Do all Teachers realize the same thing?

(Finding Meaning Project) They all discovered the same thing?

Mysteries of Asia: Yonaguni (Mu, Lemuria)

Remnants of ancient Mu (Lemuria)?

The Yonaguni Monument (Japanese 与那国島海底地形) refers to Yonaguni-jima Kaitei Chikei, literally, "Yonaguni Island Submarine Topography," possibly a remnant of the Land of Mu (mythical lost continent).

• Lemuria (lost continent)

The manmade structures are also called the "Yonaguni (Island) Submarine Ruins" or 与那国（島）海底遺跡, Yonaguni-jima Kaitei Iseki.

This submerged rock formation rests off the coast of Yonaguni, the southernmost of the Ryukyu Islands, in Japan. It lies approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Taiwan. More: Yonaguni 

Where is Yonaguni?

Yonaguni (Japanese 与那国島, Hepburn Yonaguni-jima, Dunan-chima, older Juni-shima [2], Yunoon-zïma, Yunaguni-jima), one of the Yaeyama Islands, is the westernmost island of Japan [3], lying between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea.

A mere 107.4 kilometers (58.0 nmi, 66.7 miles) separate the island from Taiwan at their closest points. It is administered as the town of Yonaguni, Yaeyama Gun, Okinawa, and there are three settlements: Sonai, Kubura, and Higawa.

There have been discussions to establish direct ferry services with Taiwan in order to bolster tourism. More: Yonaguni

• Sneaky Sushii; CC Liu, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

'Partying is down. That's worrisome' (BBC)

Dead Kennedys: "Happy Hour is now enforced by law" (Cali Uber Alles)

People are partying less. Here’s why that’s worrying. | BBC Global

Dead Kennedys (punk rock with Jello Biafra) "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" (in studio)

(BBC Global) Oct. 6, 2025: Over the last 20 years, there has been a decline in the amount time Americans spend at parties, especially among young people. Derek Thompson and Katty Kay dive into what the effects of decreased socializing are among young people and what can be done about it.

The BBC is a British public broadcast service. Subscribe to BBC Global. For the latest news, analyses, and features visit: bbc.com #BBC #entertainment #GenZ #Zoomers

David Icke: Occult Truth of Globalist Pyramid

David Icke, Jeff Rense (rense.com); Pat Macpherson, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly

This clip, published on May 12, 2015, is from Sept. 01, 1996 when guest David Icke came on the Jeff Rense Program. Full show available at the archives renseradio.com.

Who's really running things on this planet?

Exposing the dreamworld: Why do things really happen? Is there really a Bilderberg Group? Global events are manipulated behind the scenes then the consensus reality is backed by the mainstream media so that it is difficult to ever get a glimpse at the truth. But it is the truth that will set us free not only ultimately by Buddhist insight but by being in touch with the world and the things going on around us and right under our noses. 

Globalists? Elitists? Rulers? (occupy.com)

Anyone speaking up for the truth, which goes against many vested interests in banking, the military, private for profit corporations, spying agencies, and our two governments, will be labelled a "nut" and called trigger words to be discredited so that no one will hear the truth and realize what is going on. British investigative journalist David Icke is just such a whistle blower speaking truth to elitist power.

Along with Icke (pronounced ike) there are other eminent and often hated voices like those of Stewart Swerdlow, Edward Snowden, Laura Poitras (The Intercept), Arundhati Roy, Chelsea Manning, Jeremy Scahill, Stephen Quayle, David Wilcock (Edgar Cayce), Julian Assange (WikiLeaks), Sonali Kolhatkar, Jeff Rense, Sean David Morton, Christopher Hedges, Pacifica Radio (Berkeley, Los Angeles), Glenn Greenwald, Alex Jones (a very compromised and alarmist source of information), most of the guests of Alternative Radio, and some of the guests of Coast to Coast.

• Harness the infinite power of mind (Expansions)
• Death Metal musician donates farm to animal rescue 
• Who wants to be a trillionaire? U.S. steals China gold
• Losing Vincent Bugliosi, Esq., who laid out The Prosecution of George W. Bush for murder the way he successfully put away Charles Manson

• US Army site hacked, Obama demands cyber law
• VIDEO: Obama rips Putin as wrecking Russia for Empire
• Ratsenyuk pledges to reclaim Crimea, Donbass (har)
• VIDEO: Big Ukraine oil depot fire
• Are Kiev, separatist casualties really "equal"? 

NUCLEAR: Israel exploded "dirty bombs" in Negev desert Israel manufactured and detonated “dirty bombs” in the Negev desert, which is home to a large number of Bedouin Palestinians, a report says. Tel Aviv used explosives laced with nuclear material to test the impact of crude nuclear weapons, according to a report published in the Haaretz daily newspaper on Monday. During project Green Field, 20 detonations were completed, then radiation levels were measured via mini-drones...

• Israelis attack, stab Palestinian Israeli settlers stab a Palestinian in the West Bank city of al-Khalil
• Israel's deceitful path to nukes: exposé Israel managed to hide its activities to make nukes back in 1960s under the cover of a textile factory, a report says.
• "Germany funded Israeli nuke program" West Germany secretly helped and funded Israel with its development of nuclear weapons in 1960s.

When nuclear Israel attacks, it will be attacked

(Karim) Israeli is widely thought to possess 200 to 400 nuclear warheads and refuses to either allow inspections of its nuclear facilities or join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

 

The use of even a single nuclear bomb will have a very serious consequences for Israel. Any bomb on any Muslim country will have an immediate reaction of nuclear response from Pakistan. Pakistan never pointed a nuclear weapon on Israel, but the recent intentions to point nuclear weapons at Muslim states under the shadow of Western states has alerted the strategic forces of Pakistan. Pakistani nuclear forces are now also directed towards Israel since Israel has started posing a nuclear threat to many Muslim countries.
 

Pakistani capabilities include long distance missiles that can carry nuclear weapons. Recent plan for eight subs from China will have the capability to fire these long range missiles horizontally with nuclear warheads. Pakistan will be the first country to get the Chinese J-31 stealth fighter that can deliver nuclear weapons. Pakistan is in direct contact with China and in need Pakistan can open the flood gates of Karakorum for Chinese weapons and military personnel. So things are not so easy to threaten Pakistan by showing a strong fist. These are now things of the past and Israel and its supporter powers need to understand that it is no longer easy to push Pakistan to the wall. More

• Obama snubs Iraqi prime minister at G7
• Iran warns KSA against raids near embassy
• Iran to sue US if it blocks new Airbuses
• Turkish government resigns after election
• "Israel army hires 1000s of criminals"
• Bush wrong on Iraq: Rumsfeld

VIDEO: Israel attempts to sink USS Liberty to blame it on Egypt (thanks to the CIA)

• NYT rolls out McCarthyism for New Cold War
• CROP CIRCLES mystify southern Russia
• The "invisible" white man holding the camera
• VIDEO: Br. Nathanael: Elections for Jews only
• VIDEO: Brother Nathanael's amazing videos
• Fix the soil, feed the planet, save the world
• Medicinal cannabis approved for NZ teen in coma
• Patient with drug resistant TB being treated in MD 
• Giant new galaxy found at edge of universe
• Major German TV exposes "Holocaust" lies - shocks nation
• History’s cruelest hoax: Semitic Khazars 
• VIDEO: Rand wants to know why cops are getting bayonets
• Obama: Jewish traditions make "US a better place"
• Obama on his amnesty: "The law of on our side"

Oh, that Bill's a cad, but we're the power elite.

Mainstream media hides Bill Clinton's alleged PEDOPHILIA on Epstein's island Several law enforcement officers who specialize in sex crimes and pedophilia believe this whole sexual-fantasy-island is a perfect example of political hypocrisy. "Here you have a bunch of teenagers being sexually exploited by so-called liberals like Clinton, Epstein, and attorney Alan Dershowitz who calls American conservatives [on their] unequal treatment of women. These were children...

What is it with spies and politicians?

VIDEO: Obama's cybersecurity chief to go to prison for Internet child porn Timothy DeFoggi, who served as the acting director of cybersecurity at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under disgraced Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, was told by a judge on Monday that he'll serve the next 25 years in federal prison for kiddie pornography dissemination. DeFoggi was convicted by a federal jury...According to Justice Department officials, the 56-year-old computer security expert communicated online with other offenders in an underground Internet forum. At trial, it was shown that he articulated his strong desire to rape and murder children. Being a cyberscience expert, DeFoggi knew how to use the Tor browser, an online service that is capable of eluding law enforcement from tracking his Internet activities while he worked at HHS as its head of cybersecurity in 2013...

• Hillary Clinton's corruption is legendary: political analyst
• Judge Napolitano: Why NSA loves "FREEDOM" Act

• Turkish ruling party loses its majority in Parliament
• Weekend wonderland
• US government hacked
• Algiers speaks through punk
• Where we're going we don't need roads
• California is sinking
• For the love of Metal (music)
• Spotify finds Metal more popular than Pop
• Barbie steps down (off her high heels)
• Organic produce and stand up comedy
• Free summer music at Levitt Pavilion
• Conducting business in LA
• 100 "eggcorns" that pass "mustard"
• The sad state of California's Salton Sea
• Crack the code of CREATIVITY
• "The most valuable car collection ever"
• PHOTOS: Pretending oar fish are "sea serpents"
• Wal-Martization of African American Religion

FUKUSHIMA NEWS

• California beaches full of dead sea animals - Fukushima rad
• West Coast soon to be hit with MASSIVE Cesium-137
• Japan Gov't: Fukushima should be declared uninhabitable
• Fukushima emits 3 million Bq radiation into air hourly
• Fukushima "cleanup" paid by taxpayers - TEPCO profits
• Fukushima youth ready to abandon irradiated hometowns
• Nichols: Your radiation this week No. 10
• Scientists reveal more staggering West Coast die-offs
• VIDEO: Scientists warn of MASSIVE die-off on West Coast
• IAEA whitewashes Fukushima disaster
• Japan workers head into age of austerity

Great read on Buddhist and Jain culture

Craig Newmark, Wisdom Quarterly; Jay Deva (UCLA)

Mahavira (Great Hero), known in Buddhism as the Nigantha Nattaputta, founded Jainism.

  

Fordfinders (wiki)

Interested in compassionate nonviolence? Might two of ancient India's greatest teachers (the Buddha and Mahavira) have something to offer? In search of a good read?
 

· Chapter 1: Meditation - Concepts and Knowledge
· Chapter 2: Meditation - Technique and Instruction
· Chapter 3: Oneness
· Chapter 4: Karma
· Chapter 5: Karmic Conduct
· Chapter 6: Culture and Practices

Many lives (Jain Universe)

The closely-related wandering ascetic (shramanic) traditions of Buddhism and Jainism are among humanity's oldest and richest sources of philosophical, spiritual, moral, and humanitarian knowledge.

Long before the advent of formal "religion," creeds, oaths, and sectarianism, informal manifestations flourished in the form of culture. Evolved and refined over many centuries, these humanistic spiritual vehicles preserved the world's oldest and most extensive understandings of meditation, karmic wisdom, and nonviolence (ahimsa).

Through the fusion of multi-disciplinary scholarship, Dev's in-depth collection presents the genuine lineage of rare knowledge at the heart of these cultures in a single, artistic, and well-organized volume.

The text contains artwork and poetry presented in an easy style, including I Am All Beings, The Knowledge of Oneness, a short poetic series featuring various painting styles and intricate illustrations.

Most importantly, Meditation, Karma, and Nonviolence: The Authentic Teachings and Practices of Buddhist and Jain Culture illuminates the vital essence of Jain and Buddhist culture. The volume proceeds in concise, bulleted paragraphs, each transmitting a kernel of ancient wisdom cherished for countless centuries by those who have endeavored to look deep within themselves for guidance and awakening, carefully practicing non-harming toward all forms of life, inspiring humans toward personal liberation and an enlightened worldwide society of nonviolence and cooperation.

International Peace Day today (video)

BeThePeace.com; Wisdom Quarterly

  
There will be live events in hundreds of cities around the world, starting at 6:00pm in local timezones, creating a profound wave of peace that moves across our planet.

  

There will also be three specific moments during the day when everyone around the world will connect at the same time: 12:00 am, 12:00 pm (noon), and 12:00 (midnight) EDT, creating three deep planetary Pulses of Peace.

   

BeThePeace welcomes humans from every culture, every spiritual tradition, and every political perspective to join together as One.

  

All are invited from local organizations to collaborate and create events in every city. Global organizations are invited to spread the word and inspire the mass to humanity to join.

  

Together we create a world where inner and outer peace is the normal way of life. Together we create history! More

Life During Wartime: "Xmas Truce" (video)

Wisdom Quarterly, Noe's Buddhist Christmas; History Channel
(TheDocumentarySite, Dec. 2011)

Imagine living in a time of endless war consuming country after country. But then it's the day before the night before Xmas. There is no reason to shop because you're in a ditch, with wet feet, freezing. It's not December 2011 with the US on its way to invading Iran. It's August 1914 and 10 million men are about to die in Europe -- then an unexpected and unexplained truce.

The "Christmas Truce" was a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front. Instead of killing one another, men laid down their arms and celebrated together.

The truce began at Flander's Field around Christmas 1914, during the WW I. Parties of German and British soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings and songs between their trenches. On occasion, the tension was reduced to the point that individuals would walk across to talk to their opposite numbers bearing gifts.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many soldiers from both sides -- as well as, to a lesser degree, from French units -- independently ventured into "No Man's Land" (the space between opposing trenches), where they mingled, exchanging food and souvenirs.

• When this Buddha in meditation ornament was auctioned, I simply had to bid. Its purpose on the tree is to represent diversity and tolerance for differences during the holidays. It may seem odd or even irreverent to some to have a Buddha or menorah hanging from a Christmas tree, but it is very important to me to be respectful of all beliefs.

In addition to joint burial ceremonies, several meetings ended in carol-singing. Troops from both sides even played friendly games of football (soccer) -- which were to eventually replace war as we took sports to extremes of hooliganism, mass violence, drunken debauchery and child sex trafficking in the US and possibly in the EU.

The truce is seen as a symbolic moment of peace and humanity amidst one of the most violent events of modern history

The Germans began by placing candles on their freezing trenches and on Pagan-holdover Christmas trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols.

The British responded by singing carols of their own. The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon there were excursions across No Man's Land, where small gifts were exchanged, such as food, tobacco, spirits, and souvenirs such as buttons and hats.

The artillery in the region fell silent that night. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Joint services were held.

The fraternization was not, however, without its risks: Some soldiers were shot by opposing forces. In many sectors, the truce lasted through Christmas night. In others, it continued until New Year's Day.

• FOOTNOTE: Adolf Hitler, then a young corporal of the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry, was a notable opponent of the truce. Why? Hitter, bad; Vandals, good.
  

DMT: The God Molecule (video)

(Lysergicaddict) The God Molecule (5-MeO-DMT) with James Oroc, Part 1

(Entheogenic.podomatic.com) "This week Martin Ball talks with James Oroc, author of the new book Tryptamine Palace all about our favorite medicine, 5-MeO-DMT. The conversation goes into all kinds of realms including the Akashic field and zero-point energy."

Path to Enlightenment: No One Strives Alone

Wisdom Quarterly

Young Buddhist novice studies and strives for enlightenment with an entire support network provided free by others (HimalayaCrafts/Facebook)

A bodhisattva is an individual who vows to forego final emancipation until others also find the way to freedom. It is a wonderful -- if often exaggerated, misunderstood, and undermined -- ideal reflecting how we are all interconnected and interdependent.

Everyone must indeed do his/her own striving, but no one need do it alone. Even in the forest, on his quest, Siddhartha could not do it alone. He had a great deal of help, encouragement, and support. Most of this is implicit or ignored because we (as Americans) are "rugged individualists" who prefer stories of remarkable survival, struggle, and success in the face of all odds.

• But his yogi-gurus Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputra helped
• Earth-devas (pictured above) helped when they said they would feed the Bodhisattva through his pores if he continued to fast
  
• The Five Ascetics (who were his companions on the path of penance and austerities) helped
• The laywoman Sujata (who fed him a nutritious meal that caused him to realize that the body is not an impediment but a potential boon on the way to enlightenment) helped
• King Bimbisara (who promised protection and asked him to come back when he accomplished his goal) helped
• His wife Princess Yasodhara (who watched their son and confidently knew he was out for the good of everyone) helped
• His family (King Suddhodana, Queen Mahaprajapati, and Maya Devi looking down from the Space World of the Thirty-Three) helped
• Sakka, King of the Devas of the World of the Thirty-Three (who might have been prompted by Maya Devi to look after the good Siddhartha on his quest) helped protect and later, along with Brahma Sahampati, asked the Buddha to teach the liberating Dharma to the world...

These and perhaps many other beings helped the Bodhisattva until he became the Buddha.

Later bodhisattvas, inspired by such stories of enlightened self-interest manifesting as "sacrifice" for the benefit of others (and therefore of all), also vowed to help save all living beings.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva mantra: Om Ba La Mo Ling To Ning Swaha

One excellent example is Ksitigarbha ("Earth-Treasury") Bodhisattva, who vowed:

"Unless the hells become empty, I vow not to attain buddhahood. Until all have achieved ultimate liberation, I shall not consider my enlightenment full..."

There are many "hells" (narakas) in Buddhist cosmology, of incredible duration and unimaginable misery, but none actually eternal.

For this reason, in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, he is regarded as "caretaker of the world" until the return of the future buddha Maitreya, whose birth is anticipated in 5.7 billion years. (Such is the reckoning of time by the historical Buddha in India, speaking of aeons (kalpas) and the long stretches of time between short periods when the liberating Dharma exists in the world and is able to be learned and practiced.

The wonderful thing, then, is that we are not alone in our quest, our struggle and striving. Others around us -- even apparent, unrelated strangers whom we are connected to -- are helping and ready to help. Beneficial unseen beings are also helping. And we ourselves, often without realizing it, are helping and encouraging others.

• The Life Story of the Buddha
• O, to be reborn into a hippie family
• Freedom from limiting Body Memory
  

Amma Sri Karunamayi 2011 Tour

Santa Clara, CA	Friday	July 1		TANA Conference
(408) 252-1607	Saturday	July 2	1:30 pm - 2 pm	TANA Conference - Spiritual Discourse
	Sunday	July 3	8:30 am - 11am	TANA Conference - Lalita Sahasranama Puja ~ Register here to perform the puja
Ojai/Ventura, CA	Tuesday	July 5	7 pm	Spiritual Discourse/Darshan
(805) 633-0108	Wednesday	July 6	10am - 1:30pm	Individual Blessings/Saraswati Diksha*
Ventura@Karunamayi.org
Los Angeles, CA	Thursday	July 7	7 pm	Spiritual Discourse/Darshan
(213) 457-4364	Friday	July 8	10am - 1:30pm	Individual Blessings/Saraswati Diksha*
LosAngeles@Karunamayi.org	Saturday	July 9	8 am - 6 pm	One Day Meditation Retreat
	Sunday	July 10	9 am - 1 pm	Homa - Sacred Fire Ceremony
San Francisco - Guru Purnima Retreat and Celebration	Friday	July 15	8am - 4:30pm	Guru Purnima Retreat
(408) 252-1607 (510) 565-4486 (510) 209-8697	Friday	July 15	6 pm	Guru Purnima Celebration
GuruPurnima@Karunamayi.org	Saturday	July 16	6 am - 6 pm	Guru Purnima Retreat
	Sunday	July 17	6 am - 10 am 10 am - 1 pm	Guru Purnima Retreat Guru Purnima Retreat Homa
Seattle, WA	Thursday	July 21	7:00 pm	Spiritual Discourse/Darshan
(425) 337-2940	Friday	July 22	10am - 1:30pm	Individual Blessings/Saraswati Diksha*
Seattle@Karunamayi.org	Saturday	July 23	8 am - 6 pm	One Day Meditation Retreat
	Sunday	July 24	9 am - 1 pm	Homa - Sacred Fire Ceremony
* Due to the large number of people attending these programs, individuals arriving after 1:30 pm are not guaranteed an Individual Blessing with Amma. During these programs, Sri Karunamayi will be offering Sri Saraswati Mantra Diksha (initiation) to students ages 4 to 24. For more information, please click here. Tour schedule is subject to change.

We Are All One... or are we? (video)

What does it mean to say "We are all one"? A very spiritual girl I knew scoffed at the notion. Even after becoming an expert Buddhist meditator, she did not speak of nonduality, Oneness, or unity. She could see through the delusion of separation, yet she would not make the claim of all being one. She asked, "Do you think we're all one? What does that even mean?"

"Of course," I answered emphatically. "It's not even that hard to understand." One needn't be St. Francis or Thich Nhat Hanh (or "Nitch Natch Hans Christian Anderson" as we would refer to him, never being able to get our Vietnamese or Thai lessons to stick) to understand the unity (nonduality) concept.

It was not by direct mystical experience that I understood it. But there's almost no one I know who hasn't had intimations of sensing how we are all interconnected.

Official trailer for Tom Shadyac's film, "I AM" now in theaters: iamthedoc.com

• On a subatomic level, we're all constantly exchanging ions (and not just the living beings, but rocks, streams, blades of grass...unseen emanations of energy).
• On a social level, we're all going through the same thing -- even as we experience it differently according to our attention, intention, and habitual reaction patterns).
• On a physiological level, we are all more or less the same: subject to the same follies, mortal, morbid (when we get a boo boo, we instinctively exclaim ouch).
• On a psychological level, we have the same neurotic tendencies and stumble into the same thought traps.
• On an emotional level, we can empathize with one another (by force of our mirror neurons being triggered before we're even consciously aware of it).
• On a biological level, we're all built up out of DNA, cellular material, the Four Great Elements, subatomic particles, properties, name-and-form (nama-rupa)
• On a spiritual level, we all have the same potential (enlightenment, buddhahood, basic goodness, Buddha Nature, humanity, self-actualization, altruism)

It might be better to ask, In what way are we actually different? Take a set of building blocks and build something. Everything tangible is the same. Everything intangible (the arrangement of all the tangible things) is within the potential of others.

When we're in love, we love connecting, merging, losing our burdensome ego (our sense of separateness or isolation). But even when we hate someone or something, we are bonding with it by our attention/intention, and so we run into it again and again. How great, then, to cleanse the heart of bias and partiality and accept everything with the same equanimity and peace of mind that still allows us to act and respond appropriately without getting snared and entangled.

Our main separation -- and our main problem -- is the delusion that we are apart, independent actors, isolated, alone, abandoned, forgotten, or left behind. We are not.

We are united (whether we like it or not at any given moment), we are together, we are in the same boat (Earth as our own Easter Island, and we all know what happened there -- and if not, we can all get on the same Network and find out), we are inter-dependent, we are All One in this sense and probably many others.

And it is possible to glimpse in a mystical/shamanic/DMT (the spirit molecule)-fueled state that this is literally true at all times and in all situations even though we now look back and feel we were alone a lot of the time. We were never alone. She agreed.

It's easy to forget this growing up in our competitive society watching "Survivor" and wondering why Donald Trump seems to get off firing people and feeding a scarcity mentality. But even Christians have an easy reference to this universal truth in theistic terms: There's that poster in the bathrooms of footprints in the sand; when we felt most alone and look back to prove it, we were actually being carried.

Film proves We Are all connected ("I Am")

Rob Sidon LA Yoga (March 2011)

"I Am" is Hollywood humorist-producer-writer-director Tom Shadyac's most passionate project after working with Buddhist Jim Carrey.

LA YOGA: How would you describe the film?

TOM SHADYAC: My hope is that "I Am" is a window into Truth, a glimpse into the miracle, the mystery and magic of who we really are, and of the basic nature of the connection and unity of all things. In a way, I think of "I Am" as the ultimate reality show.

LA YOGA: You made the film to answer two fundamental questions.

TOM: Yes: What's wrong with the world? And what can we do about it? And when I say what's wrong with the world, I didn't want to hear the usual answers like war, hunger, poverty, the environmental crisis, or even greed.

• "I Am" premieres March 8 at the Hollywood Arclight

These to me are not the problem; they are symptoms of a larger endemic problem. In "I Am," I wanted to talk about the root cause of the ills of the world, attempt to identify it, because if there is a common cause and we can talk about it, air it out in the public forum, then we have a chance to solve it.

Until then, we are like doctors who keep prescribing medication to treat our collective nausea when what we need is the wisdom to ask ourselves what we're ingesting in the first place that is making us all sick.

LA YOGA: One reason I enjoyed the film is that its underlying message is so positive -- that human beings are not hardwired as selfish creatures. You turn to scientists to explain.

TOM: Well, I was raised Catholic, so this is not exactly the message I was taught growing up. I was told I was born bad, burdened with something called "original sin," and that all mankind was similarly infected.

It was a revelation to me that for tens of thousands of years, indigenous cultures taught a very different story about our inherent goodness, which is being backed by the sciences now.

We are discovering a plethora of evidence about our hard wiring for connection and compassion, from the vagus nerve, which releases oxytocin [the love and empathy hormone] at simply witnessing a compassionate act, to the mirror neurons, which cause us to literally feel another person's pain and thereby empathize.

Darwin himself, who has been grossly misunderstood to believe exclusively in our competitiveness (hence the famous saying "survival of the fittest"), actually observed and noted that humankind's real power comes in its ability to perform complex tasks together -- that is, to sympathize and cooperate.

LA YOGA: To exemplify the essence of "I Am," you set up an experiment. Can you explain it and say why it's important?

TOM: The experiment in the movie's just a demonstration and not scientific at all, but it does suggest something that is incredible if it's true -- that our thoughts and emotions affect the living systems around us.

• See this month's free issue of LA Yoga magazine for the entire sit down interview by Rob Sidon.

"I Am" is a prismatic and probing exploration of our world, what's wrong with it, and what we can do to make it better. It represents Tom Shadyac's first foray into non-fiction following a comedy directing career in Hollywood with such films as "Ace Ventura," "Liar Liar," "Bruce Almighty," and many more. "I Am" follows the filmmaker after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. He emerged a changed man. Disillusioned with life on Hollywood's A-list, he sold his house and moved into a humble community, starting life anew. Armed with nothing but curiosity and a camera crew, Shadyac embarks on a journey to discover how we can all improve our lives. Appearing as character, commentator, guide, and even guinea pig, Shadyac meets with a variety of thinkers and doers -- remarkable luminaries from the worlds of science, philosophy, and faith -- including Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, David Suzuki, Lynne McTaggart, Ray Anderson, John Francis, Coleman Barks, and Marc Ian Barasch. An irrepressible Everyman who asks many questions but offers no easy answers, he takes the audience to places it has never been before, and presents even familiar phenomena in radically new ways.

LAYogaMagazine.com