Posts Tagged ‘spiritual growth’
SPIRITUAL GROWTH AS PROCESS AND GOAL
In the processes of transformative communication and personal development, it is important to aim our efforts at the ultimate goal of human life, namely, spiritual growth and understanding. Many choose to learn and master the principles of conscious living in order to increase sales, create more intimacy, or experience better communication at work. However, if we understand that improving in these areas only creates happiness when it supports our understanding of the ultimate goal of life, spiritual growth, than the process of self-realization becomes profoundly more satisfying.
When I think back on my Satvatove experience over the past year “spiritual growth” is the phrase that comes to me the most strongly, although I did not attend to attain this. I went to the seminars because I saw so many of the people in my life enjoying the benefits I mentioned. For example, at least three of my friends participated and were able to quit their day jobs to build a brand and business around their passions. This was very attractive to me. I went to the workshops and was able to do the same thing. The Foundational Seminar supported my ability to communicate to be understood, as well as become a more empathic listener, both skills being essential to achieving my career goal. The Advanced Course helped me let go of everything that was in the way of me believing in myself to live a fully expressive, empowered life. And so, upon the completion of these two courses, I set out to create what I felt I was meant to, a book and a series class assisting those affected by specific types of trauma to overcome the effects and live the life they are meant to.
In order to “live the life we are meant to” it is essential to inquire into the nature of who we are and why we are here. Realizing this, simply knowing that I could achieve my material and career goals, while thrilling at first, became mildly dissatisfying. And while I felt very accomplished, I also wondered if I was really serving anyone by helping them overcome their life challenges without taking these two major questions relating to spiritual growth into account. After all, on the material level, I was now experiencing the full manifestation of what I always thought my life purpose was, to help others overcome trauma. I realized that without situating personal growth in the context of spiritual growth, the work I was doing was interesting only to an extent. Helping those attending my classes and reading my writing to understand their spiritual nature and identity became the new challenge. And it is a work in progress. But as the saying goes, if we don’t know where we are going, we probably won’t get there. I do know that spiritual growth as process, and as goal, creates the personal development experience as a much more enlivening endeavor.
THE SATVATOVE EXPERIENCE
Satvatove Institute, based out of Alachua, FL, offers groundbreaking personal development and spiritually based transformative communication seminars across the globe. Visit us at www.satvatove.com and find out more about our seminars, life mastery programs, and coach training school.
PREACH THE GOSPEL
St. Francis said “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words”. Hear Dr. David Wolf coach a caller, referencing St. Francis’ quote with respect to living our principles, living on purpose, spiritual growth and sharing our gifts in a life of full expression. Listen to this edition of The Satvatove Radio Show, and discover the key to self-confidence and the vital importance of personal association and sound vibration in living a conscious life.
SATVATOVE RADIO SHOW- July 20, 2011
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THE YOGA OF COMMUNICATION
Hear Marie share about how her experience of transformative communication transformed her relationship with her father, and the difference this made for him towards the end of his lifespan. Also listen to this edition of the Satvatove Radio Show and discover the inherent connection between yoga and high-level communication, as David responds to a write-in participant about the characteristics of communication and questions geared for self-awareness and spiritual growth.
SATVATOVE RADIO SHOW- July 06, 2011
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CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE RESULT & DETACHMENT FROM THE OUTCOME
Excerpt from group coaching correspondence with Dr David B. Wolf:
B: How are we to have consciousness in the result yet not be attached to the outcome?
D: By being focused on the result, and not how you will achieve said result, while remembering that if you achieve the result, you will be happy and fulfilled because you succeeded, and if you do not achieve the result, you will also be happy and fulfilled because you learned or will learn a valuable lesson from not succeeding, therefore Being happy and fulfilled either way 
David B. Wolf: I’m enlivened by B’s question, and D’s response. The question for me points to the heart of the process of self-realization, of spiritual growth- to cultivate caring and determined non-attachment. “Non-attachment” doesn’t mean apathy, or callousness. With our consciousness in the result we are fully committed, giving 100%. Simultaneously, as D describes, our experience of our essential qualities is not dependent on any particular external result. Such a consciousness illuminates the distinction between commitment, and attachment. We might mistakenly think that the more committed I am, the more attached I must be. Actually, being emotionally attached to a result, which is different than utilizing emotion to inspire us in giving fully, tends to get in the way of fully committing all our resources and energies towards our intended goal.
FOUR THREE FOUR FOUR
Signals before the snap? A chord progression?
No- it’s a definition of the material context. If you’re reading this you’re probably a human being- within the material context. Thus, we can consider Four Three Four Four to be the human context, our context for spiritual growth.
Four- old age, disease, death, and birth.
Three- refers to disturbances from others (whether mosquitoes, neighbors, or government representatives, to name a few possibilities), natural disturbances, and disturbances from our own body and mind.
Four- This refers to intrinsic shortcomings of human nature. These include inherent limitations, and the tendencies to be in illusion, to make mistakes, and to cheat.
All of the readers (perhaps even the author?) of this article have cheated in various ways. For example, we’ve all stolen (yes, “we” includes you). And consider scenarios such as the customer thinking “I’m getting this for so little”, while the seller is thinking “I’m selling him rubbish and making such a profit.”
It’s dark and shadowy. Just a few feet in front of me, it’s a snake! No. It’s just a piece of rope. That’s illusion. Also it’s a form of illusion to confuse the body with the self. If I’m thinking “I am white”, I am black”, “I am fat”, “I am thin”, “I am American”, “I am German”- these are all indicative of our tendency to be in illusion, removed from spiritual growth. Our actual identity is no more connected to these bodily designations than it is to designations related to the car we drive- e.g., “I am four-door”, “I am two-door”, “I’m a mid-size Japanese SUV”. Metaphorically, we are the driver of the car. It’s easy to slip into illusion about the very nature of who we are, without even knowing that we’ve done so. As Soren Kierkegaard stated “The greatest danger, that of losing one’s own self, may pass off quietly as if it were nothing; every other loss, that of an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc., is sure to be noticed.”
To err is human. Pressing that “send” button too quickly, lack of discretion with that aggressive investment, a foolhardy romantic adventure- we can make a long list of varieties of mistakes. The same is true for limitations. We can’t see what’s happening directly behind us, or hear frequencies beyond a certain range.
Four- Eating, sleeping, mating and defending. These propensities are common to all living entities within the material context. Some may eat off the ground, and others in an upscale restaurant. Some may defend with claws, others with thermonuclear devices, or sophisticated rationalizations.
Resisting the human context is the source of much suffering and against spiritual growth. Naturally we may endeavor to delay, reduce, or alleviate consequences and symptoms of these fifteen elements. That’s different than resisting the fact that they are inherent to our existence. For example, we of course make efforts to decrease the frequency and severity of our mistakes. Resisting the reality that mistakes are inherent to human nature, though, can result in unnecessary shame and guilt, or hurt, resentment and hostility. Naturally we strive for healthy living to minimize the occurrence and effects of disease and old age. Denying their inevitable reality, however, might be the cause of excessive anxiety, or debilitating depression, and hindering our spiritual growth.
How are we responding to the human context? Are we trying to avoid it, to escape the pain of it? To what extent are we consciously responding to its various features with a sense of purpose? Embracing the fifteen factors as integral to the human experience opens the possibility of utilizing the material condition in the service of self-awareness, of realization that we’re the driver of the car, supporting our spiritual growth. We get to consider how the material context provides a complete arrangement for our process of spiritual growth.
Endeavors to achieve fulfillment, contentment and security within the material context are ultimately futile. We’re eternal beings, and can’t be satisfied with temporary gratifications, any more than a fish can be happy outside of water, whatever amenities the land may offer. Four Three Four Four affects only the material aspect of the human being. Cultivating genuine (as opposed to pretentious) spiritual consciousness, spiritual growth, allows us to transcend miseries inherent to the material condition, and be like the lotus, in the water, though untouched by it. This lotuslike state of being is the foundation for enduring happiness and well-being, not dependent on the fluctuations of the fifteen components of the material context.
THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION
Hear Dr. David Wolf discuss with several callers about what actually works for achieving spiritual growth and self-realization. Understand the metaphors of the garden of the heart, and the “poison girl”, and integrate principles and practices for conscious living and steadily living from your spiritual identity. Gain understanding of the principle of time and circumstance, to create a grounded and practical approach to your spiritual life.
Relationships That Work Radio Show September 29th, 2010
THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION-Radio Show Sept. 29
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FROM BRAJARANI DASI
“Participating in the Satvatove programs has brought into my life such profound awareness for my personal/spiritual growth that I did not imagine possible in such a short span of time. I also received very useful and practical tools and skills for life. My experience of the Satvatove programs is that it penetrates to the level of the soul helping cut through the conditioning that blocked me from experiencing the real immense joy of connecting with my soul’s original constitution. I believe that the potency of these programs to create such a depth of transformation in people is due to the profound spiritual principles it is based on and exemplified by the Satvatove coaches/facilitators. I wish every human being the opportunity to experience these programs and to find fulfillment in their journey of personal/spiritual transformation.”
Brajarani dasi
Satvatove Gainesville, January 2010
Stan Rousonelos
The Foundational experience was truly amazing…It was an unfolding process that brought me a new comfort and sense of peace which came from a higher place. . .
Attitude of Gratitude
Towards the end of December we held a Satvatove appreciation dinner here in North Florida, where, since 1999 there have been 25 Foundational Seminars, 14 Advanced Seminars, 8 Life Mastery Programs, and dozens of workshops and other Satvatove adventures. In attendance were about 20 Satvatove graduates who have contributed in special ways to sharing and expanding the impact of the Satvatove experience. Tears flowed. Laughter abounded. It was a memorably sweet experience, fulfilling in every respect- emotionally, spiritually, and gastronomically- as Dave cooked and we all stuffed ourselves beyond reasonable limits.
The special contributions represented at the dinner were quite diverse, covering areas such as accounting, video production, staffing, Satvatove Summit cruise organization, and assistance with room set-up for seminars. Reflecting on the past year I am moved to especially recognize those who took a stand and created a Satvatove seminar. Sometimes we say that if twenty people are interested and excited about a course happening in a particular locality- the course doesn’t happen. However, if one person has clear intention- “This course will happen”- then the seminar manifests. And of course, then the other 10, 20 or 30 who are enthusiastic contribute and synergize, around the one whose commitment is unshakable.
Sanya, Annette and Peter moved mountains in Switzerland to organize two combined Foundational/Advanced Seminars in 2009. This was the fourth set of Satvatove seminars organized by Sanya since 2006, and my heartfelt appreciation goes to her for these prodigious efforts. There has been a resurgence in Satvatove spirit in North Florida, and Lacey is the main reason for this. Our gratitude goes to Lacey for organizing the Foundational in March, 2009, and fully energizing the other courses in North Florida with the many workshops she has arranged, her caring heart and her unstoppable determination. Breaking new ground (or perhaps, ice) were Tina and Krista. Tina refused to acknowledge any obstacles and organized a Foundational in Edmonton in February (-30 F in the sun), and Krista transcended all limitations in creating the Satvatove Foundational in Petersboro, Ontario. Bringing together international forces, Sanaka manifested an unforgettable spiritual, transformative experience in Vrndavana, India, in November. And special thanks to Govinda Syer for arranging for pervasive Satvatove presence, including several workshops and presentations, at the mela in Los Angeles, and for his ongoing, active support for the programs of Satvatove for the past decade.
