A.H. Almaas – The Diamond Approach

A.H. Almaas, whose writings brilliantly illustrate the unity of modern depth psychology and traditional spiritual wisdom, is a respected, pioneering teacher. Jack Kornfield has called him “one of the most significant voices for a new and remarkably integrated spiritual vision.” Now for the first time ever, Almaas has created an accessible audio introduction to his lifetime of work. Called The Diamond Approach, this program features insights refined from Almaas’ 30 years of teaching including how he has helped thousands around the globe “do the work” by investigating reality, developing emotional wholeness, uncovering their true essence, and realizing the non-duality of being.Ken Wilber has mentioned that Diamond Approach along with Psychosynthesis is one of the most comprehensive theories, integrating psychology and spirituality.SESSION ONE: What Is Unique about the Diamond Approach?- Introduction- The inseparable union of psychology and spirituality- Exploring the content of experience and the spiritual reality underneath- The unique contributions of Western depth psychology- The Diamond Approach does not posit a specific end state as a goal- “Runaway realization”- The recognition of the importance of the personal life- Human uniqueness- Is the Diamond Approach a synthesized or revealed teaching?- Spiritual experience is self-validating- The image of the diamondSESSION TWO: Essence, Essential Aspects, and the Five Dimensions of Reality- Introduction- Distinguishing between personality and essence- What are “essential aspects or qualities”?- Hameed’s discovery of the personal essence- The difference between thoughts, emotions, and essential qualities- Essential qualities are qualities of presence- Colors, textures, and essential qualities- Five dimensions of reality- Distinguishing between love as a dimension and love as an essential qualitySESSION THREE: The Development of Self-Structures and the Theory of Holes- Introduction- Becoming conscious of how we have constructed our sense of self- The relationship between the constructed sense of self and the loss of essence- The metabolism of personal experience- Consciousness, human development, and the process of identification- An example of an early self-structure being recognized and released- Self-structures and the body- Our true nature is beyond the body and pervades the body- The theory of holes- Inquiring into the inquirerSESSION FOUR: Misidentification, Essential Identity, and the Adventure of Inquiry- Introduction- The sense of self develops in stages- Deconstructing the scaffolding of our self-concept- Instincts as forces we can enlist in our spiritual development- Narcissism as disconnection from being- The point of existence- Open-ended inquiry- The attitude of true sincerity- What are “wisdom vehicles” and how do I invoke the vehicle of diamond guidance?- Practices that support the work of inquiry- Inquiry as an adventure of consciousnessSESSION FIVE: The Discovery of Inner-Space and the Soul as a Medium of Consciousness- Introduction- An example of inquiring into sadness- Inquiry happens in formal sessions and in an ongoing way- The experience of inner-spaciousness- The distinction between clear space and black space- The relationship between deficient emptiness and spacious emptiness- The soul as the totality of our individual consciousness- Does the soul ever cease existing?- When does the soul enter the body?- The relationship between the soul, personal essence, and true identitySESSION SIX: The Process of Spiritual Realization- Introduction- The difference between spiritual experience and spiritual realization- Different degrees and kinds of realization- What does it mean to truly “be in the now”?- “Blips” of realization- Hameed’s process of realization- What is the role of the teacher in the Diamond Approach?- Is the Diamond Approach part of a lineage?- The Diamond Approach as a teaching that lives beyond the teacher- True realization is beyond history and cultureURL: http://www.soundstrue.com/shop/SelectProd.do?prodId=2068&manufacturer=Sounds%20True&category=Mindfulness%20&%20Presence&name=The%20Diamond%20ApproachRuntime: 7 hours 46 minutes