The Daily Evolver

Recorded 3/4/22 Vladimir Putin’s romantic Russian nationalism has metastasized into megalomania. Will  Russian society go along?  Will the modern world?  Witnessing the heartbreak and resistance of the Ukrainian people.

Integral Life’s Editor-in-Chief Corey DeVos and I are old integral pals who love talking about current events. Here we turn on the microphone to share our attempt to make sense of the Ukraine conflict. Recorded 3/2/22

Considering situations like the Ukraine war from multiple perspectives is like turning up the resolution on a google map. We are able to see more of what is there, how things fit together in a larger pattern and how to better navigate through it all. Recorded 2/25/22

A surprising step forward in defacto world governance, and keen eyes on the ongoing complexity of social media platforms.

Surprising support for woke politics from one of today’s leading anti-woke thinkers.

The New York Times columnist considers every motivation except authentic religious experience.

Reviewing media writer Peter Baker’s critique of Chloe Zhao’s integrally-flavored, retro-future commercial.

Today I am joined by my dear friend and colleague, Diane Musho Hamilton, to honor our brother-in-arms, Terry Patten, who recently passed away at the age of 70. Terry was beloved by many in the Integral community, and Diane and I had the privilege to teach and work with him for nearly 20 years. As Diane recounts, Terry was “the consummate integralist”, awake to his own mind, body and spirit, and dedicated to the wellbeing of all: family, friends and the world at large. I think of him as Integral’s “Zorba the Greek”, whose warmth, laugh and sheer ecstatic transmission could turn any gathering into a celebration. Above all Terry was an activist, championing what he called the “revolution of the heart”, an integration of: The “inner work” of self-awareness and personal transformation The “interpersonal work” of authentic, compassionate relating The “outer work” of practical, beneficial action in the world In our conversation, Diane and I reflect not just on our extraordinary friend, but also on the history of the Integral movement, the evolution of its ideas and practices, and the countless people who have been uplifted by the evolutionary vision. For anyone watching this episode, there is a photo show at the end. I hope you enjoy! – Jeff Salzman Terry Patten’s life’s work is articulated in his final book “The New Republic of the Heart, An Ethos for Revolutionaries”. You can find out more about Diane Musho Hamilton, and contact her about her offerings, here. The cover version of the song Spirit in the Sky is credited to Black Feathers.

Here are some end-of-year-musings about our current moment in the evolution of consciousness. I bring an integral lens to look at cultural polarization, effective governance, Covid, progress, our biggest dangers, and the challenge of the millions of stories people tell about all of it. Enjoy and here’s to a bright 2021! – Jeff Salzman

In his remake of West Side Story, master filmmaker Steven Spielberg demonstrates how to bring a classic work of art into the present. Integrating the 60-year old Broadway musical’s cultural context into our own, his West Side Story expresses colliding worlds with deep sympathy and goodwill to all. And the sheer cinematic transmission! From the iconic opening, with its call-and-response whistle echoing through the tenements of New York City, the film’s every moment is lit with the sparkle of humanity. It exudes the passion of youth, the grittiness of street life, and the deep liquid space of the gang and family. What a joy to be in the hands of a great artist (and leader of great artists, as cinema is our most collaborative of art forms) at the height of his power. West Side Story tells a tale of race, culture and class conflict with a flamboyantly American flavor. It is the story of star-crossed young lovers (inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet), ethnic warfare, and the relentless march of modernity. In Spielberg’s hands, all of these conflicts are woven into a drama that is both particular and universal, and ultimately heartening. As Time Magazine’s critic Stephanie Zacharek wrote: “I had no idea I needed this West Side Story until I saw it.” I hereby nominate this beautiful film for status as an integral work of art, and in this episode, I make my case. I hope you enjoy it and the movie too! – Jeff Salzman