Yet wanting to change, reading about possibilities for change and thinking about change, doesn’t create the changes that stick for more than a few minutes while contemplating them. The only way real change happens is by learning new ways to achieve your goals and then with consistency practice, practice, practice! With practice and developing new habit patterns through the building of new channels of consciousness and creating new synaptic connections, NOTHING CHANGES!  You can not read your way to transformation, you must take action and integrate the knowledge being learned into each aspect of your life to develop new habit patterns which work and produce the results you want. This takes discipline and commitment. This takes working with someone who knows the path and how to help you achieve your results, not just someone espousing interesting information that sounds like something that could be valuable if only you can figure out how and what to do and work with someone to guide and direct you.

One of the great joys I have experienced over the past 40 years of sharing this wonderful knowledge, is being able to put on different hats for my students to ensure they face, embrace and replace any interference that arises for them in the process of their desired growth. Sometimes I have on my teacher’s hat, sometimes I put on a Life Coach hat and other times my therapist hat as they have blocks from their past that need to be removed before real progress can occur. Yet whatever hat I put on it is all to help the student reach their goals and understand the amazing potential possible to quiet the ego, find real peace, make deeper spiritual connections, improve relationships and become healthier physically, emotionally and mentally.

So if you want to brush up on the foundation of knowledge or techniques for either meditation or A Course in Miracles or are a first timer who always wanted to change your life to be more at peace and better able to enjoy life, we welcome you to join Tuesday nights Foundation series or just come to Wednesday nights ongoing classes where we add may more insights and techniques to help you develop mastery of these skills in your life!

Pure, free and forever, Brian

This is the nature of human existence in the world we live and provides each of us a great challenge to limit toxic intake, maximize healthy input and actively seek to remove whatever toxins make their way into our body and mind.

For most of my life I have made it a point to detoxify myself on a regular basis by staying in touch with each part of myself to be aware when I am out of balance, or in a weakened state; emotionally , mentally , physically or spiritually. Yet like many, there are times I ignore the signs and live in denial or forgetfulness unwilling at the time to face, embrace and replace whatever impurity I may be aware of that needs purifying. Of course the longer I ignore it, the more pervasive the damage that is done, the longer it takes to return that system to optimum functioning and the greater the costs involved to myself and others because of these mistakes.

Certainly I have established some excellent disciplines in that I meditate and do my Course in Miracles lessons daily and have done so for the past twenty years. This has created great strength and balance in my mind and with my emotions as I keep myself attuned to a clear mind and open heart forgiving daily, remembering my Truth as a spiritual being having a human experience, feeling a sense of Oneness with God and connecting to others with love and appreciation. Yet despite these wonderful disciplines I do find myself being overly tolerant of my non-optimal diet that can focus on foods that taste good but are not ideal for my complete health. This is why I will regularly do a detoxifying cleanse or fast to rid my system of its impurities and reset my body’s homeostasis.

The act of detoxification is an essential part of the path to Self Realization, optimal wellness and life extension. Through purifying our body,mind and spirit we are renewed, refreshed and revitalized to experience the depth of our true nature without interference from the toxic thoughts, emotions, relationships or substances that have accumulated in our system. By taking the time to make a focused effort to detoxify we think more clearly,make better decisions, have greater health and strength and better enjoy our human existence.

Relationships become more loving, working becomes more productive, food tastes better, sleep is more peaceful and our general sense of well being greatly improved. So perhaps the real question is, when will you detoxify your mind and body to provide all these benefits to yourself knowing as you do you share them with your family ,friends and business associates?

Here’s a suggestion…..whenever you take your car in for an oil change or maintenance check up, you treat yourself as well to a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual check up to keep yourself running on all cylinders!

After all, why should you car be treated better than your body, mind and spirit?

This will be our focus Wednesday night as we begin an internal cleansing of the body, mind, and spirit to turbo charge your life with great joy and inspiration to be the best you can be and get the most miles out of your car-body!

Of course in this state of upset reason disappears and it becomes a power trip of whomever can “win” with the most cleverness, domination or threat. Sadly this brings an outcome of disconnection, more repressed anger and unexpressed wishes for revenge!   ”To the victor goes the spoils” Winston Churchill once said.  And that is exactly what this strategy produces, spoils…a spoiled connection that leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth!

There is however another popular version of this earthly pattern that is just as harmful although it looks nicer to the physical eye. This is the battle that occurs internally whereby a person doesn’t lash out verbally at another but instead keeps their outrage all inside and “swallows” it so as not to exhibit bad behavior. Here a person may actually try to appease the other or succumb to the others demands but then stuffs their feels of upset and either pretends to go along with them or quietly withdraws as they “put their head in the sand.” This is equally disturbing and leads to many imbalances and illnesses.

Which way do you handle things? Do you find how in some areas of your life you fight back and other areas you give in or ignore?

Fortunately there is another way and one that gets to the source of all conflict,uncovering the cause of the conflict and resolving it at this level. Yet to utilize this one must find a way to quiet and restrain the ego hijacker and refuse to allow it power over you to carry out its mission “to be right rather than happy.” A choice must be made as to what one values most in their life, maintaining their image of power and identity or having peace?

The ego’s version of peace is to get whomever is involved in their conflict to see things the ego’s way,do things their way and have others do what they demand as much or as little as they request. In other words the “peace” of the ego is to have control and get whatever it desires. The peace of the Higher Self’s right-mind is quite different, it is to correct the causes of the conflict. The Higher Self uses reason,compassion and forgiveness, to find another way to join together in mutual interests that builds greater connectedness and joy. Doing this is a re-membering of how we all share the same Source of Life and the same goals to be pure,free and forever.

It takes a strong dedication to maintain the discipline necessary to deny the ego’s emotional hijacking and walk away, breath, release the negative energies in a healthy way and then look within to uncover the rules and beliefs being violated that is casuing the conflict. Yes…to have peace you must face and embrace all that isn’t  right minded and to repalce these ideas with a loving belief that remembers the Oneness and values love above all else.  This is your choice for how you want to live and the legacy you want to leave to your family and friends.

Personally, I choose peace and intend to share the underlying causes and means of correction of any and all conflicts to those willing and committed to wanting peace and happiness more than superiority and being right.

This will be our subject Wednesday night as I explain how to make this process work….always!!! Are you ready to learn and find peace and willing to find another way! If so,I look forward in seeing you Wednesday night in Clear Mind Open heart Meditation at 6:30pm and A Course in Miracles at 8:00pm.

Pure, free and forever, Brian

Surely there must be another way?

When we choose the ego mind to make our decisions and take action as we are not in an empowering state of peace and love, the outcome will always be one of lack, confusion and disappointment. How can it be anything but as the ego chooses only that which makes it right, not happy. The egos number one priority is to feel special and superior over another. The ego usurps the power of the underlying Self, from where all power of creation emanates to delete what doesn’t align to it’s beliefs, distort what it needs to feel superior and generalize whatever supports its’ position while minimizing the competing position. Is it any wonder why following this approach keeps one’s life in a constant state of struggle?

Fortunately there is another way!

The first step to changing a situation is recognizing what you really don’t want and saying “No”. Declaring with intensity “No More, Enough!” begins the process to deny the ego it’s power and allow another possibility to emerge. Next we must take whatever action works best for us to shift into a peaceful frame of mind and consider how we all share mutual interests for living a healthy life, with personal and group liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the way we see fit which causes no harm to another. It is here we step back and look to use reason to find a consensus of how we can all join together and discover how move forward as friends and family members. each respecting the others preferences. Instead of trying to be right and gain control over others, we choose to be happy and find a way that denies the ego attempts to get “my way” to enhance my vested interests and looks at the greatest good for the greatest number based on fact not rhetoric, on performance not conjecture.

Just imagine for a moment taking the tens of billions of dollars spent in political ads on TV, radio, billboards and mailings, and using that instead for education, health care or helping our fellow citizens damaged by Hurricane Sandy? What if each candidate is asked to share not only their political views but provide specific plans to address our common challenges based upon scientific principles and proven strategies? What if we all come together and from the depths of our hearts find another way to allow our Higher Self guide and direct us all in making heart guided decisions?

Am I being too idealistic and naive? Perhaps! Yet unless we form a new vision and join together to set a higher standard, we won’t have a new direction to aim for and give ourselves a chance to make the inner corrections necessary to make this possibility happen.

Our personal and collective lives in this world is a projection of our inner picture within of what we value and believe. Maybe today, before you vote you can step back and consider the bigger picture of what might be best for greatest number of people in our country and the world, and even if that means a little less for you personally, it means greater peace and abundance for the rest of the our planet.

I look forward in seeing you Wednesday night in class for meditation and A Course in Miracles where we will share the knowledge and processes to find another way to bring more unity and peace into our lives and into our world.

Pure,free and forever,Brian

As the flight progressed I felt a deep sadness arise inside of me. I recognized the feeling as feedback from my collective conscious mind filled with shame and guilt. My country had murdered over 100,000 people (our soldiers and theirs;and so many innocent bystanders) and maimed tens of thousands more while ruining the lives of millions by our terrorist actions. As a member of this country I share this guilt even though I was completely against the war. This is known as collective guilt. Whether from slavery or the our handling of the Indians,we each carry the burden and can become entangled in its unseen tentacles.

Perhaps one day we will follow the lead of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission to face and embrace our errors and ask for forgiveness.

In tears I tried to ask forgiveness of this woman with sign language as best I can. Finally I wrote her a note so she could later get it translated and I asked the Holy Spirit to join me in a personal and collective forgiveness process. Peace returned. Later I offered to buy her some chocolate that she wanted but didn’t have a credit card to buy. The stewardess seeing my action later handed me back my credit card and with a smile told me it was on the house as she was touched by my act of generosity.Later when we spoke she admitted she felt the same guilt but hadn’t even seen the movie.(Check it out,its eye opening!)

I share this story with you to bring to your attention the guilt each of us holds for any wrong minded action by those members of our family and associated groups we are involved in. There is a group mind and that is the cumulative fields of consciousness of each member forming it. Any mistakes made by any member that occurs affects all members. Children especially are adapt at this and often seek to take on the guilt of a parent to ease their pain and provide the child some hope they still might get the love they were missing and wishing for. Sometimes the guilt you are projecting on to another may not even stem from your direct actions but by those whose group you belong to. Just look what has happened to cycling since the Lance Armstrong doping report.

The closer we are identified with a group the more guilt we feel and the greater the interference in our personal field of being. This is another reason why forgiveness is one of the most powerful processes we can use to return our peace and freedom. There can never be a life of virtue until we correct the errors in our personal and group minds. Suffering will continue until we face, embrace and bring grace to those parts of our mind regardless at the level it is.

Having a willingness to expand our awareness to the collective mind we all share can be quite a process, but one that results in greater clarity of the Oneness and freedom within it.

“Don’t pretend to be what you are not, don’t refuse to be what you are. Your love of others is the result of self-knowledge, not its cause. Without self-realization, no virtue is genuine. When you know beyond all doubting that the same life flows through all that is and you are that life, you will love all naturally and spontaneously.”  Sri Nisargadatta Maharaja

These are some of the areas of concentration in Clear Mind Open Heart Meditation and A Course in Miracles this past week. Taking a look at the deeper levels of truth within us all to remove the ignorance that the unforgiven guilt and denial of the Oneness causes.

I look forward in seeing you at the center soon!
Pure, free and forever, Brian

Whether one calls this Source of Life the Creator, God, Love, Light, Creative Intelligence, Lord, or something else, it’s clear that some powerful force or substance with creative intelligence and organizing ability has brought each of us into existence. All we see and experience in manifestation in whatever way we perceive it comes from this Source. And it is Life I give thanks and appreciation. My brief human experience is filled with grace as I come to know myself as this to be aware of  this facet of the infinite nature of Life itself. The off color photo below is from my second birthday party while living in Brooklyn. I am the one being held by the tall blond woman,a neighbor. Next to be on my right is the internationally famed artist and director Julian Schnabel, and next to him my mother. My brother is the one with fingers in his ears and tongue sticking out. Who could have imagined then what our life trajectories were going to be. This certainly demonstrates the magic of being alive. 

Wednesday, as I will be returning from a week in California, I will be celebrating my 40/20 breath-day! For even as I know I am an immortal spirit,pure,free and forever, I know my experience here is a gift of grace. For me it will be a day of gratitude. My life has been an amazing adventure, what a long strange trip it’s been!!  I I am forever grateful for the friends and associates who have filled my life in so many amazing ways. I have had so many opportunities to learn and grow, to love and have fun, to experience the full spectrum of what this world has to offer us with all it’s beauty, excitement and wonder. And I know that for each and every day I remain in this body, whether for only one more day or to celebrate my 40/20 times 2,I am grateful. As always each moment gives me abundant opportunities to learn to extend love, create a space of peace, be absorbed in and share the knowledge of Oneness, and to play the game of life with amazing partners and participants. I know as I make these choices the possibilities for joy will continue to multiply!

I commit myself for the next decade of my life to continually do the best I can to be at peace, practice forgiveness, and share the creative essence of my heart and mind. My intentions for the next decade of my human existence is to continually share the knowledge of alternative medicine to mainstream the spirit/mind/body paradigm. I intend to do the best I can to help interested people learn how to use this knowledge in empowering ways to extend their life and improve their wellness at all levels, while developing a heart directed vision that is propelled with passion and guided with mastery to create an extraordinary lifetime. I also intend to place more emphasis on creating uplifting music that soothes and uplifts one’s spirit.  

(This last photo is of my daughter and I celebrating my breath-day Saturday in a beautiful and delicious Beverly Hills restaurant)

Thank each of you for the wonderful part you have played and will continue to play in my life. In deep gratitude and appreciation, Pure,free and forever, Brian

I wonder how many of you can relate to this journaling which I asked a client do to examine how she starts her day and views her life. She had been on anti-depressants for 4 years and although “functioning” she had little to no real joy and purpose in her life. I know I can relate to this as I have been here myself on more than one occasion and found this to be a very sad and lonely place to be.  I feel very fortunate to have experienced these moments of being depressed and lost as it was though these personal experiences that I was forced to find another way to approach and live my life. Like many I was originally diagnosed as having depression and was placed on anti-depressants to overcome this feeling. However like most taking those pills didn’t do much of a difference except now I got out of bed and walked around in a funk! The pills made me feel like a zombie and I felt numb, disconnected and completely without any sex drive! This is all to often the outcome of this strategy and all too often leads to now taking more meds to handle these symptoms! I feel blessed I figured this out after only six months. I have seen so many people still taking their anti-depressants for ten or twenty years still feeling unhappy but in terror to get off their medications! Have you or someone you know fallen into this trap?
As I watch the growing demand for pharmaceutical answers to human problems of the mind and spirit, I feel so lucky to  have found another way and  be able to share this other way. THIS is what our center is all about and especially our school, FICAM. We help people find another way to feel good and be happy. We show them how to develop mastery to turn their visions into reality. We help reignite the passion of being alive and the joy of reaching out to extend oneself in whatever creative and loving way they yearn to in their hearts. All this is possible when you follow the successful paths of those who have learned to overcome their personal limitations and fears.

I will focus on this Wednesday night in both Clear Mind Open Heart meditation class and A Course in Miracles showing you another way to be relaxed, focused and on your way forward to waking up each morning and feeling “I am alive, therefore I am blessed. Today I get the opportunity to share my love and talents with others in productive and enjoyable ways that fill my life with meaning!”

Let me show you how to build a bridge from where you are to where you want to go and find happiness while doing it!

Pure, free and forever in service to knowledge and peace,  Brian