Spiritual Mind » Spiritual Thinkers

The Singularity Debate

Alex — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:53:46 +0000

Fascinating discussion on Singularity, the Brain and Consciousness. Enjoy!

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave (in claymation)

Alex — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:57:31 +0000

Very short interesting 3 minute vid illustrating Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

From Wikipedia:

Plato imagines a group of people who have lived chained in a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Plato, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to seeing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall are not constitutive of reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners.

WATCH VIDEO:

Wayne Dyer Biography | From Orphan to Guru

Alex — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:49:41 +0000

Wayne Dyer Biography

He is one of my favs, so its fitting that the first official mini biography be his.

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”
– Wayne Dyer

Spiritual and motivational leader Wayne Dyer is perhaps best known (to anyone over the age of 40) for his work Your Erroneous Zones, the top-selling book of the 1970s (35 million copies, which I’d heard was just ahead of the Bible in sales for that decade.)

This photo screams one thing... sober credibility! Hmm.

He’s written over 30 books and has appeared on Oprah, The Tonight Show and thousands of other programs. Most recently he can be seen as a regular guest on Ellen.

Much of his earlier work was focused solely on more traditional self-improvement, but switched in the 1990s to areas of self-actualization (with a touch of New Agey-ness).

In fact, his books Manifest Your Destiny (1997) and The Power of Intention (2004) seem to have set in motion the extreme popularization of “manifestation” in the 2000s, which ultimately culminated with The Secret and the plethora of other knock-offs that followed. Wayne himself had been asked to participate in The Secret movie but turned it down over what seemed to him as watered down theories and superficiality.

Wayne Dyer Early Years

“Everything is perfect in the universe – even your desire to improve it.”
– Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer, was born to Melvin Lyle and Hazel Dyer, on May 10, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan. His childhood was pretty difficult, having spent the first ten years of his life in and out of different Detroit orphanages and foster homes.

Wayne is the youngest of three brothers, who along with their mother were abandoned by their father. Melvin was an abusive alcoholic who had done prison time, and was not much of a part of the family’s life. In fact, Wayne never formally met his father. Melvin ended up passing away in the early 1970s, just before Wayne had begun to express interest in meeting him.

(You can listen hear to an interview Wayne did with Tony Robbins is the early 90s where among other things he talks about his search for his father and how he made his first book a bestseller.) PART 1 & PART 2

As a young mother, Hazel could not support Wayne and his brothers, and was forced to enter her children into foster care until she could get on her feet.

She worked as a candy girl for $17 a week, and it took her quite a few years before she could reunite the family. Wayne was ten years old by the time she regained custody.

He’s repeatedly cited these difficult years as being hugely formative in terms of his spirit and resilience, and that it helped him become a better teacher of how to overcome adversity.

Wayne Dyer Professional Background

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”
–Wayne Dyer

Wayne joined the Navy in his late teens, served 4 years and then enrolled at (coincidentally) Wayne State University. At age 25, he started his professional career as a high school guidance counselor. Six years later, after receiving his doctorate in education, he became a professor at St. John’s University in New York. He was on his way to a traditional academic career publishing articles in trade journals and building a thriving counseling practice, but his life started to take a different direction.

He found that his talks on self-improvement we’re growing steadily in popularity. These talks ultimately led to the publishing of Your Erroneous Zones. So he decided to leave St. John’s (even after being offered tenure), and devote himself full-time to being an author. But the book was not an instant bestseller. In fact, the first printing run was only 3000 copies… all of which he bought himself.

With Erroneous Zones not selling, he spent the next year on the road promoting the book from town to town, going on local radio shows, convincing small bookstores to carry it. He would even make multiple calls to the same bookstore pretending to be customers asking about the book (using fake foreign accents each time of course – LOL).

By the time he reached the West Coast, he had already pushed the book using sweat and tears to the N.Y. Times bestseller list, but he really hit it big when he ended up on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with 3 straight appearances in one week. That kind of exposure propelled him (and the book) to superstar status, and officially launched him into cultural consciousness.

Since then he’s been on a tear, each year releasing new books, audio-programs and lectures on PBS based on his teachings and philosophy.

Bill Hicks On Religion

Alex — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:48:12 +0000

Funny short bit from one of the all-time greats Bill Hicks. I’d heard Ron Howard is planning a biopic about Hicks, and his casting choice for the lead…you guessed it… Russell Crowe.

Watch it here

Dalai Lama Interview | Charlie Rose

Alex — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:26:56 +0000

The Dalai Lama hour-long interview with Charlie Rose. The first 8 minutes or so has snippets from a Washington D.C. science conference he spoke at (as well as some bits from interviews with Richard Gere and Robert Thurman)

Tenzin Gyatso, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama – here’s his wikipedia page.

Mandela Day | A Call to Action to Change the World

Alex — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:54:06 +0000

What is Mandela Day

The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664 are trying to get Nelson Mandela’s birthday, July 18, officially declared Mandela Day. It’s purpose is to inspire people to volunteer in their communities, and draw attention to the fact that one person can in fact make a difference in the world. (Obviously, its also a celebration of the life and work of the man himself.)

If you stop to think about it, it is pretty incredible what the guy’s achieved. Not only did he help South Africa overthrow apartheid, but he has been an inspiration to millions.

Visit the Mandela Day site at www.mandeladay.com.

About Nelson Mandela (mini-bio from the Mandela Day site):

Born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa, Nelson Mandela has devoted his life to peacefully fighting for freedom and social justice for all.

After 27 years as prisoner 46664 under the then-Apartheid government in South Africa, Mr Mandela emerged to reconcile with his oppressors and lead the country peacefully through its transition from a 46-year era of segregation.

Mr Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with then president Frederik Willem de Klerk in 1993. In 1994, Mr Mandela was elected as the first president of a democratic South Africa. Over the course of the years, he has been awarded more than 60 humanitarian awards from around the world.

Mr Mandela’s life personifies the idea that one person has the power to make a difference and leave their unique imprint on the world.

Interview with Nelson Mandela from 1961

Mandela released from prison in 1990 (BBC)

Peace Pilgrim: An American Sage Who Walked Her Talk (video)

Alex — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:21:32 +0000

Peace Pilgrim (aka Mildred Lisette Norman) was a very unique woman. Starting in 1953 she continuously walked across America for 28 years (and over 25,000 miles), all with the purpose of spreading the message of… peace.

Ironically, this model woman who preached peace, love and understanding was originally from South Jersey (so obviously not the usual Housewife of New Jersey.)

She is also the author of Steps Toward Inner Peace.

Here is a very nice documentary (about 60 min) about her life and work. Enjoy!

Wayne Dyer | The Power of Intention

Alex — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:36:08 +0000

A few years ago, Dr. Wayne Dyer (a bestselling author who is also known as “the father of motivation”) had a program on PBS entitled the Power of Intention.

I’m a fan of his work, as are millions of people.

The gist of the program (and the book with the same title), is that there is an energy in the Universe that we can tap into, that can help better our lives and help us manifest our deepest desires.

He uses terms like energy, manifestation and law of attraction. Sound familiar? They should, The Secret used the same terminology two years year later when it came out.

This program is NOT The Secret. The Power of Intention has a softer touch and is a lot more subtle. Also, Wayne is a funny, self deprecating guy. The humor alone makes it well worth a watch.

PART 1 – 73 minutes

PART 2 – 61 minutes

Terence McKenna | Culture is Your Operating System

Alex — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:21:16 +0000

Terence McKenna was a writer and philosopher whose main area of focus was the study of the origin of human consciousness.

McKenna became a popular (yet controversial) counterculture figure in the 80s and 90s. The controversy stemmed both from his theories (the most famous being the “Stoned Aped Theory” – see video below.), and his exploration of altered states and endorsement of psychedelic drugs.

Here is are two short videos that cover some of his ideas:

Culture is Your Operating System (8 minutes)

Terence McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory (as explained by comedian Joe Rogan). This is actually pretty hilarious! This one is about 4 minutes.

Terence McKenna bio on Wikipedia.

Muhammad Legacy of a Prophet (PBS Documentary)

Alex — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:00:55 +0000

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION:

Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet tells the story of a seventh century prophet who changed world history in 23 years, and continues to shape the lives of more than 1.2 billion people. Three years in the making, the film takes viewers not only to ancient Middle Eastern sites where Muhammad’s story unfolds, but into the homes, mosques and workplaces of some of America’s estimated seven million Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow Muhammad’s example.