visit 2010. Please see the schedule below.

This program is offered completely on the traditional “dana” donation system. Your support for the events you attend is greatly appreciated. For more information or to register for a retreat contact:  vivekanandail2010@gmail.com

* We are looking for volunteers for the Ein-Dor and urban retreat. If you would like to increase your practice in service to the Dharma, contact us as soon as possible about becoming a retreat manager or kitchen staff. Please email us at  vivekanandail2010@gmail.com with your phone number, practice background, information about your past service and expectation from serving in the current retreat.  Food and accommodations is provided for volunteer staff.
~ “By supporting the Dharma, the Dharma supports us.” ~

Dhamma Schedule: May 3rd ~ May 25th, 2010

Ein Dor Retreats (Registration Required):

• May 6th ~ 8th: Weekend Vipassana retreat hosted by Tovana. To register go here.
• May 18th ~ 22nd: 5-day Vipassana retreat hosted by The Integral Dojo.
  

Tel Aviv Urban Retreat (Registration Required):

• May 9th ~ 15th, 09:00 ~ 17:00 daily: 7-Day Vipassana retreat at The Integral Dojo ( Map )
  

Evening Dhamma Talks in Tel Aviv:

• Monday,  May 3rd, 19:00 ~ 21:00 “The Significance of Insight on the Meditative Path” at Sangha House, 21 Ovadya Mibartua, apt. 15, 3rd floor ( Map )
• Tuesday, May 4th, 19:00 ~ 21:00 “Why We Practice” at The Integral Dojo ( Map )
• Wednesday, May 5th, 20:00 ~ 22:00 “Satipatthana: Mindfulness Practice” at Bhavana House ( Map )
• Tuesday, May 11th, 19:00 ~ 21:00 at The Integral Dojo
• Saturday May 15th, 19:00 ~ 21:00 at The Integral Dojo
• Monday, May 24th, 19:00 ~ 21:00 at Sangha House
• Tuesday, May 25th, 19:00 ~ 21:00 at The Integral Dojo

About Sayadaw U Vivekananda

Sayadaw U Vivekananda is the abbot and resident teacher of the Panditarama International Meditation Center in Lumbini, Nepal. U Vivikananda is a direct student of the Ven. Sayadaw U Pandita of Burma, in the Mahasi meditation tradition. For over 12 years U Vivekananda has been guiding hundreds of yogis almost daily in both Insight and Loving Kindness meditation. In addition to teaching in Nepal, Vivekananda has been leading retreats internationally for over 10 years in Europe, Australia, the U.S. and Israel. This will be Vivekananda’s 4th Dhamma visit to Israel.

אינטגרל דוג’ו שמח להכריז על תוכנית תלת שבועית של מדיטציית ויפאסנה עם או ויוקאננדה. השנה תוכנית הלימוד מורכבת משני רטריטים בקיבוץ עין דור, ריטריט עירוני בתח אביב ומספר ערבים של שיחות דהרמה. כל אחד מהאירועים הכלולים בתוכנית מציע הזדמנות נהדרת לחוות תרגול מדיטציה מסורתי עם מורה מכובר ומוכשר ביותר, תוכנית זו תאפשר לכם לקבל הנחייה ברורה וישירה בכל הנוגע לתרגול המדיטציה

אם אתם מעוניינים לעורר את הדהרמה בחייכם ולהעמיק את הבנתכם בדרך אז אנא בואו לקחת חלק בביקור הדהרמה של או ויוקאננדה בישראל, 2010

תוכנית זו מתבססת אך ורק על דאנא, מערכת התרומות המסורתית, ואנו נעריך כל תרומה שתיבחרו לתת במסגרת האירועים בהם תיקחו חלק.

לפרטים נוספים אנא צרו קשר במייל אל

vivekanandail2010@gmail.com

דרושים מתנדבים - אם אתם יכולים להתנדב למטבח או לניהול הריטריט בעיו דור וב-”אינטגרל דוג’ו” נשמח מאד לשמוע מכם כמה שיותר מהר. אנא שלחו אלינו את פנייתכם בצירוף מספר הטלפון שלכם,, הרקע שלכם בתרגול, מידע על שירות שעשיתם בעבר ופירוט הציפיות שלכם מהשירות במסגרת הריטריט אל :

vivekanandail2010@gmail.com

לוח זמנים ביקור דהרמה 3/5-25/5

ריטריטים בעין דור - הרשמה חובה

http://www.thusheard.com/registration/registration/create_registration.php?courseId=69 סופ”ש עם ויוקאננדה באירוח “תובנה” 6/5-8/5.  פרטים נוספים ניתן למצוא  באתר

חמישה ימי ריטריט באירוח “אינטגרל דוג’ו” 18/5-22/5 - שבועות+סופ”ש

ריטריט עירוני בתל אביב - הרשמה חובה

תרגול ויפאסנה יומי בין 09:00-17:00 במהלך 7 ימים ב-”אינטגרל דוגו’” למפה לחצו כאן

שיחות דהרמה בערבים

יום שני, 3/5 - “חשיבותה של התובנה בדרך המדיטטיבית” 19:00-21:00 בית הסנגה, למפה לחצו ראן

יום שלישי, 4/5 - “מדוע אנו מתרגלים” 19:00-21:00 אינטגרל דוג’ו, למפה לחצו כאן

יום רביעי, 5/5  - “סאטיפסנה: תרגול מודעות” 20:00-22:00 בית בהאוונא, למפה לחצו כאן

יום שלישי, 11/5 - 19:00-21:00 אינטגרל דוג’ו, למפה לחצו כאן

יום שבת, 15/5 - 19:00-21:00 אינטגרל דוג’ו, למפה לחצו כאן

יום שני, 24/5 - 19:00-21:00 אינטגרל דוג’ו, למפה לחצו כאן

יום שלישי, 25/5 - 19:00-21:00 אינטגרל דוג’ו, למפה לחצו כאן

אודות או ויוקננדה הנכבד

או ויוקננדה עומד בראש המרכז הבינלאומי לויפאסנה פנדיטרמה בלומביני, נפאל. או ויוקאננדה הינו תלמידו הישיר של סיידו או פנדיטה מבורמה, במסורת המדיטציה של המאהאסי ולמעלה מ-12 שנה שהוא מנחה באופן כמעט יום-יומי מאות יוגים במדיטציית תובנה (ויפאסנה) ומדיטציית אהבה טובת-לב. בנוסף לשיעורים שהוא מעביר בנפאל מנהל או ויוקאננדה גם סדנאות בינלאומיות באירופה, אוסטרליה, ארה”ב וישראל כבר יותר מעשור. זהו ביקור הדהרמה הרביעי של או ויוקאננדה בישראל

“Israeli Spirit” - Foreign spiritual teachers who’ve made Israel their home.
By Katy Kimhi of Menta Magazine

We Israelis are used to self berating. We’re used to apologizing for all the shameful behavior we make abroad, for our vulgarity, for our Mediterranean rudeness and for our base outbursts. Therefore, it’s a bit surprising to discover a trend which has been increasing in the last few years. Spiritual teachers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who are drawn to this country.

They come here for work, or a trip, or for romance, and they fall in love with the place. They fall in love with our country, and for most fall in love with working with Israelis. And they claim that there’s no other place in the world where they’ve found a people more committed to spiritual growth.

We gathered (some of these teachers) and asked them to tell us why they especially chose Israel to be their home base, even though they could have chosen any other country, and what is it about us Israeli’s makes them excited.

Miles Kessler: Aikido and Meditation Teacher

Home Land: U.S.A

Stops on the way: U.S.A, Japan, Burma, Europe

Final destination: Tel Aviv, Israel

Who Am I:

I was born and raised in U.S.A and when I got to the age of 25 I moved to Japan and stayed there for 8 years practicing Aikido. By the end of the 8 years it was time to leave. My teacher told me to go back to the U.S to begin teaching but I didn’t feel complete with my own personal development. So I decided to go to Burma to take up the practice of meditation. That’s where my formal spiritual journey began. In Burma I found a meditation teacher and I practiced with him every winter for 8 years and at the same time I was teaching Aikido in Europe.

Israel:

One day, to my surprise, my meditation teacher asked me a personal question: he asked me if I’m Jewish and would I like to go to Israel and help spread the Dharma. I was in shock because the thought living in Israel had never crossed my mind. At that time I had no intention of coming to Israel but the seed was planted. Six months later by “chance” an Israeli Aikido friend of mine invited me to come and teach in Israel.

I came during a very sensitive time security wise (the 2^ndintifada), and the contradiction between the beauty and spirituality on one hand, and the political conflict on the other was very powerful for me. I came back to Israel to teach yearly and the more I visited I discovered that I really love this place. I had a girlfriend here during this time and at a certain point it was clear that is was important for me to develop not only physically and spiritually, but also emotionally.

After so many years of traveling, the thought of living in Israeli society was very challenging, but somehow I again and again found myself thinking of living here. Finding a place in the world where my practice could be shared, to settle down, and throw my energy into it.

Aikido:

For me Israel is a very creative place. There is a lot of destruction here, but also a lot of creation as well which comes from within the culture.

My work here on the physical level is devoted to the practice of Aikido, but also I work on the mental and spiritual level with Insight Meditation. The fact is that both Aikido and meditation are wonderful paths for developing body, heart mind and spirit.

An integral part of all my work is the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict. I’ve started an Aikido project for Israeli’s and Palestinian’s and I regularly teach in Ramallah and Bethlehem. This year I fulfilled my dream of opening my own dojo (The Integral Dojo) which is located in the Montefiore neighborhood in Tel Aviv. This dojo is a practice community where we have Aikido classes, meditation gatherings and other Integral workshops.

The Israeli’s:

Israeli’s, and Jews in general, tend to be a cynical bunch. As anyone with a deep spiritual practice knows cynicism is the last stand of the ego and it’s a barrier which most teachers need to work with on a daily basis. The spirituality in this country is very broad, but there’s a core of people which have decided to place spirituality at the center of their lives. They make me feel that with them anything is possible. Because with these people, even if they are a few, there is an interest in change. And that’s what’s really exciting about this country. There’s a core of people who always want to give, and who are always there.

For more information go to:
integralaikido.org/the_dead_sea_seminar_2009.html

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.

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…)

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Awakening Integral: Part 1 – Ideas are Bullet Proof

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.

Conscious evolution always starts as potential in the mind. And the first inkling of movement of this evolution begins 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:

“Fairness, justice and freedom are more than just words. They’re perspectives.”

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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 Thursday April 23rd was “Earth Hour”, a world wide event to raise consciousness about climate change. Tel Aviv participated by turning out the lights in the city and we at Integral Aikido joined in by also turning out the lights and holding class by candle light.

Earth Hour is a global event that was organized by to WWF to raise awareness about climate change. It began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. From San Francisco to Rome, to Sydney, to Tel Aviv all stood in darkness for a full hour.

In Tel Aviv several well lit land marks turned off their lights and there was and rock concert with the “Balkan Beat Box” in “Rabin square” that was powered totally by concert goers who peddled the generators that provided juice for the amps and lights.

For our aikido class we turned off the lights for the evening and trained by candle light. Even with the candles it was quite dark for the training. Therefore we did several exercises to raise our sensitivity and awareness, such as blending with attacks with the eyes closed, “listening practices” and moving meditation.

In many ways our practice in aikido is about developing awareness and raising consciousness. As an authentic and traditional “path”, aikido challenges us to embody perspectives that are higher, more inclusive and more conscious. Cultivating such perspectives can indeed be a challenge to the self, but at the same time the path and the practice serves to support us through these challenges. And the path is a truly “integral path”, then it will challenge us not only at the level of self, but also challenge us to raise our awareness in cultural and in nature too.

It is a satisfying feeling to live in a city that participates in Earth Hour. Here at the beginning of the 21st century we are becoming more and more aware of the dangers that we humans are inflicting on our home planet. As we become aware of these problems we also need to become aware of new solutions to face the very problems that we’ve created. Earth Hour is a great way to do this. It is a wonderful community activity, a really cool way to save energy, an event that raises consciousness about climate change, and it also brings a very special atmosphere to our training.

The next Earth Hour will take place on March 27, 2010. Integral Aikido will be patricipating once again and we hope that you can join us too.

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

Click here to view the embedded video.

Integrating your Meditative Mind into the World
8 meetings of practice, study and exploration

Integral Meditation is an evolutionary approach to personal growth that blends traditional and modern practices in ways that are truly relevant to life in today’s world. Each week there will be group sittings for the development of mindfulness and concentration as well as experiential exercises for integrating the growth of the practice into your daily life. The Integral theory will be studied in order to frame and understanding on how these practices apply to your personal and professional life.

This 8-week course is unique and is open to both beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Come and be a part of an emerging community of Integral practitioners.

In this course you will learn:

* Meditation techniques to establish your own daily practice
* Greater integration of mindfulness into all aspects of your life
* Cognitive maps to illuminate the territory of body, mind, heart and spirit
* Multiple perspective taking exercises for expanding your circles of concern
* The connection between states, stages and shadow, and why it’s important to include them on our spiritual journey
* How the meditation experience brings greater freedom and clarity into life
* To transcend barriers that hold us back from living our lives to the fullest
* To develop an understanding of Insight Knowledge
* To illuminate your shadows with the practice of inquiry and mindfulness

About the teacher:

Miles Kessler Sensei is a teacher of Vipassana meditation, Aikido and Integral Practice. After studying aikido for 8 years in Japan, Miles spent another 8 years dedicated to the practice of meditation in Burma and Nepal. He completed his formal Vipassana practice in the Mahasi tradition under Sayadaws U Pandita and U Vivekanada. Miles has studied Big Mind facilitation under Zen masters Genpo Roshi and Diane Musho Hamilton sensei. He lives and teaches full time in Tel Aviv as well as regularly leading retreats and seminars in Israel, Europe and the U.S.

Dates and times: March 22nd, 19:00 ~ 21:00
Location: Betsalel Yafe # 7, top floor (near Rothchild), Tel Aviv
Course cost: 700 nis

For questions contact: Miles Kessler - info@integralaikido.org - Tel. 052-652-4004

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!

~ ~ ~

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

“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.

~ ~ ~

*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.*

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.

~ ~ ~

Click here to view the embedded video.

~ ~ ~

By the way, I came across this video on Steve Self’s Formless Mountain 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.

Obama Perspectives

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!

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).

~ ~ ~

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aikido weapons - 13 “Jo Kata”

~ ~ ~

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aikido weapons - “Ki musubi no tachi”

Kanzeon Zen Center

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.

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!

~ ~ ~

*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.

The Face Of Our World

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.

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

Max Planck

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.

~ ~ ~

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

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

Winston Churchill

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

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.

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…

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

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

On Saturday, Sept. 13th Integral Aikido held it’s first “Aiki-Contact Jam”. I lead this evening together with Noam Carmeli who is both an aikido student and Contact Improvisation teacher. Contact Improvisation had its beginning in the states some decades ago and some of its original influence came from aikido.

Both Noam and I are interested in finding the common ground of dance and martial arts and  how they lead to growth and discovery as it is manifested in the body. We feel there is a great learning potential in bringing the two arts of aikido and contact together.

We began the evening by leading the group in alternating basic aikido Tai Sabaki (body movement) and contact improvisation exercises.

The participants were a combination of aikido students and contact dancers, plus a few others who were new to both. This combination made for a very “yeasty” evening and sparked a nice creativity between the two disciplines.

After the class we had a special “purification ceremony” followed by a demonstration of both arts. We were very fortunate to have Makiko Sakurai with us for the event. She give a performance of an ancient Japanese Buddhist chanting and purification ceremony, which included a beautiful chant followed by the spreading of flower pedals in the space.

Following the purification ceremony I gave a demonstration of aikido with Einav Freedman which was followed by Noam and Yaniv Mintzer giving a demonstration of contact improvisation.

After the demos we opened the space for a “Jam” where all the participants entered the space to dance and explore where aikido and contact meet.

~  ~  ~

We were happy to host some of Noam’s friends who played for the event, which created a wonderful atmosphere for the Jam.

~  ~  ~

Both Noam and I are still not sure what will come out of this merging of aikido and contact but it is clear that a beautiful potential exists for creativity and self development. We’ll be holding our next “Aiki-Contact” Jam at the end of October so if you are around Tel Aviv then please do join us.

~  ~  ~

On this past weekend of Sept. 12th and 13th Integral Aikido held a workshop on the “Evolution Of Response”. I’ve been teaching aikido seminars both here in Israel and abroad for some years now, but as for the “Evolution Of Response” seminar this is the first time I’ve offered it here in Israel.

This seminar is an excellent way to grasp what “Integral Aikido” actually is as it deals directly with “levels” of consciousness. Through out the workshop we look the way we respond to stress and conflict from the different lower and higher perspectives, and the technologies that naturally arise from each level.

I’ve posted about the “Evolution of Response” before but basically what we do in this seminar is to start by identifying with our “lower intelligences”, which are fear based ways of dealing with conflict. By bringing out our more basic tendencies it helps to integrate them into who we are and then give an orientation for our higher intelligences in responding to conflict.

We had 17 participants for the workshop and in addition to aikido students we had participants from dance and other martial arts as well.

Over the weekend in addition to aikido we practiced movement, meditation, inquiry and dialogues as well. True to the integral method we covered practices for the body, heart, mind and spirit.

It was a great pleasure for me to do this seminar here. A truly Integral Aikido community is slowly taking shape and I’m looking forward to more explorations and development together in the future.

Of course, as soon as we finished this one we’re already thinking about the next video project. Could be the birth of our own AV department…..

Cheers!

Growth is good. Always. Even when it doesn’t seem to be so. Often growth can mean upsetting the status quo and bracing for the inevitable back lash that may result.  But like Ken Wilber says “just as the next level of development acts like a magnet that pulls you up, so too does the previous level of development act like a magnet to pull you back down.” That pull-back can be harsh sometimes and it can leave us with some nasty carpet burns. But ultimately evolution cannot be denied and in the end growth must happen.

Of course, on a relative level this is not always the case. So we must ask why do some people grow and others not?

unbox yourself

I just came across an interesting short article in the New York Times giving an overview of the results of 30 years of research that looks at how people think about intelligence and talent. It turns out there are two types of attitudes towards ones ability. One type is the “fixed-mind set”, and the other type is the “growth mind-set”.

“Those who believe they were born with all the smarts and gifts they’re ever going to have approach life with what is called a “fixed mind-set”. Those who believe that their own abilities can expand over time, however, live with a “growth mind-set.”

In brief, a “fixed mind-set” is one of being preoccupied with looking good and not making mistakes. This mind-set tends to box one in and kill growth. There is an investment in who they are and little willingness in losing that investment. Oscar Wilde got it right when he said: “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative mind.”

On the other hand those who posses a “growth mind-set” often experience dissatisfaction with who they are. This dissatisfaction tends to lead them to push and stretch their limitations, as well as confront their own mistakes and learn from them. They understand what it means to invest in loss. Such people have a passion for learning and always thrive on challenge and change.

This study shows how adopting either a fixed, or growth attitude toward abilities profoundly affects all aspects of a person’s life. Which, of course, can be integrally applied in the quadrants, levels, lines, states or types.

“People with a growth mind-set tend to demonstrate the kind of perseverance and resilience required to convert life’s setbacks into future successes. That ability to learn from experience was cited as the No. 1 ingredient for creative achievement.”

Like Winston Churchill said, “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”

By now you’ve probably asked yourself “which type am I?” The answer should be obvious for you. But if you want to be sure just look at the above picture again and feel which type resonates the most within your being.  Go ahead, give it a try. And if you really want to be integral about it, run through the AQAL matrix as you look at the picture. It’s a good compass pointing to where development needs to go.

If you sense that you may perhaps have some degree of risidual “fixed mind-set”, then the article ends with the obvious question: Is it possible to shift from a fixed mind-set to a growth mind-set?

Well, what do you think? (ok, you can find the answer here)

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.

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!

The below video is from a seminar I taught in Krutzlingen, Switzerland last March. In the afternoon I lead the group through a jiyu waza (free/ spontaneous technique) class with several exercises for developing different kinds of ability in the jiyu waza.

This is a clip of a simple tai sabaki (body movement) free flow exercise. In our technical training there can be a tendency to get stuck in trying to control our partner by cognitively deciding what the next technique will be. And even though with training such a mental process can happen rather quickly, it is still linear and deterministic, and therefore not free. In this exercise  the purpose is to help create the shift out of this “technical linear mind set” and towards being responsive in the moment. We do so by temporarily omitting the completion of techniques and rather work towards continuous movement that is spontaneous, appropriate and free. Only to re-integrate the technical aspect of the art in further exercises.

The tai sabaki here of course refers to the irmi and tenkan body movements (entering and turning) which are the active and receptive principles of aikido.

Day 3 & 4 – Jerusalem and the Old City

Diane’s visit happened to fall on the holocaust memorial day so we had no planned teaching activaties. So we took the opportunity to visit Jerusalem and spend some time at the holy sites.

After checking into the hotel Diane, Jerome Perrin and I met with our friend Harry Dijkshoorn and went to the Muslim quarter in the old city for dinner.  After dinner we managed to time it so we could take in the view of Islam’s holy site the “Dome of the rock” at sunset. Harry, who has lived in Jerusalem for a few years was happy to be our guide.

Day 5 & 6 – Integral Practice workshop

After the workshop many of us went to the beach in Tel Aviv for a swim at sunset. It was a beautiful way to finish off a beautiful week.

Thank you Diane for the wonderful gift of your teaching. We are looking forward to your next visit to Israel!

Diane Musho Hamilton sensei has just launched her new website and it is now up and running for all to visit.

http://www.dianemushohamilton.org

A few weeks ago I attended a conference on Integral International Development in Istanbul, Turkey, that was initiated by Integral Without Borders, which is a “Learning Center of Integral institute”.  The purpose of this conference was to bring together people who are working in, or around the field of international development.  This years theme was the “Integral Practitioner”, which focused on a balanced approach of working internally on growth and change within ourselves, and externally with growth and change in the world.

There were about 47 of us who attended from all over the world, including South, Central, and North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia/ New Zealand. For me it was the first time I had gathered in a large group of Integral Practitioners. Meeting in a context where the “dominant mode of discourse” was stable at Integral was both refreshing and inspiring.

Those of us in Integral often say “it is lonely out here” because finding others with whom to share in this field isn’t always easy. But going to this conference was like finding an instant Sangha. It really was like coming home for me.

Day One - Theory day

On the first day the conference began I took an early morning flight from Tel Aviv and caught a cab to the venue just in time for the introductions to start. Gail Hochachka, one of the principle organizers, began with doing the introductions in a “holon” format. We all created a large circle and introduced ourselves by stepping into the center of the circle in categories of regions, followed by field of activities, students, types of n.g.o.s, and so on. It was a great way to meet each other by seeing that our holon was indeed composed of lesser and greater holons. Turtles all the way up, turtles all the way down.

Next we began with an introduction to theory from Emine Kiray who bravely dove into an explanation of Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP), with its 4 quadrants and 8 zones. Emine did a great job of laying out this complex part Ken Wilber’s latest book Integral Spirituality which can be quite challenging. According to Emine, she asked Ken what to present at this conference and with out hesitation he told her IMP. Indeed it was a great start because throughout the next 5 days of the conference we were able to see these methods applied in a practical and integral way. It’s even great to finally “get it” (except for zones 5 and 7, of course. The “dash board of a frog”?…..well…).

After a world café and lunch Rollie Stanich of the Integral Spiritual Center gave a presentation on “Dual Centers of Gravity”. The dual centers of course refer to the Wilber/ Colmbs lattice and ones leading edge in both states development and altitudes development. Rollie laid out the basic lattice of horizontal and vertical development and then added a new part to the theory that has yet to be published by Ken. This is the pathologies that can occur at any developmental point on the lattice, be it a “fulcrum” (structure-stage), or a “switch point” (state-stage).

This new piece of the puzzle on the integral map is helpful for clearing up some of the confusion I have encountered in my own development and adds more granularity to the way development can get stuck. There is lots to say about it but I’ll save that for another blog. But I will say that the understanding of the dual centers of gravity and their pathologies makes clear that “transcend and include” is the basic rule for healthy development.

Day 2 – Big Mind with Diane Musho Hamilton

This was our full on practice day and we honored it by doing about 5 hours of Big Mind with Diane Musho Hamilton. I had done the Big Mind process with Genpo Roshi before but this was the first time I’d experienced it with Diane. They have very different teaching styles and it was refreshing to practice with Diane. The first half of the day before lunch we went through the standard dualistic voices of controller, protector, skeptic, the damaged self and inocent child.

Then after lunch we proceeded into the non-dual voices of Big Mind/ Big Heart, masculine/ feminine compassion and so on. Then Diane offered a new twist that I have never experienced before. Taking the developmental stages of ego-centric, ethno-centric, world-centric and kosmo-centric we then proceeded through each stage from the voice of  the protector, the voice of suffering, and the voice of compassion. Each at ego-centric, ethno-centric, world-centric and kosmo-centric. Going through these stages gave a beautiful perspective of how consciousness evolves, and as it does so the interpretation of experience changes.

We finished the evening by having dinner no a rooftop restaurant that gave us a breath taking 360 degree view of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, and the Bospherous channel that separates Istanbul, with Europe on the west side and Asia on the east side. After dinner I spent another few hours with Diane and her husband Michael Zimmerman talking about the Dharma. It was a great day.

Day 3 – Presentations and discussions

This was basically a day of presentations that included “Integral Spirituality and Social Change” by Vernice Solimar, “Integral Perspectives on Resilience” by Carissa Wieler, “Towards an integral Theory of Human Needs” by Lisa Chacon and Julian Gonzalez, “Integral Politics: The recent Political Crisis in Turkey”, as well as others. The day was split up with world café discussions as well as practice session of mindfulness and the “3 faces of God” lead by Rollie Stanich.

After our final joint dinner we all returned to the conference room that night for a dance party of fun and letting go. It was a beautiful group of people and it was great meeting them all.

Day 4 – Presentations and Discussions

On this day we had more presentations of how the Integral theory was being applied in various projects around the world, mindfulness reflections and world cafes. That night after dinner Diane Hamilton was back with us to lead us through a practice of the “Life Boat exercise”. The “Life Boat” scenario is basically that a ship has gone down in the middle of the ocean and there is only one life boat with supplies to sustain only half of the people in the boat. The other half of the people have to go. Traditionally this exercise is very competitive and about choosing who should stay based on a persons value to the group and society. High value people stay, low value people go. But Diane had a very different way of doing it that removed the competition and put the responsibility with in each individual. In Diane’s life boat there were only 3 ground rules:

1. Life and Death are one and the same.
2. Be true to yourself in the present moment.
3. Whatever you decide you will be loved.

From the moment we began this “game” it became very serious where each individual took full responsibility for the group dilemma. It was poignantly beautiful to see everyone go through this process and how we all dealt with this issue of life and death.  The 3 ground rules effectively took all to a deeply authentic level of being and relating that is not always experienced. The care and concern shared between us all regardless of whether one chose to stay or go was a very beautiful thing to be part of. Thank you Diane for leading us through this process.

Day 5 – Presentations, Discussions and Dance Party

This was the final day and the conference and it included presentations, world cafes and mindfulness sessions. The conference was closed with a discussion on “The Integral Practitioner”, meeting feedback, and personal reflections. We also discussed the next steps for the Integral Without Borders conference and some suggestions were doing more of these on a regional level, bi-annually, choosing different venues around the world, or returning to Istanbul again next year. Whatever evolves next, it was clear that this 5-day meeting was a total success and the party that night was fantastic.

So, what did I come back with? Well, a few things:

• How to create a context w/ “rigid rules with flexible strategies”.
• Loving the truth and having the courage to be authentic.
• Learning to receive another…it’s much easier than we sometimes think.
• Understanding that zone 5 actually is “a view from nowhere”.
• That needs have satisfiers and not all satisfiers satisfy all needs.
• That without the spring the river dries up, and without the river the spring becomes stagnant and doesn’t flow.
• Living with change means creating the change we want to live with.
• Never to go into an area unless invited.
• “Unconditional Positive Regard”.
• The shadow is always there, regardless of convenience.
• During the call to prayer take a few moments to be silent.
• iMI is the “integral monster in me”.
• Big Mind over a 2 hour breakfast is a great way to start the day.
• A simple touch can be a powerful thing.
• Rollie slams like a brother.
• Beware of the “Istanbul shoe shine scam”. If they can get the former chief justice of the Utah state supreme court, then they can get you too!

And finally, I learned that a a little prayer can go a long way. Thanks Diane.

Much thanks and admiration goes out to Gail Hochachka, Emine Kiray, and Paul van Schaik for pulling this whole thing off. It was great.

Before returning to Israel I gave a weapons workshop at the Zendokan aikido dojo of Mustafa Agun on the Asian side of Istanbul. It was nice to fit in a visit with them on this trip.

That night I flew back to Israel with Diane for the first Big Mind/ Integral Practice workshops ever to be taught there.  It was great and a very wild time. But that’s another story. I’ll be posting a blog about it soon.

Ok, this is ping pong…but we did do aikido afterwards.

Yes, we can change the way we see the world.

Although these guidelines can be a challenging practice they proved to be helpful in setting the context of the seminar’s inquiry.

This was an unusual seminar in that it was not about learning “the way things should be”, but rather we all entered a collective exploration into the nature of aikido itself. The very context invited each person to directly discover for themselves the principles that underlie all techniques and practices in aikido. All of us were given permission to come to new understandings and ways of expression in Aikido.

Class by class, as the seminar unfolded, tangible shifts in the collective consciousness could be felt resulting in a release of excitement and joy. And with this release many of us felt the emergance of a greater sense of Aikido’s meaning and potential.

In one class Patrick led us through the “evolution of responses”, in which he showed the hierarchy of responses in the face of conflict. He simplified it into 4 basic types of responses that can come up in conflict:

1.    “Oh shit” – the resistance response
2.    “OK” – the relaxed and centered response
3.    “Oh, wow” –  the intuitive response
4.    “Oh, thank you” – the co-creative response

Practicing from these different perspectives allowed us to identify our lower tendencies and orient ourselves for making the shift towards our higher potential.

One of the classes I led was on perspectives. It was based on the “I”, “We” and “It” (1st, 2nd and 3rd person) perspectives of Integral Theory. The purpose was to identify how these three perspectives are always available and identify how both individuals and specific aikido styles have a tendency to fixate on one, or two, while giving little attention to the other(s). The purpose of the class was to create the distinction of these three perspectives and then create the ability to freely flow with full awareness between them as needed in the training.

It happened that the Friday of the seminar fell on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Even though it was the shortest day of the year we had a full day a of acitivites with a morning weapons class at 6:30 plus 5 1/2 more hours of training during the day.

But it wasn’t all aikido. On top of the days 6 plus hours of training, that evening we had a very enjoyable “contact improvisation” class taught by Itay Yatuv. Itay is a student at Integral Aikido as well as a teacher at “The Group in Jaffa” (Hakvutsa be Yafo) school of dance. For many this was their first experience of “contact improvisation” which is a method of dance and movement that has its origins in Aikido. Itay’s clear and relaxed teaching style, and his  light sense of humor  was the perfict way to finish off a full day of training.

After the “contact” class, as a way to aknowledge the longest night of the year, we had a “tribal bonfire” at the edge of the cliff outside the “khan” that lasted late into the night.

Not everyone made it to the weapons class early the next morning, but those that did were greeted with a beautiful sunrise and spectacular view.

We ended he seminar with dialogues in small groups in which all shared what was discovered over the weekend and how the practices touched us personally. It was the common experience of all of us that a great excitement and joy was sparked during this weekend and it has continued to follow us for quite some time after the Dead Sea seminar.

I’m looking forward to the next seminar I’ll be teaching together with Patrick in Cully, Switzerland in May (see Aikido Montreux). Both Patrick and his wife Dominique had a very special time on thier first visit to the Holy Land and I am happy to say that they have agreed to return this December for another “Aikido: Practice and Inquiry” seminar. I hope that you can join us!

More photos: to see many more photos of the Dead Sea seminar go to Olga Vigini’s web album on Picasa here.

Welcome to the blog of Integral Aikido. I’m happy to be opening this blog with a 3 part film that was taken of a seminar I taught together with Patrick Cassidy in Cully, Switzerland, in May, 2007 . Patrick and I have known each other for close to 20 years and we spent several years training together in Iwama, Japan under the guidance of Morihiro Saito sensei. Those were literally our “formative years” in aikido and having gone through an extended and rather intense process of development together we quite naturally grew close. In fact, you could say we are Aikido brothers.

Since leaving Japan, both Patrick and I have continued our individual searches for growth and development which has led our aikido to evolve in different ways. None the less, both our view and relationship to the path continues to be remarkably similar.

It is very satisfying after all these years to share the mat together with Patrick again for the “Aikido: Practice and Inquiry” seminars. It is a creative process that truly inspires. What better way to open a blog on Integral Aikido than with a film of a seminar about integrating perspectives. Enjoy.

~~~

Aikido: Practice and Inquiry - Part 1 of 3

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aikido: Practice and Inquiry - Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3: The conversation continues

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aikido: Practice and Inquiry - Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3: Conversation concluded, plus the “aiki-jam”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aikido: Practice and Inquiry - Part 3 of 3