Session Description: Keeping intact the architecture of the 5 paths and the 9 stages, Christian concepts and language are incorporated to provide a uniquely Christian presentation of the path. From grounding in God’s good earth, taking refuge in the body of Christ, and attunement with Jesus, we breathe our way into the heart and mind of Christ before emptying ourselves and relishing the joy and happiness of eternal life in Christ, then resting in equanimity – the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Bios:

Barry Smith - Raised a preacher's son in an evangelical church, Barry followed the Christian path in becoming an associate pastor in one of the USA’s first mega-churches. Barry served at various times as Children’s pastor, Shepherding pastor, and finally as a full-time instructor of biblical literature, ethics, and apologetics in the Church college serving 2,200 networking churches. In 1992, Barry left the church and has been a businessman for over 30 years. Continuing spiritual study in multiple faiths, earning a certificate of Integral Theory from Feilding Graduate University, and a devoted student of John Churchill for over a decade, Barry brings his passion to provide a conveyor belt of learning and growth for the Christian community.

Rollie Stanich - Rollie worked as Managing Editor of Ken Wilber’s website Integral Naked before becoming the inaugural Chief Facilitator of Integral Spiritual Center, a groundbreaking initiative bringing together 20 religious leaders from various traditions in a deeply integral dialogue. Rollie is a practitioner of contemplative Christianity and was a longtime student of Fr. Thomas Keating until Keating’s passing in 2018. Rollie published Integral Christianity–the Way of Embodied Love in 2021, a book foreworded by Wilber and praised by Fr. Richard Rohr, who wrote: “Rollie Stanich gets it just right!” He is a member of John Churchill’s Planetary Dharma, and is building Desir.ai, an application at the intersection of AI and consciousness.