"Glass Ball Mandalla" by Dafna Mordecai
Kurt
Johnson
Kurt closed his personal website to administer this
one for ISDnA and so he posts his schedule here. Kurt is a co-founder of
InterSpiritual Dialogue in Action with Brother Wayne and others (see "History of
ISD" at the Bro. Wayne page). Kurt has been
the long term volunteer Coordinator for ISDnA and currently volunteers as Administrator
for The InterSpiritual Multiplex and The Universal Order of
Sannyasa (now known as the Community of The Mystic Heart). There are links to
Kurt's various activities, publications etc. relating to the ongoing
"Wayne-work", interspirituality and dharma practice throughout this site.
As can be seen from the short "bio"
below, Kurt has had rather high profile life-careers in science, religion and literature.
But he doesn't stand too much on those "ceremonies" or "15 minutes
of fame" nor on needing to be known as either "Dr." and/or "Rev."
as required sometimes in some parts of academic and ecclesiastical life. His real
passion is the simplicity of the nondual life. His current varied schedule involves
the following diverse activities:
Satsang Sharer rooted in
Advaita Vedanta-- "Lateral Satsang", where he goes just by "kurt"
Hosting Meditation and Deep
Dialogue Circles for The Coalition for OneVoice
Speaking and Teaching
engagements for One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, One Spirit Learning Alliance, the UN NGO
National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union (Ethical Culture), or Humanist
Institute
Conference participation
for diverse coalitons and networks in the Awakening and World Transformation discussion
and general scientific
activities in evolutionary biology and ecology
each is listed as
necessary in the right hand column
Short Biography
Longer Wikipedia
Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Johnson_%28entomologist%29
Kurt works
across a number of fields: spirituality,
science, literature and business. A Christian
monastic for 14 years, he was then a professional scientist in evolutionary biology at
major scientific institutions for 20 years, publishing widely in interna- tional
scientific journals. Since 2001 he has
balanced work in world religions, spirituality and science, and retired from business
administration in 2007.
In 2002 he
formed with Catholic monk Bro. Wayne Teasdale, and others, InterSpiritual Dialogue (now ISDnA; www.isdna.org) a network
for contemplative sharing across religious traditions. In 2004 Kurt was invited to
begin teaching from his root path, Advaita Vedanta in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi. In 2006 he co-founded The Coalition
for OneVoice (www.coalitionforonevoice.org)
and joined NY’s One Spirit Learning Alliance and Interfaith Seminary (www.onespiritinterfaith.org) where
he teaches world religions and Integral Spirituality, melding Bro.
Wayne's interspiritual vision, nondual spirituality, and the integral thinking of Ken
Wilber and Don Beck. In science/literature,
Kurt authored the bestselling Nabokov’s Blues: The Scientific Odyssey of a Literary Genius
(2000)”. Most recently Kurt has been a
co-founder of the Contemplative Alliance (www.gpiw.org) and the Universal
Order of Sannyasa (a Sanskrit phrase referring to the renunciate “Life of
Service”).
Kurt at www.amazon.com. Kurt's top 10 book in popular
science with Steve Coates, 1999-2000, Nabokov’s
Blues: The Scientific Odyssey of a Literary
Genius.
McGraw-Hill
paperback
_________________________
Recent Published Articles
in Spirituality
What is a Monk?
forthcoming from Monks without Borders
Vision in Action:
www.via-visioninaction.org/via-li/ArticlesEssays.php
Scroll down to Hayashi & Johnson
Kosmos:
Tension in Barcelona:Parliament of World’s Religions 2004
By The Service Council of InterSpiritual Dialogue
View now
The Key Word Is 'We'
By Kurt Johnson
The emergence of a palpable new sense of ‘We’, a distinctive energy or level of
consciousness experienced as available in, and for, collective
consciousness is now at least glimpsed by nearly every deeply
rooted spiritual practitioner.
View now
One Spirit
Journal: click HERE
ISDnA's Infinite
Sensitivity: http://www.isdna.org/infinite_sensitivity.php
The Fate of
Democracy (Prometheus Books 2006): "Democracy, Religions and the Language of
Separation" (PDF available by email)
Detail from
"Botanical Mandalla" by Dafna Mordecai |
|
When Kurt was asked to begin teaching in his root
tradition of Advaita Vedanta in 2004 he chose not to do "vertical" teaching,
where a teacher is the center of Satsang. Rather, Brother Wayne counseled that the
conversation for the emerging era and paradigm includes attention to a more horizontal,
lateral, conversation from the Satguru in all. So, Kurt began his
"Lateral Satsang". In New York City, the lateral satsangs (also called the
"NY Circles" in ISDnA and "The Meditation and Deep
Dialogue Circles" by The Coalition for OneVoice) meet 2-5
times per month, but at least always twice, once on the westside of Manhattan and once on
the eastside. They are free of charge and held in private homes.
Current Schedule
LATERAL SATSANG
Two to five times per month, free of
charge. You can get the schedule by emailing
kurtjohnsonisd@yahoo.com
Dec. 21, Eastside Manhattan
Dec. 29, CANCELLED, Westside
(host out of town)
Listen to kurt at Namaste Radio on Interspirituality
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/namasteradio
Under "Show Notes"
scroll down the ON DEMAND Episodes and Click on "Previous Episodes".
Select Rev. Dr. Kurt Johnson "What is Interspirituality"
Kurt's schedule is
usually also posted at Satsang Teachers.com:
www.satsangteachers.com
*
SPECIAL
October 21, 2011
9 AM
San Rafael, CA
Kurt speaks at
Science and Nonduality Conference
www.scienceandnonduality.com
*****
What's Lateral Satsang
like?
Going into its sixth year, the "Laterals"
have evolved into really useful "check-in" opportunities for those on any dharma
path. Groups can range from 6-20 and many regulars know each other well by
now. But we are always graced with many newcomers and also long time friends who
come and go when it works for their schedules. Over 600 different people have shown
up over the years. The atmosphere is quiet, trusting, warm and relaxed. You'll
feel welcome, for sure. There is at least 30 minutes of shared silence and then deep
quiet dialogue, usually using a "talking stick" and sometimes with a suggested
"theme".
Upcoming Event
Schedule
November 6,
2011- Kurt joins ceremonies of
Community of The Mystic Heart at Integral Yoga, New York City. See Calendar at www.communityofthemysticheart.org
October 25,
2011-. Kurt speaks
at UN Week of Spirituality. See www.csvgc-ny.org
October 2,
2011-. Kurt and
Loch Kelly teach l-day Orientation at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City.
June 2011-. Kurt joins Contemplative Alliance
gathering with Aster Patel from the Auroville Community in India.
May 2011-. Kurt joins Contemplative Alliance
gathering with Fr. Richard Rohr.
April 2011-. Kurt joins with others in re-forming
the "Eco-spirituality Working Group" at the United Nations (NY).
October 2011. Kurt speaks at the Science and Nonduality
Conference (CA). www.scienceandnonduality.com
October 2011. Kurt speaks at Week of Spirituality, United Nations
(NY).
February 2012. Kurt speaks at Conference toward an Interspiritual
Theology (TN).
September
24-25, 2010. Induction ceremony for Community of The Mystic Heart in Sedona,
Arizona (see www.communityofthemysticheart.org
CALENDAR
October
11-15, 2010. West Coast Contemplative Alliance gathering
Late
October, 2010. Special program with The Temple of Understanding
One
Spirit Teaching Dates (www.onespiritinterfaith.org
CLICK on Public Events and Workshop, home page far right):
Sept. 16:
Interspirituality Orientation
Oct. 3:
Interspirituality Continued
Nov. 4-
April: Cultivating a Mature, Universal Spirituality. Based on the Nine
Elements of a Universal Spirituality by Brother Wayne Teasdale (now the Nine Vows of the
Community of The Mystic Heart). One evening per month with additional discussion
groups. Staff-- Kurt Johnson, Diane Berke, Andrew Harvey, Loch Kelly, Dena Merriam
Registration: Public Events and
Workshops at www.onespiritinterfaith.org
Cover of card from
Pamela Wilson (www.pamelasatsang.com) to Kurt Johnson, 2005, with Satsang counsel.
Pamela Wilson, Annette Knopp (www.thefreeheart.com) and Kurt are the Satsang sharers for
Fellowship of the Heart, the Religious Association founded to support Pamela's work
Some History
Recently, www.stillnessspeaks.com created a section on
kurt and, for the first time recorded the original correspondence between Pamela and kurt,
after his "shift" in 2001. They met two months later and begin working
together.
“Kurt.
There is a reservoir of devotion in the spiritual heart which rests, waiting for a silent
song…akin to moonlight whose soft touch opens the evening flowers. And then it
flows unreservedly from heart to heart. How lucky we are to be the mystery’s
children and to know it, not as father or mother, but that which breathes us, moves rivers
within, and beats the drum of our heart. This is communion of Self to Self, life and
love in devotion to itself, a celebration of what is Real, and cannot die. Sending
love to my new friend. We must meet.”
_____________________
Special Section
in Single-Column Format Below
By popular demand:
"Saves" from Kurt's former website; and log of past major events
Kurt Johnson and Loch
Kelly speaking on Consciousness at the Rubin Museum in New York City
Kurt Johnson and Loch
Kelly speaking on Science and Consciousness at the Rubin Museum in New York City
Kurt
"Digging Deeper"
"Keep it light"--
Wayne Teasdale to Gorakh Hayashi |
