From Awakening to Transformation
October 13 - 21, 2020
OUR INTENTION
This year, the corona virus situation has made us ever more aware of the fragility of life and the need for humility in our relationship with nature. Although our common crisis has made us recognize the interconnectedness of our world, at the same time, it has also brought to light the political, social and economic realities in many parts of the world that underlie and exacerbate the state of suffering. The current state is a sober reminder to "wake up" and to reflect on the intentions and actions that have given rise to the natural and man-made crises that we are facing today. It is time to think about the inner and outer changes necessary for a different future.
We are taking up the theme of "waking up" and "transformation" in this year's Spirituality & Science Forum. Due to the difficulties of in-person gathering, “From Awakening to Transformation” will take place as a four-part virtual series. We will discuss with leading experts about what it means to "awaken" spiritually, what happens during this process, and the experience of transformation that follows afterwards that can lead to deeply meaningful change.
From Awakening to Transformation is a virtual retreat hosted by Krueger & Lee and Synergos.
October 13, 17:00-19:00 Central European Time
SESSION1: AWAKENING EXPERIENCES: SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Dr. Steven Taylor
Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University
Chair, Transpersonal Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society
Waking up to a new reality or Truth is an essential part of the spiritual journey. This session will examine some of the secular experiences of waking up and ask if there are common traits and triggers. We will also look at the changes that happen to the individuals who undergo such awakening experiences.
October 15, 17:00-18:30 Central European Time
SESSION2: AWAKENING AND BEYOND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GREAT COMPLETION MEDITATION IN INDO-TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND MODERN WESTERN NEUROSCIENCE
Dr. Daniel P. Brown
Harvard Medical School
This presentation will explain the three stages of enlightenment according to rDzogs Chen or the Great Completion Meditation in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism that takes the practitioner from concentration to going beyond thought, to living in a perpetual state of awakened awareness. From the point of view of neuroscience, we will review what happens in the brain during the different stages of awakening. This session will also include a meditation practice.
October 20, 17:00-19:00 Central European Time
SESSION 3: CONSCIOUSNESS - A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE
Dr. Julia Mossbridge
Fellow, Institute for Noetic Sciences
Associate Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies
What is consciousness? Scientists and contemplatives often have different answers, stemming from very different perspectives. Understanding both perspectives and their implications is key for anyone hoping to make good choices about which worldview to engage. This session will take us from theory, to experiment, to practice — all so we can fully understand two divergent worldviews about consciousness and their implications.
October 21, 17:00-19:00 Central European Time
SESSION 4: WITH A LITTLE HELP...ALL ABOUT PSYCHEDELICS
Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Near death experiences, psychedelics, different types of healing, and nowadays, certain devices claim to induce or enhance awakening and transformative experiences. What do we know about the mystical experiences induced by psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin? How do the mystical experiences affect healthy individuals or cancer patients? This session will focus on psychedelics and their effects, the use of psychedelics in therapy and the conditions under which it is most effective.