SomaSoma

SomaSoma

47p

88 comments posted · 2 followers · following 0

12 years ago @ elephant journal: Yoga... - The Goal. · 0 replies · +1 points

Dear Anna,

Totally agree that we can learn from the lesson of the Chinese invasion - yes.

However, I have to disagree when you say that, "But these changes occur mostly within ourselves. Certainly they touch those we touch. But for the most part they bring about transformations to the self." I think that a transformation of consciousness on an individual level is what leads to transformation of consciousness on the global level. And, ultimately, it is only that transformation that will give us the world we want.

However, I definitely don't mean to say that action is not important. If we take a leader like MLK, he was able to affect incredible consciousness transformation through his (loving) actions. I think that what made the Civil Rights movement so successful and why forty years down the line we have an African American president, is that there was tremendous "soul force" behind the movement. A lot of wisdom and compassion. The same can be said about the work of Ghandi or Nelson Mandela, among others.

So what am I trying to say? I am trying to say that love and compassion do not mean complacency or a foolish flexibility that lets others step all over you. It is actually an incredibly strong, firm power. Buddhists always talk about how, while compassion is important, it should not be idiot compassion. It can be love and compassion with a warrior spirit - the two are not contradictory.

Cheers,

Alex

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 10 ... · 1 reply · +2 points

Hi Guys,

Wanted to take a second to look back over the last ten weeks.

It was amazing to me HOW MUCH was packed into the weeks. The embodiment and regular calls are just SO MUCH material. I didn't participate in the calls, mostly, just one, but I did listen to all the recordings. And it was like Brian and the gang were constantly with me.

It's amazing how easy it is to slip out of the rituals. I had a change in my schedule and couldn't do the rituals at the same time as I was doing them before. They pretty much went to hell as a result! Now I am trying to recommit, to see how I can adjust and how I can incorporate them into my new schedule.

In any case, I am extremely thankful to Brian and to all the people in this community and look forward to continuing our adventure with Entheos and Philosophers Notes II!

I remember there was a discussion about whether Philosopher's Notes II would be a book or the shorter pieces. I can just say that for me, having the material in recording form is amazing. I live in New York and deal with long commutes - it's the perfect time to listen to the materials. I am sure that you're aware of this Brian, a lot of people LISTEN to the notes - think that's a major source of their power, and I think it's important to make sure that they're always presented in an audio format, even if they're also combined into a book.

Well - talk to you all soon!

Alex

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 07 ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Jonathan - simply awesome, man.

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 1 reply · +2 points

That's awesome Brian. I am wondering if "Appreciation" is about the appreciation of your loved one. If so, I bet you will talk about it in the Love episode. I'd really love to learn more about that because Appreciation of Beauty is one of my signature strengths, but I am not so good at expressing it to my significant others.

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Rock on, Brian! :)

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 0 replies · +2 points

Totally agree, Vicky. I am hoping Entheos will be that community!

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 0 replies · +1 points

John - I'm glad you dig the ideas. I sent you my email, but for anyone else it's: alexeisoma@gmail.com

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 0 replies · +2 points

That sounds like a fantastic idea, Maxine!

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 9 replies · +2 points

ENTHEOS. Hey guys, so Brian has been talking a bunch about putting together a kind of social networking type thing inspired by Philosopher's Notes called Entheos, right? And I thought it might be fun, now that we're more than half-way through this Optimal Living program, to throw some ideas back and forth about what would be really awesome to see on such a site?

Two thoughts I had were: 1) An area where people can regularly discuss their fundamentals and their progress on them, in a similar way that the embodiment group does. People could encourage each other and sort of track each other's progress. 2) I think it would be fun to have some chat type things. Like, I could definitely imagine logging on, really feeling the gremlins, not wanting to work on my fundamentals, and then chatting with someone and them inspiring me to go for it anyway! 3) Now that I'm thinking about it, it would be awesome to have an "inspiring video" library also. So there's three.

What about you guys, if you could wave a wand and make it happen, what would be fun for you to see on the site?

13 years ago @ MindValley Library - My Library - 432 - 06 ... · 3 replies · +2 points

So, I was thinking about fundamentals - and I realized that one thing that's helping me is writing them down. I mean, the amount of time that I spend on each one, I write it down in a little journal I have, every day. Do you guys do a similar thing? What I've found really helpful is setting aside the first couple of pages of the journal for a table of the fundamentals. Like so:

Meditation

6.28 15 minutes
6.29 15 minutes
6. 30 5 minutes
7.1 15 minutes

And so on

I find it so helpful. Because it's at the beginning of your journal, you always have to look at it. I think it's an additional motivator and just wanted to share it with everybody.