This is where you will find everything for our time together:
- Writing Prompts and/or Worksheets
- Additional Exercises
- Recordings
- Session Link
- Possibly More
Session Link
APRIL 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
MAY 6, 13, 20 & 27
***ADDED CLASS June 3rd
All of these are at 1pm NYC time. Each session will be 60-90 minutes.
Click below to join our sessions. If asked the passcode is: 355673
MAY 6, 13, 20 & 27
***ADDED CLASS June 3rd
All of these are at 1pm NYC time. Each session will be 60-90 minutes.
Click below to join our sessions. If asked the passcode is: 355673
Weekly Assessment
One of the main ways we will work together is a basic model, that after over 25 yrs of teaching, I believe is the best way to truly absorb any material at the deepest level. That simple model goes like this:
With that being said, each week you will be responsible for bringing answers to our sessions for each of the following questions, based on that previous weeks reading:
You are REQUIRED to start a new blank notebook to be writing all of your reflections of the reading in. There are MANY reasons for this, but by working this way, you will get the most out of our time together and be totally prepared for our group sessions.
- Intake Information (Read. Listen. Observe.)
- Assess Information (What did you learn? What did stood out? What didn't you understand?)
- Apply Information to Experience (Actively apply concepts to your personal life)
- Reflect on Experience (Share personal experience with others)
With that being said, each week you will be responsible for bringing answers to our sessions for each of the following questions, based on that previous weeks reading:
- What did you learn?
- What did stood out?
- What didn't you understand?
You are REQUIRED to start a new blank notebook to be writing all of your reflections of the reading in. There are MANY reasons for this, but by working this way, you will get the most out of our time together and be totally prepared for our group sessions.
Sessions Recording Playlist
EXTRAS
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD
by Walt Whitman
Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons,
It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.
Here a great personal deed has room,
(Such a deed seizes upon the hearts of the whole race of men,
Its effusion of strength and will overwhelms law and mocks all authority and all argument against it.)
Here is the test of wisdom,
Wisdom is not finally tested in schools,
Wisdom cannot be pass’d from one having it to another not having it,
Wisdom is of the soul, is not susceptible of proof, is its own proof,
Applies to all stages and objects and qualities and is content,
Is the certainty of the reality and immortality of things, and the excellence of things;
Something there is in the float of the sight of things that provokes it out of the soul.
Now I re-examine philosophies and religions,
They may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds and along the landscape and flowing currents.
Here is realization,
Here is a man tallied — he realizes here what he has in him,
The past, the future, majesty, love — if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.
by Walt Whitman
Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons,
It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.
Here a great personal deed has room,
(Such a deed seizes upon the hearts of the whole race of men,
Its effusion of strength and will overwhelms law and mocks all authority and all argument against it.)
Here is the test of wisdom,
Wisdom is not finally tested in schools,
Wisdom cannot be pass’d from one having it to another not having it,
Wisdom is of the soul, is not susceptible of proof, is its own proof,
Applies to all stages and objects and qualities and is content,
Is the certainty of the reality and immortality of things, and the excellence of things;
Something there is in the float of the sight of things that provokes it out of the soul.
Now I re-examine philosophies and religions,
They may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds and along the landscape and flowing currents.
Here is realization,
Here is a man tallied — he realizes here what he has in him,
The past, the future, majesty, love — if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.
Week 3 Assignment & Homework
Repeating Questions:
Homework:
Use 5 of each as prompts for at least one page of free writing, so a total of 10.
- What are you waiting for?
- What is holding you back?
Homework:
Use 5 of each as prompts for at least one page of free writing, so a total of 10.
Week 4 Assignment & Homework
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more)
- Who have you imitated and why? (Choose 3 from: Childhood, Young adult, Most recently). Remember this can be for ANY reason, from physical characteristics to their role in the world.
- 3 ways that you have/are trying to manipulate the movie you are in? (write and expound on 3 ways you have done these)
- The video of Plato's Cave is in the video playlist, if you'd like to re-watch it
Week 5 Assignment & Homework
READ From "Pasupatastra" through & including "The Uncherished Sword"
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more)
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more)
- Where are you in the FLOW in your life as opposed to controlling your future/past? (For this exercise I'd like you to free write specifically about both the flow and the controlling)
- What has been your past spiritual history? How has it helped you? How has it hindered you?
Week 6 Assignment & Homework
I have discovered that my 2002 edition compared with the 2010 edition (same as the PDF/Kindle version) there is some big differences. This wasn't a problem before, but it seems that as it goes a long there are more differences that can be a problem in terms of all of us being on the same page (literally lol) in the class.
So, I have decided for us to stick to the 2010/PDF edition from now on. It seems that most of you have this edition, but like me, you may have the older one. To solve this, I have uploaded the whole PDF of the 2010 edition below. This way we can all be working from the same source material. You can download it from here and have your own digital copy!
READ From "Raw Human Things" through and including "The Origin of All Poems"
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more for each)
So, I have decided for us to stick to the 2010/PDF edition from now on. It seems that most of you have this edition, but like me, you may have the older one. To solve this, I have uploaded the whole PDF of the 2010 edition below. This way we can all be working from the same source material. You can download it from here and have your own digital copy!
READ From "Raw Human Things" through and including "The Origin of All Poems"
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more for each)
- What is a belief about yourself that has kept you stuck in any way?
- What is one negative meaning you have assigned to something or someone that you are willing to let go of?
In the earlier version of the book, Jed talks about books/ works that he finds important in some way.
Here are 2 pix of the pages where he refers to some of them.
Here are 2 pix of the pages where he refers to some of them.
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Week 7 Assignment & Homework
READ From "Theatre of the Absurd" through and including "Epilogue"
I have added my video on Yin/Tang in the video list. I suggest you watch that.
As gone over in the book, you don't have beliefs, they have you...
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more for each)
I have added my video on Yin/Tang in the video list. I suggest you watch that.
As gone over in the book, you don't have beliefs, they have you...
Free writing Prompts: (Write at least 1 page or more for each)
- What is a belief that HAS you?
- In what ways are you like Chris in the book?
Some Quotes from this section:
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Week 7 Assignment & Homework
Read everything after the EPILOGUE
HOMEWORK:
Pick 2 labels that you identify with that you will focus on and consciously let go of this week. For example; Mother, Employee, Chinese, Middle Class etc. In everyday situations or just in general, walk through your world and see how it is NOT being those things.
Make notes daily on what it is like NOT being those things. What does it do to your experience of yourself, others and the world when you are not that label. Bring those reflections to our final class.
Reflect on the whole book and bring 2 main takeaways that you are left with after the whole 8 weeks and the book. Bring those to our final class.
HOMEWORK:
Pick 2 labels that you identify with that you will focus on and consciously let go of this week. For example; Mother, Employee, Chinese, Middle Class etc. In everyday situations or just in general, walk through your world and see how it is NOT being those things.
Make notes daily on what it is like NOT being those things. What does it do to your experience of yourself, others and the world when you are not that label. Bring those reflections to our final class.
Reflect on the whole book and bring 2 main takeaways that you are left with after the whole 8 weeks and the book. Bring those to our final class.
Some Quotes from this Section
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PLEASE TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO FINISH A SHORT SURVEY
Jed PDF & Audio Books
| Spiritual Enlightenment The Damndest Thing |
One More Thing
If you cannot make a LIVE session, and you have a very specific question or concern you would like addressed in the session, please send an email to me at [email protected]
