What’s Up Next?

(Mark calendars for next tele-practice group: Sunday, April 1st at 8 pm/ET)

Sunday, March 4, 2018 ~ Contemplative Inquiry

Inquiry:  What, within you, does not change and is not rocked?

(Contemplative Inquiry courtesy of Miranda Macpherson via Program & Replays | Inspiring Women With Soul)

“When we think of the unending growth and decay of life and civilizations, we cannot escape the impression of absolute nullity.  Yet I have never lost a sense of something that lives and endures underneath the eternal flux.”

~ Carl Gustav Jung

Cache of Inquiries

Tools:

One way of working with a contemplative inquiry is to drop down viscerally into the body (lessening attachment to the Greek chorus-like commentary of one’s mind), witnessing what the question provokes, while simultaneously broadening one’s awareness of the world at large, the ground beneath, the air above and so forth.

An example of working with inquiry as an exploration…

See also: Non-Violent Communication (NVC) for Self-Inquiry! – YouTube

Tonight is the Oscars, the lead up to which often affords the viewing of other/former statue-grabbing cinema.  Last night I happened to catch a few, final scenes of the film Gandhi, which happened to be airing on television, and did so in conjunction with the contemplative inquiry: ‘what, within you, does not change and is not rocked?’.  It was a potent combination, as I could perceive how my understanding of the historic figure of Gandhi had shifted dramatically since I first saw the film, as a child.  Back then, his path seemed exotic, eccentric, even a bit bizarre.  Now, through being a bit better acquainted with nonviolence as a movement, I understood him more deeply, and his life made more discernible (even rational) sense.  But even more surprisingly, perhaps due to multi-tasking/inquiry, I recognized a modest kind of kindred-spiritedness (not so much of identifying with Gandhi per se, but rather of having tasted a bit of the divine spark that animated such a path).  In a world that seems unjust, I could grasp what would drive someone to such extremes to right perceived wrongs.  And despite not having personally embraced nonviolence holistically as my own, I was intrigued by how the inquiry forced me to recognize that I could now indeed comprehend how such a conviction might take root.  I even ponder whether this awesome infusion of grace and courage has become an even more indispensable ingredient, which must take root broadly across the planet, if our civilization is to be salvaged in time.

Although not to alienate anyone by this line of self-disclosure, it’s worth noting that [NVC certified trainer] Miki Kashtan, who has said that she considers herself neither Christian nor a theist, demonstrates more unequivocally than do I how it’s possible to be touched by Gandhi’s example while still not tasting any direct experience of the divine.  Miki’s spiritual path draws profound inspiration from Gandhi’s life, while still dwelling amidst a more secular world view.  Part of how this is possible is through the beauty of universal human needs, and how this construct points to the indivisibility and interdependence of humanity.

“… I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial ‘outside agitator’ idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.”   

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
16 April 1963

So one route towards accessing that which is unshakable is through the inter-connectivity of our indivisible, universal human needs.  We’ll work with some self-inquiry processes to be utilized during pivotal points in our conversation with others.

Marshall Rosenberg, who views conflict as a tragic expression of unmet needs, often brokers a mediation by asking parties what they need.  So what qualifies as a need (verses a ‘want’ etc.)?

Rosenberg developed a list of needs under headings: connection, physical well-being, honesty, play, peace, meaning and autonomy.

He also draws on the work of Chilean economist, Manfred Max-Neef who has developed an economic system based on meeting human needs. Max-Neef defines nine needs:  1) Sustenance:  food, shelter, and water – the basic, physical needs; 2) Safety: protection; 3) Love; 4) Understanding; 5) Community; 6) Recreation: play, rest; 7)  Autonomy (Rosenberg says this is one of the most important needs); 8) Creativity; 9) Meaning: purpose in life. (According to Victor Frankl, probably the most important need of all)

Max-Neef: Human Needs