July 4th Release for the Responsive Universe

I am excited to announce the official release date for the Responsive Universe – Meditations and Daily Life Practices; scheduled for this July 4th, 2012. At 8am CST the Responsive Universe will go live at www.responsiveuniverse.com and will be available at online book retailers like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com). In the coming months the Responsive Universe will also be available at select brick and mortar stores worldwide. The Responsive Universe will be released in paperback, hard cover and several ebook formats.

In the coming months I will be announcing a comprehensive book signing tour that will encompass the United States, including Hawaii as well as select Canadian locations – more details to come!

About the Book:
The Responsive Universe is a handbook to enlightenment. Within these pages are refreshing and insightful revelations, wisdom, and valuable daily life practices designed to help the reader find happiness in a world of indifference. Through instinctual energy and insight, the Responsive Universe offers a succinct vision of your True Nature – your intrinsic, immortal potential for reaching enlightenment that exists within the mind of every sentient being. Much like clouds can obscure blue sky our ego and false-self can obscure happiness and our True Nature. The Responsive Universe illuminates a less trodden path of mindfulness and clarity with the goal of suffering less and connecting to that inner voice within that speaks wisdom and truth. Within the inviting realm of the Responsive Universe, John C. Bader will discuss living with an open mind, creation, de-construction of organized religion, karma, energy healing, coping with loss, abuse and a complete life changing shift in social mainstream perception. Additionally, a portion of the profits for this book will be donated to help fight and cure cancer. Join John C. Bader on your very own journey to self-actualization and enlightenment. Are you ready to leave the social static of the ego driven world and embrace true illumination, happiness and understanding? Your journey begins now and as you will soon find, positivity and possibility are boundless when you live in a Responsive Universe.

Thanks for everyone’s support and I look forward to meeting you on my book signing tour in the coming months

Regards,

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
New Responsive Universe Promo Video

Why do we Exist?

Why do we exist? Yes, it was an imperfect balance of matter over antimatter that birthed the Cosmos; and from that imperfection and billions of years of slow gratuitous evolution that conscious thought was born. But why?

Yes, we are born from instinctual energy and when we die we will return to instinctual energy. Within this conscious world that we reside there is great happiness and bliss; but as the pendulum of greed and ego swing we also see great suffering and damnation. Why? Why are conscious beings capable of good and evil and yet all that surrounds us – this grand Universe, is nether; it just IS… It is no wonder that religion was created. Yet religion does not feed my hunger with its dogma, social trappings and exclusivity. I yearn for more… Why? As my mind toils I realize there is still so much to learn and experience. Life is but a learning experience. We are born to learn from those that are wise and in turn teach those that are ignorant. What I have learned is this: We were born into this space. It is from space that clarity arises. From this clarity comes a dynamism that speaks love.
Why do we exist within this responsive universe?

TO LOVE… that is why…

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

New Science regarding Meditation

I read a great article recently by Michael Haederie titled Just Breathe: Confirming Meditation’s Benefits. I even tweeted it because it is revolutionary in that it explains meditation through science. If you are a regular of my blog then you know I do not follow much of anything on blind faith. Even when it comes to concepts like God, Karma and the Afterlife, I feel science is very capable of explaining and even proving these concepts unlike religion that spews dogma and teaches blind faith. By the way, I am not an atheist…

A very comprehensive study led by neuroscientist Clifford Saron, meditation researcher Richard Davidson and psychologist Daniel Goleman (among other notables) was conducted and recently completed at UC Davis in California. It involved a study which monitored the brains, bodies, and behavior of 60 people over the course of several months. These 60 people had to meditate up to 7 hours a day and yes there was a control group used as a measurement of success or failure.
Heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle activity, among other things, were recorded during tasks. There were also 15 computer-based measurements of attention and emotional response, questionnaires on mood and experience, a daily meditation log, and extensive interviews conducted at all stages of the process. Blood samples were tested for telomerase, hormones such as oxytocin, vasopressin, and cortisol, and for several types of molecules called cytokines.

There is evidence that meditation can lengthen the DNA chromosomes tips called telomeres – this significantly increases longevity of life. In previous studies of child abuse where it is proven these DNA tips can be damaged and difficult to repair, the fact that meditation can repair these chromosome tips is paramount. Studies also showed a sharper sense of visual perception, greater fluidity in their emotional responses, stronger immune responses, less stress and more empathy for others. Apparently we are just scratching the surface.

At some point I am sure they will find connections at the sub atomic level that may reinforce our relationship to quantum energy and how being mindful and rooted in the present stretches that gap between our thoughts. It is there in those illusive gaps that garners bliss, wisdom and enlightenment. In those gaps between our thoughts is the key to the next evolutionary step in human progress. Through meditation and mindfulness we are connecting to something authentic and sublime – something that we were intended to amplify, enjoy and live within.

The Responsive Universe is set for release within the next couple months (maybe sooner!) and within its pages will be nine valuable meditations and daily life practices designed to help you connect to the sublime. We all have an authentic purpose and meditation helps bring you closer to that purpose. If you do not meditate now, please start looking into starting your own practice. Your life will change – that I promise!

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
New Responsive Universe Promo Video

Ask yourself Questions… Be Mindful…

In regard to a recent medical study, Deepak Chopra comments: “The healthiest people were those who didn’t spend money that they hadn’t earned, to buy things that they didn’t need, to impress people that they didn’t like”.

This same study Deepak Chopra references also touts that more people die at 9am on Monday from cardiovascular accidents than any other time? Why? Mostly due to stress and anxiety coupled with poor eating habits and lack of exercise – all ailments born from the ego.

I love this quote from the Dalai Lama:

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity answered, — “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived”.

We can equate all of this to mindfulness: Mindfulness of the ego and how it represents us and many times unknowingly controls us; and mindfulness of our needs wants and desires. We have to continually ask ourselves important questions: Are the actions, needs and desires we seek rooted to pleasing others, building our self-esteem or mired in self-gratification? Or are we heading down a path of love, compassion, sans of ego and fully connected to our True Nature?

We should be asking ourselves these questions on a daily basis all in an effort to better align ourselves with positivity and happiness.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

Three Voices within the Mind?

As you continue to be more mindful of your thoughts, surroundings and energy, a new-found clarity begins to evolve. Anyone familiar to the practice of meditation probably knows what I am talking about. As you continue to be mindful of the present and mindful of what is going on right now inside your head, you begin to see new intricacies as it relates to the mind.

For me, I have been successful in separating the True Nature within which is my intrinsic, even immortal potential for reaching enlightenment (my life source) and the ego which represents my more crude social existence (my false-self as compared to True Nature). Still, I think there is a discernible third entity in there somewhere.

Sigmund Freud talks about three parts of the mind apparatus in his famous structural model of the psyche. He talks about the Id being the primal, almost instinctual force that is unresponsive to the demands of reality. The ego reacts to the reality principal working to find a mutual compromise with the Id that touches more on realistic needs and not necessary primal needs. The Super Ego aims for perfection incorporating both the Id and Ego and appears to be the voice or mediator between the minds facilities. This is more than likely the root of suffering as the Super Ego can never be fully appeased.

It seems all three modes of apparatus overlap each other to an extent. Further, it is clear that Freud’s model leaves out an important Buddhist principle: True Nature: Enlightenment and non-duality. Sigmund Freud was not one to mix religion with science but I would offer that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion.

So where does this leave me? I know there is my ego – through social immersion the ego is a bi-product of society. When you limit the egos power, our true self emerges – the Essence of True Nature. Still, there is an intermediary voice that sometimes pushes and tugs between the two entities. Sometimes this voice is your friend and other times you question if it is looking out for your best interests. My best analysis for this illusive third entity is that it is an overlapping process of mindfulness that combines the ego and True Nature – it is sort of the front line (the demilitarized zone) in the battle against false self and true self.

It appears the focus is to push beyond the ego which is rooted to unnecessary dogma and social trappings and even push past that imaginary line that separates the mediocre with the sublime and try to live in the present as long as possible – away from fear and fantasy – thoughts of the past and future. Everyone interprets the mind differently. My interpretation is definitely different from Freud’s as I am adding the facet of True Nature to the equation. You have to ask yourself what is that state of non-duality that exists before our birth and after our death? Energy is our source – we are born from energy and we will die and return to energy. The facet of energy or True Nature needs to be added to the apparatus of the psyche. Without it, humans would be a real hot mess laden with bad habits and suffering. Oh wait, we are already….

And finally, one has to ask the question: Was Sigmund Freud a happy man or a victim of his Super Ego?

No one said enlightenment was easy…

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

Is Quantum Physics God?

There is this sublime world that exists beyond our atmosphere here on Earth. Occasionally we look out upon its back yard realm at night; gazing up at the neighborhood stars that dot our heavens above. Yet for the most part, people are entrenched with what is going on here on Earth. Rarely do people look up and marvel at the boundless nature of the Cosmos. The social static of ego, religion and conflict surrounds us and our mindfulness is preoccupied. Yet, people do find happiness and success in this earthly world but still we rarely pay attention to the Universe that surrounds us. There is a grand Universe home to over 200 billion galaxies and then there is this subatomic Universe within - also boundless. The Universe is where our energy was born and when we die it is where energy will return. This concept seems important, yet life goes on here on Earth and we all seem to trudge on facing our daily challenges, never fully aware of our deeper connections. Humans are generally self-centered – you see it with our politics, globally policies, economy and religion. The focus these days tends to be centered on quantity and not quality. Many people suffer in this world governed by big money and the elite. Is there another way?

There is another world that exists stifled under the controlled chaos we habitually call life. It is the subatomic world that surrounds us. There is no evil in this world - only energy. The subatomic world is invisible and yet could be the key to everything that exists. Average humans are not interested in things they cannot see. We need tangible evidence and many of us are even swayed by the blind faith of others. Still, there is another world that exists – in fact, we coexist in both worlds. Without the subatomic world, humans would not be – the Universe would not exist. Again, seems important, right?

The Quantum Universe is a peculiar place. When we observe subatomic energy at its smallest levels, the act of observing seems to change the properties of quantum matter. When we observe sub atomic energy at microscopic levels we see particles of matter. Yet when we are not observing this matter, scientific measures show that matter exists in a wave-like form – not particles. How does human consciousness connect, interrelate and alter sub atomic particles? Such manipulations seem to bring scientific plausibility to concepts like prayer, karma and positive and negative manifestations. Such musings even supports the concept of an afterlife. If the act of observing matter in its smallest form alters matter itself – do humans wield more power than we know? Is this the next evolutionary step? How can a particle be in two places at once? What about the plausibility of mult-universes as detailed by string theory. There is much we do not know and there is much to be discovered. Still, when you stop and appreciate the complexity of the Quantum Universe and the vastness of the Cosmos; and thus acknowledge that humans are a part of this system of order harnessing the ability to alter the fabric of the Subatomic Universe – well, it makes one wonder if anything is possible. Maybe, everything is possible?

That my friend is the definition of a Responsive Universe. Find space in this Universe and clarity will arise from within. From this clarity comes a responsiveness that transcend all dogma and earthly trappings. This is your True Nature. Connect to these sublime qualities and a new world will reveal itself - a grand and beautiful Responsive Universe.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveunverse.com

Cancer sucks and so does most peoples diets… Are they related?

Cancer – a disease that can sap the energy and soul from family and friends. I can’t think of a more devastating disease – a malignancy that can attack any part of the human body at any age. Even the treatments for cancer are painful and excruciating.
Not all health problems are avoidable and depending on your genes and family history, certain hereditary diseases may be more prevalent. Still, we have more control over our health than you may think. Research shows that a large percentage of cancer-related deaths—maybe even the majority—are directly linked to lifestyle choices such as heavy drinking, smoking, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet. As I stated in an earlier blog, much of our human suffering is avoidable. Avoiding cigarettes, limiting alcohol, and getting regular exercise are a great start to an anti-cancer lifestyle. Still, the best way to fight cancer is awareness.
…and the best acute inner awareness should be focused on your diet.

According to Maya W. Paul and Melinda Smith, M.A. the best diet for preventing or fighting cancer is a predominantly plant-based diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. A plant-based diet means eating mostly foods that come from plants: Vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and beans. Sure it is okay to eat protein based foods like chicken and fish, but you should limit your portions and it should be a side dish and not the main course.

Further, it seems the best defense against cancer is staying away from processed foods. The less processed these foods are—the less they’ve been cooked, peeled, mixed with other ingredients, added chemicals, stripped of their nutrients, or otherwise altered from the way they came out of the ground—the better. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient on a label, your body will not know what to do with it.

My best step forward has been limiting processed foods like lunch meat or frozen dinners. Yet the biggest move toward wellness in my home has been juicing. I have never been a big fan of veggies but now I juice, kale, spinach, beets and all that nasty stuff I used to turn my head away from. Now, I crave them and look forward to juicing daily.

Find awareness for your diet. What are you putting into your body? Are you in control of your happiness? Do you create your own suffering? Once you realize the key to happiness sits in the palm of your hand, all you need to do is make small subtle changes in your life. A good place to begin is with diet.

I think cancer is one of the most horrible diseases out there and for that reason; I am going to donate a portion of the profits of my upcoming book, The Responsive Universe to help fight and cure this debilitating disease. Every book that is bought will contribute to wellness on many peripheral levels.

For more info on diet and cancer please visit http://www.helpguide.org

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

Humans cause most of their own Suffering

I have written that most human suffering is self-inflicted. Maybe that comment surprises you. For example, feeling bloated or having heartburn can be examples of suffering when overeating. A more complex level of suffering could be low self-esteem born from being overweight – all products of suffering as it relates to overeating. How about a more intricate ailment such as stress? Whereas overeating is mostly a self-inflicted ailment, one would think stress is not. The element of stress is born out of surrounding factors that may be out of our immediate control. Still, you have to ask yourself why you are stressed out or even angry. The question you need to ask is why should anything make me stressed out? The stress is not coming from the object or source, it is coming from you. How you process information in your mind and how you then react is really the variable. You could take 3 people and put them under the same stressful situation and each person will react differently based on how they process the challenge that is causing the stress and also how the person handles the stressful situation through their reactions. The point of all this is, 9 out of 10 times, suffering in your life is caused by YOU. Sure there are peripheral elements that can be the root of a stressful or angry situation, but how you handle the stress and anger is completely up to you. In essence, we as humans create our own suffering. Think about it: Anger, stress, overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs, loneliness, money problems, marital strife, jealously, lack of exercise are all elements that make us suffer. Almost every item on this list is a self- inflicted ailment to some degree. Further, complex long term suffering can be attributed to these precursors mentioned above: Anger and stress can lead to eventual depression and even violence. Overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs and lack of exercise can lead to disease and other acute health problems. Even over spending and money problems can lead to foreclosure, bankruptcy, marriage problems, anxiety and a genuine lack of happiness. Again, we can’t control the challenges that face us unexpectedly, but how we react to them and how we react with others can be controlled. Yes, suffering is intrinsic to life: When we are born we suffer and many times when we die we tend to suffer. Still, there are small little changes in life we can make to limit a lot of the current affliction. When we are mindful and aware of what makes us suffer, we can then make the space for more awareness and thus make better responsive decisions in life.

Up next, I want to discuss how diet and exercise can help fight Cancer.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

Manifestation Meditation

This is a meditation I wrote for The Illumination of the Nine Mandala’s, a supplemental work book to accent the energy and wisdom of my soon to be released book, The Responsive Universe (coming late summer).


We can take meditation much further in an effort to create a more Responsive Universe. We have within our ability the power to manifest our own creative reality. Those that are mindful of the present now realize that our True Nature is unwavering and something we can always rely on. Our True Nature is the environment from which the instinctual energy of the Universe and God vibrates across an electromagnetic field of pulses. We are interconnected to this field of energy through body and mind. Knowing this, we can be confident that the world is ours to possess because we are intimately connected to it. We do not need to rely on religious trappings and blind faith. Everything we need is already inside us; it just takes time and effort to reveal these truths. As discussed in the Seventh Mandala (Responsive Universe), we have the ability to harness this quantum energy and even pass this energy on to others. Karma and the power of prayer certainly prove this phenomenon. Further, we can take this energy and actually manifest its light and power to create a new reality – a true reality.

During meditation, following the usual set and setting we have discussed. Once you have reached the point where your mind and body is calm and ready for guided imagery, take a couple deep breaths and count to five, slowly exhaling. Inhale the energy that surrounds you and exhale the negative energy that holds you back. As with all meditations, the process is to calm the mind and end the constant mental chatter that closes off our ability to think clearly and be mindful of the present. To reiterate, the focus of your thoughts should always be in the now: Each moment that fades into the next moment; your thoughts, unfettered and unadulterated, free from fantasy, worry and fear. Once we can slow the endless thoughts that race through the mind, we can then concentrate on several or even one powerful thought or image designed to leave a lasting mental imprint on the mind.

Now, visualize a blank movie screen or perhaps a bare canvas free of color and images. While still controlling your rhythmic breathing begin to visualize a dream and or aspiration. Maybe it is your goal to have your art exhibited in a professional gallery or perhaps it is meeting your soul mate. Maybe it is a successful career or other calling? We all have dreams and desires and there is nothing wrong with dreaming of such potential realities. Within the mind, visualize your dreams and fill that blank screen with color and objects that characterize this dream. Fill that bare canvas with your vivid aspirations. If you want to see your art exhibited in a gallery, then visualize this in your mind. Actually visualize your creations proudly showcased in a gallery for the public to marvel at. Visualize people walking around and viewing your masterpieces. Connect to your True Nature and thus connect with the reality of this dream. Keep your mind rooted in the present and try to hold on to this imagery for as long as possible – several minutes if you can. Repeat this exercise several times at later intervals. Visualize your dreams by drawing the quantum energy of the Universe into your mind and body and thus create a strong mental imprint. As basic physics already proves energy is indestructible and changes form. Through deep and strong mental imagery, breathe in this abundance of energy and alter its form through visual materialization. In essence, make your dreams reality though visual manifestation. We all have within our power the ability to create mental images that with proper direction, intention and discipline can manifest dreams into reality.

There is of course a caveat to this exercise: Our manifestations must be practical and karmic in their validity to meet the natural needs as a human. You can’t visualize being a billionaire for just the reason to be filthy rich. Remember, anything that seems easy is probably not attainable. A dreams potential is based on many variables. Our heart wish needs to align with our True Nature and not to a projection of ego and false-self. It is not prudent to dream and manifest a new reality that will only feed our ego or power in an unnatural way. Our dreams and desires need to be aligned with self growth and evolution. Any manifestation should be rooted in happiness. This is why many prayers go unanswered. People pray for the unnecessary or unattainable much like a child begs for candy. What are our deepest heart wishes? What do we need to be happy and free from fear and artificial attachments? What is it that governs compassion and good will? How will our dreams affect others and their destinies? What is it that aligns our True Nature with the instinctual energy that is God and the Universe? Once these questions are asked, answered and personally validated the doors of manifestation can open and anything is possible.

The question is how will a manifestation materialize and will you have the clarity and sensitivity to realize its presence. Manifestations can come in different ways. You for example may visualize and manifest the true desire to see your artwork in a professional gallery. But the manifestation itself can come in many forms. Our warped perceptions of reality can alter our visualization of perception; what we think is our true course in life may be different than what the Universe grants us in the form of manifestations. Maybe it is an inheritance that allows you to open your own gallery. It could be a person you randomly meet on the subway that knows a gallery owner. It could be someone that buys your work and then sells it for a better profit in their gallery. You see, we need to be careful how we yearn and dream. Manifestations are tangible and achievable but if we are asking for such realities with even the least bit of selfishness or greed, such manifestations can morph into the unexpected. Still, through hard work and perseverance, we can create our own successful true realities. First you have to believe you have within your power the ability to be happy and successful. Once you connect to your True Nature and have openness to energy, your dreams can come true. Once you have the clarity to yearn for unadulterated happiness your deepest desires can become reality. Once you have a responsive quality associated with your most heartfelt wishes and desires, anything is possible. Now go find your dreams and make them real!

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
New Responsive Universe Promo Video