Integrative Processing

Here's a rundown of John Ruskan's integrative processing technique that serves in releasing negative feelings and awakening unconditional happiness.  The premise of his book ‘emotional clearing' is that no real growth into higher consciousness can occur unless working with the emotions becomes a central part of our inner work.  I've personally found much growth in working with John's integrative process, and will be returning my focus to it so I can reach it at a deeper level. 

Feel free to open discussion on any points listed so we can explore its meaning and impact with the group.


         THE STEPS OF INTEGRATIVE PROCESSING


I. Awareness                                                          II. Acceptance                                   

- Focus on the present                                          - Accept Yourself

- Do Not Seek Understanding                                  - Accept Your Feelings

- Maintain Inner Awareness                                     - Accept the External 

- Identify Your Feelings                                          - Be Nonreactive

- Identify the Dualistic Pattern                                - Identify Self-Rejection

- Own Your Experience                                          - Activate Your Heart Center

- Affirm that You are Processing



III. Direct Experience                                            IV. Transformation

- Process the Feeling                                            - Activate the witness Center

- Use Breath and Bodywork                                   - Bring in Healing Energy

- Integrate Feelings Behind the Addiction                - Allow Psychic Energies to Balance

- Process Feelings During Meditation                       - Open Yourself to Transformation

- Bring Up Unresolved Issues from the past              - Trust

- Accept Resistance                                             - Understandand Psychic Cleansing

- Bring Your Feelings to a Crisis                              - Recognize the Hindrances

- Observe Your Toleration Point                             - Take Part in Group Work

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Re: Integrative Processing

hi Seth,

I'm interested to know whether you see this as a way to specifically release repressed emotions so that a person can be more current with his/her emotional reality, or whether you see this as a way of releasing all negative emotions (past and present) so nothing is left except for “unconditional happiness” – as a former psychotherapist, I believe we all can benefit from releasing repressed emotions and as a result living more in present time – but I think it's folly to believe we can eradicate all the so-called “negative” emotions (unless we're one of the few truly enlightened ones, in which case I'd argue that they're not eradicating – they're transmuting) – I see a lot of people trying to do that by repressing current “negative” emotions and just creating a new backlog of unprocessed “stuff”

I'd be interested in your thoughts on this, as well as those of other pod members

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Re: Integrative Processing

Hey Kira,

Yes, I see how misleading the term ‘unconditional happiness' can be.  I believe your question hits at one the biggest misconceptions of what it is to be enlightened.  I know I've fallen under the belief that an enlightened person is free from the negative experiences of life, and in away she is by changing the nature of her experience, or transmuting as you put it.  The term ‘unconditional happiness' is a non-dual state/stage, and by that I mean it's not a positive experience as the word happiness might imply.  In that state/stage you would be rising above (transcending) the dualistic world in which we live while still being active in it.  It's like living in two worlds at the same time.  I don't know how the enlightened masters maintain it.  They're either born bright with little repressed Karma or they're trained from a very young age to process it.    

In other words, yes you still have “negative” emotions to contend with in the present once the repressed stuff is gone, and I also believe you're more sensitive to the experience once you're cleared out.   It's only if you posses the ability to transmute the “negative” that allows you to be free of it. 

I'm 100 percent behind your belief the way I interpret what you wrote.  I've suppressed feelings in the past thinking it was the other way around, and majority of spiritual seekers fall under the same misconception.

Excellent question by the way, and I would like to hear any additional thoughts.

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Re: Integrative Processing

hey Seth,

thanks for the clarification – I can definitely get behind the kind of “unconditional happiness” you're talking about  :)

one of the reasons I ask about this is because so many “spiritual” people do have the misconception that if you're “enlightened,” you don't have any “negative” emotions anymore – so they push away the “negative” emotions in what I consider a misguided attempt to be more “enlightened” – I think this is quite harmful – here's a quote I love about that:

“I have always believed that each of us is responsible for doing her own emotional homework, that the process of facing down our ghosts is our small, attainable contribution to a kinetic process that holds the potential for healing the world. And why not? After all, the opposite is true: History has proven that people who are unwilling to catch and release their individual sadnesses, disappointments, and hidden motivations have compensated by wreaking havoc on the world. Good and evil lie within each of us, and every day we choose which potential to fill.”

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Re: Integrative Processing

…Yes me too!

I agree, when a person is under the impression that an enlightened individual doesn't feel “negative” emotion, they're going to create a spiritual practice that works as a suppressant.  It's no different then popping antidepressants to get rid of depression.  The only thing being accomplished is a bigger problem tomorrow.  It's very harmful!

I like what you wrote about a child's instantaneous outpour of emotion as a natural way to process and release their upset, and as adults we need to do the same.  I agree with this, but only in the relative sense.  I feel adults need to take it a step further by exercising responsible choice in processing their inner experience.  Kids are more likely to place blame on an exterior person or event as being the cause of their upset, where we as adults need to grow enough to own the experience rather then pass the buck somewhere else.  Screaming your head off when upset arises is just going to create a chain reaction in activating the “pain-body” in other unconscious people around you. 

Do you agree with this?

If anyone one has any questions or different takes on what they've read I'm open to hear them.  Beliefs mold our experience so when we start getting to the bottom of them, we start understanding our experience.

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Re: Integrative Processing

I do agree that adults need to take it a step further, and I think there can be a lot of fine lines in taking it a step further

I don't think screaming one's head off at someone else is a responsible or productive way to deal with upset – and I think the fine line is in: 1) not suppressing anger instead, and 2) not thinking that means never getting angry with someone else – as for #1, there are great ways to get anger out of the body so as to not suppress it (my favorite way is to draw angry pictures) – as for #2, there are ways to bring anger into a relationship (if needed) without having it be raging, blaming, and dumping

I'm enjoying this exchange and would also love it if others would jump in – any other thoughts about this, fellow podmates? and Seth, please continue as well  :)

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Re: Integrative Processing

Hello there…  haven't been around these parts for awhile - catching up on my zaadz file. 

Great thread.  I hadn't heard of Ruskin yet like the basics above.  The more I look the more I see folks saying the same thing over and over in many ways.  This is great because as there are many ways to present it, there are also so many different ways people can take it in and grow.

I think the basic start is to start and then continue to become “aware” of what we feel and how we process it.  From that point we start seeing their are choices in any given moment - instead of following rote patterns passed down through generations.

I like the aspects mentioned about children processing…  Here a quote from the Dalai Lama on the same.  As we grow and as we grow our awareness then we try to use discernment in our reactions and actions.  And try, and try again to match our best action/response choice to whatever life is presenting us at the time.

Also love the comments on enlightenment…  it doesn't seem to really be fogged out bliss and I don't think I've heard any of the masters ever say that's what it is.  Yet I think folks often assume or think that.  No more negatives, no more saddness, no more wants…

I think the world doesn't change when we grow towards enlightenment.  Rather we change the way we interpret and interact with the world (our own internal world as well).

Blessings - David

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Re: Integrative Processing

nothing is integrative like bringing anything at all to void

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