Within the last few days several things have been happening as I tune into the world (and particularly the state of economic crisis in Illinois where I live with Barbara) and tune into what I am doing, who I am becoming, and all of what is 'calling' my soul (if you will) to present itself to the world. You may know me mostly (since 1998) as an independent scholar, writer, speaker, consultant, teacher, etc. All of that has been continually an interest and will remain so, of which my latest book Philosophy of Fearism: A First East-West Dialogue just published attests to my background and interests (as does this FM ning website). However, there is always a re-evaluation of what "I Am" and am becoming and how to offer myself to the world.
I'll keep this blog post short other than to declare that I am opening the door again to myself as a teacher of fearlessness. You or people you know may contact me now because you are looking for such a teacher, or considering checking me out in this very particular role--not one that is casual as has been the case for decades, but now it would be a formal contracted role of "Student and Teacher" in the great philosophical and spiritual traditions of all history across time and cultures. Call me an elder, a wise person of knowledge, a sacred warrior, a healer, etc. All labels have their value and their distraction. For now, I prefer simply to call myself a teacher of fearlessness of which I am inviting students to pursue the path of fearlessness, which can be from either/or a secular viewpoint and spiritual viewpoint--it matters not to me because I have seen the core essence of all traditions around the world in my studies as basically after the same thing. They are attempting to solve the human Fear Problem, more or less, with various ways of doing so--and, often they do not say this is their core essence. As an experiential journeyor along the path of self-reflection, contemplation, meditation, and all the other forms of work I do to free myself from the regimes of fear ('fear') in this world, I see no contradiction in the essence of all these paths of liberation. That said, I am a postmodern/integral 21st thinker and teacher, and I have long crafted a very unique way to understand and research this phenomenon of the human Fear Problem and path of fearlessness--integrating what I see as the best of the traditions and discarding (through good critique) the worst of those traditions.
I recently posted a Photo from a brochure I discovered some 10 years ago (The League for Fearlessness: An International Movement to Free the World From Fear), 1931. Finding this organization (that once was) became a validation of my own vision and initiative in founding the In Search of Fearlessness Project and organization in 1989. It was difficult on many levels to be a leader-teacher of the In Search of Fearlessness Project because I was seemingly doing something no one else had established a particular systematic tradition to do so. I had to learn with others what this ISOF Project was and would become and it has been a bumpy road. That's a longer story where you can learn details about on my various websites (particularly click on "Projects" at http://www.feareducation.com). The League for Fearlessness is the same kind of initiative I knew in 1989 I must bring forward into the world, for the purpose of the health of the World Soul (if you will). Again, notice one can use many different kinds of languages to describe all these things I speak of, but just because you read or hear the words and labels it does not always reflect exactly what I am speaking to. Interpretations are always tenuous at getting to the truth. So, that is the limitation of writing and speaking words and it is best sometimes to communicate with each other in silence. For the moment, I make the communication in writing.
I trust you'll gather the essence of my opening the doors to students. Of course, one will immediately connect myself in doing so with 'gurus' etc. And in part that cannot be escaped because of the long tradition of what the guru-discipline formation has (and continues) to bring to the world. I was fascinated watching a video the other night documenting (from the inside) several (non-famous) gurus and their disciples of Hinduism in India in present day (see film called Naked in Ashes) where they give the facts: there are 1 billion people in India and 13 million "holy men" who live more or less in poverty as nomads offering themselves as teachers of the path of liberation. I couldn't help but see the relationship to what I have been doing since 1989, albeit I am a relatively comfortable 'working class' North American, not a Hindu, not of any religion, not a naked nomad on the streets (or in caves)--and yet, I am so deeply dedicated to the same essence of the work as gurus in India or anywhere, and like with the people who founded The League for Fearlessness in 1931 New York City. Again, all of that is another story.
Now, if you want to get a sense of what I am opening the doors to (in a serious way now, after many years hiatus)... as Teacher I would invite you to read my work ahead of time to tune-in to much of my thought at a basic level. Then contemplate what being a Student might entail for you and why you seem attracted (and, you may also discover in this reflection you "don't really know why?" which is fine too). Contact me and we can begin the phases of your training (i.e., education). You'll have lots of questions in the preliminary phases and that is all fine. You'll have critiques of what I am doing as well, and that is all fine. Here are the rough phases I envision at this time for a Teacher-Student Relationship based on the path of fearlessness (i.e., the World's Fearlessness Teachings -- see my 2010 book on this topic):
Teacher-Student Relationship: Phases
1. 'Trial' Period-- Exploration of the relationship with me as Teacher and you as Student (this may also involve a group when there are more people involved simultaneously in this relationship with me and each other as a community of learners of the path)-- lots of questioning, assignments, dialogue, and practices (secular and/or spiritual depending on what you want as a Student at this stage) - at least 6 mo.'s this is a trial period and there are expectations of seriousness to work together and stay connected, but it will all be re-evaluated often and either myself or yourself can 'pull the plug' so to speak and we part and move on with our lives without (preferrably) a lot of critical judgment of each other--which, does not mean we ignore telling the truth to each other
2. 'Initiation Preparation' Period - comes after the 6 mo. 'Trial' Period together and it arrives the moment we both realize that it would be good to keep the relationship going along the path and to enter into a deeper study and commitment with more rigorous practices... this may go for years before the next phase unfolds as a readiness to full 'Initiation'
3. 'Initiation' Proper - a ceremony of Initiation to emerge as appropriate to each Student's path (and may likely involve other 'Initiates' and/or those in preparation for a future 'Initiation' [note: this is not a 'cult' experience but a 'culture of fearlessness' and like any culture of any kind, it has its boundaries and regimes more or less rigid all depending on many factors--the process is one of membership and joining, belonging, and responsibilities that go with that]
4. 'Post-Initiation' Period - this is a time (of indefinite length) when the 'Initiate' develops their own leadership and contributes to the path and teaching of others as a major vocation, under some guidance by myself as Teacher, and of course, the 'Initiate' may at some point decide to part from my guidance directly and find other Teachers etc.
The value and payment for such a Teacher is always a difficult challenge to work out, especially when we live in North America or any modern capitalist society. The fact is that I need to survive with basic value and payment for my services in this world of demanding resources to pay the bills. On the other hand, the arrangement of payment is flexible to conditions and individuals and thus I cannot state any such one "cost" for such a Teacher-Student Relationship. It has to be negotiated and it has to operate in a non-fear-based way (as much as possible). The general path of fearlessness is aligned with what many today have called a Gift Economy and that topic ought to be part of how we come as a community of practitioners of the path to work and live together, share our knowledge and experience, and grow a new kind of world based on new ways of relating.
That's enough of an Introduction to what I mean by opening my doors again...
In the Spirit of Fearlessness,
Michael
Comments
well, based on my single session with you, can certainly vouch for you in this role!