Help
Sign In
andrew cohen
May 2008 
Attracted Like Magnets
Arjan
The night before last I started a new series of the introductory course on Evolutionary Enlightenment. The evening went very well, great actually, people responded a lot and I think we all enjoyed the class. It may sound trivial but I don't think it is; coming together to look into big questions like what Enlightenment is and what the effects of our post modern, sophisticated, yet self-focused culture are on our capacity to experience and embody our highest human potential as we did this evening, is such a grand and important thing to do, and enjoying it is like saying ‘yes' to life. If we enjoy such a thing we must already be looking from the best part of us, the part that actually aspires to be free and to care.
While I was teaching this class downstairs at EnlightenNext in Amsterdam, some people that did the course last year were having a conversation upstairs. As I mentioned in a previous entry in this blog, a lot of the people that did this course have changed in impressive ways over the past few months; I wish I could show you how dramatic the changes in quite a few of them are, because I think it would be like a case study against cynicism that is so in fashion in our culture. Believe you me, it would be 1-0 for enlightenment! But anyway, the point I wanted to make was that when the class was over, the people from upstairs came down and the groups were like magnets, it only took seconds for them to connect as if old friends met after years of separation. (I think years of separation might have been true, but they definitely weren't old friends :) ), but you see, to me it clearly shows what happens when we go beyond the personal; boundaries fall away, interest flourishes and our full humanity becomes available.
An interesting detail about this evening was that I had just come back from a thrilling weekend with Andrew Cohen in Massachusetts, talking about what Enlightenment looks like in all four of Ken Wilber's quadrants. I had just come off the plane that morning, (if you fly that route sometimes you will remember that that means skipping a night) and went straight to work before teaching this class. But you know, the authentic self does not sleep, if you focus on that part of you, you will feel the ecstatic urgency that is it's hallmark and you will, I found out, have energy and see clearly!
If you want to read more about the weekend with Andrew that I mentioned you can click here to read his latest blog.
If you want to find out how people liked the course I am teaching, you can click here for a 4 minute video about it.
And finally, if you are interested in enlightenment, development and the creation of a culture beyond ego, please look here for the dates of the upcoming courses.
Access: Public
It was such a super natural delightfull happening last tuesday inthe enlightennext center in amsterdam! We (people who never met before) were all together as one being in the same state, combining our personal knowledge to investigate topics of our presentday-culture. This was a very exciting, intimate way of being together, everyone was very focussed and very present which made it possible for us to be completely authentic and personal qualities could arise to contribute to the conversation: to enliven it and to bring it further….! Like friends that never met before!
Keep on up that enthousiasm Arjan, it has such a big impact.
I look forward for the next match next tuesday….I put all my intention on 2-0 for Enlightenment! Anybody with me? The more bets, the higher the stake, the higher the win!
Douwe, I'm with you :) and yes Arjan, elightenment is visible and measurable. As for development, it takes an inspiring teacher like you Arjan to really see the theory coming alive during the EE course. Thank you!
thanks for bringing up the 4Quadrants (invoking the 5th dimension), arjen.
explanation (the link delivered):
” What’s more important in human behavior? The psychology of the mind (upper left), or the cultural conditioning of the individual (lower left)? Integral Theory answers, again: BOTH. What is more critical in social development? The habits, customs, and norms of a culture (lower left), or the products it produces (like gun and steel – lower right). Integral Theory answers: BOTH.”
the pdf linked delivered:
something on the Beauty, Truth and the Goodness … (pdf page 25)
this is actually a pre-shift idea inherited from rene descartes “i think, so i am” …
the transfallacy (coralred transformed idea/l):
“we think, so we are … Beautifull Edges of the Evolutionary Spiral Envowing”
when the critical mass of “wiling babyboomers” pivot, then …
the 4Quadrant Theory invokes the New Coral Quest:
I / It / Its / We
resonates on
Quest / Truth / Goodness / Beauty
well, one may have thoughts on new discoveries and be in dialogue when the appropriate opportunity to walk the talk of that perception is there …
;-)
Y our S (' ace)
Dear Arjan,
It's great to read and to share about what is happening at EnlightenNext in Amsterdam. I feel it is so true and inspiring to collectively push the whole process further and further with the highest integrity, moral and care possible. Just recently I (consciously) became part of it and it is really the most awesome time in my life. This grand YES to the lifeprocess and to consciousness itself in the largest context possible (cosmos). Wow, I thought I already knew a tiny bit about life, but I find myself not knowing anything in this field and wanting to know as much as possible and still know that I will never know. Still following me…:-) ? Because we are part of this evolutionary process that is going in its unimaginable direction and what I can do is expand my mind and consciousness to limits I didn't know were possible. It's demanding so much, too much sometimes (ego speaking), but the purpose is magnificant. When I keep focussing on that all my effort becomes effortless.
Doing this collectively makes all new creative things possible. Coming together in this context, as told in your blog, is such an important experience because it gives us a glimpse of the grand potential. Every time I am part of that I am amazed about the result and the potential that becomes manifest.
I am very inspired about the content of Andrew's blog. I am looking forward getting into it more deeply and more specific real soon together with you and all the other evolutionaries!
With warm regards,
Irene