John is the founder of Simpol, (for simultaneous policy implementation) which offers a way to address today’s global problems—problems individual national governments cannot resolve by acting alone.

That’s because competition between governments to attract investment and jobs means that any government acting alone to solve them could effectively make its country economically uncompetitive, leading to inflation, unemployment, or even economic collapse.

Simpol aims to break the “vicious circle” governments find themselves in by encouraging people around the world to oblige their politicians and governments to cooperate globally in implementing appropriate policies simultaneously for the good of all.

Simpol’s method is to persuade legislators in individual nations to pass laws that commit it to enact policy changes to address global problems, but for those changes to be implemented only when similar laws are enacted by a predominant critical mass of other nations, so the implementation takes place simultaneously. This makes it politically possible and safe for visionary solutions to be enshrined in binding law without delay.

Only by implementing policies simultaneously can global problems be resolved in a way that no nation, corporation, or citizen loses out. This ensures that no country becomes uncompetitive as a result of pursuing policies that are right for the planet and that embody people’s higher aspirations.

Obviously, this requires activism—politicians will not act together globally unless we make them! Simpol allows citizens in democratic countries to use their votes to drive politicians to cooperate globally to solve problems that transcend nation-state boundaries. Simpol entails both process (alerting politicians that you’ll be voting in future national elections for any candidate, within reason, who has signed a pledge to implement Simpol’s range of policies alongside other governments) and policy (defining solutions to pressing issues of global concern—such as taxes on carbon emissions, financial transactions or corporate profits—that nations typically cannot implement without putting their economies at a competitive disadvantage.)

I am inspired by the higher “vision-logic” Simpol expresses, and I’m certainly committed to political activism with a global view. Nevertheless, as I often do, I explored the possibilities by playing “devil’s advocate.”

For example, in my first “kick to the tires,” I noted that because Simpol delays implementation of a policy by one country until all or a sufficient number of other countries sign on, this could hypothetically relieve pressure on national policy-makers to enact more environmentally responsible legislation that might have passed in the absence of the Simpol pledge (for example, a the carbon tax, which is now supported in the USA by Exxon, although still resisted by conservative U.S. lawmakers.)

Of course John’s response was intelligent, and the conversation ranged far and wide. You’ll have to hear it to understand it fully. I invite you to download and listen (it’s here) if you want to understand this provocative idea.

John believes that as global problems worsen, people will demand Simpol’s approach as they see that all local and national problems are all linked to global imbalances that simply can’t be effectively addressed by national politics.

Simpol is already active in the UK and is launching next month in Germany. It’s new, but it’s a credible mechanism for crossing a gap that has otherwise seemed insurmountable. John used a metaphor, saying it isn’t a beautiful ocean liner; it’s just a simple raft, something for us to jump onto to take us to the next level. “We can only put the life raft there, but it’s the rising global challenges that will make that raft appealing.”

What do you think?

It’s often said that the world’s problems will be solved only when there is sufficient political will. And as citizens, we naturally expect our politicians to manifest this political will. But today’s global problems transcend national borders and require governments to act together. However, instead of co-operating, governments are predictably more concerned with competing with each other to keep their national economies ‘internationally competitive.’ But this is a vicious circle; a game no nation can win and one we all will ultimately lose.

John Bunzl has engaged in a full-hearted, committed exploration of how to transcend this destructive cycle. This has been a journey into expanded consciousness as well as a journey into committed activism

He and I will be discussing the globally-oriented, highly creative model of political engagement that he and his organization Simpol offer as a solution to such questions as: how can we, as citizens, drive our governments to cooperate to solve global problems? How can we go beyond protest, lobbying and email petitions to embrace a new, powerful and effective form of global political activism? How can we reengage with national electoral politics in a completely new, integral way that’s non-partisan, politically effective, and takes the whole world into account?

The Simpol model relies on citizen empowerment and accountability as a way to detach from the blame game and generate an upward momentum which will drive global powers to cooperate. According to Simpol and its supporters, only “…by implementing policies simultaneously can our problems be resolved in a way that no nation, corporation, or citizen loses out. If all nations act together, everybody wins.”

About John Bunzl:

John Bunzl is a businessman and the founder of the Simultaneous Policy (Simpol) campaign; a campaign Ken Wilber described as “a 2nd-tier political practice that makes a great deal of sense and is certainly worth backing.”

John Bunzl is the author of “The Simultaneous Policy– An Insider’s Guide to Saving Humanity and the Planet” and “People-centred Global Governance – Making it Happen!” He is also the co-author of “Monetary Reform – Making it Happen!” with the prominent monetary reformer James Robertson. John has lectured widely, including to the Schumacher Society, the World Trade Organization, the Lucis Trust, and at various universities.

John is a company director living in London. He has three children.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Sunday, May 13th @ 10:00 AM Pacific,

Please Note: There will be a limited number of lines available on the live conference call, so we encourage you to listen online if possible. To make sure you can get through by phone, we encourage you to dial in early.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

• To listen live by phone, dial:  206-402-0100  (alternate #: 501-707-0312)
• Then, enter Access Code: 272072#
• To listen live online go to: http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventID=28760034
• To download the audio after the teleseminar is complete go to the Beyond Awakening Audio Page

Join the Dialogue: About one hour into the dialogue, we’ll open up the lines and you’ll have the opportunity to interact with us directly over the phone or via instant message. Here’s what to do:

To interact live by voice, dial into the conference line number and wait until we ask for a question from someone in your region, or

Send us your question via instant message in the teleseminar window on your computer

Send us your questions and comments before or during the live dialogue by posting them on our Beyond Awakening Community Facebook page

We look forward to your attendance!

Sincerely,
The Beyond Awakening Team

Her vocabulary is a meta-communication, worth contemplating for the nuances it includes and declines to include. Whenever we talk, she transmits awakening, greatly deepening the field and always advancing my understanding of how radical, non-dual, non-problematic consciousness can liberate the frame even while it “rolls up its sleeves” and digs into practical engagement with the issues before us.

We began with Candice giving an overview of the anchoring tenets of the Balanced View teachings, including the core algorithm of “short moments of open intelligence repeated many times until it becomes obvious.” According to Candice, open intelligence gives rise to a life of flourishing, beauty and discernment.

When we live as the “singularity” of open intelligence (not separable from the “data” of all experience) our available intelligence is no longer confined to our personal point of view. If open intelligence becomes our primary reference, shining forth with all data and points of view, we experience the bursting forth of creative intelligence and the natural flourishing that is at the basis of our reality. Candice emphasized that this is what reality actually is. As our self-focused frames of reference are relaxed, everything arises with newness and freshness. We express an exquisite clarity and are able to create knowledge on the fly. This is what she means by “open ended-knowledge creation.”

I also found it extremely satisfying to delve with Candice into what I see as her radical claim about how knowledge itself arises. She responded deceptively directly to the most radical question that arises in the philosophy of information theory (“What is most fundamental — consciousness, matter, or information?”) essentially saying “yes!” (Since they cannot be radically separated.) This non-separability allows her to express a radical simplicity that joins equally with information theorists who see information as fundamental, scientific skeptics who see matter as fundamental, and awakened mystics who point to the consciousness as most fundamental.

In response to the evolutionary imperative, open intelligence is now bursting forth and empowering human nature from within. I told her I was reminded of what I see as a newly emerging, free, transpersonal clarity in which the directionality of inquiry is now accounting for “ the user illusion,” or our embedded anthropocentric point of view, and how a relaxation into raw, unprocessed experience is needed to truly liberate our capacities and potentials. I wondered if open intelligence was perhaps a convergence between an inquiry about coming alive as the core of what is most passionately uniquely personal (what Ken Wilber calls “Eros”) including our personal mission and purpose; and the transpersonal and impersonal process of raw recognition of the field of reality or what is.

Candice offered another resounding “Yes!” She sees open intelligence expressing the evolutionary imperative by changing everything from within. Open intelligence is becoming apparent to all, bursting through so that self-concern and anthropocentrism are no longer the defining point of view or orientation. All “data” are allowed in for a totally inclusive view.

Our dialogue was truly rich. It brought new insights into the ongoing koan of this series—of optimistically trusting evolution while facing (and not bypassing) the alarm and pessimism so often triggered by our global crises. A beautifully freeing implication of Candice’s insight is the “perpetual optimism” that is allowed by open intelligence.

During our final question and answer session, Candice reflected on some vulnerable personal questions from listeners. I was moved by both the transparency of the callers and by Candice’s responses.

I invite you to enjoy this download here so that you may also share in this rich dialogue!

Join Us Sunday, April 29th, as Candice O’Denver returns and we go deeper into a dialogue on “Open-Ended Knowledge Creation.”

At a time when human life is undergoing dramatic changes, Candice O’Denver’s “Balanced View” teachings on the notion of identity and intelligence are among the most radical and innovative communications and knowledge in the world today. Her unique and original approach cuts to the root, using fresh, direct, intuitive, universal language, like “open intelligence,” “life satisfaction”, “flourishing”, and “being of benefit.” It draws on her lifelong familiarity with computers, the Internet, and information theory, as well as over 40 years of study of the implications of critical theory, art, and literature, and also her deep engagement in the Sanskrit and Tibetan languages, art, music, literature and cultures.

One summary of Candice’s innovation is, “In short moments of clarity, repeated many times, your natural open source intelligence becomes more and more obvious until it is predominant at all times. Open intelligence is illuminated at the crucial juncture of open intelligence and data.” Candice beautifully reflects that though open intelligence is present in humans, it does not originate in humans; it is spontaneously present, equally and evenly, throughout all of nature itself. However, humans have the unique capacity to house this intelligence of the entire universe in a useable way. Perhaps this is why she has said that “we are unusual, exalted creatures.”

Candice sees the time ahead not only as a period of rapid transition but also one of rapid and open-ended knowledge creation wherein open intelligence gives rise to our natural state of “spontaneous altruism” and facilitates what she has deemed “the Era of Great Benefit.”

About Candice O’Denver:

Candice O’Denver is, in my opinion, a rare being. A brilliant and extremely well-educated mother and grandmother, she is a true ”Renaissance Woman” whose scientific advancements are already serving people all over the world. Her work represents one of the most innovative developments in the study of human identity and intelligence, as well as in the development of specific technologies for bringing forth its optimal use.

Candice continues to evolve this dynamic work as head of a team of scientists and researchers on a leading-edge project. This project is a collaboration between a noted European teaching and research institute, which is home to a Nobel prize committee, and the Balanced View Research Institute in Emmaljunga, Sweden.

Candice lives in Northern California and teaches internationally, sometimes from the Balanced View centers in Sweden, England, India and the US.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Sunday, April 29th @ 10:00 AM Pacific,

Please Note: There will be a limited number of lines available on the live conference call, so we encourage you to listen online if possible. To make sure you can get through by phone, we encourage you to dial in early.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

• To listen live by phone, dial:  206-402-0100  (alternate #: 501-707-0312)
• Then, enter Access Code: 272072#
• To listen live online go to: http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventID=28253010
• To download the audio after the teleseminar is complete go to the Beyond Awakening Audio Page

Join the Dialogue: About one hour into the dialogue, we’ll open up the lines and you’ll have the opportunity to interact with us directly over the phone or via instant message. Here’s what to do:

To interact live by voice, dial into the conference line number and wait until we ask for a question from someone in your region, or

Send us your question via instant message in the teleseminar window on your computer

Send us your questions and comments before or during the live dialogue by posting them on our Beyond Awakening Community Facebook page

We look forward to your attendance!

Sincerely,
The Beyond Awakening Team

My April 15^th conversation with Peter Baumann was disarming, at first apparently elusive, and yet then became a fascinating exploration that stretched the Beyond Awakening conversation into some spacious new territory.

He seeks to advance our understanding of “being human” — appreciating that we, like everything else in our world, are processes in flux, always evolving and changing, and thus misapprehended by reified mental constructs.

In my first question I asked Peter what he is currently inspired by, interested in, and excited about. And instead of answering my question directly, he proceeded to talk about why he’s not particularly interested in excitement, and that focusing on what’s “exciting” is just a distraction. He’s obviously not at all interested in any idealization.

Very quickly, I realized, that he was interested in stepping outside and undermining the conventions of all usual categories and affirmations (spiritual, evolutionary, scientific, moral, political, etc.) in order to notice something bigger than our opinions, hopes, fears, reactions, agendas, and interpretations.

When I asked about his hopes, he talked about how there’s no problem with what already is, apart from any program to improve it. And when I probed, what emerged left us resting together in the paradox. There’s both the perfection of everything exactly as it is, and the fact that pain and difficulty and imbalance are big parts of it, and the fact that it’s a beautiful aspect of our very nature to attempt to bring about improvement.

He suggested we recognize our own individual lives as a link in the chain of evolution, that we be realistic about where we’re at in a gradually improving story, in which more and more awareness is naturally emerging.

He seems to be interested in helping people relax out of their mental habits and constructs, trusting that doing so opens a space in which we can see more clearly. And I think he trusts that clearer, more enlightened awareness and action naturally flows from that, since all human beings, in their core, want to see life flourish.

By the end of the interview, I found myself resting with Peter in a spaciousness that is beyond all categories or current frames of discourse. It is richly informed by spirituality, science, and philosophy, especially integral, evolutionary, and transcendental perspectives. But it begins, perhaps to express a synthetic meta-narrative beyond meta-narratives.

I hope this gives you a feel for it.

By continually expanding the frame, Peter helped us all feel into a relaxed, accepting, big-picture orientation, one that trusts and participates caringly in the brilliant creativity of the natural evolutionary processes that we all are, that gets out of the way of what actually is.

I hope you enjoy it! Listen or download it here.