IEC 2018 Roger Walsh: 10 STEPS OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE, THE SACRED SERVICE of KARMA YOGA

Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of continuous practice in personal growth, drawing from various traditions and emphasizing the need for a dedicated approach to life's activities. They introduce key steps for effective practice, including stopping before starting, dedicating actions to a higher purpose, setting intentions, and being mindful. The talk highlights the significance of recognizing and letting go of emotional reactions and attachments, suggesting that these practices can lead to both personal transformation and a more effective service to the world.

Takeaways

• 🤝 The speaker emphasizes the long-standing and profound friendship with Ken Wilber, highlighting the mutual respect and learning between them.
• 🧘‍♂️ The core discussion revolves around integral practice, which is about cleaning up, growing up, and waking up in line with integral theory.
• 🌟 Integralists are tasked with mastering integral theory, applying it in life, work, and service, and transforming themselves through continuous learning and growth.
• 🔥 The speaker humorously mentions that they discuss 'sex, drugs, and rock and roll' to illustrate the depth and breadth of their conversations with Ken Wilber.
• 🌱 The importance of continuous practice is underscored, drawing parallels to boiling water, where consistency leads to quicker transformation.
• 🕉 The speaker explores different types of yoga, including Bhakti, Raja, Jnana, and Karma, emphasizing Karma Yoga as a practice that integrates everyday life with spiritual growth.
• 📜 The Bhagavad Gita is mentioned as a classic text for Karma Yoga, outlining three core elements: offering actions to a higher purpose, performing actions impeccably, and letting go of attachment to outcomes.
• 🌟 The speaker shares 10 crucial steps for living life fully and practicing continuously, starting with stopping before beginning any major activity to be present.
• 💡 Setting intentions for activities is highlighted as a key step to align actions with higher purposes and personal growth.
• 🌱 The practice of mindfulness is discussed as essential for being aware of experiences and emotional reactions, which can lead to learning and growth.
• 🔗 The final step of practice involves reflecting on the activity and offering any benefits or insights gained to the welfare and awakening of all beings.

Q & A

What is the significance of the friendship between the speaker and Ken Wilber?

The speaker considers Ken Wilber as a mentor and their friendship is long-standing and profound. It is characterized by mutual respect and learning, with Ken sometimes referring to the speaker as his oldest friend, indicating the depth of their relationship and the influence they have on each other's thinking.

What is the integral challenge mentioned in the script?

The integral challenge mentioned is the practice of cleaning up, growing up, and waking up in ways that Ken Wilber has outlined as part of our human potential. It involves mastering integral theory, applying it in life, work, and service, and transforming oneself to the extent possible.

Why is continuous practice emphasized in the script?

Continuous practice is emphasized because it leads to quicker transformation, similar to boiling water on a stove. Consistent heat makes the water boil faster than intermittent heat. The script suggests that the same principle applies to personal growth and spiritual practice.

What are the four types of yoga mentioned in the script?

The four types of yoga mentioned are Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of the heart), Raja Yoga (the yoga of transformation and meditation), Jnana Yoga (the yoga of wisdom and discernment), and Karma Yoga (the yoga of action and service in the world).

What are the three core elements of Karma Yoga as described in the Bhagavad Gita?

The three core elements of Karma Yoga are: 1) Offering any major activity to a larger purpose, 2) Doing one's work or service as impeccably as possible, and 3) Letting go of attachment to the outcome while working fully and authentically.

What is the first step in living life as fully as possible according to the speaker?

The first step is to stop whatever you're doing before you begin a major activity, take a moment to stop and become as present as possible.

How does the speaker suggest dedicating a project or activity to a larger purpose?

The speaker suggests dedicating a project or activity to a larger purpose by offering it to a transpersonal ideal, such as God, the welfare and awakening of all beings, or any purpose larger than one's ego.

What is the importance of setting an intention before undertaking an activity?

Setting an intention before undertaking an activity is important because it aligns the activity with a larger purpose and provides a guiding principle for the engagement in that activity.

How does the speaker recommend dealing with emotional reactions during practice?

The speaker recommends being aware of emotional reactions, exploring them, and learning from them. This awareness allows for growth and waking up from the attachments and cravings that cause psychological pain.

What is the significance of psychological pain according to the script?

Psychological pain is significant because it serves as a feedback signal, indicating that there is something that needs attention. It points to attachments, cravings, or addictions that need to be addressed for personal growth.

How does the speaker suggest concluding an activity or service?

The speaker suggests concluding an activity or service by reflecting on what was learned, acknowledging any benefits or insights gained, and then intending to offer these benefits to everyone for the welfare and awakening of all.

What is the role of practice in addressing global crises according to the speaker?

Practice plays a crucial role in addressing global crises by helping individuals to clean up, grow up, and wake up, thus contributing to the healing of the underlying psychological, social, and cultural causes of these crises. It involves an integral approach where personal transformation and global service reinforce each other.