Comments for Empathetics: Integral Life http://empathetics.org (Read at your own peril) Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:31:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Delfest, Participatory Culture, and Life as Data by Rafi Santo http://empathetics.org/2010/06/01/delfest/#comment-75 Rafi Santo Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:31:28 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=548#comment-75 I definitely hear you on the false dichotomy between intellectualizing and being alive, just as I don't believe that it's impossible to be both planning for the future and be present in the moment. Turtles all the way down, indeed (this is a *huge* theme in mindfulness meditation). I was actually expressing a little consternation and perhaps curiosity not at the prospect of moving from "non-intellectualizing" life to "intellectualizing" it (pretty much not a question that I usually fall in the latter category), but rather at the idea of moving from cultivating a broad ranging holistic (integral) paradigm for all subjects and phenomena to now applying that holistic approach to a narrower set questions. (Which is basically what I'm coming to grad school to do.) I definitely hear you on the false dichotomy between intellectualizing and being alive, just as I don’t believe that it’s impossible to be both planning for the future and be present in the moment. Turtles all the way down, indeed (this is a *huge* theme in mindfulness meditation).

I was actually expressing a little consternation and perhaps curiosity not at the prospect of moving from “non-intellectualizing” life to “intellectualizing” it (pretty much not a question that I usually fall in the latter category), but rather at the idea of moving from cultivating a broad ranging holistic (integral) paradigm for all subjects and phenomena to now applying that holistic approach to a narrower set questions. (Which is basically what I’m coming to grad school to do.)

]]> Comment on Delfest, Participatory Culture, and Life as Data by Jenna McWilliams http://empathetics.org/2010/06/01/delfest/#comment-74 Jenna McWilliams Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:06:25 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=548#comment-74 I absolutely sympathize with the ideas you present here, though I think there's this strange tendency in our culture to treat "intellectualizing" as somehow separate from the work of being alive. Thinking IS experience, as long as it doesn't get in the way of other thinking experiences--in other words, thinking ABOUT Delfest while being AT Delfest is an experience in its own right, just like simply being AT Delfest is an experience. It's turtles all the way down, is what I guess I'm trying to say. I also want to point out that a region of this country that has a vibrant bluegrass culture is Southeast Indiana, which is smackdab in between Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis. That is all. I absolutely sympathize with the ideas you present here, though I think there’s this strange tendency in our culture to treat “intellectualizing” as somehow separate from the work of being alive. Thinking IS experience, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of other thinking experiences–in other words, thinking ABOUT Delfest while being AT Delfest is an experience in its own right, just like simply being AT Delfest is an experience. It’s turtles all the way down, is what I guess I’m trying to say.

I also want to point out that a region of this country that has a vibrant bluegrass culture is Southeast Indiana, which is smackdab in between Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis. That is all.

]]> Comment on What is “Integral Life”? by Delfest, Participatory Culture, and Life as Data « Empathetics: Integral Life http://empathetics.org/2008/12/09/what-is-integral-life/#comment-73 Delfest, Participatory Culture, and Life as Data « Empathetics: Integral Life Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:00:42 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=107#comment-73 [...] what the edges are to look out for when doing this strange exercise while still trying to live an integral life, one viewed through many lenses and that acknowledges the limitations of a singular viewpoint. [...] [...] what the edges are to look out for when doing this strange exercise while still trying to live an integral life, one viewed through many lenses and that acknowledges the limitations of a singular viewpoint. [...]

]]> Comment on Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation by rikomatic http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-56 rikomatic Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:29:41 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-56 So amazing to see Rafi and his fellow Interdependence Project folks doing their thing in such a public way. As a Quaker, we wrestle how to make our own ways and concerns known to a broader public. We have a weekly outdoor Quaker meeting for peace that meets at the Washington Square Arch, with I think some signage and flyers. I don't really know the effect of that kind of action. But quite similar to this effort. Everyone deserves the opportunity in the public sphere to be exposed to other ways of thinking, feeling and being. That's really the highest purpose of the public commons, now that I think of it. I'm sure you touched hundreds of people. Excellent job, to all involved! So amazing to see Rafi and his fellow Interdependence Project folks doing their thing in such a public way. As a Quaker, we wrestle how to make our own ways and concerns known to a broader public. We have a weekly outdoor Quaker meeting for peace that meets at the Washington Square Arch, with I think some signage and flyers. I don’t really know the effect of that kind of action. But quite similar to this effort.

Everyone deserves the opportunity in the public sphere to be exposed to other ways of thinking, feeling and being. That’s really the highest purpose of the public commons, now that I think of it. I’m sure you touched hundreds of people.

Excellent job, to all involved!

]]> Comment on Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation by Rafi Santo http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-55 Rafi Santo Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:31:53 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-55 Thanks so much Debbie, I think it's really interesting to hear what the perspectives were on both sides of the glass. I also know that internally I wasn't always peaceful (lots of knee pain, egads!), but that that almost didn't matter. The act of sitting can communicate a message of peace regardless of what's inside. Thanks so much Debbie, I think it’s really interesting to hear what the perspectives were on both sides of the glass. I also know that internally I wasn’t always peaceful (lots of knee pain, egads!), but that that almost didn’t matter. The act of sitting can communicate a message of peace regardless of what’s inside.

]]> Comment on Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation by Rafi Santo http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-54 Rafi Santo Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:26:51 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-54 I occasionally meditate on the train too, so it's good to hear that others practice in that space. I think that there's an interesting balance in considering the idea of being public with one's meditation practice. When we sat this past weekend, there was an active intention to raise awareness, and, by virtue of how we did that, it wasn't actually the most conducive environment for developing mindfulness and concentration. It was good for our purpose though of making a statement. I think it's possible to do both, but not always necessary. And Nick, it is super interesting to be playing with these dichotomies. I think that the event really put many of them in the forefront, which is why it was interesting both for the participants and for the observers. (Decide who was which for yourself!) I also really enjoyed that we played with the line of consumerism, by committing an act that is at its core often about renunciation, but did it in a storefront window. I occasionally meditate on the train too, so it’s good to hear that others practice in that space. I think that there’s an interesting balance in considering the idea of being public with one’s meditation practice. When we sat this past weekend, there was an active intention to raise awareness, and, by virtue of how we did that, it wasn’t actually the most conducive environment for developing mindfulness and concentration. It was good for our purpose though of making a statement. I think it’s possible to do both, but not always necessary.

And Nick, it is super interesting to be playing with these dichotomies. I think that the event really put many of them in the forefront, which is why it was interesting both for the participants and for the observers. (Decide who was which for yourself!) I also really enjoyed that we played with the line of consumerism, by committing an act that is at its core often about renunciation, but did it in a storefront window.

]]> Comment on Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation by Debbie http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-53 Debbie Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:27:51 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-53 From my last posting on my flickr photo of this event: Interestingly, from my point of view, I saw everyone walking past, walking quickly, talking, laughing, traffic noises, wind on my face and inside the windows, all was still and quiet. There was such a sense of unity and peace behind the glass that I was envious of what you were all feeling. On the outside, we were all moving in different directions but inside you were all one, breathing together, sharing the stillness, being purely in the moment. I go to the city all the time and seldom stop to look at anything but I stopped and looked for quite some time. I really think you sent a very strong message, apart from the bloodshed at Darfur, your silence said a great deal about humanity in general. From my last posting on my flickr photo of this event:

Interestingly, from my point of view, I saw everyone walking past, walking quickly, talking, laughing, traffic noises, wind on my face and inside the windows, all was still and quiet. There was such a sense of unity and peace behind the glass that I was envious of what you were all feeling. On the outside, we were all moving in different directions but inside you were all one, breathing together, sharing the stillness, being purely in the moment.

I go to the city all the time and seldom stop to look at anything but I stopped and looked for quite some time. I really think you sent a very strong message, apart from the bloodshed at Darfur, your silence said a great deal about humanity in general.

]]> Comment on Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation by Nick http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-52 Nick Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:17:58 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-52 Way to go Rafi and IDP! I look forward to seeing the many possibilities inherent in this synthesis of public meditation and activism unfold in the future. I think there is a lot of potential for dissolving rigidly conceptualized and implemented notions of private/public, spiritual/political, passive/active, effective/ineffective, etc. that is opened up by activities like this. Public/Collective spiritual practice is one of our next frontiers to explore and map out! Way to go Rafi and IDP!

I look forward to seeing the many possibilities inherent in this synthesis of public meditation and activism unfold in the future. I think there is a lot of potential for dissolving rigidly conceptualized and implemented notions of private/public, spiritual/political, passive/active, effective/ineffective, etc. that is opened up by activities like this. Public/Collective spiritual practice is one of our next frontiers to explore and map out!

]]> Comment on Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation by buddhatrain http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-50 buddhatrain Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:50:14 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-50 What a fascinating experiment! I meditate in public on my commute to and from Manhattan everyday, but I don't know if anybody even knows that I am meditating. They many think I am sleeping, but I am a little too erect for that. In almost 4 years nobody has ever asked me about it. You have me wondering if I should make it more obvious what I am doing. I am going to check out the interdepedence project. Thank you. What a fascinating experiment! I meditate in public on my commute to and from Manhattan everyday, but I don’t know if anybody even knows that I am meditating. They many think I am sleeping, but I am a little too erect for that. In almost 4 years nobody has ever asked me about it. You have me wondering if I should make it more obvious what I am doing. I am going to check out the interdepedence project. Thank you.

]]> Comment on Support me to Sit Down, Rise Up by rikomatic http://empathetics.org/2009/09/11/support-me-to-sit-down-rise-up/#comment-37 rikomatic Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:28:41 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=374#comment-37 great initiative, dude. good luck with this and happy sitting! great initiative, dude. good luck with this and happy sitting!

]]>