On Sunday afternoon I was reading, meditating, and generally enjoying a chance to relax. At some point an idea jumped into my head. "What about a series of workshops designed to awaken the Sacred Self?" I knew that it was an inspired idea because I was suddenly filled with a great sense of peace, joy, and energy. I then proceeded to begin to sketch out an outline. Tonight I returned to this outline and after a couple of hours suddenly found myself having drawn 4 different books from my library, and had in short order written the content for the first evening of this workshop.
As I sit back and prepare for meditation I cannot help but smile at myself. It would seem that this little innocent 'idea' is becoming a serious project. I'm not certain quite how it will end up but I suspect that it's going to be a lot of fun to put together. For one thing, I still have an outstanding assignment for my Practitioner Intern training to write up a workshop outline: I'll be checking THAT one off the to-do list soon enough!
But perhaps more interestingly, this is playing on an internal conversation I've been having for a few months. When I first started the daily meditation circles in Second Life (we meditate every evening at 9.30pm PST) I had wondered at bringing SOM cirriculum into that environment. However, it was not long before I discovered that there would some challenges with that. For one thing, the general practice is for Ministers to deliver such training (at least if it is to be accepted for credits for students). In addition, the organization that owns that content is apparently preparing to expand this cirriculum online. I'm a big fan of 'effortless' and once I realized that such an approach would actually be quite complex I released the idea to the Universe.
Then about two months ago I began to consciously sprinkle Science of Mind teachings in the form of 10 minute snippets before each meditation. To help set the context you should know that each evening we open with an invocation to set sacred space, I share the context for the meditation for the evening along with spiritual truths that come to mind, we meditate for 20-30 minutes, and then I close with an affirmative prayer. We then rest for a while and share in community. Sometimes this is 30 minutes and sometimes we've stayed chatting for 2 hours.
As I look at what has started to unfold I'm excited by this. For one thing, a selfish motive is behind this; I want to take this journey that is being revealed to me myself. For another thing, it would be wonderful to share this journey with others in Second Life. This workshop would take my online efforts to another level. And of course, by authoring this body of work (but drawing on some well trodden spiritual pathways and ideas) I bypass any concerns about stepping on toes. It really does strike me as a win-win.
I also realized that such a workshop would require a different approach. I've yet to determine quite how this will look but I'm drawn to the idea of a weekly event, likely around 7.30pm PST on Sundays. And unlike the meditations I shall be approaching the 150 or so members of the Second Life Community for Spiritual Living for a commitment. The central idea being, that attendance is expected and some exchange of energy will be required. The idea that comes to mind is that even if just 1-2 truly committed people show up, that will be 1 or 2 people who will be sharing this journey with me in consciousness.
If you're someone who frequents Second Life and are intrigued by this idea please feel free to IM me, send me a Notecard, or leave a Comment with your SL name below. I cannot make any promises, but if the fit feels right then I'd love to share this journey with you.
Know the Flow as you go,
Carmien
PS. Now, I've really gone and done it! By blogging about this I HAVE to deliver on this project. :)
PPS. And obviously, this workshop will be something that can be delivered in Real Life as well.
Showing posts with label Vision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vision. Show all posts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Technology Outreach Ministry - A Bigger Idea for TOM
Something amazing just manifested tonight. I have had to sit back and write about it just to begin processing it. But before I talk about the details I would like to share some background (yes, I know, it's poor form to save the headline for later. But indulge me).
I've been on the Internet in one form or another since around 1995. It started with chat rooms and some site surfing back in the day when a 4,800 baud modem was the business (and I'm a relative baby - I've spoken with people on the Internet since it's inception). In 1996 I met the woman who was to become my wife in a chat room (a story for another time). We were friends at first but met in 1997, fell in love and got married a year after that. Over the years I've been involved in technology in many forms. I've been a chat-room guide, I've moderated discussion boards. I run my own blog. I've run on-line gaming communities (known as guilds). My involvement with technology even extends to my professional consulting business and follows 15 years as a Business Analyst in technologically oriented organizations.
It should be no surprise then that someone with such an affinity for technology (and a self-professed geek) that is studying Science of Mind would start wondering if there was a way to bring them together. And no, I am not talking about a web site. The International Centres for Spiritual Living (ICSL) and United Centres for Spiritual Living already have those. But a web site is limited: Its strength is as a tool to convey information. It tends to be something that publishes outwards.
Some sites, such as the Centre for Spiritual Living in Saskatoon (http://www.cslsaskatoon.com/) have a blog on them. This still publishes information, but the publishing of information is more dynamic. In my case I've been posting these blogs on their site for over a year, sharing my journey as a Practitioner. In addition, readers can make comments and thus communication can be two-way, between writer and reader.
Back in January 23rd, 2009 I blogged about a vision for technology (http://consciouscalling.blogspot.com/2009/01/calling-let-us-leverage-law-of.html). The key message went as follows:
At the time I could not place cause, yet knew that staying attached to something that was resisting did not strike me as right. And so I set down the vision...for a short while.
I began to explore what this vision meant to me. I still felt the pull of bringing technology and Science of Mind (SOM) together. My first move was to create this blog. I reasoned that for as much as I had a long history with technology I was still somewhat new to Science of Mind, and I certainly did not have a very clear vision for how the two might intersect.
What this past year of blogging did do, amongst other things, was to clarify blogging in the SOM context. As the year progressed the vision began to shift in its slumber. It had never really gone.
In 2008 my vision was set around building a website that would incorporate Web 2.0 tools to support a bi-directional way of sharing and building community. The idea was that by going on to the Internet that we could reach out to parts of the world that Bricks and Mortar simply could not. However, in hindsight I think two things were getting in the way. Firstly, my consciousness was not ready to support this idea. And secondly, I don't believe I had the kind of clarity of vision that one needs. I hadn't experienced what I needed to really set the process of creation into action. I was bringing a bit of an abstract idea to people. If there's something I have learned, when you take technology to people who don't really understand it and try and tell them how you 'might' use it to create a spiritual community it's almost impossible for them to see. The problem was, the vision was in my mind. I needed a way to make it concrete, tangible, so that I could it to people and they could more easily understand it.
And so, fast forward to January 18th, 2010. During a meditation a vision came to mind of being in a virtual reality, and surrounded by an array of technology tools. I could sense that there was community gathered and that we were reaching across the world. SOM courses were being delivered, and that the tools included some of the ideas around a Wiki (to translate SOM into multiple languages) and a discussion board (to support the asynchronous sharing of ideas). But it was the virtual reality that really got me wondering.
And then it came to me - Second Life! The irony - I had heard about Second Life but had not tried it. With that I went into Second Life and created an avatar (a computer generated image of a person). I started to explore and the more I saw the more excited I got. The program was telling me that nearly 1.5 million people had entered Second Life and that over 70,000 people were currently on line! I found Buddhist temples and retreats, churches, and spiritual communities. I even discovered a group called New Thought.
So in a way this vision I had was hardly new. Similar paths were already being trodden.
With that though I started to investigate the groups. New Thought had been created in 2007 but the owner hadn't logged on in a couple of years. The Unity Church has a group called SL Unity Church, but only 7 members. Buddhists were very active scheduling silent meditation events throughout the day. But nowhere could I see SOM.
I then found an island called the Mystic Academy. Now for those of you who have not been into Second Life you have to understand that you can literally build buildings and landscapes. It is a complete world. The Mystic Academy had the slogan, Many Paths - One Light. Well, hello, I said. That sounds remarkably like the SOM principles to me! But they also had classrooms, meditation areas, a library with literature from many spiritual paths and religions. And in a moment of pure synchronicity I was able to meet the Academy Director and ask him if he'd be agreeable to my working with the Academy. He very readily agreed.
The effortlessness of this struck me as sign. Now, not only did I have a vision that was beginning to get clarity, but I had an established virtual environment with facilities perfectly suited to my clarifying this vision.
But I knew the fundamental question of how to build on education was critical. I've got a few ideas yet, but I started with the one that most resonated. I began scheduling an event each evening for meditation. I meditate for an hour each morning and evening already. I simply started logging into Second Life and posting notices around like-minded groups. And sure enough people started to come. However, I made the critical decision to start with 15 minutes of a brief outline (to set some context and provide a little education to those new to the practice) with 30 minutes of practice. After that I invite participants to share through discussion.
Participants started to show up. Within a couple of weeks the Community had 20 members. During discussions newcomers, and those relatively inexperienced at meditation, were making comments such as: loosing a sense of time; was that 30 minutes; I felt like I was vibrating. It struck me that what I was seeing was the beginning of something that had some serious promise.
And now fast forward to February 3rd, 2010 (just 3 weeks later). Reverend Patrick and I had a lunch booked (for the first time in many, many months). As we were eating, and talking about the wonderful things happening at the Centre, he asked me if I would be interested in picking up the technology ministry I'd started back in 2008.
With a smile on my face, and the sound of 'click' in my heart, I promptly told him that not only would I be happy to, but I'd not been idle. I pointed out the two learnings I'd ascertained (my consciousness and clarity of vision) and explained what I'd just started on Second Life. And then I had idea (it came like a flash). What if the idea back in 2008 was not big enough? What if what this really needed was to be globally launched? What if we approached the ICSL and UCSL Boards of Education with an idea to seek Practitioners who were also heavily immersed in technology? This would bring consciousness and experience together. Patrick loved the idea and promised to take it away. And just to emphasize the point I went ahead and emailed the Edmonton Practitioner community with the story of how my blog had evolved and a map of the world showing the global reach I'd already had in the first year.
And so finally, fast forward to February 8th (tonight). I'd scheduled a meditation and 3 people showed up. After the practice one of them commented that he had studied Religious Science for years. It turns out that he lives in Arizona but that his Centre had recently dissolved. He'd done SOM 100, 200, 300 in the past and had been a Professional Practitioner.
With that I shared my vision with him and he got really excited. It occurred to me that here was exactly what I had been talking about needing with Patrick. Someone who was already immersed in Second Life who was also a Practitioner was expressing a keen affinity with this vision I'd been stewing over for the past few years.
But that's not all. Another one of those gathered hung around to listen. It turns out he was from Poland. He'd never heard of SOM but was very knowledgeable about NLP, and from the way he spoke it was clear that he could relate to the SOM principles. He also had a chance to hear me talking about wanting to explore refining the SOM educational curriculum to bring it online. His excitement rose and at one point he started to describe a vision where he would love to learn about it in SL and then start a study group in Poland!
Well, at that point the fireworks went off in my mind. Both elements of this Technology Outreach Ministry were manifesting before my very eyes:
As I sign off on this blog I've got this feeling that something very exciting has just begun. A global vision through technology is being born for this philosophy. I have never been so charged or excited about anything in my life. I feel so alive right now, and so on fire, that I feel compelled to state that I know I have just hit upon what may be the beginning of a life's work. And given the enormity of his vision I would ask that you take this vision into your treatment work. Hold consciousness for the right and perfect expansion of this vision, that the right and perfect Practitioner consciousness comes together to shape the foundation, and that it unfolds to create a true global Community for Spiritual Living through the Internet.
Know the Flow as you go, brothers and sisters.
I've been on the Internet in one form or another since around 1995. It started with chat rooms and some site surfing back in the day when a 4,800 baud modem was the business (and I'm a relative baby - I've spoken with people on the Internet since it's inception). In 1996 I met the woman who was to become my wife in a chat room (a story for another time). We were friends at first but met in 1997, fell in love and got married a year after that. Over the years I've been involved in technology in many forms. I've been a chat-room guide, I've moderated discussion boards. I run my own blog. I've run on-line gaming communities (known as guilds). My involvement with technology even extends to my professional consulting business and follows 15 years as a Business Analyst in technologically oriented organizations.
It should be no surprise then that someone with such an affinity for technology (and a self-professed geek) that is studying Science of Mind would start wondering if there was a way to bring them together. And no, I am not talking about a web site. The International Centres for Spiritual Living (ICSL) and United Centres for Spiritual Living already have those. But a web site is limited: Its strength is as a tool to convey information. It tends to be something that publishes outwards.
Some sites, such as the Centre for Spiritual Living in Saskatoon (http://www.cslsaskatoon.com/) have a blog on them. This still publishes information, but the publishing of information is more dynamic. In my case I've been posting these blogs on their site for over a year, sharing my journey as a Practitioner. In addition, readers can make comments and thus communication can be two-way, between writer and reader.
Back in January 23rd, 2009 I blogged about a vision for technology (http://consciouscalling.blogspot.com/2009/01/calling-let-us-leverage-law-of.html). The key message went as follows:
This is a call to those intrigued or entranced by the potential of the Law of Collaboration. It is time to break the ground on building a new technological vision for spiritual living and awareness. Some of the possibilities that immediately come to mind include; the power of a Wiki being used as a Science of Mind encyclopaedia, published articles from bright minds, discussion forums loosely moderated by students, Practitioners and Ministers, video archives of Services, the blogosphere, podcasts of highlighted material, virtual classes taking our educational program to a global audience through video and audio streaming, all pulled together through a growing online community inspired by something wonderful happening here and now. I know a volunteer driven effort to translate 'The Science of Mind' into many languages through SpiritPedia would crack open this philosophy to a much wider world audience.Back in late 2008 I also made an effort to launch this vision at the Centre for Spiritual Living, Edmonton. I was on the Board of Trustees at the time and made the suggestion that the Technology Outreach Ministry (TOM) be formed. I made a call within the Centre and a few volunters came on board. However, as that experience unfolded I found that the culture was simply not ready.
At the time I could not place cause, yet knew that staying attached to something that was resisting did not strike me as right. And so I set down the vision...for a short while.
I began to explore what this vision meant to me. I still felt the pull of bringing technology and Science of Mind (SOM) together. My first move was to create this blog. I reasoned that for as much as I had a long history with technology I was still somewhat new to Science of Mind, and I certainly did not have a very clear vision for how the two might intersect.
What this past year of blogging did do, amongst other things, was to clarify blogging in the SOM context. As the year progressed the vision began to shift in its slumber. It had never really gone.
In 2008 my vision was set around building a website that would incorporate Web 2.0 tools to support a bi-directional way of sharing and building community. The idea was that by going on to the Internet that we could reach out to parts of the world that Bricks and Mortar simply could not. However, in hindsight I think two things were getting in the way. Firstly, my consciousness was not ready to support this idea. And secondly, I don't believe I had the kind of clarity of vision that one needs. I hadn't experienced what I needed to really set the process of creation into action. I was bringing a bit of an abstract idea to people. If there's something I have learned, when you take technology to people who don't really understand it and try and tell them how you 'might' use it to create a spiritual community it's almost impossible for them to see. The problem was, the vision was in my mind. I needed a way to make it concrete, tangible, so that I could it to people and they could more easily understand it.
And so, fast forward to January 18th, 2010. During a meditation a vision came to mind of being in a virtual reality, and surrounded by an array of technology tools. I could sense that there was community gathered and that we were reaching across the world. SOM courses were being delivered, and that the tools included some of the ideas around a Wiki (to translate SOM into multiple languages) and a discussion board (to support the asynchronous sharing of ideas). But it was the virtual reality that really got me wondering.
And then it came to me - Second Life! The irony - I had heard about Second Life but had not tried it. With that I went into Second Life and created an avatar (a computer generated image of a person). I started to explore and the more I saw the more excited I got. The program was telling me that nearly 1.5 million people had entered Second Life and that over 70,000 people were currently on line! I found Buddhist temples and retreats, churches, and spiritual communities. I even discovered a group called New Thought.
So in a way this vision I had was hardly new. Similar paths were already being trodden.
With that though I started to investigate the groups. New Thought had been created in 2007 but the owner hadn't logged on in a couple of years. The Unity Church has a group called SL Unity Church, but only 7 members. Buddhists were very active scheduling silent meditation events throughout the day. But nowhere could I see SOM.
And so I created a group called, Community for Spiritual Living. At that point the vision I'd been thinking about over the past couple of years started to come to life in my mind. Education was critical. One of the defining elements of the Edmonton's Centre's growth over the past 5 years has been education. What if one could bring education into Second Life? But then I realized that it is not as simple as copy and pasting workbook material. I knew that time and intelligent thinking would be required.
I then found an island called the Mystic Academy. Now for those of you who have not been into Second Life you have to understand that you can literally build buildings and landscapes. It is a complete world. The Mystic Academy had the slogan, Many Paths - One Light. Well, hello, I said. That sounds remarkably like the SOM principles to me! But they also had classrooms, meditation areas, a library with literature from many spiritual paths and religions. And in a moment of pure synchronicity I was able to meet the Academy Director and ask him if he'd be agreeable to my working with the Academy. He very readily agreed.
The effortlessness of this struck me as sign. Now, not only did I have a vision that was beginning to get clarity, but I had an established virtual environment with facilities perfectly suited to my clarifying this vision.
But I knew the fundamental question of how to build on education was critical. I've got a few ideas yet, but I started with the one that most resonated. I began scheduling an event each evening for meditation. I meditate for an hour each morning and evening already. I simply started logging into Second Life and posting notices around like-minded groups. And sure enough people started to come. However, I made the critical decision to start with 15 minutes of a brief outline (to set some context and provide a little education to those new to the practice) with 30 minutes of practice. After that I invite participants to share through discussion.
Participants started to show up. Within a couple of weeks the Community had 20 members. During discussions newcomers, and those relatively inexperienced at meditation, were making comments such as: loosing a sense of time; was that 30 minutes; I felt like I was vibrating. It struck me that what I was seeing was the beginning of something that had some serious promise.
And now fast forward to February 3rd, 2010 (just 3 weeks later). Reverend Patrick and I had a lunch booked (for the first time in many, many months). As we were eating, and talking about the wonderful things happening at the Centre, he asked me if I would be interested in picking up the technology ministry I'd started back in 2008.
With a smile on my face, and the sound of 'click' in my heart, I promptly told him that not only would I be happy to, but I'd not been idle. I pointed out the two learnings I'd ascertained (my consciousness and clarity of vision) and explained what I'd just started on Second Life. And then I had idea (it came like a flash). What if the idea back in 2008 was not big enough? What if what this really needed was to be globally launched? What if we approached the ICSL and UCSL Boards of Education with an idea to seek Practitioners who were also heavily immersed in technology? This would bring consciousness and experience together. Patrick loved the idea and promised to take it away. And just to emphasize the point I went ahead and emailed the Edmonton Practitioner community with the story of how my blog had evolved and a map of the world showing the global reach I'd already had in the first year.
And so finally, fast forward to February 8th (tonight). I'd scheduled a meditation and 3 people showed up. After the practice one of them commented that he had studied Religious Science for years. It turns out that he lives in Arizona but that his Centre had recently dissolved. He'd done SOM 100, 200, 300 in the past and had been a Professional Practitioner.
With that I shared my vision with him and he got really excited. It occurred to me that here was exactly what I had been talking about needing with Patrick. Someone who was already immersed in Second Life who was also a Practitioner was expressing a keen affinity with this vision I'd been stewing over for the past few years.
But that's not all. Another one of those gathered hung around to listen. It turns out he was from Poland. He'd never heard of SOM but was very knowledgeable about NLP, and from the way he spoke it was clear that he could relate to the SOM principles. He also had a chance to hear me talking about wanting to explore refining the SOM educational curriculum to bring it online. His excitement rose and at one point he started to describe a vision where he would love to learn about it in SL and then start a study group in Poland!
Well, at that point the fireworks went off in my mind. Both elements of this Technology Outreach Ministry were manifesting before my very eyes:
- A Practitioner already immersed in technology excited by this vision
- Someone from a country that had never heard of SOM getting really excited about not only hearing this message but self-professing that a vision of taking this to others was in their mind
As I sign off on this blog I've got this feeling that something very exciting has just begun. A global vision through technology is being born for this philosophy. I have never been so charged or excited about anything in my life. I feel so alive right now, and so on fire, that I feel compelled to state that I know I have just hit upon what may be the beginning of a life's work. And given the enormity of his vision I would ask that you take this vision into your treatment work. Hold consciousness for the right and perfect expansion of this vision, that the right and perfect Practitioner consciousness comes together to shape the foundation, and that it unfolds to create a true global Community for Spiritual Living through the Internet.
Know the Flow as you go, brothers and sisters.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Seva as Spiritual Practice
Nothing happens by chance. This morning I found myself reading about spiritual practices. In particular, four spiritual practices come to mind:
In short, Seva was presented as a spiritual practice to be done at 'all' times. Whether creating dinner, cutting vegetables, answering the phone, passing a stranger, hugging your children, or working in the field of caring for others, Seva is about being present with love, letting go of any barriers of separateness, casting aside doubt, accepting (not judging), and knowing that we are beings trying to relate together in unity and love. Seva is a decision to see the flow of the Divine, God, Source, One Mind, in all.
Now back to 'nothing happening by chance': This past week I have been spending much of my time contemplating seeing the flow of the Divine at all times, in all things and events. To my mind this reading on Seva, and the reframed perspective I was adjusting to, had arrived as a part of my journey. And just as I was getting my head around that bigger idea I read the following from another blog. "It is practically impossible to live in a state of Oneness 24/7 and keep a normal lifestyle."
And so, practicing Seva here I am, with the intent to see the flow of the Divine in everything, and to explore my perspective. The question I am now drawn to ask: 'Can I embrace a bigger idea?'
My immediate reaction was, 'but that statement flies in the face of what I've been contemplating as a vision for myself.' The word 'practically' jumped out at me. I started to question the words, the semantics: Was the context impossible in the real-world, or mostly impossible?
But then, thankfully, I dodged the chaos of such insanity and the idea of journaling about this came to mind. That felt like a simple thing; ground myself in practice and see what revealed itself (rather than stay in my head and observe my thoughts run across the set like a tumbleweed in a Western movie, the gun-slinger of ego ready for high-noon).
Journaling reminded me that it is not about the destination but the journey. I do have a vision for constant Oneness and it is possible. I am setting this intent because I believe it resonates with my life-vision to inspire and support the transformation of others. The extent to which I will be able to support the transformation of others will be limited to the extent of my own transformation. The vision of constant Oneness, to see the Divine in all people, events, and things, is a worthy one - it is a powerful way to transform oneself. But more importantly, I realized that the destination has to be released, and the journey embraced.
I now believe I came across the comment, about the impossible aspect of constant Oneness, so that as I started forming this vision I might remember that it is the journey that will lead me to Truth, and that attachment to destination could only lead me away.
Seva as a spiritual practice is beautiful. Selfless service to the Divine is a journey I can stand behind. Every moment I can attain this consciousness is a moment that lights the bigger picture. I will have compassion for those moments where I fail at the intent of 24/7, just as I will celebrate when I live this vision. For in the end, the experience of failure will likely give me a greater strength than the success.
Blessings, joy, and peace my brothers and sisters.
- Affirmations - the setting of intent, or what I call Affirmative Prayer, used to address the physical and emotional concerns of life
- Meditation - a more absolute practice to challenge the physical perspective and expand our conscious awareness of the seen, to the bigger picture around and beyond
- Journaling - a practice of writing in response to experience and events. Entries can contain reflections on what took place, emotions that surfaced, and understanding that resulted (this blog is my public journal - I really do share my story and journey with you here)
- Seva - selfless service to God (Seva is the Sanskrit word for Service) that supports the idea of Oneness, can be carried by us anywhere we go, no matter what we do
In short, Seva was presented as a spiritual practice to be done at 'all' times. Whether creating dinner, cutting vegetables, answering the phone, passing a stranger, hugging your children, or working in the field of caring for others, Seva is about being present with love, letting go of any barriers of separateness, casting aside doubt, accepting (not judging), and knowing that we are beings trying to relate together in unity and love. Seva is a decision to see the flow of the Divine, God, Source, One Mind, in all.
Now back to 'nothing happening by chance': This past week I have been spending much of my time contemplating seeing the flow of the Divine at all times, in all things and events. To my mind this reading on Seva, and the reframed perspective I was adjusting to, had arrived as a part of my journey. And just as I was getting my head around that bigger idea I read the following from another blog. "It is practically impossible to live in a state of Oneness 24/7 and keep a normal lifestyle."
And so, practicing Seva here I am, with the intent to see the flow of the Divine in everything, and to explore my perspective. The question I am now drawn to ask: 'Can I embrace a bigger idea?'
My immediate reaction was, 'but that statement flies in the face of what I've been contemplating as a vision for myself.' The word 'practically' jumped out at me. I started to question the words, the semantics: Was the context impossible in the real-world, or mostly impossible?
But then, thankfully, I dodged the chaos of such insanity and the idea of journaling about this came to mind. That felt like a simple thing; ground myself in practice and see what revealed itself (rather than stay in my head and observe my thoughts run across the set like a tumbleweed in a Western movie, the gun-slinger of ego ready for high-noon).
Journaling reminded me that it is not about the destination but the journey. I do have a vision for constant Oneness and it is possible. I am setting this intent because I believe it resonates with my life-vision to inspire and support the transformation of others. The extent to which I will be able to support the transformation of others will be limited to the extent of my own transformation. The vision of constant Oneness, to see the Divine in all people, events, and things, is a worthy one - it is a powerful way to transform oneself. But more importantly, I realized that the destination has to be released, and the journey embraced.
I now believe I came across the comment, about the impossible aspect of constant Oneness, so that as I started forming this vision I might remember that it is the journey that will lead me to Truth, and that attachment to destination could only lead me away.
Seva as a spiritual practice is beautiful. Selfless service to the Divine is a journey I can stand behind. Every moment I can attain this consciousness is a moment that lights the bigger picture. I will have compassion for those moments where I fail at the intent of 24/7, just as I will celebrate when I live this vision. For in the end, the experience of failure will likely give me a greater strength than the success.
Blessings, joy, and peace my brothers and sisters.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Experience of Adversity
As I consider events over the past few days my mind is drawn to my feelings. Perhaps it might be accurate to say that I feel a mix of peace and calm, and yet I cannot help but ponder what appears, based on my experience of myself in the past, as a relatively lower intensity of emotions.
In the past I am certain my emotional reaction would have been more varied, and most definitely more intense. At a physical level I would have felt as though I had been punched in the stomach, and as if I was throwing up at the same time. I’m so familiar with this customary reaction that this sensory experience is noticeable by its absence.
At the mental level the conversation would have been much more intense (for one thing I am writing and meditating as you can read). Over the past five years I’ve taken many steps on the journey to be better at managing ‘how’ I think. And so as I contemplate this event and my mental reaction (and ensuring response) I cannot help but be struck by the evolution I’ve undergone. As I look back I can recall a gradual shift in the inner-conversation. The inner voice that is me can still find words of fear, but the I AM is becoming clearer – the part of me that knows sounds louder, as if the static of uncertainly has faded to silence and the broadcast has the speakers humming in rich and deep tones.
However, with regards to emotions I feel compelled to step back. I read something the other day that resonated with me. As with so many things we are here to learn it often takes personal experience to truly appreciate and incorporate what this expression we are needs. The conversation between the soul and the self (sometimes called ego) must be compelling interest to both sides. Experience of adversity becomes a proof to the self that provides credibility to the soul’s positioning. It is one thing to affirmatively pray for money and investment, but if we don’t know how to accept this experience or be willing for it our prayers will appear unanswered. But what if the point is not so linear – what if events are supposed to fail so that we can succeed?
Experience of adversity instils belief. Belief influences our feelings. And feelings are expressed as emotions. With experience our feelings can come to empower belief. As I write this I find myself as clear as I have ever been on my life’s vision, on the flow of the Divine in all life.
I believe the thing I want most in this world is to inspire and support the transformation of others. I have been refining this vision for five years now. Experience is providing me exactly what I need to live for this vision. My ability to inspire will be possible to the extent to which I am inspired. My ability to support others in their transformation will be as potent as my own transformation. And what could be more inspiring or have such potential to transform others than the Divine? By coming through such experiences with an ever increasing faith and belief in the Divine my steps toward my vision become more meaningful. Events that supposedly failed are now opportunities for the most meaningful success I can think of.
I do not know exactly ‘how’ this vision will unfold, but I am clear on the ‘what’. And that really is what matters. If we believe in our vision then in turn we will influence our feelings. And how these feelings express as emotions will shift in our favour, like a virtuous circle. Like a pebble hitting the water’s surface rings of belief will ripple through our thoughts, our reactions, and our emotions – we will change, and be able to change to the extent of our belief in our vision for ourselves. If you have a vision to inspire and support the transformation of others then I can think of no better advice than to begin with yourself. And the next time you experience a thought wrapped up in a feeling expressed as an emotion, ask yourself, “What do I believe that led to this emotion?”
On one thing I am positively certain – beliefs are the result of past experiences and can be changed. Beliefs are not my truth unless I allow them to be. In this moment the belief that the Divine is in every event, person, and place is a perfect place from which to begin creating my vision to inspire others, and support their transformation. Ask not what people or events can do for you, but ask yourself what is your vision for yourself and how much do you truly believe it is already so.
In the past I am certain my emotional reaction would have been more varied, and most definitely more intense. At a physical level I would have felt as though I had been punched in the stomach, and as if I was throwing up at the same time. I’m so familiar with this customary reaction that this sensory experience is noticeable by its absence.
At the mental level the conversation would have been much more intense (for one thing I am writing and meditating as you can read). Over the past five years I’ve taken many steps on the journey to be better at managing ‘how’ I think. And so as I contemplate this event and my mental reaction (and ensuring response) I cannot help but be struck by the evolution I’ve undergone. As I look back I can recall a gradual shift in the inner-conversation. The inner voice that is me can still find words of fear, but the I AM is becoming clearer – the part of me that knows sounds louder, as if the static of uncertainly has faded to silence and the broadcast has the speakers humming in rich and deep tones.
However, with regards to emotions I feel compelled to step back. I read something the other day that resonated with me. As with so many things we are here to learn it often takes personal experience to truly appreciate and incorporate what this expression we are needs. The conversation between the soul and the self (sometimes called ego) must be compelling interest to both sides. Experience of adversity becomes a proof to the self that provides credibility to the soul’s positioning. It is one thing to affirmatively pray for money and investment, but if we don’t know how to accept this experience or be willing for it our prayers will appear unanswered. But what if the point is not so linear – what if events are supposed to fail so that we can succeed?
Experience of adversity instils belief. Belief influences our feelings. And feelings are expressed as emotions. With experience our feelings can come to empower belief. As I write this I find myself as clear as I have ever been on my life’s vision, on the flow of the Divine in all life.
I believe the thing I want most in this world is to inspire and support the transformation of others. I have been refining this vision for five years now. Experience is providing me exactly what I need to live for this vision. My ability to inspire will be possible to the extent to which I am inspired. My ability to support others in their transformation will be as potent as my own transformation. And what could be more inspiring or have such potential to transform others than the Divine? By coming through such experiences with an ever increasing faith and belief in the Divine my steps toward my vision become more meaningful. Events that supposedly failed are now opportunities for the most meaningful success I can think of.
I do not know exactly ‘how’ this vision will unfold, but I am clear on the ‘what’. And that really is what matters. If we believe in our vision then in turn we will influence our feelings. And how these feelings express as emotions will shift in our favour, like a virtuous circle. Like a pebble hitting the water’s surface rings of belief will ripple through our thoughts, our reactions, and our emotions – we will change, and be able to change to the extent of our belief in our vision for ourselves. If you have a vision to inspire and support the transformation of others then I can think of no better advice than to begin with yourself. And the next time you experience a thought wrapped up in a feeling expressed as an emotion, ask yourself, “What do I believe that led to this emotion?”
On one thing I am positively certain – beliefs are the result of past experiences and can be changed. Beliefs are not my truth unless I allow them to be. In this moment the belief that the Divine is in every event, person, and place is a perfect place from which to begin creating my vision to inspire others, and support their transformation. Ask not what people or events can do for you, but ask yourself what is your vision for yourself and how much do you truly believe it is already so.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Thursday, April 30, 2009
A World Without You
Sometimes we get to feel vulnerable. In the depths of the valley of life we can find ourselves looking for the treeline and the sky only to see fog. Sometimes we lose sight of our bearings near and far.
Sometimes it takes time and healing to bounce back. There are times where inspite of your best efforts that people will be caught in their moment and share their feelings. You may not be expecting this. You may find your emotions reeling and face reddening because the moment that others are in does not allow much space for a wider perspective.
Catching glimpses of the blue sky and treeline, and climbing from the troughs to the peaks of these valleys is a journey. Mountains are irregular, and valleys far from linear. The art of feeling vulnerable is as much about remembering you are loved as it is being able to rekindle your imagination to know your purpose and vision. Accepting vulnerability is a step towards Oneness.
Sometimes this rekindling is triggered by loved ones and friends, who with the most compassionate of thoughts reach out with their light to ignite your wick. At other times we see the beautiful Spark within and are inflamed by our own connection.
Whatever the case maybe you should know the Universe (or Spirit, God, or whatever name you choose to use to label the source of your faith) cannot imagine a world without you. And that the clearer you are on this the clearer your vision will be.
Sometimes it takes time and healing to bounce back. There are times where inspite of your best efforts that people will be caught in their moment and share their feelings. You may not be expecting this. You may find your emotions reeling and face reddening because the moment that others are in does not allow much space for a wider perspective.
Catching glimpses of the blue sky and treeline, and climbing from the troughs to the peaks of these valleys is a journey. Mountains are irregular, and valleys far from linear. The art of feeling vulnerable is as much about remembering you are loved as it is being able to rekindle your imagination to know your purpose and vision. Accepting vulnerability is a step towards Oneness.
Sometimes this rekindling is triggered by loved ones and friends, who with the most compassionate of thoughts reach out with their light to ignite your wick. At other times we see the beautiful Spark within and are inflamed by our own connection.
Whatever the case maybe you should know the Universe (or Spirit, God, or whatever name you choose to use to label the source of your faith) cannot imagine a world without you. And that the clearer you are on this the clearer your vision will be.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Trouble at the Border
Mariah Nemeth suggests that moving from idea to demonstration is normally going to involve some challenges. Specifically, she calls such moments 'Trouble at the border'. The premise is that change involves an element of chaos and adjustment. Trouble at the border becomes an opportunity on a number of levels:
- Do you really want the change?
- Will you give up or keep pushing on? Turning away from the border is a sure way to turn away from demonstrating the idea.
- Are you working on uncovering your hidden beliefs around your idea?
- Do you have support systems in place to help you through the most challenging troubles?
By recognizing that change involves some form of chaos we can better prepare ourselves. Another analogy I draw is the cacoon and goo that a caterpillar must become in order to be reborn a butterfly.
This past month has involved some of the most challenging trouble I've ever had to go through. But then I did have the idea that I wanted to be mindful all the time. As I look back it's no surprise that for a couple of weeks I was an emotional fruit and nut bar. However, a defining moment for me was turning to meditation at the most intense of moments. During that time of surrender (as I previously blogged) I was deeply touched and inspired by the voice of wisdom.
My advice for the chaos invariably associated with deep and meaningful change is to consider examples in your past, and so empower yourself for future change. What has trouble at the border looked like for you? What tools do you have to manage these periods? Do your closest friends, mentors or Practitioner have any suggestions for you? But most importantly, just because you have days, months or years where you feel loopier than an elephant in a lake of mice doesn't mean you're broken. Rather such times are an opportunity to dig deep, ask for help, and keep working at the vision for you as a better idea.
Blessing, joy and peace my friends!
- Do you really want the change?
- Will you give up or keep pushing on? Turning away from the border is a sure way to turn away from demonstrating the idea.
- Are you working on uncovering your hidden beliefs around your idea?
- Do you have support systems in place to help you through the most challenging troubles?
By recognizing that change involves some form of chaos we can better prepare ourselves. Another analogy I draw is the cacoon and goo that a caterpillar must become in order to be reborn a butterfly.
This past month has involved some of the most challenging trouble I've ever had to go through. But then I did have the idea that I wanted to be mindful all the time. As I look back it's no surprise that for a couple of weeks I was an emotional fruit and nut bar. However, a defining moment for me was turning to meditation at the most intense of moments. During that time of surrender (as I previously blogged) I was deeply touched and inspired by the voice of wisdom.
My advice for the chaos invariably associated with deep and meaningful change is to consider examples in your past, and so empower yourself for future change. What has trouble at the border looked like for you? What tools do you have to manage these periods? Do your closest friends, mentors or Practitioner have any suggestions for you? But most importantly, just because you have days, months or years where you feel loopier than an elephant in a lake of mice doesn't mean you're broken. Rather such times are an opportunity to dig deep, ask for help, and keep working at the vision for you as a better idea.
Blessing, joy and peace my friends!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Seeking help
Last night when debriefing with my practitioner I came to truly know that sometimes you may only be ready for a sign. My sign was the realization that situations with high impact that see me facing some kind of time pressure equate to me forgetting to be mindful. For the first time ever I can articulate key causes behind my forgetting to be mindful:
Time + Impact = Forgetfulness
Time pressure can come from an incident where something has already blown up and needs to be fixed NOW (quoting an email I received yesterday). Or better yet time pressure can come from an impending deadline. There's no distinction between a meeting that's about to end or a deadline for a deliverable.
So what am I seeking help with? Well, simply put I am looking for comments and suggestions. I want suggestions on the type of affirmations I should be using to remember mindfulness when in high-pressure situations facing some form of deadline.
Let's have a dialogue! People have been asking me how to blog in the spiritual context - well, this is the real reason for blogging people! Get a reader base and then check in with them for inspiration. Your role now is to click the comments link below and add a comment :)
Time + Impact = Forgetfulness
Time pressure can come from an incident where something has already blown up and needs to be fixed NOW (quoting an email I received yesterday). Or better yet time pressure can come from an impending deadline. There's no distinction between a meeting that's about to end or a deadline for a deliverable.
So what am I seeking help with? Well, simply put I am looking for comments and suggestions. I want suggestions on the type of affirmations I should be using to remember mindfulness when in high-pressure situations facing some form of deadline.
Let's have a dialogue! People have been asking me how to blog in the spiritual context - well, this is the real reason for blogging people! Get a reader base and then check in with them for inspiration. Your role now is to click the comments link below and add a comment :)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Dazzled by the Moment
I once heard a stand up philosopher ask how long a moment was. Is a moment really long, or very, very quick he asked? Yesterday an answer came to mind for me. Each moment, each thought, word and deed, is an opportunity to know God.
Being present in each moment and making divine choices can be as simple as experiencing the dazzle of life. Sometimes meditation can be a haven of peace. Whatever your observations may be, pause, wait and connect with the fundamental spaciousness that simply is.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Bigger Idea - What do YOU think?
I was flicking through books at a bookstore tonight and found myself looking at a couple of encyclopaedias on Religion. Out of curiosity I decided to try and find New Thought.
I managed to find Vampirism.
But nothing on New Thought. I went so far as to scan every atlas and encyclopaedia on Religion in the store. By the time I was done I was stunned. “Vampirism” gets a mention but New Thought seems to be missing from the mainstream in many ways.
In thinking on this a few thoughts did tumble about my mind. There are many books and authors on subjects very compatible with New Thought that has significant bookstore space. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson come immediately to mind.
As I worked through this observation I concluded that when the world, and individuals, is ready for New Thought it will all come together. At the same time the challenge with individual authors or ideas (such as The Secret and Oprah’s recent effort to popularize Eckhart Tolle through web courses) is the absence of community. Whilst I applaud Oprah’s efforts to bring Tolle to millions through the Web medium the common thread appears to be a wealth of ‘highlighting’ material with a lack of community to enrich and deepen the thoughts beyond.
That said I am aware that discussion forums did grow around some ideas (The Secret had a decent start in this regard). But the challenge with discussion forums is that they have to live; there has to be more than the curious leading the curious (I will return to this in future blogs - I've had a realization in this regard).
Community in spirituality is something I have come to deeply value. I have taken great strength from hearing and discussing spiritual ideas. If anything I would say the exchange and communication around abstract thinking has been very important for me over the past few years.
I believe I am very fortunate to live in a community that has a New Thought centre (and I appreciate how fortunate I am). I know there are many people reading books and being exposed to these ideas from afar that would relish community.
As I near the end of this blog I am inspired by the event earlier this evening. In experiencing an emotion I believe we should explore what opportunity there is for us. I confess that I had an emotional reaction to seeing Vampirism getting a mention whilst New Thought did not. In this moment I believe that this opportunity is clarifying my calling to Ministry. This blog is a part of that ministry, but it is just one blog. I think the idea of New Thought (or Science of Mind) being the ‘best kept secret’ is beyond done. It is time to embrace a much bigger idea.
I was recently approached by the Senior Minister at the Centre for Spiritual Living around a strategy for the Web. We have spoken on this before in the past and I have even blogged on this idea (http://consciouscalling.blogspot.com/2009/01/calling-let-us-leverage-law-of.html). I suggested that when we next come together that we start with a Visioning exercise.
The more I think on this the more I would like to encourage those of you reading this blog to collaborate with me in this exercise:
I managed to find Vampirism.
But nothing on New Thought. I went so far as to scan every atlas and encyclopaedia on Religion in the store. By the time I was done I was stunned. “Vampirism” gets a mention but New Thought seems to be missing from the mainstream in many ways.
In thinking on this a few thoughts did tumble about my mind. There are many books and authors on subjects very compatible with New Thought that has significant bookstore space. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson come immediately to mind.
As I worked through this observation I concluded that when the world, and individuals, is ready for New Thought it will all come together. At the same time the challenge with individual authors or ideas (such as The Secret and Oprah’s recent effort to popularize Eckhart Tolle through web courses) is the absence of community. Whilst I applaud Oprah’s efforts to bring Tolle to millions through the Web medium the common thread appears to be a wealth of ‘highlighting’ material with a lack of community to enrich and deepen the thoughts beyond.
That said I am aware that discussion forums did grow around some ideas (The Secret had a decent start in this regard). But the challenge with discussion forums is that they have to live; there has to be more than the curious leading the curious (I will return to this in future blogs - I've had a realization in this regard).
Community in spirituality is something I have come to deeply value. I have taken great strength from hearing and discussing spiritual ideas. If anything I would say the exchange and communication around abstract thinking has been very important for me over the past few years.
I believe I am very fortunate to live in a community that has a New Thought centre (and I appreciate how fortunate I am). I know there are many people reading books and being exposed to these ideas from afar that would relish community.
As I near the end of this blog I am inspired by the event earlier this evening. In experiencing an emotion I believe we should explore what opportunity there is for us. I confess that I had an emotional reaction to seeing Vampirism getting a mention whilst New Thought did not. In this moment I believe that this opportunity is clarifying my calling to Ministry. This blog is a part of that ministry, but it is just one blog. I think the idea of New Thought (or Science of Mind) being the ‘best kept secret’ is beyond done. It is time to embrace a much bigger idea.
I was recently approached by the Senior Minister at the Centre for Spiritual Living around a strategy for the Web. We have spoken on this before in the past and I have even blogged on this idea (http://consciouscalling.blogspot.com/2009/01/calling-let-us-leverage-law-of.html). I suggested that when we next come together that we start with a Visioning exercise.
The more I think on this the more I would like to encourage those of you reading this blog to collaborate with me in this exercise:
- What would ‘you’ like to see for New Thought on the Web? What do you think God's highest vision for the Web and these ideas is?
- What would you suggest to help build virtual communities? What must these communities become to empower this vision?
- Is there anything you’ve thought of in the past that you felt would work well around this idea? How must this virtual community support growth and what must we know to embody this vision?
- What must be released for there to be room for this vision?
- What must be embraced for us to be ready for this vision?
- What does this vision feel like, look like, smell like?
- If there is please comment in this blog or email me at carmien_owen@shaw.ca
Even if all you have to say is ‘Go Carmien’ please do. This is one of those few points where some feedback of any kind would really be helpful.
I can think of no better way than to embark on my ministry of expanding New Thought to a better idea through the web than to collaborate with those I already share with on the Web. Something moved me tonight - I am ready for a bigger idea. Now I am curious to see if YOU have any thoughts on this?
Friday, January 23, 2009
A Calling: Let Us Leverage the Law of Collaboration
On Monday May 5th, 2008 there was an article in the Edmonton Journal about two NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) graduates who had come up with a way to help the homeless connect to the world. Assuming this goes forward clients, of the Bissell Centre in Edmonton, will be given a contact phone number and an extension number. Whenever a client deals with a doctor, a potential employer, family or someone who might provide them with permanent housing, they give that contact and extension number. Dialling those numbers would put a caller into the client’s individual voice mail box. This simple and cheap solution will bring a dramatic increase to their quality of life.
The article also noted that the system runs on freely available software, developed through open sourcing. Development on such programs is performed by computer enthusiasts throughout the world. The NAIT grads simply linked the appropriate programs with some of their own code and a new collaborative tool was born.
Contemplating such a beautiful idea being so easily and cheaply produced leads to wondrous possibilities. It could easily be argued that mass collaboration in the modern world is evidence of raised consciousness. With the focus on the negatives in the world sometimes one is required to make a conscious effort to dig harder to expose the light. And sometimes strenuous digging reveals a profoundly beautiful Intelligence.
The software this solution was built on has its roots in an event that reaches back to 1991 (a time period approaching ancient history given the pace of technological evolution). Before the World Wide Web had even been invented, a young programmer from Helsinki named Linus Torvalds created a simple version of the Unix operating system. He it called it Linux and shared it with other programmers via an online bulletin board. By revealing his code to the world Torvalds was able to eventually assemble a world-class computer operating system over the Internet. This action was the first of many steps that indirectly empowered these two NAIT grads to create this wonderful new phone system for the homeless.
In 1999 a Canadian mining company, Goldcorp Inc. had pretty much tapped out its reserves and was close to bankruptcy. The CEO took some time out for personal development, went to an MIT conference for presidents and heard about the story of Linux. Upon returning to Canada he concluded that maybe the key to finding more gold would be to open up the exploration process in the same way. Taking all the data they had, going back to 1948, they put it into a file, and shared it with the world as a part of the “Goldcorp Challenge”. With $575,000 in prize money and 55,000 acres of property to analyze the race was on. For the first time ever a company from an extremely secretive industry had bared all.
However, the gambit paid off. Within weeks submissions flooded in from around the world. As expected, geologists got involved. What was not expected was that of the 110 targets identified, 50% had not been previously identified by the company. And over 80% of the new targets yielded substantial quantities of gold. Today Goldcorp is reaping the fruits of its open source approach to exploration, and what was once a failing $100 million company is now a $9 billion juggernaut.
As we move into this 21st century it’s clear to see that mass collaboration is here to stay. Wikipedia, Linux, Facebook, Flickr, Second Life, YouTube, and the Human Genome Project are all examples of mass collaboration. In a perfect storm a global platform has appeared, a new generation that grew up collaborating has grown up and a global economy that enables new forms of economic cooperation is driving deep changes in the world. From the first tangible evidence of social cooperation in the cave paintings and primitive tools left behind some sixty to seventy thousand years ago to this new interactive Internet, or Web 2.0, one common theme could be considered a Law: Groups with cooperative habits are more successful than those in isolation. I shall call this the Law of Collaboration.
These examples of mass collaboration all have a common theme yet might be missed in this world of ‘stories’. One might even argue that these stories occurred as a result of forces driving upon them. But if one can accept the profound Intelligence acting in all things it is hardly a leap to consider these series of apparently disconnected events as anything but connected.
And even the business world is noticing. For the first time since commerce started taking serious hold in civilisation the rule of business collaboration is changing. In the coming years those businesses that find ways to tap into multitudes of external knowledge, resources and talent will gain competitive advantage and agility. Those companies that stick to old customs of control, secrecy and fail to learn the rules of this new game will be left behind. In short, those organizations that utilize the Law of Collaboration with integrity will prosper.
With ideas such as working together in the open and strangers cooperating towards common goals, it is easy to imagine that there is a beautiful, virtuous Intelligence at work. As we begin to contemplate the growth of the spiritual awareness a series of new possibilities begin to dawn. The distance from the philosophy of our community to the communities of mass collaboration is not that far. Openness, sharing, cooperation, goals somehow being met without controls, individual choice to support the greater good, amongst other ideas of mass collaboration resonate with this teaching.
The Calling
This is a call to those intrigued or entranced by the potential of the Law of Collaboration. It is time to break the ground on building a new technological vision for spiritual living and awareness. Some of the possibilities that immediately come to mind include; the power of a Wiki being used as a Science of Mind encyclopaedia, published articles from bright minds, discussion forums loosely moderated by students, Practitioners and Ministers, video archives of Services, the blogosphere, podcasts of highlighted material, virtual classes taking our educational program to a global audience through video and audio streaming, all pulled together through a growing online community inspired by something wonderful happening here and now. I know a volunteer driven effort to translate 'The Science of Mind' into many languages through SpiritPedia would crack open this philosophy to a much wider world audience.
Now that's a bigger idea, is it not?
If one can be inspired by the series of events that led to the creation of the telephone system for the homeless through collaboration, for collaboration, just imagine what can be done by a spiritual community consciously applying itself to embrace mass collaboration!
Please comment below if you are interested in exploring this vision with me. If there was ever there was a moment to transcend how we share and build community around this beautiful philosophy this must surely be it.
The article also noted that the system runs on freely available software, developed through open sourcing. Development on such programs is performed by computer enthusiasts throughout the world. The NAIT grads simply linked the appropriate programs with some of their own code and a new collaborative tool was born.
Contemplating such a beautiful idea being so easily and cheaply produced leads to wondrous possibilities. It could easily be argued that mass collaboration in the modern world is evidence of raised consciousness. With the focus on the negatives in the world sometimes one is required to make a conscious effort to dig harder to expose the light. And sometimes strenuous digging reveals a profoundly beautiful Intelligence.
The software this solution was built on has its roots in an event that reaches back to 1991 (a time period approaching ancient history given the pace of technological evolution). Before the World Wide Web had even been invented, a young programmer from Helsinki named Linus Torvalds created a simple version of the Unix operating system. He it called it Linux and shared it with other programmers via an online bulletin board. By revealing his code to the world Torvalds was able to eventually assemble a world-class computer operating system over the Internet. This action was the first of many steps that indirectly empowered these two NAIT grads to create this wonderful new phone system for the homeless.
In 1999 a Canadian mining company, Goldcorp Inc. had pretty much tapped out its reserves and was close to bankruptcy. The CEO took some time out for personal development, went to an MIT conference for presidents and heard about the story of Linux. Upon returning to Canada he concluded that maybe the key to finding more gold would be to open up the exploration process in the same way. Taking all the data they had, going back to 1948, they put it into a file, and shared it with the world as a part of the “Goldcorp Challenge”. With $575,000 in prize money and 55,000 acres of property to analyze the race was on. For the first time ever a company from an extremely secretive industry had bared all.
However, the gambit paid off. Within weeks submissions flooded in from around the world. As expected, geologists got involved. What was not expected was that of the 110 targets identified, 50% had not been previously identified by the company. And over 80% of the new targets yielded substantial quantities of gold. Today Goldcorp is reaping the fruits of its open source approach to exploration, and what was once a failing $100 million company is now a $9 billion juggernaut.
As we move into this 21st century it’s clear to see that mass collaboration is here to stay. Wikipedia, Linux, Facebook, Flickr, Second Life, YouTube, and the Human Genome Project are all examples of mass collaboration. In a perfect storm a global platform has appeared, a new generation that grew up collaborating has grown up and a global economy that enables new forms of economic cooperation is driving deep changes in the world. From the first tangible evidence of social cooperation in the cave paintings and primitive tools left behind some sixty to seventy thousand years ago to this new interactive Internet, or Web 2.0, one common theme could be considered a Law: Groups with cooperative habits are more successful than those in isolation. I shall call this the Law of Collaboration.
These examples of mass collaboration all have a common theme yet might be missed in this world of ‘stories’. One might even argue that these stories occurred as a result of forces driving upon them. But if one can accept the profound Intelligence acting in all things it is hardly a leap to consider these series of apparently disconnected events as anything but connected.
And even the business world is noticing. For the first time since commerce started taking serious hold in civilisation the rule of business collaboration is changing. In the coming years those businesses that find ways to tap into multitudes of external knowledge, resources and talent will gain competitive advantage and agility. Those companies that stick to old customs of control, secrecy and fail to learn the rules of this new game will be left behind. In short, those organizations that utilize the Law of Collaboration with integrity will prosper.
With ideas such as working together in the open and strangers cooperating towards common goals, it is easy to imagine that there is a beautiful, virtuous Intelligence at work. As we begin to contemplate the growth of the spiritual awareness a series of new possibilities begin to dawn. The distance from the philosophy of our community to the communities of mass collaboration is not that far. Openness, sharing, cooperation, goals somehow being met without controls, individual choice to support the greater good, amongst other ideas of mass collaboration resonate with this teaching.
The Calling
This is a call to those intrigued or entranced by the potential of the Law of Collaboration. It is time to break the ground on building a new technological vision for spiritual living and awareness. Some of the possibilities that immediately come to mind include; the power of a Wiki being used as a Science of Mind encyclopaedia, published articles from bright minds, discussion forums loosely moderated by students, Practitioners and Ministers, video archives of Services, the blogosphere, podcasts of highlighted material, virtual classes taking our educational program to a global audience through video and audio streaming, all pulled together through a growing online community inspired by something wonderful happening here and now. I know a volunteer driven effort to translate 'The Science of Mind' into many languages through SpiritPedia would crack open this philosophy to a much wider world audience.
Now that's a bigger idea, is it not?
If one can be inspired by the series of events that led to the creation of the telephone system for the homeless through collaboration, for collaboration, just imagine what can be done by a spiritual community consciously applying itself to embrace mass collaboration!
Please comment below if you are interested in exploring this vision with me. If there was ever there was a moment to transcend how we share and build community around this beautiful philosophy this must surely be it.
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