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August 13, 2014 by Terry Patten 7 Comments

“Back to the Future”— a Universal Spirituality

Last Sunday, I was joined by the remarkable Swiss spiritual teacher Annette Kaiser for a dialogue entitled “Going into the Wild: Is a Universal Spirituality Evolving?”

Something I deeply appreciate about Annette is that she is more dedicated to this universal service than to advancing herself as a teacher or expert. She has accomplished a great deal, having authored 12 books and owning and operating two retreat centers. She has inspired the heart intelligence and influenced the lives of hundreds of students, and also participated in many international teaching conferences, events and initiatives.

And still, she keeps reaching out, intending always to engender a higher cooperation among the diverse and separate initiatives of different spiritual schools and teachers, working tirelessly to help break through the glass ceiling that marginalizes the power of the human heart and spirit to shape human affairs.

This is what is behind her work to help develop a Universal Spirituality. In that overarching impulse, she is a dear friend and ally and heart colleague. Which is why I was so happy to invite her onto Beyond Awakening and to introduce her to people here in America where she is not yet very well known.

Annette completed her studies in economics and sociology, she married, had two children, and a successful career, eventually becoming a senior figure in the field of international development. Her special focus was women’s rights and intercultural dialogue. Along the way, she began meditating and her spiritual life deepened, and in 1982 she met her primary teacher, Irina Tweedie, the acclaimed Sufi teacher and author of Daughter of Fire and Chasm of Fire and became her student.

Even though her Sufi lineage is at the root of her experience, Annette now teaches Integral spirituality and inspires people in a non-dual, Kosmocentric understanding.  Annette says she sees the 21st Century as a call for humanity to recognize itself as undividedly One, co-creating in collective wisdom, locally-globally in the love of One Heart.

During our dialogue, I asked Annette to describe some of the main characteristics of a Universal Spirituality. How will we recognize it? Annette says Universal Spirituality is holarchic in nature. There is no single “author” designing Universal Spirituality, there is a kind of collective authorship with many people sourcing Universal Spirituality together.

Freedom is another quality of Universal Spirituality. The spiritual guidance is always that a human being becomes free. It is a spontaneous, natural way of living.

Annette says that currently she is referring to Universal Spirituality as “Back to the Future”, and the ways she explains it does seem to describe a kind of time travel! Humanity brings with it collective shadows and if we are going into a “We” field of Universal Spirituality, coming out of individual transformation, we need to do healing and forgiveness work in a collective field. Annette says that if we do that, from the present, it will change the past!

The audio to our dialogue is available now here. Listen in to hear what Annette means by understanding with the heart of the heart. And how she sees the future as a field of all possibility rooted in unlimited love.

 

Filed Under: Terry Patten

Comments

  1. deborah barnes says

    August 16, 2014 at 1:15 pm

    sweet phrase ” to recognize itself as undividedly One” i have been trying to find ways to interpret the apparent juxtapose and to level the hierarchical nonsense. As i have background in enviro science i realize all life is in relationship, I also see that we are in a story that is no longer appropriate and i am working on a new one..looking to find others. Anyone else out there? thank you

    Reply
    • Terry Patten says

      September 5, 2014 at 12:56 pm

      Hi Diane, thanks for listening in and sharing your reflections. I’m sure there are many who will resonate with your search for a new story of life in relationship. You may find my most recent interview with Candice O’Denver of interest: http://www.beyondawakeningseries.com/archive/ You may also find the interview with Joanna Macy of interest as well, and her “work that reconnects.” It’s on the same page with Candice’s audio. You’ll just have to scroll further down.
      Warmly, Terry

      Reply
  2. Diane says

    August 16, 2014 at 11:07 am

    Many thanks,Terry for the wonderful dialogue with Annette-truly a remarkable,gentle soul,her commitment and depth shines out. Memorable phrases-“heart of the heart”,”collective wisdom”,”utter freedom to be a conscious being” and so many more.Once again,many thanks also for your commitment to spiritual healing and oneness.

    Reply
    • Terry Patten says

      September 5, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      Dear Diane, a warm thanks for your words of appreciation. Annette is indeed a remarkable, radiant and exquisitely gentle soul. Blessings, Terry

      Reply
  3. Steve says

    August 15, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    Clicking on the audio link brings up a message, no file found. Others finding the same, or is it just me?

    Reply
    • Terry Patten says

      August 25, 2014 at 7:11 pm

      Hi Steve, sorry you are having trouble. The audio file should be working here: http://www.beyondawakeningseries.com/archive/ Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Joseph Newcomer says

    August 15, 2014 at 5:10 am

    For years I have had this subscript for my email messages: “At the heart of matter is a matter of the heart.” Annette Kaiser speaks for me to the heart of my subscript. For years also I have dreamed (literally) of a place where all faiths are welcomed and free to worship from within the heart of their vision. Annette’s vision of a Universal Spirituality feels like a soul sister of this dream that haunts my soul.

    Reply

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Terry PattenTerry Patten is a key voice in integral evolutionary spirituality, culture, leadership, and activism. He is the founder of Bay Area Integral. With Ken Wilber and a core team, he developed and co-authored Integral Life Practice. He speaks, consults, and coaches on four continents and via the web. To learn more about Terry and his work, visit www.TerryPatten.com.

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