Attendees of the First Planning Meeting for the Second
Enlightenment (San Francisco, Sept 2011)
John Stewart is an Australian-based evolutionary theorist
and activist who is a core member of the Evolution, Complexity and Cognition
Research Group of the Free University of Brussels.
As an evolutionary theorist his main
focus has been on the trajectory of evolution. His work on the directionality
of evolution and its implications for humanity has been published in a number
of key papers in international science journals. These include papers on the
potential for humans to enhance their psychological capacities through the
future evolution of consciousness.
He is the author of the internationally
acclaimed book Evolution's
Arrow: the Direction of Evolution and the Future of
Humanity. In 2008 he was a keynote speaker at
the first international scientific conference on “The Evolution and Development
of the Universe,” held in Paris.
As an evolutionary activist he uses a
science-based understanding of the trajectory of evolution to identify how
humanity must evolve if we are to continue to succeed in evolutionary terms. He
has summarized his approach in The Evolutionary Manifesto. The Manifesto demonstrates the potential of an
evolutionary worldview to provide meaning, purpose and direction for human
existence. It shows that humanity will need to intentionally advance the
evolutionary process on Earth if it is to participate positively in the future
evolution of life in the universe. This will involve intentionally
re-organizing our political and social systems and further developing our
consciousness and cognition.
Otto Laske is the author
of Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems, which is quite
possibly the leading book on integral, dialectical thinking for complex
systems. Otto is a theoretician of adult development. In 1999 he founded the Interdevelopmental Institute (IDM), in Gloucester, MA, USA,
of which he is currently the Director. Otto’s studies at the Frankfurt School
(1956-66) with Th. W. Adorno and M. Horkheimer, and
the Kohlberg School (1992-1999) with R. Kegan, K. Fischer, H. Gardner, and M. Basseches have allowed him, since 1999, to focus on the
intrinsic relationship of adult cognitive and social-emotional development,
detailed in his two-volume book entitled Measuring Hidden Dimensions (IDM
Press 2005, 2008). His theoretical work is found at www.interdevelopmentals.org.
For 3 reviews of Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems, click here.
Anodea
Judith, Ph.D., is the founder and
director of Sacred Centers. She holds Master's and
Doctoral degrees in Psychology and Human Health along with lifelong studies of
healing, mythology, history, sociology, systems theory, and mystic
spirituality. She is also a world-class author and speaker on the
interpretation of the chakra system as a template for our times. Through her
decades of writing and teaching on this subject, she sees the chakra system as
a simple and elegant map for the interface between personal and collective
evolution. Her books have examined this system as a template for global
evolution (WAKING THE GLOBAL HEART), as a model for Western psychology (EASTERN
BODY, WESTERN MIND), and as a philosophical model (WHEELS OF LIFE).
Michael Dowd is
a veteran sustainability activist and big history / big integrity evangelist.
An enthusiastic and outspoken religious naturalist, he is the author of the
bestselling bridge-building book, Thank God for Evolution: How the
Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World (Viking
2008 / Plume 2009), which was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists
and other science luminaries, including noted skeptics,
and by religious leaders across the spectrum.
Michael and his wife, Connie Barlow, an
acclaimed science writer and gifted evolutionary educator, permanently travel
North America and have addressed more than 1,500 religious and non-religious
groups since 2002 — ranging from Unitarian Universalists and secular high
school, college, and university students, to Catholic,
Protestant, and Evangelical Christian churches, to New Thought, New Age, IONS,
and Integral groups. They show how the science-based history of everything and
everyone can be interpreted in ways that inspire people to cooperate across
political and religious differences in service of a just and thriving future
for all.
In December 2010 Rev. Dowd hosted the
acclaimed conversation series, "The Advent of Evolutionary
Christianity," and in June 2011 he and Connie launched a 5-week
online course, titled "Evolutionize Your
Life."
Celebrated by liberals and
conservatives alike and uniquely gifted at building bridges between believers
and non-believers, Michael shares “The Great Story” — humanity’s common
creation story — in ways that uplift and expand heart, mind, and soul. His
passion is showing how a sacred view of death, human nature, and the trajectory
of big history can inspire and empower each of us to live with greater
integrity, joy, and zest for life.
Michael and Connie are co-creators of
the leading Religious Naturalism / Epic of Evolution educational website: TheGreatStory.org and
they blog at EvolutionaryTimes.org.
Michael also blogs at EvolutionaryChristianity.com/blog and ThankGodforEvolution.com
Sean Esbjörn-Hargens,
Ph.D., is a Professor and
founding Chair of the Integral Theory Program at John F. Kennedy University in
Pleasant Hill, California. He is founding Director of the Integral Research Center, which supports graduate and post-graduate mixed
methods research. In addition, he is the founding Executive Editor of the Journal
of Integral Theory and Practice. Recently, he co-founded and co-organizes
the biennial Integral Theory Conference, which began in 2008.
Sean is a leading scholar-practitioner
in Integral Theory. He has worked closely with Ken Wilber for a decade
operationalizing the integral (AQAL) model in multiple contexts. He is a
founding member of Integral Institute and currently serves as their Vice
President of Applications and Research. He is currently the most published
author applying the Integral model to a variety of topics: education,
sustainable development, ecology, research, intersubjectivity,
science and religion, consciousness studies, and play. His articles have
appeared in academic journals such as the Journal of Consciousness
Studies, World Futures, ReVision,
and Journal of Humanistic Psychology. Sean co-edited Ken Wilber’s
book The Simple Feeling of Being and co-authored an 800-page
book with environmental philosopher Michael Zimmerman: Integral
Ecology: Uniting Multiple Perspectives on the Natural World. Recently, he
co-edited the anthology Integral Education: New Directions for Higher
Learning and edited the ground-breaking anthology Integral
Theory in Action: Applied, Theoretical, and Constructive Perspectives on the
AQAL model. He is currently working on a number of articles and books.
Sean has over twenty years of
leadership experience, always serving in multiple major roles simultaneously.
His passion as a leader comes from his love of being alive, his commitment to
looking directly at reality without blinking, and his desire to increase
people’s experience of intimacy with Being. He is a practitioner within both
Tibetan Buddhism (Shangpa Kagyu linage) and A. H. Almaas’ the Diamond Approach. Recently, he has begun to
explore the Faery tradition as well. He lives in Sebastopol, California on five
acres of stunning redwoods with his wife and two daughters.
Jonathan Gustin, MFT, is
a meditation teacher, purpose guide and psychotherapist with offices in San
Francisco and San Rafael. He is the founder of Integral Awakening Center (www.integralawakeningcenter.com)
and has taught throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, at places such as: Spirit
Rock, Green Gulch, CIIS, JFK University, The Non-Dual Wisdom and Mental Health
Conference, iEvolve, Bay Area Integral, Marina Counseling Center, Bank of Marin,
Drew High School, iRest Institute, and Vajrapani Institute.
Jonathan has co-taught with human
potential pioneer George Leonard, Buddhist activist Joanna Macy and depth
psychologist Bill Plotkin. Jonathan teaches
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Mind-Body Medicine, and Integral Life
Practice at San Francisco Kaiser Permanente.
In 2000, Jonathan also founded Green Sangha, a
spiritually engaged environmental activist organization with chapters in the
East Bay, Marin County and San Francisco, and is featured in the movie
documentary “Renewal,” a film on spiritual communities' responses to
environmental challenges.
Dustin DiPerna is Educational
Director of the Center for World Spirituality in San
Francisco. He also serves as Director of Integral Affairs at the World Council
of Religious Leaders. He is author of two books to be released later this
year, Developmental Religious Pluralism: An Introduction to Integral
Religious Studies and The Heart of Conscious Evolution: Toward
a Model of Spiritual Development for an Integral Age. Dustin has been a
close student of Integral Philosopher Ken Wilber since 2004 and currently
practices in the lineage streams of Mahamudra and
Dzogchen under the guidance of Daniel P. Brown. He received his undergraduate
degree from Cornell University and is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal
Arts Degree in Religion through Harvard University.
Malena Gamboa is a visionary
with a background in promotions, advertising and design. Since 2002, she has
spearheaded promotional campaigns for both small and larger boutiques in the
Los Angeles area. She has consulted, led and overseen various on-air
promo spots for Telemundo and NBC, including the
first ever cross-cultural campaign for the 2004 Olympic Games.
In 2009 she launched the We On Earth
Organization, a not-for-profit organization established to draw greater
awareness to environmental and humanitarian global issues. In 2010, Malena
co-founded Global Resolutions Organization with Marta Mobley, in partnership
with the New Media Foundation. Together they are launching The Global
Resolutions Initiative and the "I resolve" campaign, a call-to-action
campaign that re-brands New Year's Eve resolutions in a strategic effort to
promote and usher in deeper global awareness of our interconnectedness and a
sustainable world. Malena is the Chair and Producer of the Midnight Rose New
Year's Eve celebration. She is also a dedicated proponent of social and
environmental transformation and a member of the Integral Think Tank.
Vidyuddeva (Vid Deva) is
an executive coach who, in partnership with Stagen
Institute, is pioneering new integral methodologies engaging our shared
humanity and guiding business leaders in the discipline of sculpting the
passionate purpose of their lives into the art of being freely and fully alive.
As a Zen Priest, Biblical Mystic and
Tantric Evolutionary he integrates Eastern and Western wisdom traditions with
constructive developmental, somatic and archetypal psychology.
Vidyuddeva works closely with leading teachers from various
world religious traditions including Zen, contemplative Christianity and Jewish
Kabbalah as well as with philosopher Ken Wilber. He has been organizing and
leading spiritual communities with a focus on "God's glory is the human
being fully alive" for the last fifteen years. He is a core faculty member
of the iEvolve Global Practice Community and was one
of the spiritual teachers comprising the Integral Spiritual Center.
As a somatic artist, Vidyuddeva is an avid practitioner of martial arts, qi gong
and bodywork.
Terry Patten is a leading voice in the emerging fields of
integral evolutionary leadership and spirituality. In his cutting-edge
writings, talks, and teachings, he not only inspires transcendental awakening,
love, and freedom, but also calls us to accept and incarnate our full humanity.
This expresses itself in a profound sense of purpose, spiritual inspiration,
and evolutionary activism.
He worked with Ken Wilber and a core
team at Integral Institute to develop Integral Life Practice, which distils
ancient and modern practices into an intelligent contemporary transformational
lifestyle.
He hosts the acclaimed teleseminar
series, Beyond Awakening: The Future of Spiritual Practice, http://beyondawakeningseries.com which
has spawned a large international community. There, he has held a series of
dozens of ground-breaking conversations with leading edge spiritual teachers
ranging from Ken Wilber to Ram Dass, from Andrew
Cohen to Adyashanti, and from Byron Katie to Steve
McIntosh on how spiritual practice is evolving to help conscious individuals
rise to the evolutionary challenges of our global crises.
Terry is a faculty member in the
Integral Executive Leadership programs at Notre Dame University, a member of
the editorial board of the Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, and serves
on the board of the Wellsprings Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative
Wisdom. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and John F. Kennedy
University.
Earlier, for 15 years, he lived
immersed in a life of intensive spiritual practice in the monastic setting of
Vision Mound Seminary with the great spiritual master Adi
Da Samraj. There, he was a
founding editor of the award-winning Laughing Man magazine. Upon leaving that
ashram he founded the catalog company Tools For Exploration, which defined the field of consciousness
technologies. While at the helm of Tools, he co-developed a series of
biofeedback devices and psychoacoustic recordings, including the Institute of HeartMath's original widely-used heart-rate variability
monitor.
Terry is also a social entrepreneur
involved in supporting restorative redwood forestry. As an entrepreneur and
consultant he has worked for almost thirty years to help leaders bring higher
consciousness into practical actions that transform complex human systems. He
is also a teacher, coach and consultant who travels widely, challenging and
connecting leading-edge individuals and organizations worldwide.
An Integral coach, consultant, teacher,
and author of four books, Terry lives in Marin County near San Francisco, CA.
He is the senior writer and co-author, with Ken Wilber, Adam Leonard, and Marco
Morelli, of Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical
Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening. His
8-session course, Integral Spiritual Practice guides students step-by-step in
establishing a heart-centered, do-able daily integral
practice. His personal web sites are http://gobeyondawakening.com, http://theispcommunity.com and http://integralspiritualpractice.com.
Lawrence Wollersheim is one of the directors of the Universe Institute
and Universe College. He is also the Executive Director of Universe Spirit
(formerly known as Integrative Spirituality,) an organization that has helped
to birth the new Universe Worldview and the Universe Spirituality movement.
For 18 years Lawrence was also a
managing director at FACTNet Inc., (www.factnet.org) a non-profit
educational organization that is the oldest Internet resource for victims of
cults and abusive religious practices who are seeking information and recovery.
Lawrence was mentored for over 20 years by Dr.
Margaret Singer, Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, who was, before her
passing, the world’s leading authority on mind-control, destructive religious
practices and cults.
Over a 32-year period, both before and
during his tenure at FACTNet, Lawrence was involved
in a series of lawsuits against the infamous Scientology cult. His success in
these lawsuits against Scientology established important new legal precedents
on freedom-of-thought and informed consent in alleged religious settings. These
new legal precedents are now part of the first-year constitutional law studies
of many US law students. To date, Lawrence has been the only individual to ever
successfully sue and collect from the Scientology cult.
As a social advocate Lawrence also
helped to win the largest California SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public
Participation) lawsuit to date against an organization that was using excessive
and unfair litigation tactics to financially overwhelm, harass and intimidate
an under-funded non-profit social advocacy organization. His SLAPP legal
precedent has been a powerful legal aid to all non-profit organizations in
legal battles with big corporations filing meritless lawsuits designed to bankrupt
their less wealthy opponents.
In addition, Lawrence spent over 20 years as the
founder and managing director of HealthKeeper Inc., a
software company specializing in assisting dieters, diabetics and individuals
with cardiovascular problems related to weight and nutrition. At HealthKeeper, Lawrence invented the NutriCode,
which is a colored bar code that allows the user to
understand a food label’s nutritional content and its impact on their daily
diet goals without having to do any math. From his various experiences, Lawerence has an extensive 30-year background in both
day-to-day business operations and information technology, which he is able to
draw from for his work in the non-profit, for-profit and social advocacy
sectors.
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