I found some questions given by the Integral Life website for people who had listened to the talk "Awakening Your Integral Heart" by Brad Reynolds. They said that people could use them as journaling prompts, so I'm sharing the answers I found in my own heart and mind here.
Self-Reflection on Consciousness: How do I perceive the evolution of my own consciousness, and where do I see myself on this journey?
-I am currently doing very well in my personal growth, I think, because I see myself growing more and more every day and doing so in a healthy and balanced way. I haven't hurt anyone in a long time, although I did cause offence to one woman recently, and she forgave me. I feel that I am in an exciting growth period of my life, and I know that it will not last, since nothing does, but I'm here for the ride for now.
Responsibility with Depth: As I delve deeper into consciousness, how am I taking on greater responsibility in my interactions with the world?
-I have been taking on increasingly ambitious projects in my work, to the degree that I might need to scale down and start to consolidate a little soon. I am trying to be more social, especially having more phone calls, where I feel the call to bring compassionate presence to my friends' and family's lives and ideas.
Heart-Centered Living: How am I integrating the teachings of the heart in my daily life and practices?
-The heart teaches me every day. It grows, and I grow with it. It shows me the angles through which it beats, and I follow it to the pathways to which it takes me. I am grateful to my heart, to the degree that I am willing to give it away.
Interconnectedness of Teachings: How do I see the teachings of various spiritual lineages connecting and contributing to a global cultural heritage?
-I see the history of humanity and the planet on which we live like I see the story of the growth of my own body. The stories of ancient days coalesce to become the thoughts and ideas of today, level building on level. I see the great unfolding of the Kosmos as the story of of the Spirit in me. I see the teachings as the written and spoken forms thereof, but dharma goes deeper than just what people intend to say or write. It's a teaching from every corner, in every place, pouring through every thing and person everywhere in a prodigious torrent of grace.
Role of Spiritual Teachers: Which spiritual teachers or lineages resonate most with me, and why? How have they influenced my understanding of integral theory?
-While I tend to stick to Integral teachings and teachers specifically, I am greatly influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Taoism. Eaach has been a guiding influence in my life at some stage. My understanding of Integral as a hip and futuristic new movement is largely based on the feeling of age that these venerable traditions give me. They are all so full of surprises that it's difficult to place how specifically they influence me, but each one offers a nugget of wisdom each day and for that I am grateful.
Balancing Knowledge and Wisdom: How do I balance the acquisition of knowledge with the cultivation of wisdom in my spiritual journey?
-I tend to get most of my knowledge through osmosis on the internet, just scrolling through various posts, comments and messages. Also, my friends are very smart and they tell me things. I get most of my wisdom by asking God for it. Also, my friends are very smart and I try and listen to then.
Navigating Sorrow and Love: How do I oscillate between experiencing the sorrow of the world and the all-pervading love in my own life?
-My love overcomes the sorrow of the world every day. And yet, more sorrow comes every day. May it be so.
Integration of Polarities: In what ways am I actively working to integrate the polarities in my life, such as knowledge and wisdom or sorrow and love?
-I get help with that from my Taoist spirit guides. They are always showing me polarities, and Integral Theory is helping me to see them clearly and with compassion. I really don't feel like I'm making any special effort to do this. If only I did, maybe I would be wiser, and I'll work on that.
Application of Integral Maps: How am I using integral maps and frameworks to navigate my spiritual and personal growth?
Joyfully! I LOVE Integral maps and frameworks, and I'm always spinning Integral explanations and ideas into being with my friends. It's a rollicking ride.
Engaging with the Collective: How am I contributing to the collective evolution of consciousness in my community and the world at large?
Through sharing ideas, and also through subtle energy practice. I feel like if onlyyou could leverage enough subtle energy, the world could change for the better. Not by using it, but by using it as an excuse to do cool stuff in the real world. Or, in my case, just say cool stuff to other people and hope they do something with it.
