Integral Yoga, Integral Theory & Evolutionary Spirituality: A Missing Piece
(Below is an email exchange, sparked by Christopher Sierzchula who found an article I wrote and contacted me through the Shift in Action website. The article was entitled ‘Andrew Cohen’s Evolutionary Enlightenment and A Buried Interview with Patrizia Norelli- Bachelet’*. The interview referred to was conducted by Craig Hamilton, former senior editor of What is Enlightenment magazine, who is currently scheduled to be a presenter at CIIS’s AUM Integral Yoga Conference at the Institute of Noetic Science - IONS - in June of 2007**).
Hi Lori, I just sent of an email [to WIE magazine] at your request about the unpublished article with Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet. Having just found out about this teacher I am looking for good place to start in her Ouvre – what I have run into so far has confirmed a growing suspicion and intuition about a missing piece in all the "Integral" stuff out there lately – and as his was coming from a feeling/ intuitive place I had no Cognitive way of expressing it in a way that could be argued or validified – Her words/energy speak very much of a unique and particularly feminine addition that calls into question MANY MANY years of Spiritual tradition and it's roll in evolution.... Any Help in these regards would be greatly appreciated. Sincerly, Christopher Sierzchula
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Hi Christopher, it is nice to hear from you regarding Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet’s work. I had no inkling that something was missing in Integral Yoga/Integral Theory circles until I visited Pondicherry in January of 2000. I had a strong intuitive feeling at that point, a bit of a sinking feeling ... like looking at a huge task yet to be completed, with no one aware of or willing to seriously question what was left to be done. I knew it would have to involve an Individual who was truly destined to and capable of furthering the descent of the Supramental Knowledge. Soon after that experience/intuition, I found the book 'The Gnostic Circle' on my sister's bookshelf in March of 2000 (on, or within a couple days of the equinox), and then things clicked into place. She filled a position that had seemed to have been left empty, in a way that my Mind could never have imagined. I have never had such a dramatic experience of a NEW door opening to such REAL and LIFE APPLICABLE Information/Knowledge.
But, it was apparent then that the mainstream Integral Yoga Community did not care to include Ms. Norelli-Bachelet in their picture of how things were proceeding with the yoga, and that is still apparent .... the most recent example is that CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies) is putting on a four day Integral Yoga conference at IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences) on the summer solstice with a cast of presenters who all know about Ms. Norelli-Bachelet's extensive yoga, who all have no interest in including mention of her four decades of work towards integral yoga, evolutionary spirituality, etc. One of the speakers is Craig Hamilton, the former What Is Enlightenment senior editor who interviewed Ms. Norelli-Bachelet at Aeon Center for Cosmology in Southern India, yet avoided mention of her in his subsequent article ‘Why is Sri Aurobindo Cool?’. Another presenter is Will Moss, who is a moderator of Auroconf – a discussion group on the yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother) that is unanimous in their rejection of PNB's knowledge/position (I actually got kicked out of that group, but that is another story).
So the persistent dismissal of new relevant information by the current lords of Integral Yoga, Integral Theory, Evolutionary Spirituality, is more than a bit foul and hard to stomach once you understand what has been offered and what is at stake. It is in some ways a denial of the feminine, a denial of the dynamics of the 'Mother' Earth, but also of 'Father' Time. One also finds upon deeper understanding of these things, a denial of the seed of the Absolute ... a denial that the seed of the Absolute must somehow correspond (or expand into) to Laws of the Earth, Measurements of the Earth, Measurements of Time, Laws of Material/Cosmic existence. Most people do not want to get specific about these things, don't want their sense of freedom to feel hemmed in or limited by the notion of Absolute Knowledge ... religion has certainly scared the pants off everybody in that regard. Now that fear apparently serves as a veritable bouncer to the 'new' world in which the Laws of the Absolute are revealed in the dynamic movement of the Cosmos and the dynamic movement of each Individual. Those who cannot surmount that fear, will simply label Ms. Norelli-Bachelet's work 'Authoritarian' (and other much less pleasant descriptors), and they will carry on in their own grooves WITHOUT the New Knowledge that explains how the FIELD and JOURNEY of the Individual and the Multiple is governed/coordinated on the level of the Supramental Truth-Consciousness.
It is quite a Catch-22 for those who envision themselves at the cutting edge of these subjects. If they acknowledge Ms. Norelli-Bachelet's yoga, they risk a serious reassessment of their own teachings; and if they do not acknowledge her contributions to the Integral/Supramental Yoga, to World Gnosis, they proceed to offer an Integral path or an Integral transformation, that leaves one at a total loss when it comes to understanding or integrating things as basic as our number system, the Earth's daily rotation and yearly revolution, the 360 degree circle, the Earth's geography, world religions, recurring world myths and archetypes, current affairs, etc.
It is always a happy day when people such as yourself intuitively see through the smoke screens thrown up by the 'authorities' on these matters, and begin to explore Ms. Norelli-Bachelet’s teachings for the sake of the Knowledge offered.
As far as how to proceed with your studies, lots of people start with ordering/reading 'The Gnostic Circle' and 'The Magical Carousel' to get a feel for the Cosmology. Those books really explain the eternal Journey/Path and how to follow it on an Individual and World scale. But for those interested in how it is exactly that Ms. Norelli-Bachelet entered the Integral Yoga field, 'The Tenth Day of Victory' is an excellent autobiographical account of her initiation into the Work.
'Symbols and the Question of Unity' is short and AMAZING explanation of the deep significance of the circle and its divisions (that is sadly out of print ... look for it via an online search). 'The New Way - A Study in the Rise and Establishment of a Gnostic Society, Volumes 1, 2 & 3' get down to more nitty gritty when it comes to the Supramental Descent, the lineage, the mis-executed building of the Mother's Temple, the nature of Time, the significance of myths and prophecy in the context of what is unfolding now on the Earth and the role/task of the Individual.
Webpages are being developed for these books and others, to give people more of a sense of what it is that is being introduced***. For now a list of books by Ms. Norelli-Bachelet (and information on how to order) is available on Aeon Group website: http://www.aeongroup.com. Many of her published articles are available on that site as well.
Here are a couple of Yahoo Groups that have been established as places to discuss Ms. Norelli-Bachelet's work (and current developments):
The Preparatory Study Group (which you are welcome to join) - this is guided by Robert E. Wilkinson, Patricia Heidt and myself. Ms. Norelli-Bachelet does not get involved in this group unless we get off track somehow, or if we need to ask her for clarification and such.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preparatorystudygroup/
The Vishaal Study Group - this is guided by Ms. Norelli-Bachelet, and is open to serious students. VSG discusses 'The Vishaal Newsletters' (articles by PNB published from about 1986-1993) and also topics of current interest. This group and MRVW (below) as well have been on a bit of a break this spring, but should resume at some point in the not-too-far future, and you are welcome to contact to the moderator to join.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vishaalstudygroup/
The Movement for the Restoration of Vedic Wisdom (which can be viewed as a visitor or you can join as a member) - this is moderated directly by Ms. Norelli-Bachelet and discusses the issues of the Calendar, the Tropical Zodiac, the calendar mis-alignment currently firmly established in India, etc.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/movementforrestorationofvedicwisdom/
If at any point you do find yourself wanting to get involved on other levels, such as helping to bring the issues at hand more to the surface, offering financial support, etc. to Aeon Group that is all certainly possible and welcome. Actually, you already did get involved by emailing WIE magazine about the buried interview. Thank you. Such contributions are precious. If you like, Aeon Group can put you on a mailing list to alert you of developments you might be interested in (I think that happens automatically if you order a book from Aeon Group).
It is good to head into these studies at your own pace, digesting what you can, asking questions and getting involved in the groups only if that feels appropriate for you. Some people just enjoy the books, some come into the groups and observe, some people come into the groups and get more involved. It’s all fine.
Best of Light, Lori
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*
http://www.quantumyoga.org/Andrew%20Cohen%20PNB%20Interview.htm
**
Craig Hamilton is scheduled to host a workshop and panel at the Integral Yoga conference: “Living on the Edge of Evolution: Spirituality and Mysticism in an Evolving Universe” and “Facing the Challenge of Fundamentalism and other Shadow Issues in the Ongoing Evolution of Integral Yoga”.
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http://www.patrizianorellibachelet.com
