Hi there,

Many approaches in spirituality and meditation seem to emphasise individual liberation, letting-go of identities and beliefs, and aiming at some ultimate realisation.

So Richard Lang's approach is very refreshing to me!

He emphasises the importance of friendship & community. 

He celebrates the many different identifies we can embody and discover (instead of trying to get rid of them.) 

Rather than promoting one static realisation, he celebrates the many surprising new insights that continue to flower along the (headless) way, even after decades of contemplation. 

We discuss all this through the lens of “The Hierarchy of Heaven and Earth” in the following conversation. Many people, including me, find useful for integrating spiritual type awakenings or insights into every day life. 

The Hierarchy continuously balances the many perspectives that we can take without denying the importance of any of them. The 1st person perspective, the 3rd person. What we can know from up close, what we can know from a distance. What society tells us, what science tells us, and what we can know for ourselves, right at centre…

It has some parallels with Rob Burbea, who clothed their teaching in different language, but was similarly inclusive of the whole spectrum of lived experience. He would frame the goal of meditation as both losing fear of the total dissolution of thought, of emotion, of self, but also to lose the fear of the experiencing thoughts, emotions and ‘self.’ 

The goal being freedom to open up the whole range.

It also reminds me of how in the Norse tradition, (as explained to me by Andreas Kornevall) the goal is to go deep into the shadow, known as the soul journey or the serpent journey, then also high into transcendence, known as the spirit journey or the eagle journey. Then, if you are able to alchemise and integrate the two, the serpent and eagle combined, you become the dragon.

The dragon in medieval times was revered as the one creature that could traverse all four elements. Walking on earth, swimming through water, flying through air and breathing fire.

If this approach to self-investigation sounds intriguing, or liberating, take a listen! 

The first half gets a bit technical, discussing perception of depth and self.  
But the 2nd half has many practical insights to make being headless meaningful and beautiful in every day life. 

And if you really want to immerse yourself, in the company of friends in a beautiful environment, we've got a few places left in next month's retreat with Richard Lang.  

I would love to hear what you think!

Until soon I hope,

Amir
 

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