Befinity

From Mother Nature With Love: Permaculture

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:58:00 +0000

At the Befinity meeting last Thursday (26th January 2012), permaculture and sustainable development consultant Ezio (“Buzz”) Gori gave an outstanding presentation entitled:

The Relevance of Permaculture to Mitigate Climate Change and the Onset of Peak Oil

At the beginning of the meeting, I read a couple of extracts from the Editorial in the November/December 2011 issue of Odyssey Magazine (www.odysseymagazine.co.za), which are well worth repeating here:

“....there can surely be no question any longer that we really are on the brink of melting the planet down. Now, as far as the planet itself goes, that’s no big deal – Earth has been both much hotter and much colder than currently and many species have come and gone during all that change, but the planet itself was just fine. If a bunch of species die out, new ones will be along shortly (in geological-evolutionary time) to replace them. If we really screw things up, most, even all, of us may die. But the planet will be good. And then some other species will fill our shoes, perhaps literally, even if that takes some millions of years. No problem. Except for us, that is."

and a bit further on....

".....can a species capable of becoming utterly dominant on a planet to the point where it is the definition of a plague, then turn that dominance around and become one with its own source of life and nurturance? That’s the big question we’re being asked – not by God or some other-worldly beings, but by ourselves. Our own success has become our challenge. And in overcoming that challenge, in mastering our own self-destructive ways of being, we’ll be the better for that”

After giving a short introduction to permaculture and explaining how his passionate interest in it came about, Buzz screened an inspirational documentary entitled: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (see www.powerofcommunity.org). This was followed by an animated discussion, which concluded with the agreement that this was not a subject that should be relegated to the realms of academic interest, but warranted ongoing action. It was also agreed, of course, that without leadership the action is unlikely to gain any meaningful momentum. Whether anyone will step forward to take leadership remains to be seen.

For anyone living in South Africa (especially KwaZulu-Natal) who wants to learn how to go about it, Buzz offers courses on Permaculture, which are highly recommended. To find out more, go to www.permaculture2012.co.za or contact Buzz on +27 83 300 2385 or Skype (ezio.gori).

At the request of the Befinity group, Buzz provided a list of relevant weblinks for those with an interest in learning more about earthcare and sustainable living:

• British Permaculture www.permaculture.org.uk

• GAIA Education www.gaiaeducation.org

• Community Solutions www.communitysolution.org

• Global Footprint Network www.footprintnetwork.org

• New Economics Foundation www.neweconomics.org

• Post Carbon Institute www.postcarbon.org

• Transition Culture www.transitionculture.org

Setting Up A Spiritual Discussion Group

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +0000

For anyone who might be interested in setting up a Befinity-type group, here’s a general idea of what’s required:

• LEADERSHIP: Someone who will take full responsibility for keeping the group going. This includes planning, coordinating of resources, communicating with group members, record keeping, etc. A key function of the group leader is also to select topics for discussion and to lead the discussions during meetings (or to appoint someone who is capable of doing so). Committed and consistent leadership is core to the health of the group.

• VENUE: A suitable meeting place that is available on a regular, reliable basis. Venue cost depends on what the group can afford. To-date, Befinity has operated on a non-commercial basis, so we have always sought venues that are either free-of-charge or at least inexpensive. It’s important to have easy access to the venue at the scheduled meetings times; it’s better to have your own key than to be reliant on a caretaker or security guard.

• TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION: Deciding on topics is usually the responsibility of the group leader; however, members should be encouraged to propose discussion topics and to offer recommendations in regard to speakers or other topic-related resources (DVDs, documentaries, online materials, etc). Topics should be kept relevant to the focus area of the group. This may seem obvious, but when struggling to find suitable speakers or other topic resources, it can be tempting to resort to non-relevant materials. If done too often, it may cause group members to lose interest.

• TOPIC RESOURCES: This refers to the materials that form the basis of group discussions and can include any of the following: guest speakers, DVDs, CDs, video clips or audio tracks downloaded from the internet, books, articles, etc. There is plenty of room to be creative, e.g. have a poetry sharing meeting or a drumming circle, instead of a speaker or DVD. With regard to downloading materials from the internet, it is necessary to have the required software (I currently use Orbit Downloader) or to have access to someone with the requisite skills. Finding suitable materials online can be quite a challenge; as a useful starting point, I would suggest the following webpage: http://www.awakening-intuition.com/movies_documentaries.html. A list of the topics covered in Befinity meetings in the past 12-18 months will be published on this blog in the near future.

• MEETING STRUCTURE: It is up to the group leader to decide how the meetings should be structured. As one example, Befinity meetings are presently structured as follows; the approximate duration of each segment is shown in parentheses:

Welcome (2 minutes): Especially to first-timers and to guest speaker, if applicable;
Short time of ‘centering’ (10 minutes): This may take the form of a 5-10 minute guided meditation or any other kind of relaxation exercise that helps the group members to release the tensions built up during the day and become present. This is particularly important if the group meets mid-week, as members often come to the meetings after a busy work day. A favourite at Befinity meetings is to bring the group into a state of loving, energetic harmony, using the ‘heart coherence’ technique developed by the Institute of Heartmath (see http://www.heartmath.com/personal-use/quick-coherence-technique.html), and then to direct the group energy towards a specific focus (this is modelled on the Global Coherence Initiative’s ‘Care Focus’ practice; see http://www.glcoherence.org/participate/care-focus-current-and-archived.html).
Topic focus and discussion (90 minutes): This is the main part of the meeting, during which time the topic is presented (guest speaker, DVD, etc) and discussed. In general, discussions are best held over to the end. Allowing questions and discussions during the course of the topic presentation can be disruptive to the flow of information delivery. However, depending on the speaker and/or nature of the material being presented, it can sometimes be appropriate; the group leader should use her/his discretion in this regard.
Refreshments (open-ended): At the end of Befinity meetings, tea, coffee and biscuits are available to group members who wish to stay and enjoy a time of fellowship (usually the majority). This has proven to be an important element of the life of the group. Holding the refreshments break midway through the meeting is an alternative option, but can be disruptive to the flow of the meeting.

• EQUIPMENT: The type of equipment available to the group determines the range of media that can be used in meetings. A laptop connected to speakers and a data projector is the ideal set-up, as this provides the versatility to handle DVDs, video and audio clips, and slideshow presentations. A flipchart and/or whiteboard are also recommended.

• COMMUNICATIONS: Group members must be kept adequately informed about upcoming topics, changes to the meeting schedule, etc. At least 1-2 weeks advance notice is recommended in regard to upcoming topics. The majority of communications can be done via email; the group leader must therefore maintain a current list of member email addresses. A contact details form can be circulated during the meetings or placed on the refreshments table for first-time attendees. As the mailing list grows, it may become advisable to make use of a bulk mailing system for distribution of emails. It is also recommended that the group leader maintain an up-to-date list of members’ mobile phone numbers; in the event of a last minute meeting cancellation, it is preferable to communicate via SMS than email. Facebook groups and blogs provide an additional means of communicating with group members and the wider online community about the activities of the group.

• RECORD KEEPING: An up-to-date schedule of member contact details and a list of possible topics, with corresponding resources, are important for ensuring the smooth functioning of the group. It is also worthwhile to maintain a record of past meeting topics; in the event of a change of group leadership, it would be helpful to the new group leader to know what topics have been already been covered and in what way.

• REFRESHMENTS: The type of refreshments provided is a matter for the group leader or the group as a whole to decide. Stocks should be appropriate for the size of the group and must be regularly checked and refreshed.

• ATTENDANCE FEE: This can be determined at the discretion of the group leader, on the basis of what group members are willing to pay and how much time and effort she/he is willing to put in without compensation; however, it should at least be sufficient to cover the costs of the venue, the refreshments and any other direct costs incurred by the group leader in maintaining the group.

Chopra on the Future of Wellbeing

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:23:00 +0000

As a biological scientist who spends a lot of time engaging with people of a spiritual disposition, I quite often encounter individuals who are extremely distrustful of the biotechnological revolution. They are typically very happy to point out how science 'proves' the validity of the spiritual worldview, by quoting the work of people like Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, Dean Radin, Nassim Haramein and others. At the same time, however, they are quick to condemn biotechnological innovation, in general, because, in their view, the biotech research field is largely controlled by corporate interests (especially the pharmaceutical & agricultural industries) and is thus fundamentally dishonest.

While commercial influences may, in some instances, lead to abuses, and while it's quite true that there are serious ethical issues around the application of certain technologies (e.g. cloning), this hardly constitutes an intelligent reason to dismiss the entire biotech field. In my view, it's a fear-based response, not unlike the rabid anti-evolution sentiments that I often encountered during my years in the evangelical Church environment. My response to such sentiments was usually the comment that "God's not afraid of the truth", which was not intended to assert the 'truth' of evolutionary theory, but rather to point out that it doesn't really matter. I don't think God (if you believe in Him/Her/It as Creator) is the least bit offended by us remaining open to exploring the possibilities of how we got here. The truth remains the truth and if it turns out to be different from our prior assumptions, it's unlikely to throw God into a flat spin. In much the same way, I think that exploring the workings of the biological world and developing new technologies on the basis of what we discover is not inherently something to be feared.

To anyone who is interested in the issue of how new science-based technologies and emerging consciousness fit together, I recommend the short talk by Deepak Chopra on The Future of Wellbeing, presented at the Zeitgeist Americas 2011 event (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tpl2D7Gris&feature=youtu.be). One of Chopra's most admirable qualities is his ability to articulate a continuously evolving, rational synthesis of scientific and spiritual concepts, in a way that is accessible to those who lack in-depth knowledge of either domain. In the Zeitgeist talk, he presents a view which embraces technological advances and suggests that the transition from mechanistic, reductionist models of medical science into paradigms that are genuinely holistic is already well underway. Thus he speaks, for example, about the application of "stem cells and cloning, not from the outside, but using your own body’s inner intelligence, which is the ultimate and supreme genius and mirrors the wisdom of the universe. Your own cells that have evolved over billions of years, to formidable intelligence...."

An important corollary of the perspective presented by Chopra is that there is, in a sense, no need to fear the 'dangers' of new technology, because the transition will happen – simply because it must. During the 20th Century, science began progressively shifting further and further away from the independent, unrelated discipline approach, towards increasingly integrated models (e.g. neuroimmunology). And that shift is accelerating in ways that perhaps even the most open-minded scientist of the 20th Century would not have anticipated. Chopra proposes that the time is coming when the body will be understood to be an "energy and information field" and not just a collection of extremely well-coordinated cells. Mainstream medical science may not yet be ready for such ideas, but they are ideas that have already begun to permeate mainstream consciousness and are increasingly supported by the convergence of various streams of new scientific understanding. The tipping point may be closer than we realise.

A Song About Numerology and Feng Shui

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Even though I love to learn about things that stretch my understanding of what it means to be "spiritual beings having a human experience", I find it extremely easy to be sceptical about so many of the ideas that are bandied around in the world of spiritual 'free-thinkers'. It's partly due to the fact that I'm trained as a scientist and have spent most of my adult world engaged in science-based activities, but it's also because I have long felt that people are, in general, far too quick to accept what they are told – especially when it comes to matters spiritual. I saw it in the Church, during my 20 years as a 'born-again' Christian, and I see it just as much in evidence now, among people in the 'spiritual-but-not-religious' community. In a nutshell, I feel that most people are just way too gullible. They don't ask enough questions.

This point-of-view is not about me being sceptical or cynical just to prove how smart I am. I firmly believe that asking questions and examining ideas – especially established dogmas – is a vital way to learn and to grow. And it's a way of safe-guarding against the manipulation and exploitation that sometimes occurs when those who are in positions of leadership lose perspective and use their power harmfully. That was the point of the "Death By Guru" presentation that I gave at a Befinity meeting a few weeks ago (and which I hope to give some feedback on sometime soon).

All of which is simply an admission that I tend to approach subjects like Numerology and Feng Shui, which were the topics discussed at the Befinity meeting on 24th November, with a very questioning mind. For example, dates, which play such an important part in Numerology, often seem to me to be quite arbitrary. The date 11/11/11 only happened because we happen to use the Gregorian calendar – if we lived in a part of the world that used a different type of calendar, the numbers would presumably be quite different. Yet the presentation that Heike Sym (Numerology) and Brian van den Berg (Feng Shui) delivered did not leave me with a sense of ‘too many unanswered questions’ at all. In contrast, I was enthralled by it. I felt more as though I was listening to two accomplished musicians, in love with their art, rather than a couple of practitioners bent on selling the merits of their respective modalities. They both exude a kind of confident professionalism, and it’s obvious that their craft knowledge is excellent, but it was the simple authenticity of their enthusiasm that made the biggest impression on me. And although neither of them made much attempt to explain HOW what they do works (which is usually what I want to know) I found myself thinking “I’d love to know more about this!”

Brian and Heike have established a model of working collaboratively that seems to work really well. It’s based not only on an obvious mutual respect for one another’s skills, but also, and I think more importantly, on the chemistry that clearly exists between them in terms of how they meld their respective abilities together.

This short article is intended primarily to acknowledge how much I enjoyed being surprised at Heike and Brian’s talk, and not to advertise their services. I heard a song and didn't get lost in analysing the notes, and I appreciate that. For anyone who may be interested in finding out more about what they do, however, you can contact them at heike-rsa@hotmail.com and phoenixrisingconsulting@yahoo.com, respectively.

For the record, here’s the announcement that went out about the talk:

“Creating Business and Personal Solutions with Numerology and Feng Shui”

"After each giving an overview of their fields of expertise, Heike and Brian will then talk about how to best fuse the two skills in your personal life and in business. Even though each is very effective on its own, combined they can create highly charged solutions in all areas of your personal and corporate life.

Numerology meets Feng Shui! The miracle of detail in your destiny, numbers, colours, names and directions."

Death By Guru

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:32:00 +0000

At the Befinity meeting next Thursday, 10th November 2011, we're going to be talking about the topic:

DEATH BY GURU: THE JAMES ARTHUR RAY SWEAT LODGE INCIDENT

The focus of the evening will be on what I loosely refer to as the ‘guru phenomenon’. As the topic indicates, we’ll take a look at the James Arthur Ray sweat lodge incident, in which 3 people died, and I’ll be showing some video footage related to the case (note, not the actual incident itself). In addition, I’ll show a selection of intriguing video clips that illustrate the phenomenon in a variety of different guises. I anticipate that responses to these clips will vary considerably - some may find them amazing or simply amusing, while others might be shocked or even disgusted.

The intention of the discussion will not be to judge and point fingers at those who have gone too far, however, but rather to examine both sides of the coin, as objectively as we can. A guru is only a guru if he has willing followers. So what defines a guru and why do so many people relinquish their personal power to them? And where does the responsibility lie when things go wrong?

It should be an interesting evening. If you want to know more about when and where, see today's Holistic Lifestyle Centre blogpost: http://holisticlifestylecentre.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/next-week-at-befinity-when-good-gurus-go-bad/

Befinity in a Nutshell

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:05:00 +0000

Befinity is a way for people who are interested in spirituality and holistic living to meet, chat with, and learn from others of like mind. We cover a wide range of topics and, as our 'no dogmas, no agendas' maxim implies, the idea is to always keep an open mind.

Members are welcome to suggest topics and/or resources (speakers, DVDs, etc), and, if they have expertise on a topic that's of interest to the group, to give talks.

Befinity operates on a strictly non-commercial basis, so costs for attendance at the meetings are intended only to cover the venue and refreshment expenses. Presently we ask a minimum of R20 per person, per meeting. Additional contributions are always welcome and are put towards resources (e.g. new DVDs).

We presently meet in at the Bodyology Institute of Health, 16 Old Main Road, Hillcrest (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). Meetings start at 6:45pm.

If you’d be interested in starting a group in your area, please let us know (info@befinity.co.za).

Background Info: Befinity started as an independent initiative in August 2009 in Umhlanga, close to the city of Durban, on the east coast of South Africa. It was subsequently incorporated as one of the offerings of The Holistic Lifestyle Centre (http://www.hlcentre.co.za).

You can find our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Befinity-Book-Club-and-Spiritual-Discussion-Group/138554813491

Fear & Greed, Economics & Business – Zen, Now & Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:08:00 +0000

In The Wisdom of Crowds, previously mentioned in my blog on 8th July, author James Surowiecki makes the following observation:

“It’s a familiar truism that at any one moment, financial markets are dominated by either fear or greed. But the healthiest markets are those that are animated by both fear and greed at the same time.”

While I understand what he’s saying, the use of the term ‘healthiest’ in this context strikes me as an oxymoron. I have to ask how such a system can ever be healthy?! I’m not an economist, but I do know that fear and greed are both characteristics of the ego-based illusion. So, if humankind is to evolve beyond this era of ego, what will it mean for global markets and the nature of future economics?

Taking it further, what does it mean for our approach to business, especially for people who regard themselves as ‘spiritually aware’? The argument often put forward is that we have no choice other than to play by the rules of the game, as it is presently played. I assume that what we mean by this is that we’ll do it differently once the rules change. But the reality is that the way we do business presently is based on an underlying assumption that there’s not enough for everyone – hence fear and greed, dog eat dog. If we truly believe that this is not the case, as most spiritually aware people claim, then why do we have to continue to operate according to the competitive model? Should we not put our monies where our mouths are and start playing by the rules we profess to believe in?

There are many people who profess and believe themselves to be examples of ‘how to live successfully by the rules of the Universe’. The fact that they’re materially successful is, to them, proof that they are getting it right (and thus, in effect, that the Universe has no choice other than to bless them). And yet, in many instances, their success is built on exploiting the rules of the illusion – in short, getting people to part with their money by provoking a sense of fear or greed. When you stop and examine the underlying message that accompanies their product, it goes something along the lines that if you don’t have the product you will in some way be lacking something, and worse, that you may be doomed to a future of abject insufficiency. No matter how subtle the marketing strategy, the underlying message remains the same.

What does success that’s based upon the most honest principles of love and trust look like? I suspect we can quite easily find out by checking in with ourselves as we go about our business. If we’re not doing our business that way, we’re effectively denying what we profess to believe – that it is safe to live in integrity, that the Universe offers us more than we could ever possibly need, and that there is more than enough for all now! I’m not saying it’s easy, and I’m not saying I’m innocent. I’m just saying we should try to be honest with ourselves about it. We may believe ourselves to be sincere, but when we depend on provoking fear and greed in others in order to make our living, we reveal the fact that we ourselves are motivated in the same way. We can’t wait for someone else to change the rules of the game. The rules will change when we choose to live in alignment with what we say we believe.

Trans-egoic creative collaboration

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:19:00 +0000

In my previous blog, I made reference to the book "The Wisdom of Crowds", by James Surowiecki. Coincidentally, a few days after posting the blog, I came across an article that also referenced the term, which I found really encouraging. It's called "Thinking Together Without Ego: Collective Intelligence as an Evolutionary Catalyst" and it was written by husband-and-wife team, Craig Hamilton and Claire Zammit (see http://integralenlightenment.com/pages/articles/index.php?id=763899701).

The article starts by addressing the issue of 'groupthink', which typically hampers creative intelligence, then goes on to paint a picture of a truly beautiful alternative:

"Imagine a group of people gathered for a creative strategy session with an unusual mandate. The entry fee for this conversation is that everyone has made a sincere and educated effort to check their "ego" at the door. With personal agendas temporarily set aside, there is a noticeable absence of self-consciousness, or self-concern of any kind. The familiar jockeying for position has vanished, and along with it, all approval seeking. No one seems invested in being right, appearing smart, or appearing any particular way at all. In the absence of these familiar negative social behaviors, there is simply an authentic, innocent, undefended interest in creatively engaging the task at hand. Without the familiar, primitive "mental noise" blocking the system, listening is deep and there is plenty of space for considered reflection. Unified by a heartfelt and soulful commitment to a greater good, the group flows easily from one idea to the next. Diverging points of view are engaged organically, effortlessly, in the recognition that a diversity of perspectives represents a rich field of data to mine for insights. All questions and concerns are welcomed into the inquiry. Aware of the ever-looming specter of paralyzing group dynamics, an atmosphere of humility pervades, and an embodied knowledge that confronting the questions that challenge our deepest assumptions is our only safeguard against collective error."

Isn't that an amazing picture?! Hamilton and Zammit admit that it may seem like wishful thinking, but as thought leaders in the field of evolutionary consciousness, they also know that there is a collective shift taking place - they know that more and more people are relinquishing the cynicism that characterised so much of the past few decades and are coming to a heart-knowledge that something big and beautiful is taking place in the consciousness of humankind. With this in mind, they present a list of 10 key principles that reflect a culture of genuinely non-egoic collaborative thinking. It's high-quality article, and I'd encourage you to read it.

The principle of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts is never more powerfully demonstrated than when like-minded, spiritually-oriented people begin to think and work harmonically. It results in an extraordinary amplification of heart-based energy that can transform the deepest darkness into beautiful light. Many of us know this to be true and many of us believe that it's possible. And, as far as I can see, there's no reason why we shouldn't get on with it!

Having the courage to express your own view

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:53:00 +0000

In his book, The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki makes the following observation: "You do not need a consensus to tap into the wisdom of a crowd... the search for consensus encourages tepid, lowest-common-denominator solutions which offend no one, rather than exciting everyone. Instead of fostering the free exchange of conflicting views, consensus-driven groups - especially when the members are familiar with each other - tend to trade in the familiar and squelch provocative debate. If, as the saying goes, a camel is a horse produced by a committee, it was undoubtedly made by a committee looking for consensus."

It takes no courage to agree with the prevailing view. But progress only happens when people stand up and question the prevailing view, and when they present information that doesn't fit into the accepted models of 'how things work'. We can't put consciousness in a box, because it's always unfolding. And each one of us experiences the unfolding differently. Courage is choosing to be a peace with the tensions that ever-unfolding consciousness generates... tension between individuals and groups, because of their different experiences and perceptions, and tension within ourselves, as we sit with the things that don't yet make sense to us.

And on that note, I'd like to disagree with Mr Surowiecki... the committee that designed the camel did an excellent job... it kept the end clearly in mind and came up with a design that really works...... it may not be pretty and it smells like hell, but it definitely works!

Longing for home...

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:31:00 +0000

The most basic characteristic of choosing to take on the constraints of being human is that we intentionally cut ourselves off from our True Home. And that results in an inevitable pathos - the pain of an often unnamed longing that, for most people, is drowned out, by the immersion in the illusion that being human is what's really real. But no matter how much clamour and we create around us, and no matter how much we egoically alienate ourselves from one another, our hearts cannot help but long for connection.... because there is nothing more true or real than our connectedness. This is what underlies our deep, deep longing for intimacy.... and that's a discussion for another time....

A thought about our way of being in the world....

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:58:00 +0000

One of the most fascinating features of our world is that it is jam-packed with people with good hearts. Yet, for the most part, the history of humankind has not been written by such as these. You've all heard the famous words of Edmund Burke that "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". It matters not how you define evil - we see the manifestations of it all around us, every day. The way that we, as a species, live in the world is fundamentally dysfunctional. We are barelling down a one-way track.

It seems, however that the tipping point is fast approaching. Within the space of just the past few years there has been a massive, global acceleration towards the view that dramatic and drastic changes are imminent. There's a fast-growing awareness that Mother Nature will soon not give us any choice about changing our way of being in the world. The changes have already begun. A few minor tweaks on our behalf won't do it. Gaia will self-adjust and the scale of the adjustments is likely to eliminate all remaining traces of arrogance about our role in this amazing, beautiful Earth-system that has hosted us so patiently, for so long. No longer will we be permitted to see ourselves as Masters, standing outside and above, exercising dominance and control.

Elizabeth Lesser on Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:08:00 +0000

For those of us who prefer the approach of "spiritual but not religious", it's sometimes a little unclear as to how to approach the matter of prayer. What does it mean to pray, if we're not doing it according to the religious tradition that we grew up with? Well here's a great article on the subject by Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies:

http://www.eomega.org/omega/enews/article/?content=CON&source=ENEWS.OM.LAND

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:29:00 +0000

“We are light beings who have chosen to believe in the limitations of space-time for our own very good reasons. We love to surmount obstacles in order to express life. We do this in a world that appears to be uncaring, or cruel or ferocious. What’s the reason for tragedy and disaster? To force us to call on our light within! And when we do, that light bursts forth, right in the midst of tragedy, to sing to us of our power. Our purpose for living is to shine that light”

(Richard Bach Interview: http://www.inner-growth.info/private/richard_bach_interview_harricharan.htm)

The Befinity Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:39:00 +0000

Befinity is a non-commercial initiative designed to provide opportunities for people who are passionate about personal transformation and spiritual awakening to meet and share their knowledge, ideas and experiences with others of like mind, in an informal and relaxed setting.

The concept is similar to that of a book club, but different in the sense that the material which forms the basis of group discussions is not limited to books – it includes other media, such as DVDs, audio CDs, etc. Thus the meetings are not run in typical book club fashion, i.e. where all members read and then discuss a specific book; rather, they are theme-based. The group members together decide on themes and each member is then free to put forward book and/or other media titles for discussion under each theme.

Rationale: In recent years there has been an exponential growth in interest in matters related to spiritual awakening and consciousness. Surprisingly, however, there appear to be relatively few opportunities for people with an interest in such subjects to meet on a regular but informal basis, for the purposes of discussion, debate and fellowship. There are, of course, large numbers of internet sites, blogs and virtual communities that cater for such interests; however, these lack the vital element of direct, interpersonal interaction which many people long for, and which typically lends itself to discussion that is more robust, spirited and humorous than is possible in a virtual environment, as well as to modes of mutual support and encouragement that are more ‘real’ and meaningful.

The intent of this initiative is to address the identified need and thus to serve as an instrument for the promotion of enlightened consciousness in South Africa.

Will the real Harold/Howard please stand up

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:37:00 +0000

Hello Befinity blog bunch. Do any of you know the difference between Harold Thurman Whitman and Howard Thurman? Don’t bother to do the google thing – let me just tell you, it might save you some confusion. Actually, it seems that they’re the same person. Well, not really.... the connection lies in the following quote:

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

If you google this quote, you’ll find it being attributed to both Harold Thurman Whitman and Howard Thurman. According to Wiki, the explanation lies in the fact that Harold Thurman Whitman is a fictional name. Where it came from appears to be something of a mystery.

The non-fictional character, Howard Thurman (1899 – 1981), was an influential African American author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader. And he was clearly a very wise and loving man. Here’s another of his quotes, one that I think is worth mulling over for a while:

"In the conflicts between man and man, between group and group, between nation and nation, the loneliness of the seeker for community is sometimes unendurable. The radical tension between good and evil, as man sees it and feels it, does not have the last word about the meaning of life and the nature of existence. There is a spirit in man and in the world working always against the thing that destroys and lays waste. Always he must know that the contradictions of life are not final or ultimate; he must distinguish between failure and a many-sided awareness so that he will not mistake conformity for harmony, uniformity for synthesis. He will know that for all men to be alike is the death of life in man, and yet perceive harmony that transcends all diversities and in which diversity finds its richness and significance."

Love and blessings to you all. And spend some time thinking – really thinking – about the first quote. There are few more important questions that we can ask ourselves. Don’t resign yourself to the ‘life of quiet desperation’. Allow yourself to believe for more – much, much more.

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:38:00 +0000

The Befinity Concept:

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:18:00 +0000

Befinity's Ethos

noreply@blogger.com (Whatsinaname) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:07:00 +0000

Befinity's ethos is one of ‘non-egoic, enlightened collectives’, along the lines described in the book A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle:

“....some people will feel called upon to form groups that reflect the enlightened consciousness. These groups will not be collective egos. The individuals who make up these groups will have no need to define their identity through them. ..... Even if the members that make up those groups are not totally free of ego yet, there will be enough awareness in them to recognize the ego in themselves or others, as soon as it appears. However, constant alertness [will be] required, since the ego will try to take over and reassert itself in any way it can. Dissolving the human ego by bringing it into the light of awareness – this will be one of the main purposes of these groups........ Enlightened collectives will form an important function in the arising of the new consciousness. Just as egoic collectives pull you into unconsciousness and suffering, the enlightened collective can be a vortex for consciousness that will accelerate the planetary shift.”

In Befinity meetings an emphasis is placed on subjects that:

Are uplifting and encouraging,
Challenge and empower the participants to experience spiritual growth and transformation,
Reveal beauty in its many varied forms, and
Enrich relationships.

Befinity groups:

Are open to all, irrespective of race, gender or ability;
Offer opportunities for all to contribute, in the manner for which they feel best equipped.

Befinity members:

Have a strong interest in matters of heart, soul and spirit, and a desire for personal transformation in these areas of life,
Are caring and loving in word and deed,
Have a deep respect for the rights, beliefs and dignity of others,
Have an inherent desire to empower themselves AND one another,
Are by nature curious and open-minded,
Have a thirst for learning and a belief that there is always more to learn.