Deep Transformation

Ep. 198 (Part 2 of 3) | Polarity management pioneer and author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma are masterful teachers on the subject of polarities and what polarity thinking can bring to the world, benefitting our well-being at every level. Together they explain what polarities are, why they matter, how to apply and leverage them, and the essence of polarity wisdom: pursuing the upsides of opposite poles. Barry is careful to explain that although either/or thinking is the root of our troubles, both/and thinking by itself isn’t the answer either. Integrating either/or with both/and thinking and recognizing the interdependence of all things is the road to transformation and, Beena adds, the engine of human development, of human maturity.Barry explains the profound spiritual understanding foundational to polarity wisdom and Beena details how polarities shift according to our developmental stage. Each of the polarities discussed—justice/mercy, claiming power/sharing power, being/doing, to name a few—illuminates its sphere, whether it relates to democracy, social justice, or spiritual practice. Barry and Beena are passionate about the promise of polarity thinking and their excitement is contagious in this fast-paced, delightfully lucid dialogue, jam-packed with information that is practical, inspiring, and potentially life changing. Recorded May 22, 2025.“Love is a natural byproduct of seeing completely.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Looking at the pole preferences that show up at each stage of development (00:37) The integrative stage of development doesn’t reject either/or thinking or both/and thinking (04:42)Embracing polarities’ upsides elevates you; you come to a higher place (08:05)Tyranny and democracy: how do you both provide direction and encourage participation? (08:54)The spiritual polarity of doing and being and Martin Buber’s I and thou (14:08)How polarities nest and stack: Beena leads a nesting and upleveling exercise (18:10)Relating polarity thinking to quantum physics & the richness of the subject of universal interdependence (22:32)How do we respond to opposition at different developmental stages? (24:33)Jack Gibb’s trust theory: love is a natural byproduct of seeing completely (28:24)Seeing life and death as two poles and the violence in nature (29:28)Enhancing our capacity to love: individuals, enemies, countries; universal interdependence is a manifestation of divine love (32:44)Taking radical responsibility for our own incapacity to see (36:42)Love as a natural response to seeing fully and defenselessly (38:23)Barry’s profound realization about heaven, hell, and universal love (40:14)Resources & References – Part 2Barry Johnson, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox, or DilemmaBarry Johnson, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable ProblemsBeena Sharma, founder Vertical Development Academy (VeDA)The 8 Stages of Vertical Development with Beena Sharma (Deep Transformation podcast)Martin Buber, I and ThouCalifornia Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Sanjay ManchandaCarlo Rovelli, Helgoland: Making Sense of the Quantum RevolutionJack R. Gibb, Trust: A New View of Personal And Organizational DevelopmentRichard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation’s Daily Meditations---Barry Johnson, Ph.D., is a founder of Polarity Partnerships LLC, whose mission is to “enhance our quality of life on the planet by supplementing Or Thinking with And Thinking.” Barry has been involved in movement politics since his first march on Washington in 1963; in 1970 he turned his attention to understanding how systems became dysfunctional and how to co-create systems that worked for everyone. In that pursuit, the first polarity map and set of principles were generated. Barry has worked with organizations large and small, including business, industry, governments, educational and healthcare systems, and movement organizations to discover how And Thinking can be useful in accomplishing their mission. Barry’s recent work has been focused on how a polarity lens can be useful in addressing the rise of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world.Along the way, Barry published three books and coordinated the publishing of a fourth: Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems, Managing Polarities in Congregations: Eight Keys for Thriving Faith Communities, with Roy Oswald, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox or Dilemma, Volume One, and And, Volume 2, Applications (written by 54 professionals who have applied And-thinking in their settings).---Beena Sharma currently stewards Vertical Development Academy (VeDA) as its founding president, with a vision to enhance the practice of human development in service of civilizational resilience. Beena’s focus is on facilitating human maturity through a deep appreciation of the theory and practice of adult learning that catalyzes the development of wiser, more integrated human beings who can respond to personal, interpersonal, community, and larger systems challenges in more adequate ways. One of Beena’s unique contributions lies in leveraging the wisdom of polarities in service of human maturity, and Beena is one of the world’s leading teachers of polarity thinking. Beena is currently working on launching services that seek to build polarity wisdom in leaders and organizations around the world.Beena is a gifted master coach, consultant, teacher, and thought leader. She has been recognized nationally and internationally for her achievements in successfully conceptualizing, developing, and delivering systemic leadership development initiatives. She is a regular keynote faculty member for McKinsey’s Executive Leadership Program serving leaders in Australia and New Zealand, and has led efforts as an executive and consultant for various agencies of the US Government, leading private sector companies in healthcare and other industries in the US, UK, Europe, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and India. ---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 197 (Part 1 of 3) | Polarity management pioneer and author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma are masterful teachers on the subject of polarities and what polarity thinking can bring to the world, benefitting our well-being at every level. Together they explain what polarities are, why they matter, how to apply and leverage them, and the essence of polarity wisdom: pursuing the upsides of opposite poles. Barry is careful to explain that although either/or thinking is the root of our troubles, both/and thinking by itself isn’t the answer either. Integrating either/or with both/and thinking and recognizing the interdependence of all things is the road to transformation and, Beena adds, the engine of human development, of human maturity.Barry explains the profound spiritual understanding foundational to polarity wisdom and Beena details how polarities shift according to our developmental stage. Each of the polarities discussed—justice/mercy, claiming power/sharing power, being/doing, to name a few—illuminates its sphere, whether it relates to democracy, social justice, or spiritual practice. Barry and Beena are passionate about the promise of polarity thinking and their excitement is contagious in this fast-paced, delightfully lucid dialogue, jam-packed with information that is practical, inspiring, and potentially life changing. Recorded May 22, 2025.“Either/or thinking without both/and thinking is the root cause of poverty, racism, sexism, and war.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing polarity management pioneer & author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma (00:48)How did Barry discover polarities? (02:15)The essential dimension of polarities—interdependent pairs—and the universal interdependence of all of life (03:08)The capacity to integrate and recognize interdependence is the driving force of adult human development (03:47)The difference between polarity management and polarity wisdom (05:37)A key polarity in leadership and democracy: claiming power & sharing power (07:20)Experiential exercise: the infinity loop (08:11)What is true for all polarities: each pole brings something special that is essential to the relationship (11:15)The integrating wisdom that includes and transcends both polarities encompasses all dualities, reflecting traditional East Indian wisdom (12:12)As a leader, how can we be both clear & flexible, self-assured & humble, and as an organization, centralized & decentralized? (13:51)The oscillation between activity and rest (14:55)Leveraging polarities: maximizing upsides and minimizing downsides (16:22)Either/or thinking is essential, but it needs to be supplemented with both/and thinking (16:34)Privileging one pole as better, you enter into dysfunction (19:33)Interpersonal relationships: we see the positive value of our preferred pole but the downside of the other’s opposite preferred pole (20:56)The essence of polarity wisdom: embracing the wisdom of the opposite pole (21:41)Polarity thinking is an antidote to rigidity; it heals polarization (22:25)Either/or thinking without both/and thinking is the root cause of evil (23:09)Pursuing justice to the neglect of mercy (its interdependent pole) (26:47)Does both/and thinking require a certain level of maturity? (32:14)Resources & References – Part 1Barry Johnson, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox, or DilemmaBarry Johnson, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable ProblemsBeena Sharma, founder Vertical Development Academy (VeDA)Desmond Tutu, No Future Without ForgivenessThe 8 Stages of Vertical Development with Beena Sharma (Deep Transformation podcast)---Barry Johnson, Ph.D., is a founder of Polarity Partnerships LLC, whose mission is to “enhance our quality of life on the planet by supplementing Or Thinking with And Thinking.” Barry has been involved in movement politics since his first march on Washington in 1963; in 1970 he turned his attention to understanding how systems became dysfunctional and how to co-create systems that worked for everyone. In that pursuit, the first polarity map and set of principles were generated. Barry has worked with organizations large and small, including business, industry, governments, educational and healthcare systems, and movement organizations to discover how And Thinking can be useful in accomplishing their mission. Barry’s recent work has been focused on how a polarity lens can be useful in addressing the rise of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world.Along the way, Barry published three books and coordinated the publishing of a fourth: Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems, Managing Polarities in Congregations: Eight Keys for Thriving Faith Communities, with Roy Oswald, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox or Dilemma, Volume One, and And, Volume 2, Applications (written by 54 professionals who have applied And-thinking in their settings).---Beena Sharma currently stewards Vertical Development Academy (VeDA) as its founding president, with a vision to enhance the practice of human development in service of civilizational resilience. Beena’s focus is on facilitating human maturity through a deep appreciation of the theory and practice of adult learning that catalyzes the development of wiser, more integrated human beings who can respond to personal, interpersonal, community, and larger systems challenges in more adequate ways. One of Beena’s unique contributions lies in leveraging the wisdom of polarities in service of human maturity, and Beena is one of the world’s leading teachers of polarity thinking. Beena is currently working on launching services that seek to build polarity wisdom in leaders and organizations around the world.Beena is a gifted master coach, consultant, teacher, and thought leader. She has been recognized nationally and internationally for her achievements in successfully conceptualizing, developing, and delivering systemic leadership development initiatives. She is a regular keynote faculty member for McKinsey’s Executive Leadership Program serving leaders in Australia and New Zealand, and has led efforts as an executive and consultant for various agencies of the US Government, leading private sector companies in healthcare and other industries in the US, UK, Europe, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and India.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 196 (Part 2 of 2) | n the twelfth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali guides us into the profound experience of pure being, which lies at the core of all mystical teachings. There are two nondual ways of experiencing the fullness of being, he explains. We can recognize we are infinite and boundless—as if we were the sky, but still experiencing this through our being—or, we can experience the oneness of being from the perspective of all manifestation: the mountain, the rocks, the molecules and atoms... “Wherever you go, physically or mentally, is pure being.” Hameed calls the first recognition “unity,” and the latter “oneness.”Hameed clarifies the paradox of nothingness: “being and nothing are two ways of knowing the same thing; you can feel it as a fullness or you can feel it as an emptiness.” And he explains that being being and knowing being are the same thing, when knowing  is understood in its deeper sense as gnosis. “Awakening is knowing our being or our awareness for what it is,” he says. Why is Hameed so uniquely articulate in talking about the experience of pure being? John asks him. This talk is an amazing teaching—visual and sensory, scientific and mathematical, deeply mystical and spiritual—Hameed comes at the subject of pure being from all angles. Recorded June 26, 2025.“Practice is clearing the way, but whether awakening emerges or not is not up to you.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Why Hameed is so uniquely articulate talking about these experiences, and why some teachers don’t talk about these things (00:27)The nothingness side of pure presence (04:28)The spaciousness here appears different; it is non-Euclidean (07:44)Being and nothing are two ways of knowing the same thing; you can feel it as a fullness or you can feel it as an emptiness (09:22)What other traditions teach about emptiness (11:34)Awareness is pure beingness too (13:53)Awareness is an ontological reality; it is an “is-ness” we can recognize and it includes knowing (18:14) Being being is the same thing as knowing being; this is gnosis: knowing by being (20:23)Awakening is knowing our being or our awareness for what it is (23:44)Knowing and mind are fundamental, not just intellectual (25:52)Awakened awareness: realizing that awareness is the nature of everything (27:10)Awakening cannot be earned; it is a recognition, but there are obstacles in the way (29:37)We’ll get into knowing and reification next time (32:45)This teaching affirms you are a real being, and you are an expression of the being of God (33:55)Resources & References – Part 2A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond ApproachA. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of RealityBernard Riemann, German mathematician who developed Riemannian geometry, a type of non-Euclidean geometrySaccidānanda, the subjective experience of the ultimate unchanging realityMahmud Shabistari, 14th-century mystical Persian poet, The Secret Rose GardenRigpa is a central concept in DzogchenMahamudra practice, the highest form of Tibetan Buddhist meditation---The A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series will generally follow the sequence of Hameed’s magnum opus, The Inner Journey Home (which John describes as psychoactive and spiritually, psychologically, and intellectually transformative), so listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this exhilarating path of awakening.---Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the U.S. to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him to inquire into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature rather than the physical nature of the universe. He left the academic world to pursue an in-depth journey of inner discovery, applying his scientific precision and discipline to personal, experiential research. This included study with different teachers in different modalities, extensive reading, and continuous study of his own consciousness in an effort to understand the essential nature of human experience and reality in general.Hameed’s process of exploration led to the creation of the Ridhwan School and, with his colleague Karen Johnson, resulted in the founding and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach. He is the author of 20 books, including Nondual Love: Awakening to the Loving Nature of Reality, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened Heart, Keys to the Enneagram: How to Unlock the Highest Potential of Every Personality Type, The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence, and more.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 195 (Part 1 of 2) | In the twelfth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali guides us into the profound experience of pure being, which lies at the core of all mystical teachings. There are two nondual ways of experiencing the fullness of being, he explains. We can recognize we are infinite and boundless—as if we were the sky, but still experiencing this through our being—or, we can experience the oneness of being from the perspective of all manifestation: the mountain, the rocks, the molecules and atoms… “Wherever you go, physically or mentally, is pure being.” Hameed calls the first recognition “unity,” and the latter “oneness.”Hameed clarifies the paradox of nothingness: “being and nothing are two ways of knowing the same thing; you can feel it as a fullness or you can feel it as an emptiness.” And he explains that being being and knowing being are the same thing, when knowing is understood in its deeper sense as gnosis. “Awakening is knowing our being or our awareness for what it is,” he says. Why is Hameed so uniquely articulate in talking about the experience of pure being? John asks him. This talk is an amazing teaching—visual and sensory, scientific and mathematical, deeply mystical and spiritual—Hameed comes at the subject of pure being from all angles. Recorded June 26, 2025.“One way of experiencing pure being is from within itself; then there is experiencing it from the perspective of all manifestation. This is when we understand form is formlessness and formlessness is form.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the 12th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series focused on Hameed’s nondual teachings, and experiencing the fullness of being (00:33)The difference between the localized experience of presence and the infinite, boundless experience of presence (01:50)Divine love, pure presence is the precursor of all other qualities (03:15)More fundamental than divine love is the simplicity of pure presence, pure being (06:09)Our alienation from completeness causes a sense of lack in us all (11:19)There are 2 major ways of experiencing the fullness of being, both nondual (15:27)The second way is experiencing it from the perspective of all manifestation; this is when we understand form is formlessness and formlessness is form (22:14) Nonduality is implicit in both experiences—subject and object are the same thing (26:09)If you look a little deeper, you find that formlessness is behind everything (28:17)All manifestations of true nature are an antidote to suffering (28:43)Ordinary mind perceives everything as separate, singular (31:04)Science deals with behavior only; quantum physics comes closest to acknowledging there is something besides the physical (32:59)Can mathematics take us to a realization of pure being? (36:58)It would be possible for scientists to study this if they practiced inquiry into the observer, into the experience (39:50)Resources & References – Part 1A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond ApproachA. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of RealityAdvaita VedantaIbn Arabi, a major figure in Islamic mysticism (Sufism) and one of the most influential thinkers associated with nonduality in the Islamic traditionMeister Eckhart, German Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher & mysticDzogchenSir Roger Penrose & Dr. Stuart Hameroff, Consciousness and the Physics of the Brain (YouTube video)David Bohm, Wholeness and the Implicate OrderNiels Bohr, Martin Heidegger, Erwin SchrödingerThe A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series will generally follow the sequence of Hameed’s magnum opus, The Inner Journey Home (which John describes as psychoactive and spiritually, psychologically, and intellectually transformative), so listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this exhilarating path of awakening.---Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the U.S. to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him to inquire into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature rather than the physical nature of the universe. He left the academic world to pursue an in-depth journey of inner discovery, applying his scientific precision and discipline to personal, experiential research. This included study with different teachers in different modalities, extensive reading, and continuous study of his own consciousness in an effort to understand the essential nature of human experience and reality in general.Hameed’s process of exploration led to the creation of the Ridhwan School and, with his colleague Karen Johnson, resulted in the founding and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach. He is the author of 20 books, including Nondual Love: Awakening to the Loving Nature of Reality, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened Heart, Keys to the Enneagram: How to Unlock the Highest Potential of Every Personality Type, The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence, and more. ---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 194 (Part 2 of 2) | Frank Ostaseski, Zen hospice pioneer, founder of the Metta Institute, and author of The Five Invitations, speaks with us about the profound wisdom and potential for transformation that is unleashed in the process of dying. “Suppose we imagine death as an unprecedented opportunity for transformation, he says, adding, “so why wait until we are dying?” In attending over a thousand people in hospice, Frank has often seen them experience a real sense of discovery in the dying process; there is a time of acceptance, a time of letting go, and then a deeper state of surrendering to something larger. The walls that prop up the self start tumbling down, Frank explains, and a larger connection emerges that is always there.Frank would like to see the process of dying brought out of the closet—shared about, learned from, and not reduced to a medical event. It’s important to meet death with don’t-know mind and trust the dying process to teach each of us what we need to know, he explains. And some of what we can do right now to open ourselves to the wisdom of death is pay attention to how we end things, and to how we love. This far reaching discussion delves gently into the divine mystery of death and dying, touching on radical acceptance, transcending self, don’t-know mind, everyday compassion and boundless compassion, grief as an expression of love, and creating rituals to mark this passage and all passages. We are left feeling unexpectedly comforted and liberated at the same time. Recorded December 5, 2024.“Grief is a way we continue to love someone… a natural response to the experience of love.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2What qualities do people need to be with the dying? (00:27) Boundless compassion needs everyday compassion (02:09)Don’t wait to tell people that you love them (03:55)Grief is a way we continue to love someone, a natural response to the experience of love (06:06)There are subtler experiences after surrender: tracking consciousness as the brain stops (06:38)Gratefulness and a deep sense of belonging to something larger (09:52)Cultivating don’t know mind; meeting dying with don’t know mind (12:47)Terminal lucidity (17:49)Practices we can do now: how do we meet endings? (19:54)Impermanence is not later; it’s in this very moment (22:35) Cultural changes Frank would like to see (26:15)Proximate karma (30:00)Better drugs than sedation: psychedelics could help us meet the profundity of the experience (30:37)Bathing the body after death: a wonderful tradition that can fundamentally shift our relation with death (33:45)Resources & References – Part 2Frank Ostaseski’s website: https://frankostaseski.com/Frank Ostaseski, The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living FullyMetta Institute, founded by Frank Ostaseski, to provide innovative programs and trainings that foster mindful & compassionate end-of-life careFrank Ostaseski, founding director of the San Francisco Zen Hospice Project (now Zen Caregiving Project)Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s MindElizabeth Kübler-Ross, On Death and DyingDeath Over Dinner.org: Let’s have dinner and talk about deathRam Dass, Frank Ostaseski, Joan Halifax, Stages of the Journey (audiobook)Bill Moyers PBS series, On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying---Frank Ostaseski is an internationally respected Buddhist teacher, visionary co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project, and founder of the Metta Institute. He has lectured at Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, leading corporations like Google and Apple Inc., and teaches at major spiritual centers around the globe. Frank is the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Humanities Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.Frank has accompanied over 1,000 people through the dying process and trained thousands of healthcare clinicians and family caregivers around the world. His groundbreaking work has been featured on the Bill Moyers PBS series On Our Own Terms, highlighted on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and honored by H.H. the Dalai Lama. He is the author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

In this conversation, Frank Ostaseski, a visionary Buddhist teacher and co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project, shares profound insights on death and dying. He emphasizes that dying can be a transformative experience, urging us to embrace death with openness rather than fear. Frank discusses the importance of rituals, compassion, and acceptance, revealing how these elements foster deeper connections and understanding of life’s fragility. His reflections provide comfort and encourage a broader dialogue on mortality, inviting us to learn from the dying process.

Ep. 192 (Part 2 of 2) | Professor Mark Fischler, constitutional law expert and co-host of the Integral Justice Warrior podcast, helps us make sense of what’s happening to our democracy, providing context—historical, legal, ethical—for the plethora of disturbing and destructive acts occurring on a daily basis in our political arena. The rule of law is under direct attack at this time, he explains, and an assault on democracy is essentially an assault on our most fundamental values—the principles this country was founded on: inclusivity, equality, and dignity for all. Mark clarifies President Trump’s political actions in the context of developmental stages, unpacks Project 2025, and discusses the assault on higher education and critical thinking and what it portends. The trajectory of where we are headed, Mark points out, is regressing into values we have already transcended. We need our democratic foundation to move to deeper, post-democratic levels that are reflective of greater levels of interconnection and inclusivity—not the opposite, he says. What will it take to change the regressive trajectory? Courage! And involvement. Thank you, Mark, for bringing a rare depth and much-needed clarity to the subject of the evolving democratic crisis occurring in our nation today and its implications for our future. Recorded June 12, 2025.“The assault on democracy we are experiencing is also an assault on a spiritual understanding of the deeper nature of our existence.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2The assault on higher education and critical thinking, continued (01:07) The idea of inherent capabilities of race is a slippery slope (02:33)Authoritarianism, the “authoritarian slide,” and the current administration (11:16)Do you cave if your livelihood is threatened or do you stand up for the values of your country? (14:12)The assault on democracy is an assault on our foundational spiritual values (19:26)The leftist postmodern approach to transgender issues & immigration created fodder for the movement towards authoritarianism (23:12)The importance of creating an educated citizenry (28:03)MLK’s four basic steps for nonviolent action (32:09)Take direct action only after you’ve entered into a purified state such as Jesus had on the cross (34:05)Prevent violence in protests, disable provocateurs (36:16)Resources & References – Part 2The Integral Justice Warrior series, co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVos (Integral Life website)Greg Thomas, CEO of the Jazz Leadership Project on the Deep Transformation podcast, From Race to Culture to Cosmos: Using the Dance of Our Differences to Wise Up, Harmonize, and ActualizeMartin Luther King Jr.’s last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” (YouTube video)Robb Smith, The Great Release: The Rise of Trump and the End of U.S. Hegemony (eBook available on Integral Life)Ivan Illich, Deschooling SocietyMartin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail---Mark Fischler is a professor of Ethics, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Procedure at Plymouth State University. Prior to joining the Plymouth State faculty, he practiced law, representing poor criminal defendants for the New Hampshire Public Defender’s Office. Mark left the law after being guided by the Universe to focus on his Spiritual Awareness for almost two years. Upon his return, he was called to become a teacher and accepted a job at Plymouth State in 2003. Since then, Mark has worked extensively with alternative theoretical models in law, constitutional law, and higher education, and has published on integral applications to teaching, being a lawyer, and legal theory. In his time at the university, he’s been a chair, Dean, and Interim VP. His focus in the classroom is ethics and criminal procedure and constitutional law. He is well respected for a teaching philosophy that emphasizes recognizing the humanity and dignity of each student. Professor Fischler was awarded the outstanding teaching award at his university in 2014. He currently offers a weekly Spiritual Inquiry class for college students.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Mark Fischler, a Professor of Ethics and Law, offers a stark analysis of America’s democratic erosion. He stresses that the rule of law is under siege, pointing to alarming political maneuvers and Project 2025’s threats to constitutional integrity. Exploring the intertwining of political influence and historical values, he urges a return to core ideals of inclusivity and justice. Fischler also critiques the role of Christian fundamentalism in current politics and the implications for higher education amid rising anti-racist tensions, highlighting the need for courage and involvement in safeguarding democracy.

A. H. Almaas, a spiritual teacher and founder of The Ridhwan School, explores the limitless realm of divine love. He shares his personal awakening to this profound experience and its impact on our perception of separateness. Discussing the obstacles that prevent access to this boundless love, he highlights how fear and ego can hinder spiritual growth. Almaas contrasts the light of love with darkness, revealing how love is intricately tied to individual purpose. The dialogue emphasizes the transformative power of love in fostering self-awareness and community connection.

A. H. Almaas, the founder of The Ridhwan School and author of spiritual works, dives into the boundless dimension of divine love. He explores how this form of love is a core aspect of our existence but often remains unmanifest. Almaas shares personal experiences that reveal the liberating yet challenging nature of accessing divine love. He discusses the obstacles of separateness and how they intensify after such an awakening. Throughout the conversation, the connection between love, consciousness, and the unity of all beings is profoundly examined.