The Big Aha was a film proposal that I submitted
to the National Film Board of Canada in March
2004. They did not decide to fund this
project but I include the overview here in case you are
interested in the topic itself. It's also an example of how the collective thought
field works. I had been brewing this film idea in my head
for several years. A few months
after I finally submitted it, I heard about "What the Bleep Do
We Know". When I read the film's synopsis, I knew
that we were tapping into the same cosmic thought vein.
I've noticed from interviews with filmmakers and first-hand
accounts from many peers, that the average "brew time" for a
film is about 7 to 10 years. Near the end of that
period, they often encounter a sudden onslaught of similarly
themed films that all come out at the same time. Most
creators have encountered this phenomenon at some point in their
careers.
Since we are all connected and we share the same collective
thought field, we pull from the same pool of ideas and divine
resources. Far from meaning that we lack originality
or creativity, it simply means that we're in this together.
We can all contribute to each other's growth by picking up
different threads of the magic carpet. And it's a pretty colorful tapestry that we are weaving.
Project Overview March 2004
Working Title: Looking for the Big Aha: The Quest for
Enlightenment
Wake up at 6am. Meditate til 7am (or til alarm clock goes
off). Yoga at 8am – bring ‘loose’ pants this time. At work -
remember to send healing thoughts to my boss during the sales
meeting. After work - meet travel agent to plan for the Nepal
Temple Trek – ask about the 2 for 1 special at the Buddhist
retreat. (Do they serve vegan or just vegetarian food there?)
Therapy session with yet another NEW
counselor at 6pm – ask her about releasing
compulsive dissatisfaction. Meet Mom at
7pm for quick dinner. Remember to breathe. Go to the
“Heal Your Childhood Wounds” seminar at 8pm. Turn off the cell
phone, the landline, the fax and the computer by 10pm.
Watch the world news at 11pm and then pray for world peace at
11:15pm. Finish reading “The Power of Now” tomorrow.
Does this sound familiar in any way? If so, you have probably
already met an “enlightenment junkie”. Or perhaps you are one?
In any case, there is an undeniable hunger in the world today –
a desire to heal and evolve to the next level as human beings.
This movement towards greater consciousness in the world has
been given many names – the Age of Aquarius, the Fifth
Dimension, the Epoch of Peace or the New Age. Like a giant
spiritual supermarket check-out counter, many are lining up to
find the most effective way to salvation. Amidst this
increasingly vast buffet of promised redemption and healing –
how does one satisfy the deep-seated hunger that keeps gnawing
from within?
While the East provides a cupboard full of ancient teachings and
experiential techniques, the West has also caught on to the
collective hunger with its own offerings of bestselling books,
workshops and retreats, celebrated teachers and a cornucopia of
spiritual practices.
It’s not surprising that this is happening – within each
historical cycle there is always a period of spiritual cleansing
that follows the accumulation of mentally and emotionally toxic
times. In some way, we are all touched by some form of war –
whether it is a battle from within or from without. After the
recent decade of pain and trauma, many are desperately seeking
the light at the end of the tunnel. But will the light be a Mac
Truck or an Angel on a Harley?
This documentary takes a heartfelt look at the modern search for
enlightenment. The term “Aha” refers to the moment of epiphany
that has led so many to journey towards a better life or a
better way of “being”. Epiphany is defined in the
Merriam-Webster dictionary as: a usually sudden manifestation or
perception of the essential nature or meaning of something.
Regardless of one’s religious or cultural
background, there is a common thread that bonds
us: our desire for inner peace. Whether we seek
it through material means or through other kinds
of achievement, we all wish to feel fulfilled.
Whether we are atheist or God-loving, many of us
are striving to find more joy in our lives. (Or
to put it another way – to find relief from
suffering.) Looking beyond institutions and
religions – this film will explore the private
paths that many of us are taking in our search
for salvation. Some of us have experienced the
mythical “Dark Night of the Soul” which helps to
propel one out of their misery into a new state
of aliveness. Close encounters with
tragedy or death can also do the trick
(near-death experiences are notorious for
shifting a person’s mindset).
As we explore the spiritual thirst that is causing a major boom
in all things “New Age” – we must also look at the addictive
appetite which is both a symptom and purveyor of unfulfillment. As the Buddha advised – it is
the attachment to our cravings that causes suffering. Whenever
our collective desires have met with dissatisfaction, it has
driven us to pseudo acts of nihilism as we blindly grope for the
things we think we want.
Taking the figurative road to Mecca, we will meet a colorful
cast of seekers and finders. Some of the characters are
established healers and teachers that are known internationally,
while others are privately doing the work that promises to
transform their lives. As we examine this age-old quest, we
encounter the big question that some of the crusaders are
asking: Is Enlightenment a real and attainable goal? Or is it a
Holy Grail that only exists as an impossible ideal or fantasy?
Do we each have a chance to be the next Siddhartha?
The filmmaker’s background in the healing arts industry within
British Columbia has led to many connections within the mystic
community. With a sincere appreciation of the process, tempered
by years of study, research and practice, the filmmaker aims to create a
portrait as painted by the interviewees, about their search and
what they have found. Without the use of expository narration,
the documentary will allow the cast of characters to construct
the story of their individual brushes with epiphany and
enlightenment.
Possible candidates for interview include: Dr. Richard Jelusich
– a renowned psychic healer, Dr. Peter Russell – the author of
From Science to God (blending physics, psychology and
philosophy), Faye Fitzgerald – a former social worker who has
founded a modern school of shamanism, Bonnie Thorne – the chair
and founder of Diamond Heart Foundation (which promotes
spiritual well-being through holistic care), Mac McLaughlin – a
former biker turned astrologer and columnist, Joseph Roberts –
the publisher and senior editor of Common Ground magazine, Peace
Pilgrim II – a spiritual activist who followed in the footsteps
of the original Peace Pilgrim by divesting himself of all
possessions (including his name) and walked throughout North
America to speak about Peace, and Eckhart Tolle – author and
modern mystic who spent a few years sitting in bliss on a park
bench prior to his work as a globe-trotting teacher.
Teachers and practitioners of yoga, reiki and other healing
modalities will also be interviewed. Organizations that exist in
order to provide tools for exploring consciousness are also
available to plum for nuggets of knowledge. At the Institute of
Noetic Sciences (as founded by astronaut Edgar Mitchell after
his life-changing epiphany in space), there is
cutting-edge research being done by senior
scientists to look into the unexamined life -
where science meets spirituality, physics meets
metaphysics, and the heart meets the mind. Many
of their findings are astounding in their
implications, as they are beginning to reveal
the truth behind many of the esoteric teachings
of ancient traditions and mystics.
At Lightwork, a Vancouver-based centre for meditation and energy
healing, even music projects are suffused with the energy of
conscious awareness. Hollyhock, another BC-based operation, is
world re-known for bringing in famous speakers and workshop
leaders to its exquisite island retreat on Cortes Island. The
West Coast Institute of Mystic Arts is yet another BC-based
offering that has courses like Psychic Development 101 and The
Corporate Mystic. Newly minted, it is already expanding at a
cosmic pace. Inner Focus is a program that travels throughout
the US and Canada to teach the principles behind energy healing
and personal mastery. Banyan Books is a haven for finders and
keepers of epiphanies – while Vancouver itself seems to attract
all manner of spiritually-minded individuals.
Though the main inspiration for spiritual growth often seems to
be suffering itself – it is merely the most common approach. For
those who wish to try the road less traveled, there is the good
news that enlightenment need not be time-based or pain-derived.
In other words, there seems to be the option of dropping the
long hours and hard work in exchange for ease, grace, miracles
and immediate contentment. Some of the most ancient teachings
promise that enlightenment is an immediate process because it is
not part of the time-space continuum. Something that does not
exist by definitions of time or distance, is infinite and
eternal. From that concept, the teachings point to a
transformation that can occur instantaneously – as miracles are
known to happen. What better news for a world that thrives on
promises of "Instant" anything?
Of course, the irony exists that our get-spiritually-rich-quick
culture is also highly suspicious of teachings that promise such
easy enlightenment. The maxim “No Pain No Gain” is particularly
entrenched in our psyche when it comes to salvation. As many of
us seek to re-educate ourselves and re-wire our consciousness,
we find that this path requires us to transcend the limitations
of our reason and intellect. The concept of faith has long been
synonymous with spiritual steadfastness. However, there is a
concept that takes us beyond the confines of faith itself: it is
called “knowingness”. To know your divine source and be
connected to it in present time is the ultimate pinnacle.
Throughout history, there have been many individuals who claim
to have reached this eternal state, this Samadhi or nirvana.
Knowing implies transcendence of “belief” or “faith” – it is the
next step.
Flipping through Oprah’s roster of celebrated teachers and
guests, one can only guess if they practice what they preach.
Still, there are many who claim to have met or have personally
become masters. Are these the clever workings of a spin doctor,
sensational journalism, delusions or deceptions? Those few brave
souls who claim to have tasted fulfillment are catalysts for
heated debate, for the seeker is often media-savvy and sometimes
more cynical than the atheist who had stopped looking for
salvation. If you claim to be enlightened, the throng of angry
disbelievers mixes with the crowd of joyful followers. As
illustrated in Richard Bach's book “Illusions: The Adventures of
a Reluctant Messiah”, all the gifts of a master will be tested
by his reactions or lack thereof. For in all traditions, it is
said that you cannot argue with an enlightened being…
In the end, it comes down to the individual and their intuition
because Belief, Faith or Knowingness are private choices. We can
only gleam what is true for ourselves and allow others to choose
their own path. This is the basis for tolerance and acceptance
of diversity. The energy of these twin principles will guide all
the film's interviews since the purpose is not to deconstruct the person’s faith, but to allow them breathing
space to express their personal experiences.
The documentary’s overall approach is informal and the tone is
actually lighthearted. Employing a mixture of compelling images,
candid interviews, interesting locations with unconventional
compositions, stylistic montages, effective use of stock
footage, colorful graphic and sound design – the piece will have
some of the energy of an Errol Morris-style portrait.
Idiosyncratic elements will thoughtfully pepper the more
traditional non-fiction narrative form – to help elucidate and
navigate through this fundamentally human phenomenon. Most
importantly - this is not an ideological essay, not an
intellectual debate, not a philosophical deduction of what is
true or false. It is a compassionate look at the
resounding need for communion with the sacred and ultimately –
with our higher selves. The target audience is anyone who has
ever looked for healing, redemption, joy or deeper meaning in
their lives.
Despite the profundity of the topic, underneath the duality of
pain and pleasure lies an uplifting message. From the
experiences of these characters, we begin to see the
accessibility of the experience. The evidence points to the fact
that we are all capable of reaching new heights in physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual development. Given some keys to
understanding through the heart not the head, we can learn to
bypass our old patterns of thinking and doing, to
attain a new paradigm for being. As we describe the
search for healing and explore the anatomy of a modern mystic –
we inevitably run into the paradoxes that intertwine with the
divine. (hence the saying “Divinity speaks in Paradox.”)
As Eckart Tolle advises, all words and images in this world of
form are but signposts. They point to the way but they are not
the way itself. For just as language is a map of consciousness
but not the ultimate expression – this documentary is a map of
the search and is not meant to be the answer itself.
