integral-insight.com

I am slowly working on posting my book in audio format on this page. I am also working on a book proposal to send to agents and publishers. One day I will post the proposal on this page as well. Until then, please enjoy the videos below and the query letter for my book:

To Whom It May Concern:

The messages that Inside and Outside Ourselves communicates are extremely relevant and universally important. Presently, bloodshed attributed to irrational thought and ignorance results in the demise of countless people throughout the world. Inside and Outside Ourselves strives to challenge and discredit the mentality that violence and separation can be justified by any system of thought. Inside and Outside Ourselves draws upon the work of the world’s greatest thinkers in a unique and fresh way. Excerpts and quotes are ordered in a logical fashion so that one idea flows to the next, thereby creating a continuous and easily readable book. To heighten the sense of continuity and clarity throughout the work, I have added my own comments and explanation between each of the excerpts.

Inside and Outside Ourselves has three parts and it starts with a part entitled “Take Heed”. The goal of this portion is to suggest that one contemplate one’s worldview and preconceived beliefs. Next, there is a section entitled “God”, in this chapter I order my writings and the quotes in such a way that they communicate my conception of God. Lastly, there is a portion entitled “Thus”. This section expresses how one might want to live one’s life based on the information in the previous two sections.

One’s perception of reality (both consciously and unconsciously) pervades all elements of our society and interaction with other human beings. Information that addresses the need for progressive and integrative knowledge is drawing much interest among a large segment of the United States population and the need for this kind of information will continue to grow. Additionally, my book would be appropriate to use in college level educational institutions to help expose students to many profound and assorted ideas.

To tell you something about myself, I work as the Education Director/Librarian for Goodspeed Musicals, I love painting, and appreciation of everything motivates all of my art and all of what I do. I would like to use my own art as part of the design concept for the book when published. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Joshua S. Ritter

Alan Watts & The 4 Kalpas

“The whole man, body mind and spirit, is one. Spirit is not to be delivered out of entanglement with the body. In the Rabbinical phrase the body is the “scabbard of the soul” It is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (I Corinthians. III: 6,18). It is, according to Hindu thought, the instrument of ethical life, dharma-sadhanam. Even the lowest form of manifestation is an expression of the Divine, annam brahmeti vyajanat.”
-Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan-

In the following video, Dr. Dean Ornish explains how a lifestyle that respects the body increases our health and pleasure. On a deeper spiritual and scientific level, one can see that we are much more than simply our “bodies.” We are as much the wind that whooshes by our face, because on a quantum level, everything is transient energy. Respecting, appreciating, and loving your real body (all of reality), will lead one to great pleasure and contentment. Our perception of the world and reality has an extremely powerful impact on our wellbeing. The world is an organism and our perceptions ultimately alter its state. Because each of us act based on our perception of reality. Therefore, it is important to know and honor your real self.

“If we value the world as we do the body, we can be entrusted with the world. If we love the body as we love the beauty of the world, we can be responsible for the world.”
-Lao Tzu-

If you truly love yourself, it follows that you love the world and all of reality.

Dr. Dean Ornish: Your genes are not your fate (2008)

Talib Kweli Imparting Some Wisdom

Interview with Physicist David Bohm (Part 1/5)

Interview with Physicist David Bohm (Part 2/5)

Interview with Physicist David Bohm (Part 3/5)

Interview with Physicist David Bohm (Part 4/5)

Interview with Physicist David Bohm (Part 5/5)

Here is a music video by Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). The end of the song is rather moving and it highlights one especially beautiful aspect of the Muslim religion.

Here is a song session at the amazing Camp Eisner. This is where I spent all of my summers as I was growing up.