PRE-NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS, BEGINNING WITH INTEGRAL THEORY AND INTEGRAL PRACTICE

Because I believe that integral theory "pulls it all together" in a dynamic (not static, I mean) and flexible (not dogmatic, I feel) way, my top priority is to gain a thorough grasp of theory and practice.  Here at home I shall: (1) reread INTEGRAL SPIRITUALITY and study carefully, THE ESSENTIAL KEN WILBER; and  (2) using suggestions of others, identify and select the best educational materials whether they be Core Integral or Kosmic Consciousness or something else.

I shall also begin meditating on a regular basis despite the fact that I have not yet figured out how to stop dreaming while I'm awake, usually within 20 min. of starting to meditate.  THAT is extremely distracting; it is the sole reason I have never meditated on a regular basis.  I will use B. Alan Wallace's CD in MP3 format, 48 GUIDED MEDITATIONS, VOLUME 1, (obtained from the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies).  I hope their use will enable me to avoid the dreaming.  I will use that CD for the first time TODAY.

I shall also read with care;  THE MIND IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD, by Lama Surya Das, ESSENCE OF THE UPANISHADS by Eknath Easwaran, THE LIVING UNIVERSE by Duane Elgin, COSMIC CONVERSATIONS, BY Stephan Martin, EYES WIDE OPEN by Mariana Caplan, LIVING DEEPLY, THE ART AND SCIENCE OF TRANSFORMATION IN EVERY DAY LIFE,by Schlitz, Vieten, Amorok (from the Institute of Noetic Sciences).

I shall also work on my own publication, EVOLUTION'S GREATEST GIFT.  What is it? Hahahaha, anyone who knows me would know what I believe, right or wrong: I believe it is "emotional discharge."  We think that it's useful only to infants, babies, and small children.  Hah.  Mmm, how many people actually recognize its use with our young ones?  Don't most of us pray for the day when they outgrow the infantile need to bawl and scream?  I think we can fit all those who are discharge-enlightened on the head of a pin.  I shall tackle Richard Dawkins on this, among others.  I think he became speechless when confronting Deepak Chopra on Chopra's use of quantum theory to explain consciousness and human potential-YouTube video.  Not to say that either of them is "wrong."

I shall also try to find AT LEAST one organization in Connecticut that would like to hear a talk on: THE POWER OF ATTENTION, THE JOY OF LAUGHTER, THE MIRACLE OF TEARS.  I think attendees would be quite surprised that someone as out of touch with emotional reality could accomplish so much simply by practicing emotional discharge with friends and cooperative mental health professionals.

I shall also do my best to be a dependable and loving community member; we are all eager to support one another in this quest to fulfill our purpose as individuals, as expressions of Creation/evolution, and as contributors to this profound process. 

I have set high goals for myself considering the fact that I have an obnoxious food and caffeine addiction that I've not yet eliminated (always life threatening or life-shortening for any human being) and that I am a perfect slob whose slobbery makes it extremely difficult to find things quickly.

I shall now print this out as a list so that I can consult it often...and assess my progress.

HELP!!!  This is the first document related to intentions re integral practice.