10-Month Certification in
Psychology of Consciousness


-- The highest healing art --

"Suffering is not unavoidable.
Wake up to your true self as Consciousness and soon you will agree with me"

Gian Girardi, BOI founder

Online Worldwide
Glendale and Los Angeles, In-Person

Curriculum Summary

Classes every other week
-- accelerated 5-month program also available --

"If we haven't found yet what we really are, we can't expect to be happy"
Gian Paolo Girardi, founder

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Dates


Group Format: This year the course started Monday July 24, 2013.
Still you may be able to join the group

One on one format: anytime the student is ready (subject to teacher's time availbility)

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Formats


All BOI courses are presented in a group format or in the one on one time-proven, mentoring format.

Online group classes are held via BOI's Webinar Platform.  Students living in Los Angeles County are welcome to come in-person to our broadcast studio in Glendale.

One on one classes are offered on Skype, phone, and in person.
 In-person classes are presented in Glendale, Los Angeles, CA

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Time Commitment

Group Format: each live class every other week in the group format is three hours long.

One on one format: each video class in the one on one format is also three hours long, followed by a one on one 1-hour discussion with the teacher. Therefore, one on one tutoring on Skype, or in person, requires a commitment of four hours total per class -- every two weeks.

Homework for Group Format requires a commitment of about six to ten hours per month. The student can do more homework based on their time availability and enthusiasm. 

Homework consists of:

1- Completing a true / false questionnaire after each class
2- Reading books and written material
3- Watching movies and documentaries

Homework for One on One Format also requires a commitment of about six to ten hours per month. The student can do more homework based on their time availability and enthusiasm.

Homework consists of:

1- Writing questions and insigths during the video class to discuss them later with the teacher.
2- Completing a true / false quizz after each class
3- Reading books and written material
4- Watching movies and documentaries


All courses at BOI have for goal helping the student to improve his or her life, so that later they know how to help others do likewise.  Intellectual knowledge has value,
but it is definitely not enough.

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Final Paper

At the end of this course a four pages paper is required to obtain the final certification. The student can choose any subject they found interesting or valuable during the course.


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Enrollment


"The most significant adventure you will ever undertake
is the exploration of Consciousness -- yourSelf"

To enroll in this Certification Course takes two to three minutes. Please click here or call us at

310-455-6815

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Curriculum Summary

I- Awakening the Student to their True Self (Consciousness) through the Positive Path to Awakening

 Class starts with a guided meditation conducive to "abiding as the Self or resting as Awareness"

1-  What is Awakening
2-  The illusory I and its many identification thoughts -- I am this, I am that. A list of ten
3-  The identity basket and its unique characteristics. The power of any small change in                 identity.
4-   A useful model and definition of the mind - the concentric circles model. Characteristics of       the  mind objects -- Positive and negative (dualistic in nature), impermanent. Does the mind       exist? Introspection with eyes closed
5-   The Perceiving -- the eye at the center of the storm. Its characteristics: non-dual, constant,       part of this Universe?
6-   Relation between mind and Perceiving -- the screen of the mind
7-   Real vs. false. Constant vs coming and going.
8-   What is a baby really? What were you then? What did you become later?
9-   Noticing the Perceiving and you are That!
10- Every mind-body organism is an organ of sensory perception, for whom?
11- What is the soul? The soul is also overwhelmed by identifications. Who evolves then?
12- What does it mean "Abiding as the Self or Resting as Awareness" -- how to use this as a            spiritual practice, as a meditation approach. The backward step. Reminder. Ramana's words       in regard to what we must do to attain and where free will begins and ends. Undefined, undifferentiated Awareness.
13- Relationship between Consciousness and the body -- noticing the body exercise
14- The perceiver does not exist?  What about the perceived?
15- Baptism (naming) an initiation into falsehood. How the active voice of the language bind us,       and what we can do and can't do about it. The magic of the passive voice. The MBO trick and       others.
16- Words that point to non-existent objects
17- Awakening vs. Liberation -- why Awakening is only a milestone
18- The thought "I am not Awakened"
19- Emotions and negative reactions -- where are they happening? Why are they happening? Do       we need to fix them?
20- The blessings of Awakening are the proof -- increase in trust, decrease in resistance to what       is, decrease in neurosis, decrease in negative emotions, increase in self-confidence, increase       in efficiency, the mind becomes more silent, greater enjoyment, decrease in dislikes,                 significant decrease in all fears, and so
on. Material benefits too?  The importance of                    noticing these changes
21- Satsang -- eliminating all confusion about what we are really is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Listen to the class again, and identify the 21 steps to Awakening. Generate personal notes to work later with clients.

II- Awakening through The Negative Path to Awakening -- denying the existence of the false and eventually letting go of all beliefs.

Class starts with a guided meditation conducive to "resting as no-one" and then letting go of the belief that "there is no-one."

1-   Summary of the last class
2-   The Art of Living Empty. Why it is NOT a spiritual experience and how it bestows freedom
3-   Why the Buddhists emphasize so much the Emptiness pointer, and what is the Emptiness            really
4-  If the "I" does not exist, what are the implications? Will you loose yourself? What does it               mean that every sentient being is Empty? Why this is the most effective path to a life free of         interpersonal conflicts. How to practice it. How to practice this in spiritual counseling.
5-   Why the Ultimate Truth can be expressed so effectively in a negative way. Why a Universe           without "me" is a happy Universe, and how we can see that we are the Universe. Is this a                  subject free Universe?
6-   Repeat the initial meditation exercise
7-   Are we robots then? Revisiting the MBO concept? How this simple concept can free us from           the greatest lie ever told. Actions are the result of programs not of personal decisions.
8-   So "I, so and so, never existed?" Revisiting the pointer "to whom is this coming?" Dealing              effectively with negative emotions
9-   The self-referential nature of the "I" -- revisiting the screen of the mind.
10- When mental objects are not owned they simply come and go -- they float free on the screen         of the mind and no one grasp them.
11- The highest mantra? Finally a mantra yoga that really works?
12- The highest use of the mind is to point towards freedom from the"I." This is called "The path          of Wisdom" -- Nisargadatta Maharaj
13- Get this and be free in a moment. Miss it and you will not make it in a million years!                      Regressing to the "I" thought -- is it possible? The path becomes extremely simple --                      remembering the Truth. Are we free after Awakening or the subconscious, false "I" still has to        die? Will we have an ego for the rest of our lives?
14- Go empty. Eliciting the feeling of Awakening. 
16- When we meditate, who is meditating? When we have a spiritual experience, who had it?
17- The ultimate answer to a life free of interpersonal relationship issues. "Sutras" and "Tweeter"
18- Dealing with negative emotions -- to whom is this coming? Fear vs. Consciousness takes care        of itself
19- Why Non-Duality - truly a spiritual revolution - is the most advanced spiritual approach in             the planet today, and why it always was. How BOI is contributing and how our student can            contribute. Spiritual practices bind us, can this liberating approach do that too?
20- How to trigger the Awakening state in your clients. Why for the teacher soul, teaching is an            easy and delightful way to evolve spiritually.
21- Satsang -- eliminating all confusion about the powerful negative approach to Awakening and          Liberation is INDISPENSABLE. Students that haven't Awakened yet are invited to a                     3-hour one on one Awakening session

- Homework: watching 'M" interview and noticing the awakening experience


III- The "Magic Diamonds of Awakening"

Class starts with a guided meditation

1An Awakening is like a "magic diamond." There are many "diamonds" that we can attain from          linear psychology, but some are "magic diamonds," and they can be attain only through               spiritual psychology
2Are some "magic diamonds" -- awakenings" bigger than others?
3Happiness is not so dependent on the size of the "magic diamond" we got, but on how skillful           and constant we are at using it.
4All magic diamonds are made of the same material -- i.e. every diamond has the power to               end the seeking. However, it is worth to stay open to new revelations.  The point is not to                turn this opening in a new search -- seeking without seeking is OK.
5All "magic diamonds" have the power to transcend the most challenging test -- deterioration          of the body and its eventual death. This leads to the end of fear.
6However, if we chase with attachment for the magic diamond that someone else have, we               become seekers again, and we will suffer the consequences of course.
7When we encounter negative emotion is an opportunity to do two things -- transcend the               situation and heal our programs in that area where "we are not yet free."
8How our magic diamond can help us to fix our programs? Why using Awakening to escape           facing our dysfunctional programs is misusing the Awakening.
9 "Father, why have Thou forsaken me? What this prayer means after Awakening? Patience at          correcting the programs. The use of intention or prayer to solve an issue and fix a program           forever.
10- Why the realization brought by "Noticing the Perceiving" is a "magic diamond."
12- Why the realization "There is no-one" is also magic diamond
13- Why Joy is also a magic diamond, but why it can be completely rooted in delusion.
14- How the belief that Awakening is a big, fat "magic diamond" that is the same for everyone              creates so much confusion in Non-duality and in other approaches as well.
15- Experimenting with BB's advice and ideal.
16- The seven blind siblings washing the elephant. The awakened zen practitioner that wanted to       be part of the awakened community of monks
17- A magic diamond can be misused -- to assert the ego, or to neglect our roles in life.                    Repeated mistakes lead to loosing it, eventually (for a while). Why they are mistakes and not       "sins."
18- If we still need to have some experiences in the state of complete identification -- the human       state, we may also loose our magic diamond (for a while)
19- Trust in the process or in the Divine is indispensable to keep our diamond. Attachment to it           can also becomes an obstacle to keep it.
20- Failures at following effectively the lesser laws of the spiritual life can also lead to the loss of           our diamond (for a while)
21- Satsang -- eliminating all confusion about the characteristics of the Awakened state is                    indispensable to sustain the state.

        - Homework: watching 'M" interview and noticing the awakening experience

IV- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 1

                     Class starts with a guided meditation conducive to "resting as no-one"

1-   Summary of the last class
2-   The Seven Centers of Consciousness and their corresponding infinitely complex Cosmic                Games. Graphic representation. The energy approach vs. the psychological approach to             "illuminating" the Tree of Life.
4-   Why Consciousness is playing these Games? Are these serious games or we can take them           easy?
5-   The Maximum potential of the human character -- the "Krishna" syndrome
6-   The three monastic vows of renunciation
7-   The Mountain top vs. the Holistic Path (Market Place Path)
8-   Why the Sixth Center of Consciousness is the best starting point -- from Non-Duality to             Duality instead of vice-versa.
9-   Consciousness perceives every game and every task as a challenge. Practical application of           this concept.
10- Why the soul may need thousands of lifetimes to master these Seven Games
11- Playing the games leads to total integration. The Seven Games of Consciousness model            integrates all the fundamental aspects of life
13- Example of poor integration: "it is not OK to charge money for spiritual service. "Are you             comfortable charging for your time? Why this does not deny the value of being generous.           There has to be some relative balance between what you give and what you receive.                 Charging for our time is an imposition from Nature itself. Where is the problem then? In the       belief system.
14- How to dramatically shorten the path. Why the ego can't play these games effectively
15- Neurosis is the result of playing these games from a fictional character
16- The ego is incapable of attaining balance. Each game generates enormous amount of                   neurosis
17- Playing the games from Consciousness is a shortcut to happiness and success too
18- The seven Games of Consciousness in the Spiritual Counseling process. Assessing each one           of the centers
19- Accessing unlimited wisdom as a counselor. The best counseling technique you will ever learn       and perhaps the only one will ever need. Why this is never taught in a mainstream university       and what are the consequences
20- Recognizing the challenge of counseling leads to humility and application of the right                   techniques. The "self-humbling" approach to counseling. Intuition -- what is it?
21- Satsang -- eliminating all confusion about what life is about and therefore about the Seven       Games of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Read Article on the Seven Games of Life and
start reading book on the Seven Centers of Consciousness


V- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 2 /Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the First Game of Consciousness (The Game of Survival through making money)

Class starts with a guided meditation

01- Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject. Why the Game of Survival is a magnificent Cosmic Game and why it is just a game -- dialog in the Bhagavad Guitta.
02- Taking a test to assess first Center of Consciousness issues. Main two aspects of the game         of Survival. How first chakra issues lead to poverty, severe psychopathology and physical             disease.
03- Most of the problem is in our belief system about charging for our time, the purpose of           money, how to do business, our philosophy of life, greed, fear of scarcity, lack of trust in the       universe, omnipotence, childhood programs like the over value of becoming rich, etc
04- Revisiting our beliefs in regard to charging money for our time. The selfish aspect of this game and center needs to be understood, respected, and balanced with a spirit of service.
05- Visiting our beliefs in regard to the purpose of life at the first center of Consciousness. Why     materialism is a false first center of Consciousness philosophy. Why greed is an imbalance in the first Center of Consciousness. What is better, to work it out energetically or psychologically?
06- The "hippie" philosophy -- the belief "I do not need money"
07- The "spiritual sadhu" syndrome -- the belief that "God will provide even if I do nothing."
08-The monastic ideas about money -- the belief that pursuing money creates distance from           God. A literal interpretation of "you can't serve two masters at the same time."
09- Metaphysical beliefs about money that can cause suffering -- "I can have it all"
10- Fear of scarcity is rooted in a false assumption -- "there is an "I" here that is responsible for       making money."
11- Creating a "safety emotional net" at the bottom line. Who is really in-charge of the survival       of the mind-body organism? Why it survives? Who puts a roof over it and brings food to the table?
12- Differentiating between cause and means -- the rice story
13- Scarcity is not the biggest problem -- our beliefs about it are
14- The value of setting clear goals. The goals and means need to bring balance between the first and the fifth centers.
15- The value of efficiency. The value of planning, prioritizing and organizing our time and space to address meaningful needs and goals. Why failure at this level leads to guilt and anxiety. How we can easily correct the issue. How to avoid the trap of trying to do too much at once which creates a mountain of stress. Setting realistic goals to attain during a particular segment of time. Why modest goals are more productive. The artist's dilemma. Working hard or having a balanced life?
16- After we have attained a reasonable and balance level of efficiency, what do we do? Why how much money we will have at any point in time is NOT up to us.
17- Respecting money by using it wisely. Why both, the "miser syndrome" and overspending lead to suffering.
18- When your savings are gradually disappearing -- an archetypical situation? What to do about it. How to assess if fear of scarcity is founded in some real situation or on pure imagination.
19- The Mystical Path to "Abundance" vs. the Metaphysical Path to "Abundance."  Is "abundance"       having money or freedom from fear of scarcity?
20- The pursuing of the "I am a rich man (or woman.)" A lesson in dis-identification. When bankruptcy becomes inevitable -- why?
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the first Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading book on the Centers of Consciousness


VI- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 3 /Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 1st Game of Consciousness (The Game of Survival by learning to keep body and mind in good health)

Class starts with a guided meditation

1- Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject. What this game is about and how   failure at knowing how to play successfully the 1st Game of Consciousness leads to suffering,       severe psychopathology and disease.
2- Understanding the powerful forces at work that exploit human ignorance about how to keep       the body in good health.
3- How to protect ourselves? The three golden rules of wellness: 1- Learn about how to prevent     disease and how to heal the body and select VERY carefully who you believe. 2- Apply what       you learn by patiently implementing health supporting habits 3- Stay away from                       temptations like having the wrong type of foods at home -- how to do this.
4- The two basic and two highest principles of Wellness Coaching.
5- Nutrition and health -- overwhelming research demonstrate that....  Is good diet enough or       we need to take supplements?
6- Physical exercise and health -- overwhelming research demonstrate that....
7- Positive / objective thinking and health. Why rational thinking cannot be underestimated           with spiritual excuses. Overwhelming research demonstrate that....
8- Vocation -- doing what we love cannot be replaced by spiritual philosophy.                               Overwhelming research demonstrate that....
9- How these four principles lead to good health
10- How these four principles lead to happiness in the relative - first to fifth centers.
11- When it comes to health we just can do so much -- here surrender is also fundamental.
12- Why Awakening leads to the right balance between the dualistic centers
13- Going or not going to the doctor -- navigating effectively the mainstream medicine paradox
14- Antiaging as a spiritual practice -- in ancient times and today. Surrender to the aging               process is the only way to balance the equation.
15- When the pursue of good health becomes fanaticism. How surrender helps
16- The purification road most often leads to poor health and suffering. It has its place however.
17- Excessive preoccupation with our health or hypochondriasis. Irrational, catastrophic thoughts that lead to endless anxiety. How to control hypochondriasis with Cognitive Psychology and how to heal it with Non-Duality
18- Ending the fear of death leads to fearlessness and invaluable happiness
19- Being ready to die any moment is the only way to attain freedom from the fear of death.           How to reach that level of courage?
20- Living with fear is not living. When dying is better than living in fear - lessons from DV
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 1st Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading book on the Centers of Consciousness

 

VII- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 4 / Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 2nd Game of Consciousness (The Game of Enjoying the Senses)

Class starts with a guided meditation


1-   Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject. What this game is about and how       failure at knowing how to play successfully the 2nd Game of Consciousness leads to                   suffering, severe psychopathology and disease. Taking a test to assess 2nd Center of                   Consciousness issues.
2-   Understanding the powerful forces at work that exploit human ignorance about how to enjoy       life through the senses of their physical bodies. What is this magnificent Game about?
3-   Why hedonism is a false philosophy and why asceticism is also a false philosophy, and what           does it mean that they are false?
4-   Addictions -- when the game becomes deadly. Who are at highest risk? What are they                 looking for? Where is the problem located -- in the brain or in the mind?
5-   Addiction as a spiritual path -- the nurse that chose an addictive brain
6-   What's likely the most effective solution to addiction? Why is not pursued?
7-   Awakening may free us from many addictions, but likely not all of them
8-   Compensating for addictions through the right use of nutrition and supplements
9-   Our attitudes towards sensory pleasure may be coming from the old repressive monastic             paradigms. How to free ourselves from this dysfunctional program. The monastic vows are an       assault on the second center of Consciousness -- how it works.
10- How fear leads to repression and contempt and eventually hate. Why despite of all this the       monastic paradigm helps souls that went too far into indulgence. Is it possible to find the           center again? What is it necessary to understand?
11- Lack of enjoyment of the senses may lead to depression -- and vice-versa (unedonia)
12- Balancing the first and second Center of Consciousness. Why it is so indispensable
13- Believing that sex is not a need, and it is wrong, also comes from old dysfunctional                   monastic paradigms -- monks teaching lay people how to live life in the world. Celibacy and repression lead to sexual addictions and paraphilia
14- Puritanism and asceticism -- these isms are usually deeply rooted in fear of loosing control. Do       few souls need them? Possibly. But, obviously not everyone needs them!
15- The promise that more is better, comes from a confusion about the power of pleasure to             produce joy.
16- Quality, instead of more, leads to mindfulness and the development of sophistication in the       sensory experience. However, that is only the beginning.
18- Music, visual arts, aromas, culinary arts and sex are windows to the Divine -- it is up to us to       make the connection.
17- Sexuality can be spiritualized through love, and the impact in the organism changes. How           this can be done without strange tantra and taoist techniques.
19- Attaining the right dosage of adventure in life. How security kills -- three years of                       psychoanalysis to safe his life from suicidal depression
20- The search for a spiritual high -- is it an addiction?  Is it a valid addiction? What are the real       results?
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 2nd Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading book on the Centers of Consciousness


VIII- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 5 / Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 3rd Game of Consciousness (the Game of Creating a Healthy Personality)

Class starts with a guided meditation


1-   Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject. What this game is about and how       failure at knowing how to play successfully the 3rd Game of Consciousness leads to suffering,       severe psychopathology and disease. Taking a test to assess 2nd Center of Consciousness             issues.
2-   What is the personality really? Understanding the powerful forces at work that exploit human         ignorance about how to enjoy life through the development of a healthy personality, which             includes: intellect, will power, memory, communication skills, assertiveness, a healthy sense       of justice, humor, self-respect, a positive self image, a positive self-concept, self-esteem
      and self-confidence.
3-   Why knowing ourselves at a personality level is quite a challenge and how we can save time.
4-   Psychotherapy as a way to "see" ourselves and as a way of healing the personality
5-   What is the ego? Is having a strong ego something wrong?
6-   How the self-concept is created, where is it located in the psyche and how we can improve it. 7-   Why the spiritual ego may not be necessarily better than the materialistic ego
8-   Using positive mirroring to heal the personality in spiritual counseling -- conditions is must             fulfilled to be truly healing
9-   Wrong conclusions based on research on self-esteem
10- Narcissism or inflated self-esteem -- what is it and how to correct it. Why research on                   meditation shows that it does not necessarily help narcissism
11- The main purpose of classic psychotherapy and linear psychology vs. the main purpose of             spiritual psychology -- how to reconcile both approaches
12- Will power's role in the development of a healthy personality. The sense of adventure and the       value of challenging ourselves. Accomplishments impact on the personality. Is there such             thing as too much success?
13- Positive thinking in the development of a healthy personality.
14- The brain's role in the development of a healthy personality. How an imbalanced brain                   impacts the personality.
15- The development of intelligence -- how to develop it and how to maintain it. How intelligence           can be helpful in the spiritual path and how it can be an obstacle.
16- How to keep our memory in good conditions and how to take our memories for what they are          -- just memories, nothing real.
17- A healthy sense of justice -- what is it and what are its limitations
18- How to develop our humor -- why it is a spiritual challenge.  Why humor often comes when             the mind is out. How humor is at the center of the difference between an "awakened                       individual" and someone that still is sleeping the dream of the "I"
19- How and why to attain a positive self image. Does vanity has a place in spirituality?
20- How to develop a healthy self-concept, self-acceptance, self-esteem and self-confidence
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 3rd Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading book on the Centers of Consciousness

 


IX- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 6 / Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 3rd Game of Consciousness (the Game of Creating a Healthy Personality, continuation.)

Class starts with a guided meditation

1-   The domains of the ego
2-   The Silent Equations -- irrational programs that control humans' mind and behavior and                 allow suffering to happen
3-   Lessons from Humanistic Philosophy -- the philosophy at the root of all our Western                     Sciences. How much is worth a human being?
4-   My money = my worth.   My success = my worth. My accomplishments = my worth
5-   How much others like me = my worth.  How much he or she loves me = my worth
6-   My beauty = my worth.  My health and youth = my worth.  My knowledge = my worth
7-   The Collective Silent Assumptions (CSI)
8-   This is important
9-   This is real
10- I am the doer
11- I have not done my best
12- There are things here that have a separate existence
13- I have a separate existence
14- The human neurosis
15- Who benefit with all these programs
16- Who put them there?
17- Observing the personality -- does it help? The role of humor. The vindictive one. The paranoid   one. The cranky one. The vane one. The judgmental one. The proud one. The polite but distant one. The perfectionistic one. The lazy one. The romantic one. The teacher one
18- Ego is identification, not programs.  Personality is programs
19- How the language is constantly contributing to this mis-identification
20- How we can create a language for awakened beings. How the language we use in counseling          needs to be a non-ego centered language -- as much as possible. Why our present language          creates inmense confusion in the seeker.
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 3rd Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading book on the Centers of Consciousness

 


X- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 6 / Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 4th Game of Consciousness (the Game of Relationships and Love)

Class starts with a guided meditation

1-   Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject. What this game is about and how       failure at knowing how to play successfully the 4th Game of Consciousness leads to suffering,       severe psychopathology and disease. Taking a test to assess 4th Center of Consciousness             issues.    
2-   Why "I hope you get well soon." What is going on in the brain when we fall in love or during       a break up.
3-   The monastic vow of celibacy and the romantic aspect of life
4-   The feminine perspective on the couple relationship -- sexuality as an expression of romance
5-   The value of friendship. Is friendship really forever? How friendship makes as happier in life.         Why allowing our friends to be as they are, providing that ....
6-   Is marriage forever? How to sustain a long relationship and how this can help us to be                 happier and evolve spiritually
7-   Interaction between the 2nd and 4th center during sexual intimacy
8-   Interaction between the 2nd and 5th center during sexual intimacy
9-   Interaction between the 2nd and 6th center during sexual intimacy
10- Empathy and compassion the seeds of unconditional love. Why suffering is helpful and                   necessary to develop empathy
11- Empathy in counseling - service and the 4th Center of Consciousness
12- Love to animals, plants, the earth and the ocean, and humans, leads to unconditional love.             Nature opens the heart center
13- The Bhakti Yoga Path -- love for the Divine
14- Unconditional love opens the door to childlike trust in a benevolent Universe -- which                      destroys fear. "God is not a tyrant."
15- Eliciting and attracting Divine protection
16- Helping the client by increasing their sense of Divine protection
17- The powerful effect of a simple reminder and how to use it in counseling. The value of                   repetition. The value of spiritual affirmations.
18- How to help couples in counseling using non-violent communication approach
19- How to help couples in counseling using non-duality techniques. Where, and why, to find            more information about Couples Coaching.
20-
How to severe a dysfunctional relationship
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 4th Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading book on the Centers of Consciousness

 


XI- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 7
/ Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 5th Game of Consciousness (Superconsciousness or the creation of a soul character)

Class starts with a guided meditation

1-  Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject. What this game is about and how       failure at knowing how to play successfully the 5th Game of Consciousness leads to                        suffering, severe psychopathology and disease. Taking a test to assess 5th Center of
      Consciousness issues. 
2-  What is the fifth center about. What is the soul about? Does it really exist or it is a useful               concept? In which way the astral body a super computer.
3-  Past lives do require in-between lives. What do we do there?  Many sages many Masters was           just the beginning.
4-  Presentation of a video on Soul Psychology based on research.
5-  Why the research is credible? How to read and learn about the research while having fun.
6-  How we can learn about the Psychology of the Soul? Why this is indispensable to become a          good Spiritual Psychology Counselor.
7-  Why the content of the research can completely change the way we do counseling
8-  "We are not human beings trying to have a spiritual experience but Spiritual Beings having a            human experience." Why Teilhard the Chardin famous words would be correct, but only                  partially.
9-  How the birth as a soul and repeated reincarnations lead to the development of a soul                    character. Are we identified with this character? Where did the adventure begin? Was it in              the astral or was in a physical planet?
10- Do we carefully planned this incarnation? Who helped us? What type of contracts we                       acquired? Free will vs. predetermination at the 5th Center of Consciousness --                               Superconsciousness. Why this is so helpful in counseling?
11- Expanding our belief system and that of our clients to solve past traumas -- why it works.
12- Who evolves?  The three main reasons for incarnating. 
13- The vocation is of the soul not of the ego. Why mainstream psychology often does a lousy job           at vocational counseling. Why and how a spiritual psychology counselor can do a much better           job. Where we can get a more extensive training.
14- At what point of our evolution we become specialized souls. How that works. At that moment           it abandons her original soul cluster.
15- The importance of expressing our vocation on earth as the path towards happiness and                evolution.
16- Why the expression of our vocation leads to evolution.
17- The time when the soul reconnects with her career here on earth is a crucial moment in that           lifetime. Many "demons" may visit us.
18- Why the wrong decision can be deadly. "The actor that became a constructor."
19- "The farmer that became a banker"
20- "The hair styler that became a secretary in her family business."
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 5th Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Read the research and watch the videos on superconsciousness

 


XII- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 8 / Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 6th Game of Consciousness (The cosmic game of finding out "what am I")

Class starts with a guided meditation in the 6th Center of Consciousness

1-   Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject.
2-   What this game is about and how failure at knowing how to play successfully the 6th Game             of Consciousness leads to suffering.
3-   Taking a test to assess 6th Center of Consciousness issues. 
4-   How this game is usually played out and what are the consequences for the individual and               our civilization.
5-   The focusing on the "spiritual eye" technique coming from yoga, is it effective? How the                 technique was described and what were you supposed to find.
6-   A personal experience.
7-   Two advanced yogis opinion in regard to this technique
8-   How the description of the technique can make a significant difference.
9-   What is the revelation of the 6th Center of Consciousness? How to include it in the practice?
10- What is the Zen position in regard to what happens in the forehead? What is this space? In             this space there is space for everything.
11- What are the implications on the kundalini and on sexuality?
12- How long to practice, if you decide to practice?
13- What about the posture? Does it have any impact on this technique?
14- The "Joy Factor" when practicing this technique.
15- A meditation on "Joy."  The vagus nerve connection
16- What is the "attention" or the "noticing" about?
17- Why forcing or manipulating the attention does not make sense.
18- The fundamental importance of releasing all expectations and moving into "the                               experimenter's position" with an open attitude. "Let's see what happens"
19- Putting every Game from 1st to 5th in one big bag and surrendering it to the Big River of             Life.  But how interesting! Are we really committed to let go of all suffering?
20- How this is done in the Mountain Top Path and how it is done in the Market Place Path -- the         path of internal detachment.
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 6th Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading the research on super Consciousness


XIII- The Seven Games of Consciousness / Part 9 / Increasing enjoyment and decreasing suffering by understanding and learning to play the 7th Game of Consciousness (The cosmic game of realizing the "Oneness of All Things and No-Things")

Class starts with a guided meditation in the 7th Center of Consciousness -- "stepping into"

1-   Summary of the last class and introduction to the subject.
2-   What did the Buddha mean when he said that everyTHING is empty
3-   What does it mean that "Emptiness is also devoid of intrinsic existence."
4-   Is the Universe a mechanism or a creation?
5-   What is the alternative to the mechanistic position?
6-   What this 7th game is about -- from Emptiness to Oneness. Open eyes meditation. Stepping       into. Why Oneness may be more restful than Emptiness. Resting as Alness.  
      "Knowledge divides wisdom makes everything whole again."
7-   How failure at knowing how to play successfully the 7th Game of Consciousness leads to             suffering. The perfect antidote to "the need to be right," "the aversion to be wrong, "the             need to change the other," "the inferiority complex, the superiority complex and comparisons        in general,"the need to win," and puritanism -- the "unacceptable" impure aspect of creation.       The lotus symbol.
8-   Taking a test to assess 7th Center of Consciousness issues. 
9-   How this game is usually played out in yoga and why it tends to produce no results.
10- The use of magic mushrooms to move into Oneness -- is it a legitimate approach?
11- What are the possibilities of integration of the experience when using mushrooms?
12- The use of the pointer -- "stepping into instead of stepping backwards."
13- Nisargadatta on "Nothing and Love"
14- Will Science eventually answer all the questions about the Universe?
15- The enquiry on "what is all this really"
16- The fundamental importance of releasing all expectations and moving into "the                               experimenter's position" with a completely open attitude.
17- Is the leaf a leaf or is simply a part of the tree?
18- At what point does the leaf became a leaf?
19- How it can become again part for the tree?
20- Is that something that has to happen or it is already and never sttoped being that way?
21- Satsang - eliminating any confusion about the 7th Game of Consciousness is INDISPENSABLE

- Homework: Continue reading the research on Superconsciousness

 

XIV- Learning about Human Emotions through the Map of Consciousness

Class starts with a guided meditation on the 6th Center of Consciousness

1-   The kinesiological test a window to discern truth from falsehood.
2-   The Map of Consciousness.
3-   Mathematical characteristics of the scale  
4-   Assessing and healing emotions
5-   Shame
6-   Guilt
7-   Despair
8-   Sadness
9-   Fear
10- Desire
11- Anger
12- Pride
13- How to approach these issues in counseling.
14- Applying the Map of Consciousness to the spiritual path -- discerning true from false                       spiritual teachings.
15- The 400s is the realm of science, can it be helpful for our spiritual development?
16- The 500s are the astral realm
17- The 600 and above is the realm of Non-Duality
18- Interesting and/or valuable calibrations to keep in mind
19- Limitations of the system
20- Keeping an open mind and using the system as a point of analysis
21- Calibrations from other kinesiologists

- Homework: 1 optional book for this part of the course

 


XV- The Delicate Passage from Victor to Vehicle -- the Dark Night of the Soul

Class starts with a guided meditation

1-   The powerful Victim, Victor and Vehicle model to help oneself and clients move forward                   spiritually
2-   From the Traditional to the Metaphysical state -- basic review
3-   From the Metaphysical to the Mystical state --  the path to surrender and liberation
4-   The V-V-V paradigm as a great assessment tool
5-   How it helps the individual realize where he or she is stuck in the victim role or in the victor             (metaphysical) role. 
6-   A marvelous map -- pointing always in the precise direction of greater spiritual evolution
7-   Pathways of inner transformation
8-   The death of the dependent self
9-   The dark night of the soul
10- From waiting to doing and from doing to being. What does "being" means in the Market                 Place Path?
11- The chackra system revisited
12- Why responsibility is valuable but it is also a cross. What to do about this.
13- What desirelessness means in the Market Place Path
14- Courage as a path to transcendence
15- Who has Karma?
16- How to attain Cosmic Intelleigence?  Who attains it?
17- Waiting begging and complaining, doing and thinking positively, doing while surrendering
18- From "I create my own reality" to "I am a vehicle for the Divine"
19- Before self-consciousness, during self-consciousness, and beyond self-Consciousness.                       Observing self-consciousness
20- The "here I am feeling," vs the "there is no-one here" feeling.
21- Who evolves really?

- Homework: 1 optional book for this part of the course



XVI- Living a Life Free of Expectations

Class starts with a guided meditation


1-  The young man and the Buddha -
2-  Expectations are a source of suffering
3-  A life free of expectation is a much happier life
4-  Why even positive expectations can create suffering
5-  Metaphysics teaches how to create positive expectations, does it work?
6-  The mystical path to success teaches how to be free of expectations, is it possible?
7-  The good traveler has no fixed plans and is "not intent on arriving" -- Lao Tzu
8-  The difference between a preference and an expectation
9-  Desire is not "your worst enemy" -- expectations might very well be.
10- Desire without expectation
11- Suffering is the result of a frustrated conscious or unconscious expectation
12- The one million dollar self-enquiry -- what am I expecting consciously or unconsciously right             now?
13- What we can expect from a world in constant fluctuation and what we can't expect
14- The mind -- thoughts and feelings -- are external. What is internal then?
15- When there is suffering it is likely that we are looking for happiness in the external, in the             mind -- we expect something from the "world."
16- Happiness is ALWAYS available -- it requires a simple shift in attention.
17- Why moving from mind to Consciousness immediately brings happiness
18- Expecting happiness from moving into Consciousness is unnecessary -- happiness at that               level is a certainty.  Bhakti Yoga applied to expectations.
19- Unrealistic spiritual expectation are the most damaging at generating suffering
20- Why the desire with attachment -- expectation -- of having spiritual experiences, samadhi,             ecstasy, nirvana etc. create immense and unnecessary suffering in the seeker. "God" is to be         found in the midst of the human experience, not in spiritual experiences.
21- What about the expectation of NOT having expectations?

- Homework: 2 optional books for this part of the course


XVII- The Power of Acceptance (Surrender)

Class starts with a guided meditation


1- The Spiritual path is divided in two long stretches
2- Resisting -- the warrior's path
3- Accepting; the path of the Mystic
4- Surrender might be the fastest and easiest path to enlightenment, but surrender to what?
5- Surrendering to the divine
6- Surrendering to a semi-god or guru and its possible consequences
7- Surrendering to the present moment; to what is
8- Surrendering to Consciousness
9- Surrendering to what is, annihilates time
10- From the power of Now to the power of Yes
11- From "yes" to "allowing everything to be as it is" -- good pointers from Non-Duality teachers           and how to use them in meditation.
12- The fundamental difference between acceptance and deep acceptance
13- Why time is a mentation
14- Why past and future do not exist. Words that point to no-where
15- A universe free of the concepts of time still is. Physics and time
16- Learning to live in the now
17- Living in the now leads to awakening
18- The plunge in the Now
19- Abiding as the Self leads to the Now
20- No-one here leads to the Now. Stepping into leads to the Now.
21- Is accepting suffering the ultimate acceptance, the ultimate paradox?

- Homework: 2 optional books for this part of the course

 


XVIII- The Power of Bhakti Yoga

Class starts with a guided meditation in the bhakti tradition


1-   The four main types of yoga
2-   Bhakti Yoga
3-   The Psycho-Physiological Yogas
4-   Karma Yoga or the yoga of service
5-   Jnana Yoga. Raja Yoga
6-   Why understanding this classification is fundamental
7-   What is the right yoga for your personality
8-   Different forms of Bhakti Yoga
9-   Consequences of the fundamental imaginary division -- "I and God"
10- Although believing in an external God may prevent us to take responsibility for our lives and           for the universe as our own creation, and trigger painful resentments towards that "God,"               still...
11- Why most main religions are part of the Bhakti Yoga Path
12- Why Bhakti Yoga can become a dangerous path, and how to protect ourselves
13- Which are the most dangerous Bhakti teachings and how to avoid them
14- Positive contributions of the Bhakti Yoga
15- Which parts of Bhakti Yoga are safe to practice?
16- "Bhakti moments" after Awakening and what to do about them
17-  Devotional Non-Duality
18- "Letter to God" from a Jnani
19- "The Story of Ribhu" -- Ramana Maharshi
20- The role of thankfulness in Bhakti Yoga and in Metaphysics
21- The role of thankfulness in Non-Duality

Homework: optional book for this part of the course
Read the "Letter to God"

 



XIX- The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi

Class starts with a guided meditation using Ramana's pointer Abide as the Self

1-   The life of Ramana Maharshi
2-    The origin of Advaita or Non-dual teachings is further back in time
3-    Founding father of non-duality in East and West
4-    The Self-enquiry approach
5-    His position of predetermination -- is it helpful? Non-Causality vs. Free will
6-    The soul's path between free will and a chosen destiny
7-    Is free will an illusion?
8-    The only free will we have according to Ramana -- Intention: "I want to live this day as ..."
9-    The relative versus the absolute perspective -- the symbol of the cross
10-  Why honoring and respecting the power of the dream -- a match for Consciousness
11-  Happiness in Ramana's teachings
12-  Understanding his greatest pointer -- "Abide as the Self" - "The Ultimate Container"
13-  Other relevant aspects of his teachings -- emphasis on Silence. Going beyond the mind
14-  Was he a mountain top Jnani?
15-  What is the whole thing about Arunachala.
16-  Separating Indian culture's peculiarities from Advaita teachings
17-  His advanced disciple Robert Adams
18-  "To whom is this coming? When no-one is better than no-one
19-  "I do not know what I am"
20-  Best information sources. Why Ramana's and Adam's teachings could have been distorted              somewhat already, and what to do about it
21-  Satsang

Homework: optional book for this part of the course



XX- The Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj

Class starts with a guided meditation on the feeling of "I am"

1-  Nisargadatta's Life
2-  Smoking may not be that bad after all?
3-  "I am"  vs. I am this.
4-  Meditating in the feeling of "I am."  How that helped Nisargadatta. Will it help you?
5-  What did he mean by "know the false if you want to know the Real."
6-  Mind vs Consciousness.
7-  Love and Wisdom -- Nothing and everything
8-  Everything is happening automatically -- what this means really
9-  "I Am That"  -- comprehensive and practical Non-Dual approach to Awakening and later to             Liberation
10- Does it work?
11- Spiritual paraphernalia distracts as much as any other worldly distraction
12- Discussion and satsang on Nisargadatta's most famous thoughts and pointers
13- His advanced disciple Ramesh Balsekar
14- There is no-Doer
15- What is the main consequence of really understanding that we are "highly programmed                   individuals." How this understanding can be life changing. Forgiving oneself and others
16- Robots? Revisiting R. Adams
17- A one word religion
18- Should I stop all planning?  Is spontaneous action more delightful?
19- If your next activity is predetermined -- can you trust it? Can you trust the Universe to -  -              manage your schedule?. Why doing that?
20- The value of painful experiences -- why they are predetermined. How to welcome them
      My life has not been what I expected and was programmed to expect, what to do about it?
21- Satsang

Homework: optional book for this part of the course


XXI- Miscellaneous aspects of the Path of Non-Duality

Class starts with a guided, focussed meditation


1-   From Narrow to Open Focus -- the Open Focus Brain
2-   Biofeedback and neurofeedback equipments. The future in Psychology of Consciousness
3-   Research on Open Focus and Awakening
4-   Why narrow focus is a state of tension and why practicing concentration may not be the best           way to meditate. How to bypass this issue
5-   When narrow focus becomes pathological
6-   When the brain loses its capacity to sustain narrow focus, and what to do about it.
7-   Factors affecting our civilization's capacity for concentration
8-   Relative happiness is dependent on the biochemistry of the brain
9-   Does Happiness that springs from resting as Consciousness depend on the biochemistry of             the brain?
10- Brain Optimization as a path to Awakening
11- Resting as no-one has a powerful impact on physiology. How to measure that impact                       scientifically.
-------------------------------
12- Abide as the Self or Resting as Awareness?
13- Proper understanding of "allowing everything to be as it is"
14- Allowing from the mind vs. allowing from Consciousness -- i.e creating space
15- How Consciousness uses the human body and mind, and where we can get more                             information
------------------------------
16- The Modern Advaitists of the West. How they are transforming our world from inside out. 
17- How the student can stay in contact with them and their teachings?
18- Pseudo Non-Duality -- what is it really?  Does it exist?
19- The future of Non-Duality as a grass root movement and how the explosion of Non-dual                   teachers is likely to impact our world. What could happen if our whole civilization wakes up?             Is it possible?
20- What is the core teaching of the modern Advaitists? Stop the seeking.
21- Why Awakening is not the end of suffering but the beginning of a new life?

Homework: several optional books for this part of the course
and many optional videos for this part of the course


PC: Course Length: 42 weeks in the regular 10-Month program.


This curriculum is subject to change at anytime at the discretion
of the school and teacher.

 

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Tuition and Fees Psychology of Consciousness Certification
Group Format and One on One

Group Format:

Total Tuition: $2,500.00

Payment Options:

Option 1, 10-Month Program: $500.00 at the enrollment and $250.00 per month, until the tuition price is paid.

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Option 3, 10-Month Program: Upfront payment with a credit card or a check. A $250 discount may or may not be available. Please check with us.

Pre-requisites: There are no pre-requisites to enroll in any of BOI's three Certification Courses. All three Certification Courses can be taken sequentially or simultaneously.

Scholarships: Scholarships are available only under precise conditions, like low income students living in India, China, Russia and third world countries in general. Please check with us.

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There is no extra charge for participating in BOI's One on One Tutoring Program.
If you are interested in this option,
please enroll below or call us at

310-455-6815

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Enrollment

To enroll in this Certification Course takes two to three minutes. Please click here or call us at

310-455-6815

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The Brain Optimization™ Institute offers classes information, counseling, courses with certifications and counseling on drug free solutions to ADD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, substance abuse and other forms of brain / mental suffering and disorders. Certifications include Brain Nutrition Counseling™, Life/Wellness Coaching with Emphasis in Cognitive Psychology, and Psychology of Consciousness. The Brain Optimization Institute also offers a Certification in Holistic Life Mastery for those who have already completed the three certifications mentioned abov, and a ten months training on How to Create a Private Practice. For those living in Glendale, Los Angeles, California the Brain Optimization™ Institute offers, through Viviana Girardi, BA, Cofounder of the Institute, in-person Energy Healing, with a combination of Reiki and Massage, Retreats in Glendale, Raw and Vegetarian Cooking Classes and Restorative Yoga.
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