How would you sum up your philosophy?
My philosophy, based on my experience, is one of inclusion, which means that in truth, all and everything is an expression of the same One Consciousness. There is nothing that is not Consciousness and therefore, everything is appropriate and all experience is valid. The great diversity of unity is a delighting Play of Consciousness, the magnification of its own bliss through myriad forms of itself.
When this becomes our moment to moment reality, we experience everything in our world as an appropriate reflection. We may choose to agree or disagree, but we do not invalidate or negate anyone because given the context, everyone is doing the best they can. We can acknowledge the experience of another even if we do not choose it for ourselves. Again, this is not mere concept, but is based upon the experience of unified consciousness in which this is the truth of life.
Since the Blessed Mother has been a source of inspiration for you, what do you have to say about the role of women in spiritualising the world?
It is the nurturing, harmonising and creative power of the feminine that is missing in our world today and especially in our dominant models of reality as exemplified in the three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. This is reflected in the way that women in general have been marginalised and relegated to a less than powerful position in many cultures. The result has been the dominance of an aggressive, rigid and reactive authority that exemplifies our spiritual life. So, I think women play a very key role in re-defining what it means to be human in a spiritual age.
Would you like to share some of the experiences that have most influenced you?
I would point to one from the many years I spent with my illustrious teacher, Paramahansa Muktananda, who had a very large ashram. It included a library that contained a most comprehensive collection of spiritual texts from all the world’s traditions (including, of course, the Vedic / Tantric tradition of his own lineage), that would have been the envy of any major university or institution.
Interestingly, he kept the library locked and the key was always with him. A group of us who were close disciples would ask him from time to time when we could be allowed into the library to study the great texts. I have never forgotten his reply to us: “When you yourselves have had the experiences described in those books – then and only then will I let you in. Otherwise, you will be confusing experience and concept.” That was always his perspective – experience first – and that has since become my own. My students do not read much – we have few books in my sanctuary. Our “library” is the library of meditative holistic experience.
What do you see as your mission?
My mission is modern spirituality – to contemporise the ancient art of meditation and holistic lifestyle and to bring the cutting edge of everything that Consciousness has created to the human evolutionary journey.
In this way, I share my experience of wholeness and fulfilment with those who endeavour to discover it within themselves.
Quite often the West commercialises spirituality and converts it into materialism by creating products and services that need to be paid for. Is that true of Synchronicity Experience and how would you justify it?
Rather than viewing the spiritual and material as separate and mutually exclusive, I suggest that they are but expressions of the same One Consciousness. The subtle dimensions of Consciousness are what we refer to as spiritual and the dense dimensions as material. It has been said that we are spiritual beings living in a material world, and in many ways this is true. The point of human evolution is to come to the experiential recognition of this truth and live the multi-dimensional reality that is our birthright.
It does take material resources to live in this world, and also to be able to share spiritual wisdom and experience. Ashrams are communities with real financial obligations just like families – people have to be housed, fed, clothed and kept warm. Their health needs must be addressed. This is of course, true of Synchronicity as well. We cannot pretend that spirituality is exempt from the requirements of material self-sufficiency. It is when the material dominates the spiritual that we lose integrity and authenticity in a spiritual understanding.
When balanced and in proper proportion, both material and spiritual operate in support of each other and there is fulfillment.
"The nurturing, harmonising and creative power of the feminine is missing in our world today"
What according to you is a holistic lifestyle?
A holistic lifestyle is one which supports and nourishes the human evolutionary journey. It addresses what I refer to as the Primary Trinity which comprises the three densest dimensions within human experience: the physical, emotional and mental dimensions. These are the dimensions that are most imbalanced and fragmented and are also where most human beings are anchored. Therefore, to meditate alone is not enough to create the necessary degree of balance to bring
a human being to a level of consistent wholeness and fulfilment. It actually requires addressing each of these three dimensions in addition.
In a nutshell, the physical dimension is addressed through a balanced diet and aerobic exercise. The emotional dimension is handled through flowing love-based feeling, and the mental dimension is brought to balance through directed affirmative thinking. When this holistic lifestyle practice is incorporated into daily life along with Synchronicity High-Tech Meditation, the result is nothing less than human fulfilment.
What is your programme in India?
I will be presenting programmes on Synchronicity High-Tech Meditation – its mechanics, the science behind it, and the experience it delivers. I want the technology generation of India to experience what technology can bring to their most sacred spiritual traditions.
Your thoughts on India.
The many years I spent with my guru in India were the most precious years of my life, and to be truthful, I could have stayed in India forever and been quite blissfully content. India is a magical place and I regard it as the source of the world’s most ancient and authentic spiritual wisdom. That is why I am returning… to give back some of what I have been given and to share with India what has been so gracefully shared with me. Perhaps it is time for India to update its living spiritual traditions in the light of modern technology and lead the world into a spiritual revolution.
My philosophy, based on my experience, is one of inclusion, which means that in truth, all and everything is an expression of the same One Consciousness. There is nothing that is not Consciousness and therefore, everything is appropriate and all experience is valid. The great diversity of unity is a delighting Play of Consciousness, the magnification of its own bliss through myriad forms of itself.
When this becomes our moment to moment reality, we experience everything in our world as an appropriate reflection. We may choose to agree or disagree, but we do not invalidate or negate anyone because given the context, everyone is doing the best they can. We can acknowledge the experience of another even if we do not choose it for ourselves. Again, this is not mere concept, but is based upon the experience of unified consciousness in which this is the truth of life.
Since the Blessed Mother has been a source of inspiration for you, what do you have to say about the role of women in spiritualising the world?
It is the nurturing, harmonising and creative power of the feminine that is missing in our world today and especially in our dominant models of reality as exemplified in the three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. This is reflected in the way that women in general have been marginalised and relegated to a less than powerful position in many cultures. The result has been the dominance of an aggressive, rigid and reactive authority that exemplifies our spiritual life. So, I think women play a very key role in re-defining what it means to be human in a spiritual age.
Would you like to share some of the experiences that have most influenced you?
I would point to one from the many years I spent with my illustrious teacher, Paramahansa Muktananda, who had a very large ashram. It included a library that contained a most comprehensive collection of spiritual texts from all the world’s traditions (including, of course, the Vedic / Tantric tradition of his own lineage), that would have been the envy of any major university or institution.
Interestingly, he kept the library locked and the key was always with him. A group of us who were close disciples would ask him from time to time when we could be allowed into the library to study the great texts. I have never forgotten his reply to us: “When you yourselves have had the experiences described in those books – then and only then will I let you in. Otherwise, you will be confusing experience and concept.” That was always his perspective – experience first – and that has since become my own. My students do not read much – we have few books in my sanctuary. Our “library” is the library of meditative holistic experience.
What do you see as your mission?
My mission is modern spirituality – to contemporise the ancient art of meditation and holistic lifestyle and to bring the cutting edge of everything that Consciousness has created to the human evolutionary journey.
In this way, I share my experience of wholeness and fulfilment with those who endeavour to discover it within themselves.
Quite often the West commercialises spirituality and converts it into materialism by creating products and services that need to be paid for. Is that true of Synchronicity Experience and how would you justify it?
Rather than viewing the spiritual and material as separate and mutually exclusive, I suggest that they are but expressions of the same One Consciousness. The subtle dimensions of Consciousness are what we refer to as spiritual and the dense dimensions as material. It has been said that we are spiritual beings living in a material world, and in many ways this is true. The point of human evolution is to come to the experiential recognition of this truth and live the multi-dimensional reality that is our birthright.
It does take material resources to live in this world, and also to be able to share spiritual wisdom and experience. Ashrams are communities with real financial obligations just like families – people have to be housed, fed, clothed and kept warm. Their health needs must be addressed. This is of course, true of Synchronicity as well. We cannot pretend that spirituality is exempt from the requirements of material self-sufficiency. It is when the material dominates the spiritual that we lose integrity and authenticity in a spiritual understanding.
When balanced and in proper proportion, both material and spiritual operate in support of each other and there is fulfillment.
"The nurturing, harmonising and creative power of the feminine is missing in our world today"
What according to you is a holistic lifestyle?
A holistic lifestyle is one which supports and nourishes the human evolutionary journey. It addresses what I refer to as the Primary Trinity which comprises the three densest dimensions within human experience: the physical, emotional and mental dimensions. These are the dimensions that are most imbalanced and fragmented and are also where most human beings are anchored. Therefore, to meditate alone is not enough to create the necessary degree of balance to bring
a human being to a level of consistent wholeness and fulfilment. It actually requires addressing each of these three dimensions in addition.
In a nutshell, the physical dimension is addressed through a balanced diet and aerobic exercise. The emotional dimension is handled through flowing love-based feeling, and the mental dimension is brought to balance through directed affirmative thinking. When this holistic lifestyle practice is incorporated into daily life along with Synchronicity High-Tech Meditation, the result is nothing less than human fulfilment.
What is your programme in India?
I will be presenting programmes on Synchronicity High-Tech Meditation – its mechanics, the science behind it, and the experience it delivers. I want the technology generation of India to experience what technology can bring to their most sacred spiritual traditions.
Your thoughts on India.
The many years I spent with my guru in India were the most precious years of my life, and to be truthful, I could have stayed in India forever and been quite blissfully content. India is a magical place and I regard it as the source of the world’s most ancient and authentic spiritual wisdom. That is why I am returning… to give back some of what I have been given and to share with India what has been so gracefully shared with me. Perhaps it is time for India to update its living spiritual traditions in the light of modern technology and lead the world into a spiritual revolution.
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