Living Deeply

What is Living Deeply: The Art & Science of Transformation in Everyday Life by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz about?

• Exploration of transformation: The book investigates how people achieve profound and lasting transformation in everyday life by shifting their consciousness and worldview.
• Integration of science and spirituality: It bridges Western science and Eastern “inner science,” synthesizing insights from world religions, spiritual traditions, and scientific research.
• Practical guidance: Readers are offered tools and exercises to recognize transformative moments and integrate insights into daily life.
• Invitation to live deeply: The book encourages cultivating awareness, intention, and practice to live a life rich in meaning, compassion, and connection.

Why should I read Living Deeply by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz?

• Comprehensive, research-based insights: The book draws on over a decade of research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, including interviews with spiritual teachers, scientists, and everyday people.
• Practical and accessible: It demystifies transformation, making it accessible to people from all backgrounds and offering exercises for personal growth.
• Bridges ancient wisdom and modern science: Readers gain insights from both timeless spiritual traditions and cutting-edge scientific findings.
• Addresses contemporary challenges: The book provides tools to meet the stresses of modern life and contribute to a more peaceful, sustainable civilization.

What are the key takeaways from Living Deeply by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz?

• Transformation is universal and natural: Lasting change is available to everyone and involves shifts in worldview, values, and identity.
• Four essential elements: Intention, attention, repetition, and guidance are foundational to cultivating and sustaining transformation.
• Integration is crucial: Extraordinary experiences must be integrated through daily practice and mindful living to become lasting transformation.
• Balance of inner and outer work: True transformation involves both self-awareness and engagement with community and service.

How does Living Deeply define consciousness transformation?

• Profound shift in perception: Consciousness transformation is a lasting, fundamental change in how one experiences and relates to oneself, others, and the world.
• Alignment with authentic self: The process involves shedding false selves and integrating buried aspects, rather than changing the essential core.
• Sudden or gradual: Transformations may occur instantly or unfold over years, triggered by crises, awe, or everyday experiences.
• Multidimensional impact: It affects heart, mind, spirit, behavior, relationships, and values, leading to a more loving and connected way of being.

What are the common catalysts or doorways to transformation in Living Deeply?

• Pain and suffering: Intense suffering, loss, illness, or crisis often break down defenses and open people to transformation.
• Noetic experiences and awe: Moments of profound awe, wonder, or mystical insight—spontaneous or induced—can trigger shifts in worldview.
• Teachers and guides: Encountering a spiritual teacher or mentor who embodies transformative wisdom can catalyze deep change.
• Ordinary experiences: Everyday moments, such as being in nature or creative expression, can also spark transformation.

What is the four-part model of transformative practice in Living Deeply?

• Intention: Transformation begins with the will and motivation to change, a conscious decision to live more authentically.
• Attention: Directing attention inwardly, cultivating mindfulness and awareness of thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
• Repetition: Regular, repeated practice strengthens new neural pathways and behavioral patterns essential for lasting change.
• Guidance: Support from teachers, mentors, or communities helps ensure correct practice and provides accountability.

How does Living Deeply by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz describe the role of intention in transformation?

• Personal choice and motivation: Intention is the conscious decision to pursue transformation and live more deeply.
• Sustaining commitment: Strong intention helps maintain practice through challenges and periods of boredom.
• Connection to higher purpose: Intention can align with a higher evolutionary or spiritual calling, linking personal and collective growth.
• Balancing effort and surrender: While intention is essential, transformative practice also involves letting go of attachment to outcomes.

What does Living Deeply say about attention and awareness in transformative practice?

• Shifting perception: Directing attention inwardly helps cultivate mindfulness and awareness of internal experiences.
• Mindfulness as liberation: Observing oneself nonjudgmentally frees one from habitual, unconscious patterns.
• Scientific support: Neuroscience shows that meditation and mindfulness can change brain function and structure.
• Witness consciousness: Many traditions emphasize cultivating an observer awareness that permeates daily life.

Why is repetition important in the transformative practices of Living Deeply?

• Building new habits: Repeated practice strengthens new neural pathways and behavioral patterns.
• Sustaining transformation: Regular engagement, even in small amounts, is necessary to maintain and deepen transformation.
• Neuroplasticity: Research shows that repeated mental training can alter brain function and protect against cognitive decline.
• Ongoing process: Transformation is lifelong, requiring patience, diligence, and commitment to regular practice.

How does Living Deeply address the role of guidance and community in transformation?

• Enhancing effectiveness: Experienced teachers, mentors, or communities provide support, feedback, and accountability.
• Balancing guidance: Both external guidance and self-reflection are essential to assess what works for the individual.
• Diverse sources: Guidance can come from teachers, texts, rituals, dreams, or inner intuition.
• Community support: Being part of a supportive community is often crucial for sustaining transformation.

How does Living Deeply describe the shift from “I” to “We” in transformation?

• Transpersonal development: Transformation often involves moving beyond ego-centered consciousness to a sense of unity and interconnectedness.
• Paradox of self and connection: Deepening connection to others also deepens authentic selfhood.
• Compassion and altruism: This shift leads to greater compassion, empathy, and altruistic behavior.
• Service and engagement: Transformation is grounded in action, creative expression, and social engagement.

What practical exercises and methods does Living Deeply by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz recommend for transformation?

• Self-reflective journaling: Exercises to chart pivotal experiences, clarify intentions, and integrate transformative events.
• Compassion cultivation: Practices like Tonglen meditation to awaken compassion for self and others.
• Experiencing interdependence: Exercises such as sitting in nature to sense interconnectedness and sacredness.
• Assessing readiness: Tools to evaluate how well basic and higher needs are met, preparing for growth and transformation.