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Throughout history, the great questions have been asked, and great research has been undertaken, always expanding the territory of the known by shining a light into the unknown. Where is that cutting edge today? And can a community of people from all over the world, each carrying their own unique journey of discovery, come together to inquire at the edge of purposeful evolution, through dialogue and interaction? We think it is possible, and we hope that you will choose to be a part of this exploration.
If we hold to the idea of a higher power, or view creation as a top-down process that, through energetic laws, guides the outplay of physical matter in its unfolding, we might view our spiritual journey as one that incorporates, within each of us as individuals, the higher processes that the universe itself adheres to. These are natural to us, but we have gotten away from the conscious awareness of how this works.
Peter Barry: If you think about it, the universe unfolds according to certain laws, and everything that unfolds will hit a law and then it will unfold according to that law.
And we can be the same, I think. Because if we, through practice and intention, put patterns in ourselves that will kick in in any given situation - so a circumstance, or a relationship, or any kind of moment in life where we have natural psychologies that play out - and those kick in - we can rewrite those and rewire those through our conscious intention.
And so I think that allows us to make a different kind of participation in how we move into the future.
Aviv Shahar: The first thing you are stating is that we have each developed, through our upbringing and experiences in adult life, a map of meaning with which we navigate our experiences in the world. And that, within that, there are various patterns, or clusters of meaning that almost operate as a semiconscious, autopilot operating system.
And then you're saying, within that, there are more high-level, sophisticated concepts and ideas, and motivations, that shape and enable us to choose to do what we choose to do, and where we choose to focus and apply our energy and our attention.
If I were to emulate a process of the universe - that it loves diversity - so that I can always look at things in a diverse way, a multiple way, rather than in a very specific, focused way. And if I internalize that into myself, then not only am I echoing universal process in me, but I'm also spiritualizing my everyday life. Because I think those are simultaneous: If I'm in alignment with the ways of the universe, I'm also living a spiritual life - because that's a spiritual idea.
Peter Barry
I don't think I can remember a time when I wasn't asking, Why am I here? Or wondering, What is the purpose of life? Seeking not so much to simply solve the mystery, but rather to find the settlement that comes from knowing one's place, and finding one's home, in this great unfolding.
Perhaps, then, one can become part of the living process, which sets one free to go out into the world and discover what is new, what is needed, and ask the question: How can I help?
Aviv Shahar
Aviv is the Founder of Aviv Consulting, helping leaders unleash strategic innovation, and is the author of Create New Futures: How Leaders Produce Breakthroughs and Transform the World Through Conversation.
