Conversations New York

Format: lecture followed by large group discussion

Meditation is fast emerging as the most important go to for realigning our lives. Neuroscience has found that meditation has the capacity to alter the brain physiology, impact gene expression, reverse effects of aging and improve the overall outlook towards life. There is over 100% increase in the active meditators in the US in last fifteen years. However, how many of us know about the actual science and practice of meditation. What is meditation from the point of view of latest in science and also what does the most authentic and secretive ancient Indian texts have to say on the same. In this experiential talk we will discuss about the meditation process and techniques from the simplest to the most complex and learn about the benefits of each.

A little about our host:

Dr Krishnesh Mehta is the founder of BrainOtkarsh: Body mind spirit lab (https://www.meetup.com/brainotkarsh-body-mind-spirit-lab). He is a science and spirituality expert, a TEDx speaker, and a yoga expert.
His TEDx link:
https://youtu.be/yFzHzF9y7vM

We publish our event recordings on our youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like it that can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep video off. Here’s our legal notice: For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant PlateRate and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release PlateRate and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.

"Red Cross declares first-ever national blood crisis." https://youtu.be/ZUmbgpmNixg #GIVEWITHME https://www.cbsnews.com/news/red-cross-blood-crises-united-states-covid-19/

https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or https://nybc.org/donate-blood/covid-19-and-blood-donation-copy/

Thank an essential worker worker by getting vaccinated and/or by donating blood if you are able to donate safely at a center near you.

Protect the very young & the very old, and slow the growth of variants. Walk-in vaccinations are available. https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ Hotline: (833)[masked]

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Many thanks to all the essential workers on the front lines in healthcare, in homes, in farming, in food processing, in transportation, in utilities, & in public service putting themselves & their family members at risk to keep us safe and not wanting at home during the height of the pandemic. ABC #AmericaStrong www.facebook.com/watch/?v=[masked]https://giveessential.org/

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UNITE AGAINST THE COMMON THREAT https://youtu.be/E6lxKOfn8_E

George W Bush: (00:06)
This is a challenging and solemn time in the life of our nation and world. A remorseless invisible enemy threatens the elderly and vulnerable among us, a disease that can quickly take breath and life. Medical professionals are risking their own health for the health of others, and we’re deeply grateful. Officials at every level are setting out the requirements of public health that protect us all, and we all need to do our part.

(00:36)
The disease also threatens broader damage, harm to our sense of safety, security and community. The larger challenge we share is to confront an outbreak of fear and loneliness, and it is frustrating that many of the normal tools of compassion, a hug, a touch, can bring the opposite of the good we intend. In this case, we serve our neighbor by separating from them. We cannot allow physical separation to become emotional isolation. This requires us to be not only compassionate, but creative in our outreach, and people across the nation are using the tools of technology in the cause of solidarity.

(01:19)
In this type of testing we need to remember a few things. First, let us remember we have faced times of testing before. Following 9-11 I saw a great nation rise as one to honor the brave, to grieve with the grieving and to embrace unavoidable new duties, and I have no doubt, none at all, that this spirit of service and sacrifice is alive and well in America. Second, let us remember that empathy and simple kindness are essential powerful tools of national recovery. Even at an appropriate social distance, we can find ways to be present in the lives of others, to ease their anxiety and share their burdens. Third, let’s remember that the suffering we experience as a nation does not fall evenly. In the days to come it will be especially important to care in practical ways for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed. Finally, let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat. In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants, we are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together and we are determined to rise. God bless you all.

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DONATE BLOOD

"The need for blood is ongoing, but COVID-19 has destroyed the foundation on which the community donates blood to patients served by New York Blood Center.

Every week, more than 75,000 blood donations and 1,700 donated platelet units are needed to meet patient need. To ensure we are prepared to support health agencies in our communities and across the country, NYBCe strongly urges individuals who feel healthy and well to make an appointment at a donor center or find a new community blood drive.

DONORS PRESENTING:

" Regardless of vaccination status, ALL donors MUST wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose
Must be 14 days symptom free if recovered from COVID-19
May NOT donate if they have a positive diagnostic test or experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days
May not donate if they have been told to self-quarantine due to exposure risk, including travel. We follow current State and CDC travel recommendations.
CDC - Travel (cdc.gov)
COVID-19 Travel Advisory | Department of Health (ny.gov)

If you are unsure whether to donate, or if you have donated recently and you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or you test positive for COVID-19, please contact us at[masked]." https://nybc.org/donate-blood/covid-19-and-blood-donation-copy/

#SAVEALIFE #GIVEWITHME #DONATEBLOOD #NYBLOODCENTER #REDCROSS #VOLUNTEER #BLOODSHORTAGE

This will be our 2nd meetup for "The Idea of the Holy."

So, lets read pages 41-93.

Reading is REQUIRED if attendees intend to participate in the discussion.

If you don't read, feel free to attend and only listen!

Otto's book directly influenced CG Jung's employment of the term "numinous" when encountering the Objective Psyche (aka: transpersonal unconsciousness). For CG Jung, the process of Individuation is an encounter with the Numinous.

NOTE :
Usually, we will "meet-up" on a Friday of each month at 7pm when Psyche permits however due to my craZy work schedule during the Winter months.

I anticipate that 4, perhaps 5, meetups will suffice to complete our discussion of Otto's book.

Here's the FREE PDF file from z-library :
file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/The%20Idea%20of%20the%20Holy%20by%20Rudolf%20Otto%20(z-lib.org).pdf

If it doesn't open, then you will need to directly go to Z-LIBRARY and search for the book yourself. No worries, they have it and it's free.

Here's the link to Z-library https://b-ok.cc/

Again, please, please read the respective assigned excerpts for each scheduled Meet-up if you intend to participate in the discussion so we can remain focus and avoid any derailment.

with gratitude,
Jorge

Mandatory reading assignment : The Dhammapada (from the Pali Canon)

Author : The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

Translation(s) : I will be reading two translations. One by Acharya Buddharakkhita and the other by Eknath Easwaran.

Throughout the past 5 or 6 years since I've been facilitating the meetup discussions on Jungian/Transpersonal (even existential) material, the topic of Buddhism always seems to weave itself into the conversation in some manner.

Consequently, this particular meetup.

Lets read The Dhammapada a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the best know and important Buddhist scriptures.

Ideally, we would all engage with the identical translation/edition. However, feel free to engage with any translation.

Then, lets meetup to compare and contrast Analytical/Jungian Psychology with Buddhism, in particular with the language of The Dhammapada.

REMINDER :This event is a free-form, roundtable discussion and I ask that members come prepared with passages or themes from the reading(s) that they wish to discuss with the group so that each discussion will focus on that which grabbed us each with the greatest force.

Here is a link : http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.intro.budd.html