Gaia Community: Huy's Blog

Turn your Inspiration into Transformation

http://huylam.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:07:32 GMT

Hey Fellow Zaadzsters,

Have you ever been really inspired to change your life in some way, and then found it difficult to follow through? Maybe you've wanted to improve your diet, start meditating regularly, get more exercise, find a career that was better aligned with your ideals, or simply live a more conscious and compassionate life. The wanting is the easy part, huh?

What typically happens? We'll start to develop new habits, only to let them slide away once our lives get busier and our motivation wanes. So how come we can start with such great intentions, and yet not always be able to make it a reality? And more importantly, how can we translate our inspiration into actual transformation?

Well, I've been exploring this question for the last 15 years, and would like to share what I've discovered. I initially started down this path during my junior year in college. I was studying accounting at a small Jesuit university, and a typical fraternity guy, when I got immersed into a cultural phenomenon known as raving. Let's just say this totally shifted my ideas about who I was, and what life was all about...

I was living in Silicon Valley at the time (in the early 90's), and back then raves were still underground and very cool. (You had to know someone to get a flyer, then call a number on the day of the event, which would give you a map point location to go to, where you'd finally be led to some old warehouse where the rave was happening. Then the fun starts...)

And let's just say that raves were designed to give you a peak altered state in all 4 quadrants. So in the midst of the music, dancing, visuals, close friends, and surreal environment, my experience was one of boundless energy, pure joy, and radical freedom. I felt so alive, connected to the universe, and believed that literally anything was possible.

It was amazing to feel this every weekend but when I went back to school or work each week, I discovered that my ‘regular' life hadn't really changed. It was actually somewhat disappointing to know that so much more was possible, and yet not be able to live from that place. Can you feel me brothers and sisters, do you know what I'm talking about?

So what's the process that we might all share? It starts with an inspiration to change our lives in some way. For me it was initially through raving, but there are infinite ways from which we can get this inspiration. It may come from being on vacation, relaxing, and getting a fresh perspective on our lives - or while we're spending time in nature, feeling alive and connected to the earth. We may get it from reading a great book. Or, as often is the case, we have a peak experience at a workshop or retreat.

You glimpse a new possibility for yourself, and have an impulse to live from this expanded state. This experience comes and goes though. So you may start to make some changes, only to gradually revert to old patterns of being. The big question is how do you turn a temporary state that you experience, into a more permanent trait that you develop?

I certainly didn't know back then. I just knew that so much more was possible, and that I was inspired to learn new ways to engage my life. After my initial disappointment, I explored several options and decided to start practicing Shaolin Kung Fu. I'm an Asian dude, and always wanted to be like Bruce Lee when I was a kid, so it seemed like a good place to start... I started a Zen meditation practice as well - and also got into snowboarding, working out at the gym, developing a more conscious diet, and taking dance classes (hip hop & break dancing).

I enjoyed all of these activities and had fun learning new things, but after several years, I found that I wanted something more. Don't get me wrong, I loved being able to do a jumping spinning back kick, stay in a 3 minute head stand, and get big air on my snowboard. But I was still searching for something that could help me to better understand and integrate all of my experiences. At the time, I wasn't even sure exactly what I was looking for, but I certainly knew when I found it...

I can still remember it clearly; it was back in the summer of 2002 while I was on my sabbatical. I spent the year traveling, playing, deepening my practices, and exploring new ones. I also did a lot of reading, and it was during this time that I happen to pick up a copy of A Brief History of Everything, by Ken Wilber. When I read the book, I had a big ‘aha' experience. It was like I had all the pieces of a puzzle, and was finally shown the picture on the box. I could now clearly see how all the different parts of my life fit together.

Now that I'm much older and wiser (as you can see from my picture), I've learned to live my whole life as my practice, and can see how everything that I do is connected to everything else in my life.

What do I mean by that?

I don't see martial arts as just something that I do. A martial artist is part of who I am. And this part of me is brought into every aspect of my life. The same principles that I learn in Kung Fu - how to stay grounded in intense circumstances, focus and channel my energy, keep balanced, be flexible and stay present to what is arising in the moment - are also applied as I work, take care of my kids and relate with people in my life.

It works the other way as well. As I expand my mind at work, open my heart so that I have more to give to my kids and learn more about myself as I interact with others, I bring all of this into my martial arts practice. And the creativity that I access, as I make up new games to play with my kids, can also be channeled into creating new ideas for my work.

You get the picture...

I don't go to raves anymore, but I still occasionally experience a peak state and glimpse a deeper way to live... The difference is that I now understand clearly how I can bring that inspired energy into every aspect of my life.

What's the key that I've discovered? Ah, glad you asked. It's an ancient Chinese secret... no, not really. It's called Integral Life Practice which is based on Integral theory - the most comprehensive map of human development. ILP was developed by Ken Wilber and a team of experienced practitioners (including yours truly) to apply these insights into our daily lives.

If you are interested in learning more about how to develop or deepen your own ILP, please scroll down to the next post below, titled "Your Life is Your Practice".

Yours in service,

Huy

Tags: Integral Institute, Integral Life Practice, ILP Kit, inspiration, transformation, development, growth, ken wilber

Your Life is Your Practice

http://huylam.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:57:42 GMT

(This is a continuation of the post titled, "Turn Your Inspiration into Transformation" (above). I know, technically I entered this one first, but I figured it was easier to read from top down.)

Thanks for following the bread crumbs and now on with the story...

In my previous post, I discussed how we might have peak experiences that inspire us to grow, but then find it difficult to follow through. I then posed the question, how do you turn a temporary state that you experience, into a more permanent trait that you develop?

The answer is simple and challenging. In a word, practice. If we want to be a better golfer, musician, writer, triathlete or yogi, we need to practice these things. That's pretty obvious. But what if we want to live as our highest selves and act mindfully and compassionately in all areas of our lives? How do we know which practices will be most effective at helping us to actualize this?

The Integral Life Practice program was developed by using the Integral model to organize the many practices available to us today - east and west, ancient and modern - to help us answer this question.

Basically, ILP provides the framework for us to translate our inspiration to grow, into powerful practices that can lead to sustained transformation. The Integral Life Practice Kit was created so that anyone can take advantage of these insights - whether you are trying to bring more balance into your life, or you are exploring how to live at the leading edge of consciousness.

The ILP Kit focuses not only on one area of your life, but rather on the whole of it. It provides specific practices to engage the fundamental aspects of your being - body, mind, spirit and shadow, so that your life becomes your practice.

The ILP Kit can show you how to:

Increase your physical health and energy with the 3-Body Workout^TM, a daily practice that integrates strength training (physical body), energy practice (subtle body), and feeling to infinity (causal body).
Catalyze your spiritual growth with Big Mind^TM Meditation, a profound experience of your highest self and biggest heart, using an elegant integration of Zen and Western psychology.
Restore emotional balance and relational joy with the 3-2-1 Shadow Work Process^TM, a quick and powerful technique for revealing-and integrating-hidden or "shadow" aspects of yourself.
Provide mental clarity with the AQAL^TM Framework, the most comprehensive map of reality available. Allows you to take anything you're already doing and place it within a comprehensive framework that fully makes sense of it: a place for everything in your life!

To use a sports analogy, if you wanted to be a great basketball player, you would probably train in other areas as well. You might weight lift for increased strength, jog for increased endurance, and even practice a martial art for increased speed and focus. Cross training in these different areas can help you to be a better basketball player, then if you were to just play basketball all the time.

The ILP Kit uses this same concept to create a complete psycho-spiritual cross training approach that engages the four core aspects of your being. And since it's true that, wherever you go (or whatever you do), there you are... as you grow in depth and consciousness, it benefits every part of your life. This is the evolutionary process through which we turn our states into traits.

Back to school special... I remember that when I was a kid, I always hated hearing this because it meant that summer vacation was almost over... Well, let's see if we can create a nice happy feeling from this phrase now. Even though most of us may not be technically going to school anymore, we're all still in the school of life. And until we die (or may even after that), we always have the opportunity to learn and grow each day.

To make it even more enticing for you to explore how the ILP Kit can help you, we are pleased to offer a discount of $50 off. And now, for the first time, we are also excited to offer Ken Wilber's latest book, The Integral Vision, for free with the purchase of the ILP Kit. If you are new to Integral, this book is a great introduction. Order the ILP Kit now and receive the discount AND the free book.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about it:

"Philosopher, psychologist, and mystic Wilber delivers on the subtitle's far-reaching promise. . . . Chock full of handsome illustrations and spare, Zen-like diagrams and tables, Wilber's work here is still accessible and at times surprisingly practical. Some language spirals up majestically, recalling great Eastern texts. Reminiscent in spirit and watershed import of Ram Dass's Be Here Now, Wilber may well have created a popular classic for explorers on the frontiers of humanity."

Our mission is to help you to further awaken to who you truly are. We believe the ILP Kit has everything that you need to help you create you own ILP, and to live a more conscious and compassionate life. But if it doesn't work out for you, it can be returned for a full refund at anytime.

Make no mistake though; the ILP Kit will not change your life. Only you can change your life. The question is do you really want to? If you do, the ILP Kit is a valuable tool to help you along your path of growth and self discovery. Whether you are just starting, or already have been at it for years, the Integral Life Practice Kit will help you to take your practice to the next level. I hope you join us in this amazing journey.

Click here to order

Yours in service,

Huy

Tags: Integral Institute, Integral Life Practice, ILP Kit, inspiration, transformation, development, growth

Creating a new world together

http://huylam.gaia.com — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:48:38 GMT

Hello Friends,

I'd like to take this opportunity to share my perspective on what is happening at Integral Institute. I've been a member of Zaadz since the beginning, but this is the first post that I've made. This is partly due to being busy and partly due to being lazy... So I would like to thank everyone for their recent posts and interest in I-I that inspired me to write this. I would also like to apologize for the length, since it's now all coming out at once. :-)

First, a bit about me and how I got here. I've had the privilege, honor, and challenge of working with I-I for almost 4 years now in a variety of different capacities. I've been the CFO, COO, teacher at our seminars, and several other roles. I can't say that I've been perfect, but I've done my best to do whatever I can to help the organization develop and grow.

In this past 4 years, my wife and I also decided to start a family (we now have 2 kids - Sky & Shen) and buy/remodel our first house. So let's just say it's been a bit intense for a while now. You know the experience of looking at your to-do list of 10 top priority items for the day, and realizing you only have time to get like 3 or 4 actually done? Well, that's pretty much been the story of my life these past years. Thank god for practice.

But I wouldn't have it any other way, because I love it. All of it. I of course love my family. And I love all of the joy, chaos, turmoil, and opportunities for growth that I get working with I-I. I think I've always been a bit of an idealist who wants to help make the world a better place, but just never found something that inspired me enough to put all my energy into. That is, until I discovered Ken's books and I-I.

I still remember the feeling of when I first read Brief History of Everything, and so much became clear to me. It was almost like I had all the pieces to a puzzle, but didn't know what the picture was supposed to be. Then reading the book, it all just seemed to come together inside of me. I just felt more expanded, open, and able to take in more of the world - because now I could see how it all fit together. Everything just seemed to make sense to me.

One night I googled Ken, and discovered the I-I site. I read every word on that site, and stayed awake that night dreaming about the possibility of working at I-I. I didn't know Ken or anyone at I-I at the time, so I had no way of connecting. But I like to say that I was so inspired that I was able to access my good karma, because 6 months later I was sitting in Ken's loft, talking to him about his vision for I-I and how I could help.

Well, it's been quite a roller coaster ride since that time. And I'd say that the past few weeks have been the most ‘thrilling' yet. As most of you know, our CEO resigned, along with several other staff members. These events have spawned a variety of discussion around I-I, and generally speaking, it's pros and cons. I am choosing not to discuss any specific details from these circumstances. Rather, I'd like to share my perspective of what I feel is happening, from a more energetic level.

Sometimes at I-I, we like to say that, "we're helping to carve a new groove in the kosmos". I'm not sure if any of you have tried doing this, but it ain't easy... There is a lot of subtle resistance, in all 4 quadrants. At the same time, I can't imagine anything more worthwhile to be dedicated to. I feel extremely grateful that I have this opportunity to be an agent of evolution. And along with this, I feel that we bear a huge responsibility to do the best we can. Because we are not doing this just for ourselves, but for all of us.

For those of us that have chose/been chosen to play this particular part in the unfolding story of humanity, it feels like we are being purified for this role. A purification process involves purging out what no longer works, or is appropriate at the next level of growth. I spoke with my good friend, Brian Johnson, about this one night and he sent me this quote from Rumi: "This discipline and rough treatment are a furnace to extract the silver from the dross. This testing purifies the gold by boiling the scum away."

It feels to me like I-I, as an organization, is going through this process of purification. Just to be clear here, I am NOT inferring that people that left are scum. :-) Just the opposite, in fact. Some of the people that left were my best friends and closest colleagues at I-I, and I will miss them dearly. (Jeff, it's just not the same without you!) The ‘scum' are the parts in all of us that are contracted, shadow elements, aspects of our being that we've outgrown, need to let go and embrace a new way of being. And, as I'm sure most of you know, this is usually a painful process. But that's just life giving us the feedback we need to evolve.

There has been some talk of more transparency and inclusion. I hear that, and this is my personal move in that direction. I would also like to say that it is painful for me, and the staff at I-I, to know that some of you feel like we do not care about the community, or ignore intentionally. I/we feel like the community is what we are doing all of this for in the first place. And I acknowledge that we have not always taken the time to share with all of you what we are doing, and the process that we're going through. It's not that we don't care; it's just that we don't have the bandwidth. But more and more, we are seeing the importance of staying more connected. So we will do our best to explore new ways of communicating as we move forward on this Integral journey together.

Another thing we like to say at I-I is, "Integral is a real thing." What we mean by this is that Integral consciousness is real, and it's not necessary for Ken or I-I to be around for it to exist. Ken has brilliantly articulated the Integral vision, but it's alive in each and every one of us. So let's all work together, constructively, to help bring this gift to a world that desperately needs it.

In that spirit, I would ask that all of you in the wider Integral community continue to give us feedback and share your perspectives. It is all welcome. I would also ask that you consider your underlying motivation for doing so. What is the intention of the expression? All of our intentions, thoughts, actions, bring energy into the world. So let's all do our best to be conscious of what we're giving our energy towards building. I like the Michelangelo quote that FLOW uses, "criticize by creating".

As I sit here at 4:30am, writing this, I am starting to think about how my lack of sleep might come into play when I have to wake up in a few hours to take care of my kids... :-) In fact, over the past few years, I've had to consider how all the time I focus on I-I is time away from my family. What I came to realize is that working for I-I is the best way that I can see of giving my energy to something that can help create a world in which I want my kids to grow up in.

So a deep bow to all of you for being a part of creating this new world.

With love,

Huy

Tags: Integral Institute