Seeking Universities for Applied Spiritual Science

[yogani]

Hi All:

Looking out into the future, it becomes clear that creating a long term institutional home for the new field of Applied Spiritual Science is a priority. Major universities appear to be the best candidates for this.

In AYP we are helping lay some of the ground work for this new science by addressing the following key points through experiential analysis:

1. There is such a thing as Human Spiritual Transformation, and its characteristics can be mapped.  

2. There are known practices (ancient and modern) which advance spiritual development in any individual who undertakes them.

3. Practices can be integrated and optimized in a variety of ways to enhance the process of cause and effect in promoting Human Spiritual Transformation.


Where Applied Spiritual Science goes from here will depend largely on the public continuing to come on board, both individually in the form of practitioners, and collectively in the institutions.

We do not need another religion or sect. What we need is continuing non-sectarian research and development on the remarkable capabilities inherent within every one of us. The above three points offer a lot of territory for exploration and discovery.

While AYP will continue to be an open resource for use by pioneering spiritual practitioners, in order to reach the public at large it will be necessary to find a permanent home for this kind of approach to spiritual practice and investigation. It obviously works, so we have every reason to be optimistic that this kind of knowledge will continue to find an increasing presence in the public awareness. As it does, programs will eventually be established on the university level. We'd like to help this process along in any way we can.  

So, as a long term plan, I'd like to move toward establishing a department at a major university for the sole purpose of researching and teaching the subject of Human Spiritual Transformation. If such a department could be created and funded, then AYP and similar forms of spiritual teaching would find a long term ally, and perhaps even a permanent home.

Obviously, such a university department would be multi-disciplinary, intersecting with neurology, biology, psychology, all the spiritual traditions, and a range of other disciplines. This is why a major university would be ideal, since the many supporting disciplines are already present.

Funding will be a key element. If the money can be found, universities will certainly have interest. There are currently several hundred million dollars in USA grant funds being spent at universities each year on "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (CAM). So there is precedence for the funding of non-sectarian spiritual research. (Research methodologies for this field have been developed also.) It is only a matter of expanding it from healthcare to also cover the subject of human spiritual transformation.

Only a tiny percentage of present CAM grant money would be needed to launch a Department of Applied Spiritual Science at the university level. Within that institutional structure, course and degree programs could be created, along with a comprehensive research program leading to the publication of many studies on human spiritual transformation. If successfully launched, interest in such a program could become contagious, leading to the formation of Applied Spiritual Science departments at other universities. And then we are on our way.

Getting this together is obviously a very long term project, one that reaches far beyond my lifetime. However, it is certainly worth getting started on. Our successors will thank us. Once the AYP writings and community have achieved a stronger critical mass, this is where I hope to be focusing attention.

It is being broached here now mainly for information, mulling over, discussion, and for identifying possible resources going forward.

All ideas and support leading in this direction are welcome. Thanks!

The guru is in you.

[emc]

I have not gone into the results of alternative medicine research, but my guess is that if alternative methods start to show regular and stable results in meta-analyses, there will naturally be an increased interest in the origin of those treatments, which is the spiritual evolution.

I know that the Karolinska Insitute has recently opened up an Osher Institute for alternative medical research after a donation. Luckily it's one of the most rigorous professors who is in charge. That will give plenty of credit if they find positive results.

http://www.ki.se/ocim/EN/index.html

There's a wide range of research, from (IMHO) silly projects like trying to create sensations of OBE's:

http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=38238&d=469&l=en

To more promising projects:

http://www.ki.se/ocim/EN/research.html

A randomised controlled trial on the effects of Mindfulness Meditation and stress management on quality of life, anxiety and stress in cancer patients

quote:A cancer diagnose may have substantial impact on peoples psychological wellbeing, health related quality of life, and many patients suffer from long lasting post-traumatic stress symptoms. Mindfulness-based meditation techniques have shown promising results in reducing stress related complaints and increasing quality of life for several patient groups. Mindfulness-based stress reduction training has become increasingly used in medical settings over the last decade. It has been shown to have the potential to decrease stress, anxiety and depression. This study aims at examining the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction training, delivered in group sessions, among cancer patients. The effects of the mindfulness-based stress reduction training will be studied in a randomized controlled trial and outcome measures will include: post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, depression, and health related quality of life. The intervention involves eight 1.5 hours sessions and consists of theoretical, experiential and group exercises. Meditation is trained in class and at home. Training involves body scan meditation, sitting and walking meditation and hatha yoga. At the end of each course there is a full-day meditation retreat. Approximately 140 patients will be recruited to participate in the study. The study is open to patients with varying cancer diagnoses and they will be invited to participate in the study at their one-year-follow-up visit. At baseline the patients is randomised to either the intervention or the wait-list control condition. After the follow-up at 6 months the control group will be offered to participate in the program. Studies to date indicate potential positive effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction training for cancer patients. However, more and better designed studies are needed. This study will give an important contribution to the understanding of the potential beneficial effects of mindfulness-based meditation training among cancer patients.

I don't know if there's any chance to stretch the area of research in the Osher Centre, but I see it as a great step forward that a conservative world leading university like Karolinska Institute has taken this step to open the Osher centre, and it seems plausible that they would be open to further expansion of topics - IF results from current projects are promising.

[yogani]

Hi EMC:

Yes, the Osher Foundation looks like a major player in funding Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) around the world. http://www.osherfoundation.org/index.php?foundation

One of their big projects here in the USA is the Osher Center at U of California San Francisco School of Medicine. http://www.osher.ucsf.edu/

San Francisco is also where the Osher Foundation is headquartered.

Two other major institutions who fund CAM and spiritual-related research are the US National Institute of Health, and John Templeton Foundation.
http://nccam.nih.gov/
http://www.templeton.org/

The grants and projects are all over the map, as you say. However, other than the oddities, the money goes pretty much for major ailments of society, as it should: HIV, cancer, neurological and psychological diseases, etc.

The real question is: Is any anyone taking the step beyond healthcare, and funding research and education on a large scale covering the process of human spiritual transformation? That is who we are looking for, and, of course, anyone who is actually doing that kind of research and education in non-sectarian mode already.

The more we can hook up with people and organizations doing that, the better. Eventually it can crystalize into something that is primarily about human spiritual transformation. Of course, there are many health benefits (physical and psychological) spinning off from that.

It is getting the horse of spiritual development in front of the cart of body/mind health. There is a lot of cart repair effort going on out there, which is fine. The horse needs attention too, or the cart will never be right.  

Thanks much for the feedback. This is a very important subject, because if we are going to help facilitate a major shift in world consciousness, large scale institutional programs will have to be addressed.

The guru is in you.

[yogani]

PS: Harvard has an Osher Institute also: http://www.osher.hms.harvard.edu

Both U of California-SF and Harvard Osher institutes are linked on the Karolinska Osher Institutet (Sweden) main menu, so they must be affiliated.

EMC, would you be comfortable introducing AYP to Mats Lekander, Director of Karolinska Osher Institutet? It would be a start, and might filter back this way eventually through Harvard and UCSF. We will find ways to work it from this end also. These are the kinds of universities we are interested in for this project, since they already have their feet wet to some degree in studying spiritual practices.

I'd love to do something in Florida (U of FL is close by), but these others seem to be much further along, and have the prestige as well.

It should be pointed out that many universities are doing grant-funded research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) these days, but few have formed entire colleges for the purpose. Those that have gone that far seem the logical places that will eventually move beyond CAM studies only to add direct research on the processes of human spiritual transformation.

Of course, a nudge from the funding foundations will help a lot, so they have to be approached also.

If we keep doing our homework here, AYP will be in a position somewhere down the road to make a favorable impression on the institutions, and hopefully help inspire them to develop a broader view on spiritual practices and their far-reaching consequences in all fields of human endeavor.    

The guru is in you.

[emc]

I could give it a try. Actually, I have thought of approaching him, since the only thing that could drag me back into science is doing research in this area. Or better up, perhaps I could voluntere and they could use me as a case study!?

I just got an idea - I know about a well known quantum physicist who gets published in journals like Science, who also is a potential healer. What if I could create a meeting with them both and do something cross disciplines? Ah... exciting!

[yogani]

quote:Originally posted by emc

I could give it a try. Actually, I have thought of approaching him, since the only thing that could drag me back into science is doing research in this area. Or better up, perhaps I could voluntere and they could use me as a case study!?

I just got an idea - I know about a well known quantum physicist who gets published in journals like Science, who also is a potential healer. What if I could create a meeting with them both and do something cross disciplines? Ah... exciting!

Whatever works!

Thanks much.

The guru is in you.

[scottfitzgerald]

Why not approach an online university first?

Perhaps an acceptance of classes in this field may be a first step.  I'm not an academic, and have zero knowledge of how a new department is created within a university, but my guess is they follow the money, and money comes from demand by students or other institutions.  Very open to the idea of figuring out how to help.  

Maybe a radio show???  I know a host, and I know a man with plenty of content...

[yogani]

Hi Scott:

Your thoughts on this are much appreciated.

The main motivation here is to expand the effort of developing and promoting applied spiritual science to the large research and educational institutions, i.e., major universities. Essentially, this is leveraging the concept of our little AYP research and education project into the mainstream of the academic world, where so much more can be accomplished.

We are not able to do it ourselves with the present limited resources of time and money. Neither would an existing online university be able to take it on. A lot of preexisting talent, prestige and financial resources are necessary to pull it off.

That is why I think the leading Universities already doing grant-funded research and coursework in Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) are the best place to focus. Expanding beyond CAM to research and education in human spiritual transformation is the logical next step for them. This would have far-reaching consequences in healthcare and many other fields. Because of the many positive spin-offs, I think ongoing grant funding would be possible.

It is a paradigm shift in the field of spiritual knowledge that is inevitable -- going from from esoteric teachings to wide open applied science. If we don't do anything, it will happen eventually. If we do something, it will happen sooner.

Regarding radio, while doing a show would be great, there just isn't time available here now to support ongoing broadcasts. However, I am available to do occasional phone interviews anytime for radio or print media. So bring it on!

What we really need is an "AYP PR Manager" who can arrange interviews with radio and print media outlets, and much more ambitious PR undertakings later on. Any volunteers?

Once the writing is better in hand (a year from now), I hope to be able to spend more time on PR activities.      

The guru is in you.

[Juliet]

Perhaps the William A Tiller Foundation for New Science (Dr. Tiller is at the Stanford School of Engineering) could be a connection here:

http://www.tillerfoundation.com/biography.php

http://soe.stanford.edu/research/layout.php?T=C&sunetid=07098155
contact

http://www.tillerfoundation.com/papers.php
papers

He is also somehow connected with the HeartMath people.

Just a thought, perhaps worth researching.
Juliet

[yogani]

Hi Juliet:

Thanks much for that.

Are you (or anyone here) in a position to introduce AYP (and the gist of this forum topic in particular) to Dr. Tiller?

Increasing awareness in the academic community (and funding foundations) on the concept of Applied Spiritual Science for Human Spiritual Transformation is the first step in the process of moving it into the mainstream of institutional research and education.

All the best!

The guru is in you.

[Juliet]

I don't currently know anyone directly connected with Tiller--but I will keep my ears open.

The Institute of Noetic Sciences is another one that's local here:
http://www.noetic.org/

I do know someone with some sort of connection there, which I can explore if there's an interest.

Juliet

[yogani]

quote:Originally posted by Juliet

I don't currently know anyone directly connected with Tiller--but I will keep my ears open.

The Institute of Noetic Sciences is another one that's local here:
http://www.noetic.org/

I do know someone with some sort of connection there, which I can explore if there's an interest.

Juliet

Hi Juliet:

Please do, and thank you.

Ultimately, we are aiming much larger than the Insitute of Noetic Sciences (to major university programs), but entrees at every level in the research infrastructure are desired. All are stepping stones to mainstream research and education. AYP is a stepping stone too.

All the best!

The guru is in you.

[Alvin Chan]

Some thoughts:

Is there actually a plan of what is to be done? E.g. kind of research to be conducted, methodology...... Ultimately it could be quite broad, covering the historical and mythological aspects. But that doesn't seem what you guys have in mind, and clearly it's something too grand to begin with? Do we mean some research on, say, the effects on the consciousness of yoga practices? Along that line, much could be done if we could somehow predict what kind of observable effects they would have within a lab setting. Just follow Dalai Lama or Swami Rama's example. (the latter is more contraversial as to the legitimacy of the so-called scientific findings..... but Dalai Lama and his disciples certainly showed scientists something observable)

What I can think of, that could be done right away, is the brainwave and other physiological parameters of those who can enter a deep meditative state here. But 2 problems here: 1. these has already been done many times and will interest very few researchers. 2. we won't be pushing forward the entire AYP systems in that way, and deep meditation alone doesn't distinguish itself from other mantra meditation very much.

What I've in mind is the cause-and-effect of kundalini-stimlating practices. Currently this is not yet studied carefully. Yes there may be some documents recording subjects that have some kundalini symptoms, but there's no scientific evidence of what kind of things lead to that. That's the missing part that I'm sure would be of interest to the scientific community and doesn't need much from us.

As for the connection, if we can't get through the big way, contacting research students who're desperate to find research topics is an easy way. They're available, cheap, and very often don't mind so much whether their research topic is "normal". When I was a research student, the room next to ours is the students from the psychology department. We can easily have some chitchat. But now I left the University, and afterall I'm a beginning Yogi with very little physiological changes, so I won't give it a shot for now. But that's certainly the easiest way I could think of.

[yogani]

Hi Alvin:

Great suggestions. These stike me as the kinds of discussions that would be occurring every day within a universtiy department devoted to Applied Spiritual Science.

Obviously, such a department in a major university does not exist yet (that we know of), and how it eventually forms may be by baby steps through individual research projects (like you are suggesting), or by a big leap through foundation funding and a commitment by a major university to get into it. Probably a combination of both.

From our persepctive in the AYP community, all we have to do is keep doing what we are doing -- facilitating maximum safe progress for the process of human spiritual transformation on the individual practitioner level, and build a community of such individuals able to provide ongoing support for the same process in many others.

In other words, if we can demonstrate the process of human spiritual transformation through causes and effects in a repeatable way, then that demonstrates the essential charactereistics of science, yes? My hope is that our efforts will eventually be noticed by large research/educational institutions, who will then pick up on it and run with the ball.

I don't think we want to be designing the research projects as a central activity here in AYP -- it could be a distraction. It is best left to professional scientists and full time students, and the institutions that can support that kind of work. We'd like to stay focused here on optimizing individual practices and results and, in doing that, hopefully inspire the institutions to take a closer look. The idea is to expand the discussion on human spiritual transformation into the mainstream.    

We are not starting from scratch in this, because many universities are already doing research on "Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)," i.e., researching spiritual methods in healthcare. We know of three major universities that have formed entire departments devoted to that -- Harvard, U of Calif/San Francisco, and Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) -- all supported by the Osher Foundation -- see links in early posts above. So there are some pretty big guns involved in spiritual research already. It only needs to be expanding to the broader frontier of human spiritual transformation. It will happen with or without an AYP in the picture. But I think we can add resources and many datapoints that can help hasten the process when considering any institutional undertaking in Applied Spiritual Science.

So we will just keep doing what we are doing, and making connections into the research and education mainstream wherever we can. Any help you can provide for that on any level will be all for the good.

All the best!

The guru is in you.

[brushjw]

The Sanctuary Spiritual Science Congregation & School in Reisterstown, MD might be something to look into.  

"As a religion, spiritual science is a metaphysical expression of the universal truths revealed in all world religions. All religions are acknowledged as having value in their teachings. In spiritual science you are likely to hear quotes from The Buddha, Jesus, Matthew Fox, Deepak Chopra, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mohammed and Confucius.

As a philosophy, spiritual science is a practical, easily applied way of thinking about the nature of the universe and our relationship to it. When we understand ourselves to be both creations and co-creators of the universe, we are then capable of expressing the unlimited potential within us."

aum namaste,
Joe