Blog entries from haj1155

Under the Influence

John Harper — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:28:37 +0100

No one is an island

We live in an interdependent environment. Our planet's biosphere is an interdependent network of forces in constant flux. Our planet's stability relies on the interdependence of forces in our solar system and galaxy.

It seems that the only place the idea of independence lives is in the humanRead More...

Enthusiasm and Arrested Development

John Harper — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:47:08 +0100

Much enthusiasm has been curbed by arrested development

enthusiasm (en-th!?ze-az?em) noun 1. Great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause. 2. A source or cause of great excitement or interest. 3. Archaic. a. Ecstasy arising from supposed possession by a god. b. Religious fanaticism. Late Latin enthusiasmus, from GreeRead More...

Elders’ Inquiry and Reflection Group Berkeley CA

John Harper — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:35:00 +0100

Elders’ Inquiry and Reflection Group Forming in Berkeley

A group for Ridhwan students aged 60 and older is forming now in Berkeley. We will be meeting to inquire and reflect on our experiences related to aging. There are so many stories and assumptions about what it means to grow old, so many unexamined fears and beliefs. We’ll look at those, of cRead More...

Soul Work & Dialectic Inquiry

John Harper — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:46:18 +0100

Working on the Soul

Whenever we do any work on ourselves, or engage in any way in the inner journey, we are invariably working with our soul. - A.H. Almaas

Mostly the path leading us to make the decision to "work" on ourselves is littered with frustration, heartbreak Read More...

Petoskey - Michigan's Northern Gem

John Harper — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:19:43 +0100

Everyone Should Visit Petoskey, MI at Least Once

Last year, I visited Petoskey, MI three times. My little sister has been trying to get me visit for years. Last June I had to make the trip as my niece was getting married. What an experience Petoskey is.

Petoskey sits on the shores of Lake Michigan about 70 miles north of Traverse City. The downtown are is about 10 square blocks and my sister's house is only half a block up Mitchell (the main street) from the library.

Something aRead More...

Beginning of Life - Your body, Your Soul

John Harper — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:32:29 +0100

Body, Soul, Consciousness & Beginning of Life

The debate goes on:

Where does life begin?
When does self-reflective consciousness begin?
Where does consciousness reside?

I do believe it has been proven that early conditioning begins in the womb as the fetus and its (consciousness, psyche, soul) are subjected to the mother's respoRead More...

Intimacy in the Night

John Harper — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:04:49 +0100

Night and Intimacy

Night

Came silently into my house

Illuminating dark spaces

The hidden, the forgotten, the not-known

Night

Put the mind to rest

And bedded the heart

In the still-point of rapture

The Evolution of Fear

There is objective fear and there is psychological fear. Objective fear is when you're standing in the road facing a speeding semi or on a bridge getting ready to bungee-jump into a canyon - the reptilian brain is assessing the raw data from a primitive pRead More...

Fear & Intelligence

John Harper — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:54:56 +0100

The Evolution of Fear

psychological fear objective optimizing thrust

Most of us think we do, but most of what we think is only the surface layer of deeper desires, motivations and longings. Exploring what underlies our desire for money, fame, love, peace, happiness eventually leads us back to our deepest longing – to be real, to be authentic, to beRead More...

The Mountain

John Harper — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:14:39 +0100

The Mountain

always the mountain
soaring up from earth
stretching far beyond eagle’s reach
noble aristocrat, Olympian presence
empyrean sovereign bows to none
head high in tempest or tranquility
inspires, reassures
prodigious seduction from afar
and I
pretender to the throne
emulate such grandiosity
rock solid, I stand aloof

Character Building Challenges Character Structure

John Harper — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:11:10 +0100

The Long & Winding Road

Over the course of 5+ decades, I have had to learn the hard way to stand with the Truth. I’m not 100%, but I’m making progress.

Some of the longest walks in my life were short in distance, but long in challenge and difficulty as I turned toward the Truth and walked away from saving face or self-image. I remember clearly one of theRead More...

Preparing for Day of the Dead

John Harper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:16:08 +0100

Holly & I Get Our Nails Done for the Big Dance

This Sunday is the Day of the Dead Dance at the Ridhwan Center in Berkeley.

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and CanRead More...

Save Your Retreat Butt

John Harper — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:26:06 +0100

Don't Let a 10-Day Retreat Destroy Your Butt!

I talked to my friends Bruce and Molly Beck about the seat cushions they used at the 2009 Summer Retreat.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaXesGjTS4g 425x344]

Click Here to Order from Amazon and Support the New Building Fund

A.H. Almaas & Jack Kornfield

John Harper — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:53:59 +0100

Savoring the Fruit of the Path: Spiritual Maturity

Jack Kornfield and A.H. Almaas will be speaking on October 17th in San Francisco.

Click here for flyer and to order tickets

Summer Retreat Pics

John Harper — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:40:55 +0100

More Pictures from Asilomar 2009

6am on the computer

Dan Conser checking on video streaming

Early birds waiting for the doors to open

On the back deck of the Social Hall

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4VlrZzRjP8 325x265]

[video:hRead More...

Summer Retreat Check In

John Harper — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:45:01 +0100

Students Talk About the Summer Retreat

I asked a few students of the Ridhwan School what they think about the summer retreat on the Fulcrum.

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2009 Summer Retreat - Day 3

John Harper — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:55:05 +0100

Ridhwan Summer Retreat - The Fulcrum

Saturday, August 15

The summer retreat is taking my consciousness by storm. In general, I am finding that most of what I thought I knew is very limited... my understanding of "practice" is incomplete, my understanding of commitment is too.

We looked into how the ego appropriates experience and have explored motive and goals as well. I have had three overwhelming experiences where I was able to stay with where I was and allow my habitual need Read More...