Teleseminar Secrets Again

I met Alex Mandossian in October of last year when I signed up for his Teleseminar course. I met him a couple of times after that and was struck by a quality that I have noticed with only a very few people.

I noticed it with the Dalai Lama on the several occasions I have spent time with him both in the US and in India at his home in Dharmsala. The word that comes to mind in ‘congruent’. But it is something more.

I understand congruence to mean that someone is living their values. They are doing what they love, they are making the best use of their time. There is generosity there, and joy too. Their values direct them towards growth rather than containment, exploration rather than conformity, questions rather than answers. They are doing what they love best and what they love best is to be of the greatest possible benefit to the greatest number of people.

Strange perhaps that two people of two such different backgrounds should have such a similar essence to them. I only count myself fortunate to have such mentors and teachers in my life.

Where do Social Activism, Entrepreneurship, and Buddhist Practice come together?

The answer is: at Manzanita Village.

If it seems strange to you that such things can coexist it may be because you hold certain limiting beliefs about what any of those three things really are.

After the retreat that finished today (we are calling it an 'Advance' rather than a Retreat) it seems clear that to effect change in the world we must collectively move beyond divisiveness, and learn all we can from each other.

What Doesn't Work
- activism that holds to a singular social analysis,
that fosters resentment,
or makes others ‘wrong’
- entrepreneurial values that are solely about gaining,
no matter the cost to others,
rather than building strategic alliances and helping others
- spiritual practice that sets up a dichotomy
by even calling itself ‘spiritual’

. . . all of these come from world-views and patterns of behavior we can no longer afford.

What Does Work

"Unless everyone wins, no one wins!"

The retreat at Manzanita Village that ended today has shown us that this unlikely combination of elements is not only possible, but that the various lessons these elements foster in each other are essential for us all to open to our full potential, individually and collectively.