Ari Nielsen - Discover Radical Freedom and Effectiveness in Any Situation

Ari Nielsen is a practitioner with an eclectic background that spans Reichian Breathwork, Cybernetics, Unschooling, Dzogchen & Improv. He spent over a decade living in the heart of the community surrounding the prime representative of California New Age spirituality of the 1970's, Adi Da. He also edited the collected works of Bruce Di, Marsico, an existential therapist whose philosophy can be summed up as “Be Happy, and Do What you Want.” Currently, he writes a publication on Substack that elucidates a radical liberating orientation to life which he calls “Searchless Responsiveness. In this episode, we explore Ari’s experience living in Adi Da’s community, the guru model of spirituality, the option method for happiness, self & identity, unconventional approaches to parenting and so much more. 🔗[Links & resources] 🔗Subscribe to Ari’s substackThe Option Method (The collected works of Bruce Di Marsico)Robert FrippGeorge GurdjieffAdi Da a.k.a Da Free JohnKen WilberAro gTerEvolving GroundWilhelm ReichKeith DowmanSean Esbjorn-HargensRob BurbeaTaking Children Seriously📝[Show Notes] 📝0:00 - Intro 2:03 - Ari’s journey into spirituality 9:00 - Living in Adi Da’s community and other pivotal teachers & teachings 20:10 - The guru model (risks & rewards) 27:51 - Bruce Di Marsico and The Option Method for Happiness35:43 - Dzogchen and Searchless Responsiveness 38:48 - Challenging perennialism and non-dualism 45:00 - Agenda without compulsion 49:04 - Unhappiness as motivation and the ideal state 53:18 - Self and identity 1:02:45 - The evolution of Ari’s meditation practice 1:04:18 - Khorde Rushen retreat with Keith Dowman 1:12:46 - Greatness, wholeness & desire through the lens of Searchless Responsiveness1:19:58 - Letting go of perfectionism 1:21:41 - The importance of changing up your meditation practice 1:25:27 - Unconventional approaches to parenting 1:39:29 - A simple practice to taste Searchless Responsiveness*Subscribe to the Insighter substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional lens