Fast & Furious: Fast Five

Tonight, I watched a movie “Fast & Furious: Fast Five” in a theater.  By chance I could watch it in 3D.  It was so exciting!  While watching, I felt calm, anxiety, excited, joyful, funny, thrilled and free.  I understood the meaning of “almost all movies contain at least one of four universal stages of transformation” (Tav, 2009).   I moved from the safe zone to the trapped zone, war zone and free zone…  A movie lets us experience “death and rebirth.”  I'm intrigued by "Movie Yoga", so I want to learn it more from the book.

The cast includes Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Matt Schulze, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Elsa Pataky, Joaquim de Almeida and Dwayne Johnson.

Reference:Movie Yoga: How Every Film Can Change Your Life

Individual and Group Transformational Practice List (Chronological Order)

This list shows individual or group transformational exercises (various types of shadow works), which I learned from my class or my friend (study group) at JFKU.  Before coming to America, I had a few shadow works such as 3-2-1 shadow work, but I experienced and learned many shadow works not only individual works but also group works.  I appreciate my instructor and my friends.  In the future, I’d like to share them in Japan.

Date	Practice	Memo
4/5 2011	Self Reflection Writing Practice: What does spirituality mean to me?	Psychosynthesis class @JFKU
4/6	Loosh Dialogue	Study Group @JFKU
4/7	Dream Work: Dream Sharing	Study Group @JFKU
4/7	Dream Writing	Study Group @JFKU
4/9	Group Psychotherapy	@JFKU Berkeley Campus
4/12	Self Reflection Writing Practice: Authentic Unifying Center in my life now	Psychosynthesis class @JFKU
4/13	Bohm Dialogue	Study Group @JFKU
4/19	Dis-Identification Exercise	Psychosynthesis class @JFKU
4/19	Soul Letter Technique	Psychosynthesis class @JFKU
4/26	Subpersonality Exercise	Psychosynthesis class @JFKU
4/27	Hot Seat Dialogue?	Study Group @JFKU
4/28	The Combination with Bohm Dialogue and Dream Work	Study Group @JFKU
4/29	Movie Yoga	Study Group @Friend’s house

Movie Yoga

Today, I practiced “Movie Yoga” with my friends.  I’ve never heard “Movie Yoga” before.  I was intrigued by it and it was fantastic for me!  It’s a new kind of Yoga.  However, the discussion between my friends was difficult to understand.  A lot of unknown words were flooded into my mind, so I panicked…  I’m used to face to face conversation in English little by little, but it may take more time to grasp the group conversation or discussion.  I hope that I will enjoy a group dialogue soon.

Oh, I was sorry that I didn’t explain about “Movie Yoga.” Haha.  Movie Yoga is put forward by Tav Sparks, which is a kind of transformational exercise watching a movie.  The author said "Movie Yoga shows us how to celebrate the grand sweep of life in all its manifestations as being part of a great mystery and wholeness that we will always be moving toward. And to watch a hellava lot of movies while we’re at it."

-Movie Yoga

Trust

Today, I knew one simple word, “trust.”  Of course, I knew the meaning of this word, but I didn’t know the true meaning of this word until today.  I felt the true trust.

Tonight, it was cold in Pleasant Hill.  But my heart was really warm.

The truth in our life is hidden in “true trust.”

Yoga and Immortality: Real meaning of Yoga

I was struck by the following sentences from a Novak’s book.

“When the five senses and the mind are still, and reason rests in silence, then begins the Path supreme.  This calm steadiness of the senses is called Yoga.  Then one should become watchful, because Yoga comes and goes….” (Novak, 1995, p. 14-15)

In my daily life, I practice various spiritual practices.  One of my main practices is Kundalini Yoga, whose origin is Hinduism.  Before reading these sentences, I thought that Yoga was some kind of body and mental exercise.  However, my perspective about Yoga dramatically changed after reading these sentences.  That was because I noticed that the real meaning of Yoga was the path to our real self, Atman.  Of course, Yoga includes the meaning of physical exercise, but its true meaning is to reach a higher self, beyond self.

When I practiced Kundalini Yoga, I sometimes felt serene, tranquil and peaceful…  I’m slow to realize that, but this is real Yoga.  The above sentences will make my Yoga practice more fruitful.

Reference:

The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions

The limitation of a disidentification exercise

I posted the way to practice the disidentification technique and its merit, so I’d like to describe the limitation of a disidentification exercise.  As pointed out, there are some merits in this exercise, but it is also important for us to recognize the limitation of this exercise in an appropriate manner.  Assagioli (1965) stated that this technique should be used in a careful manner for the patients who tend to focus on their inner mental world too much such as self-exploration or self-reflection (p. 122).  Furthermore, we need to be especially careful of the following point:

Under the limitations and contra-indications of this technique it is important to consider certain dangers which may be present in cases such as borderline-psychotics, particularly when there is a condition of “de-personalization,” e.g., when a patient has the feeling that his body does not belong to him.  Then the added emphasis on “I am not the body” may further widen the split and run contrary to the fundamental idea of bio-psychosynthesis.  (Assagioli, 1965, p. 123)

We should use this technique not only looking at the useful aspect, but also understanding the above limitations in the proper way.

Reference: Psychosynthesis

The effect of "Disidentification exercise"

Yesterday, I introduced “disidentification exercise”, but I’d like to explain the psychological effect of a disidentification exercise in more detail.  After the class or reading text books, I suppose that the aim of a disidentification exercise is being aware of the fact that “I” is not sensations, emotions, or thoughts but “I” is a person who perceives those experiences as they are.  As Firman and Gila (2002) pointed out, ““I” is ever the one who is aware, the experiencer not the experience” (p. 97).  This sentence was very insightful for me because I usually regarded my sensations, emotions, and thoughts as “me.”  In a word, I was frequently apt to identify with these contents, and I realized that I was not my physical sensation, emotions, nor thoughts thorough this exercise.  In regard to the effect of a disidentification practices, there are mainly two important points in it.  The first, the main effect of this exercise is that:

The effect and results of the exercise are and should be of a liberating nature; and in fact those who use the technique successfully say that they obtain a sense of freedom, a sense of being, and a spontaneous control of the psychological contents with which they were previously completely identified.  (Assagioli, 1965, p. 120). 

In addition to that, Firman & Gila (2002) argue that we could notice that “I” is not objective things but always and forever subjective things (p. 100).  In my view, the merit of this exercise is significant in our modern society.  That is because a lot of knowledge or experiences are flooded into our daily life, and we are overwhelmed by them, as a result, most of us are inclined to identify with those contents.

Reference:

1 Psychosynthesis: A Psychology of the Spirit (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)

2 Psychosynthesis

Disidentification exercise in psychosynthesis class

In the last psychosynthesis class, we practiced “disidentification exercise” for 10-15 minutes.  I was intrigued by this exercise, because this exercise was very useful in that we could be aware of true “I.”  “I” is not sensations, emotions, nor thoughts.  As Firman and Gila (2002) pointed out, “I” is not an experience but an “experiencer.”  Well, I want to share this exercise in brief.  Please see the following steps.

In the class, firstly, we paid attention to our breaths, took a breath deeply and slowly 4 or 5 times, and relaxed.  Secondly, while relaxing, we noticed that our various experiences such as sensations, emotions, and thoughts, etc. happened in us.  Thirdly, we affirmed and became aware of the fact that “I have a body, but I am not my body.”  The next affirmation was “I have an emotion, but I am not my emotion.”  The third was “I have a thought, but I am not the mind.”  Please affirm these sentences feeling fully your inner world.  In this way, we tried to dis-identify with our experiences occurred in our inner world.  After these affirmations, we felt our entire body, emotion, and mind.  Lastly, we concentrated on our breaths and finished.

Let’s try this psychosyntheis technique.  This exercise I showed you is written in an Assagioli's book but another disidentification exercise is described in a Firman and Gila's book.

Reference:

Psychosynthesis p116-117

Sightseeing @ Berkeley and Oakland

Today, I went sightseeing at Berkeley and Oakland with my friend.  Both of cities are very nice for me.  Especially, Berkeley has a scent of academic. 

I’ve never seen hippies before…, but I saw them for the first time today. I don't know "hippie" is a discriminatory term?

Saw the light at the end of my first paper

Whew!  Eventually, I saw the light at end of my first writing assignment in Psychosynthesis class.  This paper does not require so heavy pages of me, but this is my first time to write in “APA” style.  APA style is the problem for me.  APA?  I’m already familiar with APA!!  That is because I frequently saw the word, “APA”, when I was an international tax consultant.  “What do you mean?” people may say to me.  Of course, that is a kind of my joke, and I know only the meaning of “APA” in the international tax world.  In the international tax world, APA means “Advance Pricing Agreement”, on the other hand, in the academic world, APA means “American Psychological Association.”  Needless to say, there is a big difference between them.  I’ll train APA style little by little to become a good writer.

Every journey begins with a single step!

Today's reading for my writing assignment in Psychosynthesis class

Today, I read some books for my writing assignment in Psychosynthesis class.  After the previous class, I was intrigued by “Dis-identification” and “Empathy”, so I looked for and read some books related to my topic.  However, there were few books about dis-identification… Only Assagioli or Firman and Gila covered this theme?

The followings are my reference books.

Reference:

1 Empathy in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Perspectives and Practices

2 Empathy Reconsidered: New Directions in Psychotherapy

3 Clinical Empathy

4 The Empathic Imagination

5 Empathic Attunement: The 'Technique' of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology

6 The Art and Practice of Compassion and Empathy

7 Empathy Fatigue: Healing the Mind, Body, and Spirit of Professional Counselors

8 The Empathic Ground

My true friend in the Confucian ethic

There were many passages which struck me in Novak’s book, but I would like to share the following passage.

“That friends should come to one from afar, is this not after all delightful?”  (P116)

When I read the passage, I remembered that one of my friends traveled great distances to Kansai National Airport, where was located in western Japan, from Tokyo before my leaving Japan.   He was the last friend who I met in Japan before coming to America.  I was really happy for him to come to see me.  We enjoyed eating sushi together and talking about various things in the airport.  I really appreciate and respect him.  That is because my friend confronted a painful situation when he came to saw me.  As you may know, his company, Japan Airlines announced that they must cut the candidates of pilots drastically because of its financial trouble.  Therefore, he gave up his dream to be a pilot.  Despite his depressing time in his life, he saw me off with a big smile…  If I had been in the same situation as in his, I could not have seen him off like that.  I strongly believe that he is my true friend and he is my best friend!!

We, Japanese generally study this passage in a Japanese classics class when we are a junior high school student.  Honestly speaking, I couldn’t fully understand the real meaning of this passage when I was a junior high school student.  However, now, I finally gain a real meaning of this passage.  “That friends should come to one from afar, is this not after all delightful?” is a wonderful passage for me.

This passage told me the following theological implication.  If one person is in a difficult time and nonetheless, gives other people unconditional love, the person will be a saint like my friend.

Reference:
The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions

"I Am Well" Visualization

Today, I read the chapter of "Taoism" in The Joy of Sects: A Spirited Guide to the World's Religious Traditions.  This is a required text book in World Religion class at JFKU, and I think that this book includes a lot of wisdom in various traditional religions.  When I read the chapter of "Taoism", I remembered that we had our beautiful inner microcosm in our own body.  It's like a true universe.

This movie shows our beautiful inner world.  Our microcosm is so mysterious and wonderful.

Every day is comprised of yang and yin

I suppose that our world is comprised of yang and yin.  One win and the other lose.  We sometimes feel happy, on the other hand, we sometimes feel sad.  Yes, our life is two sides of the same coin like light and shadow, men and women, good and evil, joy and sorrow, and life and death.  When I observe one thing, I can find two inseparable things hidden there.  They are yang and yin.  Therefore, it may be said that I feel yang and yin energy every day connecting to this real world.

As a matter of fact, I practice Tai Chi (Qi gong) and Zen meditation every morning and night although each practice is only 15 to 20 minutes or so. I started these practices one year ago in Japan when I struggled with my stress and felt losing my mind and body balance.  These practices have given me inner peace, and mental-body balance.  I can receive a harmony with the world practicing these exercises.  While practicing Tai Chi, I try to remember the concept of “無為自然.” This means “abandoning artifice and just being oneself.”  This is the philosophical idea of Lao zi.  Now, in our modern society, there are a lot of artificial things in daily life.  For example, a mobile phone, a car, a TV, a computer… The list goes on and on.  It is true that those items have made our life very convenient and efficient, but I suspect that we rely on them too much.  I think that we sometimes only have to go au naturel doing Taoism’s practices.  That is because each of us have own inner microcosm in our body.  Yes, we are a universe.

I would like to live my life being always conscious of Taoism’s precept.  

Is this a wonderful opportunity for me?: Shadow is beautiful!

As I said before, some new types of shadow emerged in me.  That may be because my life environment changed dramatically.  Wait, wait.  This situation can be a very beneficial opportunity to practice my shadow work!  Now, I’ll show you my shadow work (3-2-1 shadow practice) below.

3- Face it

I’m so irritated with me because I can’t say smoothly in English what I’m thinking.  On the other hand, to me, my classmates look very smart because they can express their ideas fully.  What do I contribute to my classmates and class?  Nothing… Even if there is my contribution in my class, the size is like a tiny ant.  I wish I could speak like a native speaker.  I’m worried about what my classmates think of me.

2- Talk to it

Me: I’m so sorry.  I’m sorry that I can’t give you anything in the class.  And my poor English…

Classmate: Sorry what?  You are trying to speak English hard even if that is little.

Me: Thank you, but I want to tell you more.  And I want to speak more clearly. 

Classmate: When did you come to America?

Me: On March 21^st.  Almost one month has passed.

Classmate: One month?  Don’t worry.  It’s natural that you can’t speak English very well.

Me: Thanks, but I think that is my mere excuse.  What do I contribute to the class?

Classmate: That’s a difficult question, haha.  Umm…Let me think about it… Eureka!!  You can create a nice atmosphere in the class with us!!

Me: That's it?

Classmate: Yeah, of course, that's it!

Me: Hahaha, but thank you so much!  I’m really happy to share same place and same time with you!!

1 Be it

I become my classmate.  I am an invaluable man in the class.  I have unique experiences and insights to contribute. To live in another country brings us a lot of precious opportunities to face our new shadow and practice shadow work.  Our dark shadow can be our bright shadow.  Shadow is beautiful!!!

Reference:

Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening

New shadow appears?: Most irritating thing for me

Now, the most irritating thing is that I can’t speak freely what I’m really thinking in my mind.  I can express my thinking, and what I want to share with my friends and classmates in a simple sentence or some words…  That makes me so frustrating!  Also, in today’s class, I made a comment, but I couldn’t tell it very well.  All classmates except me could share fully their own experiences or ideas, but I couldn’t.  This situation brings me a new shadow.

Soul Letter: psychosynthesis techniue

Today, I learnt “Soul Letter” practice from my teacher in a psychosynthesis class.  This is one of psychosynthesis techniques and also a very useful transformational tool.  Perhaps, I might miss some points in the explanation, but the following is the overview of this technique, I suppose.

First, write down any questions freely by intuition on your notebook or a piece of paper, which you are coming up with in your mind.  After writing down them, sign your name below the letter.

Second, answer the questions freely by intuition. 

This technique is a kind of free writing. I try to practice this exercise in the morning.  

Images of shadow work effect

The following graphic is my image of shadow work effect based on the psychosyntheisis lecture at JFKU.  Shadow work transforms lower unconsciousness into higher unconsciousness, and brings us a wholeness growth.

Please don’t forget that our dark shadow never disappears.  Therefore, shadow work lasts forever.

Reference: 

1 Psychosynthesis: A Psychology of the Spirit (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)

2 Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening

Unbelievable event!

Today, I went to a Safeway to buy a lunch, which I often use in America.  When I bought a sandwich and potato salad, and then I started to eat them sitting on a bench, I saw a strange man riding a bicycle which looks alike my bicycle, and going away in front of me.

I took a brief look at a parking area where my bicycle was… “Oh my God! My bicycle disappeared!!”  I soon noticed that the man stole my bicycle.  I hurried after the man and I caught him!!

“Wait! It’s mine!” I shouted.  The man said with a laugh “Oh, is this yours? Sorry, have a nice day!” Unbelievable… I couldn’t believe that.  Of course, I put a chain on my bicycle but the way was bad.  It was like a disentanglement puzzle, so the man stole my bicycle very easily.

I have to be careful to put a chain on my bicycle.  However, curiously I didn’t become angry with him.  Apparently, the emotion of anger has vanished from me for a long time.  Perhaps, I may suppress my anger emotion to my unconsciousness…