September 11th, 2011 → 12:04 pm @ Tom
SuperWisdom Foundation conducted a live online/telephone class centered on this amazing spiritual classic.
Listen to a recording of this very powerful September 10th (2011) class.
Topic: Awareness (The Perils and Opportunities of Reality) by Anthony de Mello. Read a free PDF copy of his book here. Or better, get your softcover copy through Amazon.com.
View Anthony de Mello on Video, discussing the principles found in the book Awareness.
We discuss much in this class, including the following from the book: Read More
September 10th, 2011 → 3:52 pm @ Tom
SuperWisdom Foundation often highlights books that bring an entirely new level of spiritual perception into view.
* Check out the SuperWisdom Amazon.com bookstore with exiciting recommendations. This list can save you an enormous amount of time.
* Enjoy these book discussions from the podcast website.
Read to spark your own connections and ideas. Perhaps take note of these insights in your journal. The first chapter of the free eBook SuperWisdom, provides indepth information on how to absorb spiritual ideas for the greatest impact. See the Home Page at this website.
September 5th, 2011 → 12:22 pm @ Tom
Contents:
1. Your September 10th Class Invitation
2. The Tale of the Rat, by Tom Russell
3. The Purpose of SuperWisdom Foundation
4. Places of Interest at the SuperWisdom Website
SuperWisdom Class Invitation
Join us Saturday, September 10th at 8:AM Pacific time, for an exploration of the masterpiece book, Awareness by Anthony de Mello. The class is free and you can connect by either internet or telephone. Read the book from this page, as well as get the class connection details. This book overflows with valuable metaphors and enlivening humor.
Though the class is a discussion and we’ll open it up right away, let’s begin with this idea from the book:
“When you renounce something, you’re stuck to it forever. When you fight something, you’re tied to it forever. As long as you’re fighting, you are giving it power. You give it as much power as you are using
to fight it.
“This includes communism and everything else. So you must “receive” your demons, because when you fight them, you empower them. Has nobody ever told you this? When you renounce something, you’re tied to it. The only way to get out of this is to see through it. Don’t renounce it, see through it.”
Check out the online edition of the book and mark your calendar, for this coming Saturday, the 10th, at 8:AM Pacific (Los Angeles) time.
The Tale of the Rat
By Tom Russell
Consider the old story of the man who heard a rat in the walls of his house. He decided to get a cat to get that rat. But the cat needed milk, so he purchased a cow. The cow needed a pasture to graze, so the man fenced one in. He then needed equipment to manage the pasture. The equipment sometimes broke down, so he had to hire mechanics to keep it all running. All because of one little rat!
Nurmerous opportunities come our way to simplify, to decline involvement. Consider the news. The purpose of any media show is your involvement. They want you worried and tuned in. Why not watch
much less television news. Someone invites you to go somewhere to do something. You consider your options and politely decline, if you wish. A big one today is tech upgrades – the newest gadget. I’ve
still found pen and paper superior, and I admit to a preference for a basic cell phone that’s often turned off. A new definition of “hell” is when antsy people can buzz you anytime they want!
Life longs for silent simple spaces. Yet we run away with the first sign on an ache, or anxiety, or hounding thought. We use a little rat as an excuse for escape, and look what it wroughts.
Sitting awarely and inquistively, with any pain, worry, or fear, with no desire to escape or “fix” it, now that’s real spiritual skill. If you know it won’t hurt you to hurt, then the hurt can just be there purely, without interference, and tiny healings begin to flourish.
Silent Simple Spaces. If you do not grant them to yourself, then be very clear that no one, nor group of any kind, will ever grant them to you. Claim your sacred right to live your own life.
The Purpose of the SuperWisdom Foundation
By Tom Russell
At SuperWisdom Foundation, we have no membership, no creed, no calls for “loyalty” to an organization. Just as a single underground river winds its way beneath a desert, bubbling up to the surface to form several beautiful oases, so does SuperWisdom Foundation strive to focus primarily on the river, the river of invisible principles, and not the expressions.
It seems almost impossible for the leaders of an organization, with a loyal following, to point to something outside their domain as worthy of investigation. After all, highlighting a discovery in another oasis can diminish “loyalty” to their organization. Followers can get too wrapped up in their oasis to consider the value of others. It’s the elementary stage of the spiritual quest.
Vernon Howard once said that if we waited for the perfect student, we would never have a class. Likewise, if we demand the perfect class or organization, we will never find it. So why not thoroughly enjoy the friendships and the exchange of information, if you find one of value. Look for connections you may have never thought of before. However, do your own work, which must ultimately be unique to you. Just know that it is in the nature of things to change, so never sell out your integrity for the perpetuation of any organization. Never marry your Essence to any group – it’s an awful dead end. There is a Cosmic Marriage, discussed in the New Testament — the Marriage of your Essence with God.
SuperWisdom Foundation explores the vast galaxy of Truth with its endless expressions, highlighting often unpopular and little known ones. Sometimes they’re inspiring, other times they’re challenging to the core. The word “SuperWisdom” does not refer to any of these potent wisdom expression, but only the glow of your awakened Essence. All else, at best, can merely facilitate the release of this cheerful, healing glow.
The simple draws us, but the simple, though imminently workable, often is not easy. Therefore, the writings, podcasts and classes.
Places of Interest at the Website
A. The Metaphor of the Membrane
B. Taoism and Life’s Easy Flow
C. The Alexander Technique (now here’s an oasis)
D. Podcast Audio Discussions – List of Categories
August 4th, 2011 → 7:43 am @ Tom
By Tom Russell
(Please feel free to circulate the highly unpopular and rarely discussed ideas, featured in this article.)
We all have to start somewhere, and the spiritual seeker identity gets us up and going. We collect knowledge, attend meetings, and do all kinds of activities to honor the impulse inside for a more meaningful and connected existence.
However, this identity serves as a bridge that is meant to be crossed. The aim is not to be a super student who is continually getting more spiritual, but to abide in the fresh air flowing through the high garden windows, open on both sides of the room.
How often have “spiritual seekers” become bogged down in their pursuits and studies? They seem to reach a wall, and experience deep frustration for not being able to pass beyond that wall. Even more tragically, they’ll take on the identity of a group, reinforcing each others’ decision to lock themselves inside the limited identity. Read More
August 2nd, 2011 → 9:53 am @ Tom
It’s free and you’re invited! Open and invigorating discussion format. Nothing to join. No creeds.
When: Saturday, August 6th at 8:AM Pacific Time
Full Details and Connection Link Here
Topic: Independence – Stop Trying to Please People Who Can’t Be Pleased
This is a section from the SuperWisdom book by Tom Russell
Suggest reading this chapter before the class:
* Page 65 if you have the paperback
* Page 84 in the free online PDF download
We all have to start somewhere, and the spiritual seeker identity gets us up and going. We collect knowledge, attend meetings, and do all kinds of activities to honor the impulse inside for a more meaningful and connected existence.
However, this identity serves as a bridge that is meant to be crossed. The aim is not to be a super student who is continually getting more spiritual, but to abide in the fresh air flowing through the high garden windows, open on both sides of the room.
How often have “spiritual seekers” become bogged down in their pursuits and studies? They seem to reach a wall, and experience deep frustration for not being able to pass beyond that wall. Even more tragically, they’ll take on the identity of a group, reinforcing each others’ decision to lock themselves inside the limited identity.
When not stuck in the role of the striving super student, one finds that the spiritual identity (with books, discussion, personal journals, etc) can be enjoyable, illuminating, and challenging. However, consider the heaviness of the spiritual identity when the quest turns obsessive. Consider how tyrannical it gets, with accusations over “not living up.” The runaway spiritual identity feels superior to all those people out there who are not on the “spiritual path.” It feels itself capable of only learning from a “sage’s” books or lectures, and filters out a thousand other elements, including the never-ending love whispered by nature, or the smiling farmer selling his produce at the local market.
This kind of talk sounds sacrilegious to some. However, if the “spiritual identity” was going to take you to your longed for destination, don’t you think it would have done so by now? Are you going to “fall away” and slip into oblivion if you employ flexibility to move out of the role for awhile? Isn’t spirituality all about opening up, listening to a far wider kaleidoscope of impressions, and transcending concepts and activities that may have once served a useful purpose?
A Workable Solution
The problem is not the spiritual identity, but getting stuck in it. When picking up the spiritual identity, presently so useful, ask yourself:
a. How can I make it more transparent?
b. How can I increase its skill in asking questions?
c. How can I bring it more to reflection and quiet time, the place it most often wishes to avoid?
d. What ways can I find to use pen and paper to vastly expand its network of internal connections between ideas and concepts? (index cards, small spiral notebook, ipad)
e. How can I develop its ability to spot humor, and have a light spirit?
Observe how much more your desired changes take root when you know you’re working on an identity, not you! Your Essence, who you really are, uses the identity but is not the identity. Knowing this generates a precious freedom to playfully learn and experiment. Your Essence dwells in freedom now. Forgetting this, and clutching the spiritual identity, is like taking a change of clothes as yourself.
The unchecked “spiritual identity” craves the profound, and these suggestions may seem far beneath its grand designs. It just doesn’t like being taken down a notch or two. Perhaps we’re simply learning to be a connoisseur of living. Perhaps we’re falling back in love with the simple activities, events and expressions of everyday life.
If one settles down with the spiritual identity, places it on a pedestal, becomes proud of it, promotes it, clutches it, hardens it, etc., then hasn’t one made an idol of it? Hasn’t one solidified the identity, instead of letting it serve as the open windows mentioned above?
Vernon Howard:
Q: Please comment on the need for going beyond spiritual knowledge.
A: The acquisition of spiritual facts is necessary, but it is only the first section of the upward path. This section ends at the edge of a cliff. To continue to climb we must bravely leap over to the opposite cliff where essence becomes alive. The leap is made by dropping vanity over knowledge and by a willingness to become nothing in order to become everything.
Anthony de Mello:
Somebody came up to me with a question. What do you think the question was? He asked me, “Are you enlightened?” What do you think my answer was? What does it matter!
You want a better answer? My answer would be: “How would I know? How would you know? What does it matter?” You know something? If you want anything too badly, you’re in big trouble. You know something else? If I were enlightened and you listened to me because I was enlightened, then you’re in big trouble. Are you ready to be brainwashed by someone who’s enlightened? You can be brainwashed by anybody, you know. What does it matter whether someone’s enlightened or not? But see, we want to lean on someone, don’t we? We want to lean on anybody we think has arrived. We love to hear that people have arrived. It gives us hope, doesn’t it? What do you want to hope for? Isn’t that another form of desire?
You want to hope for something better than what you have right now.
July 1st, 2011 → 5:54 pm @ Tom
Topic: We’ll begin the class discussing this heartfelt question from Betty:
Dear Tom, This is a very hard thing to talk about it and only knowing that this is anonymous makes me ask the question. Being plain or homely when you are a woman is very painful in today’s world .I guess it has always been but it is worse now. I try to let all the taunts go, because they are only an attack on the false self. It is hard when you are a woman, and maybe only a woman can understand. Any thoughts from you or maybe a lady colleague ?
This question has so many possible connections. Let’s explore them in a spontaneous, unscripted discussion. Meet friendly people all over the world.
June 30th, 2011 → 11:30 am @ Tom
Penetrating challenge from Anne Wilson Schaef, an insightful organizational consultant:
“The society in which we live needs addictions, and its very essence fosters addictions. It fosters addictions because the best-adjusted person in the society is the person who is not dead and not alive, just numb, a zombie. When you are dead you are not able to do the work of the society. When you are fully alive, you are constantly saying no to many of the processes of the society: the racism, the polluted environment, the nuclear threat, the arms race, drinking unsafe water, and eating carcinogenic foods.
“Thus, it is in the interests of the society to promote those things that “take the edge off,” get us busy with our “fixes,” and keep us slightly “numbed out” and zombielike. Consequently, the society itself not only encouraged addictions, it functions as an addict.”
June 30th, 2011 → 9:31 am @ Tom
Topic: We’ll begin the class discussing this heartfelt question from Betty:
Dear Tom, This is a very hard thing to talk about it and only knowing that this is anonymous makes me ask the question. Being plain or homely when you are a woman is very painful in today’s world .I guess it has always been but it is worse now. I try to let all the taunts go, because they are only an attack on the false self. It is hard when you are a woman, and maybe only a woman can understand. Any thoughts from you or maybe a lady colleague ?
This question has so many possible connections. Let’s explore them in a spontaneous, unscripted discussion. Meet friendly people all over the world. Details here.
Recent podcast series highlights the power of relationships for new insight and vitality:
1. The Five Sacred Relationships
2. Sex and Spirituality
The Healing Power of Voice Awareness
By Tom Russell
There’s another dimension to The Language of Awakening: Know you are talking as you are talking. Have the light of awareness active at the moment you are speaking. Hear your own voice with all its subtleties. It is an amazingly effective barometer of unseen psychological states.
Voice awareness creates a great reservoir of energy in back of your speech. Not only is your speech more relevant and effective, but it has a lively and more natural tone as well. This leads to all kinds of benefits and insights, including instant recognition when your speech is weak and wavering.
Listen to yourself talk. Presently, you may be able to only look back and see what you said. But the time will come when you can listen to yourself talk right in the middle of your conversations. You will feel new and true excitement as you detect yourself saying dumb things at the very moment you say them!
Noticing your speech expands your powers of thought detection. This is one power active in two directions—outwardly to voice and body, inwardly to thoughts and emotions.
“See” you tomorrow, at the Saturday class.
Cordially,
Tom Russell
June 5th, 2011 → 10:58 am @ Tom
By Tom Russell
Collected over years of attendance at Vernon Howard’s personally taught classes, these descriptions of the Awakened Life were rewritten from my copious notes. They inspire us to lay aside the petty internal world of worries, grudges and false striving. With so much Good available, why are we holding ourselves back? Read More
June 5th, 2011 → 9:14 am @ Tom
The books you’ll encounter in this section challenge you to take an honest look at your life. Inspiration abounds, yes, but not at the expense of self-honesty. As author Vernon Howard said once, “Seek insight, not happiness.” These resources will greatly assist you to do just that.
The following nugget of advice from Dr. Paul Brunton highlights a crucial element. He mentions a few philosophies. To this list you could add numerous twenty-first century programs and movements, including the popular “Law of Attraction” — a blatant distortion of a sacred ancient law.