Brian Nager

(FYI all, this is in response to Pandits, Gurus and Psychographs thread, but I put it here as recommended by Arthur)

My teacher, Brian Nager does have a website, but he has no lineage;-).  As I mentioned previously, he is at a much more advanced state of realization now than when the website was first launched, so at this time the old website is being totally redone.  I'm not sure how much the new site is working, so I am really reluctant to post a link on this forum or anywhere.  If you or anybody else is interested, go to my zaads page and contact me there if you want to check it out.  There are also about 10 or so zaadster Nager fans.  Maybe one of them is already your zaadz friend.

Also, some of the Paltalk (PC only, not available for MAC) satsangs are open to the public.  If you download the software and logon, do a search for the room “cslcsl”.  I think every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 7:30pm to 8:30 EST the room does not require a password.  Also, every Tuesday from 9-10pm EST (right now!) Brian's most advanced student leads a session that is open to the public.  See you there!

If anybody develops interest, I can offer a lot of anecdotal stuff about Brian and his teaching, as well as describe (not nearly adequately) what he has shared of his own development during the time that he has been my teacher.  It has been a total trip and absolutely inspiring to watch his development, and to literally feel that the power of the Presence coming through him has increased over time.  However, please understand that I am most interested in maintaining the integrity of our teacher-student relationship, so anything I offer will be somewhat restrained and will in no way be meant as some kind of teaching.

Peace

Keith

Re: Brian Nager

REMINDER: Open Paltalk with Brian Wednesday November 28…

…..  Room is cslcsl.  No password is needed.  Everyone is invited.  Time is 630 PM central time (730 pm eastern, 430 pm pacific).

Re: Brian Nager

REMINDER: Open Paltalk with Brian from this weekend’s Retreat

The evening sessions from this weekend’s retreat will be open to everyone. No password will be needed. The room is “cslcsl”. The time is 9 - 11 PM Eastern (6 - 8 PM Pacific). That is this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1 - 3.

This retreat will include a lot of practice time of the techniques presented. Thus it is unknown what you will encounter if you tune in on Paltalk any of these evenings. Rather than Brian talking, there may be video images of people practicing, and no talking for portions of the sessions. However, the Connection with Brian and the group field will be available in any case. Unlike other previous open Paltalks from retreats, it is not clear whether questions from those istening in will be entertained. The reason is that there will be a more specific content of instruction developed from session to session than at other retreats, and this flow would be interrupted by some questions. As always, you are still welcome to ask.

Re: Brian Nager

Thanks for starting this thread, Keith.  :)

” My teacher, Brian Nager does have a website, but he has no lineage;-).  As I mentioned previously, he is at a much more advanced state of realization now than when the website was first launched, so at this time the old website is being totally redone.  I'm not sure how much the new site is working, so I am really reluctant to post a link on this forum or anywhere.”

I look forward to reading some of his stuff; when the new website is done, please link to it and/or share some of his written material with us here.  I don't feel motivated enough at this time to participate in the live talks, but thanks for letting us know about them.

spirals,
arthur

Re: Brian Nager

There is a retreat with my teacher coming up.  I won't be going to the retreat (it's my daughter's 6th birthday that weekend!), but I do plan to listen in via Paltalk.

Yeah, I know he doesn't look like he would have anything to offer, but you never know.  I find his teachings to be quite integral.  It's not just through the roof state-seeking.  In fact it's not that at all, though many of his more advanced students do have those experiences.  I'm not one of those, though I do experience a powerful presence when interacting with him via email, phone and in person at retreats (given in order of intensity).  The teaching is balanced and integral, as I see it, for several reasons.

1. It discusses higher states while recognizing that they are related by not the same as developmental stages.

2. It talks about nothingness and allness (Huckabees fans, delight!), but doesn't make either a primary focus.

3. It is concerned with seeing the illusion of transient reality, at the same time it emphasizes engagement in the world rather than just abandonment or escapism.

4. It emphasizes right action for love of it, rather than for seeking outcomes.

5. It highlights shadow work by encouraging introspection into one's motivations for action.

6. It is honest and direct about the need to give up destructive patterning in order to develop and mature spiritually.  At the same time, such direction is offered lovingly with no expectation for students to bow to any demands, as none are made.

7. It actively assists students in releasing shadows and destructive patterning, to the extent that students are willing to do so.  When students are not, the response is to support the students decision rather than to criticize them.

8. It is based on active and ongoing inquiry into the nature of the path itself, which means that teaching emphasis changes based on what the teacher and some advanced students witness among the various other students, as well as what these students themselves report.

9. It is not based on rigid ideology, except that there is Truth, and it appears to be experientially accessible to varying degrees.

10. These factors, combined, seem to intuitively have been crafted into an AQAL approach:
UL - states and stages are obviously included in a spiritual path, each student is treated differently, no claim is made that the teacher knows what's best for any individual, there is a seemingly intense unfolding of the teachers own development as seen (by me and other students who have studied with him since he started two years ago) from zone 2 by observing changing teaching style and content, and also zone 2 observation by listening to the teacher describe how his experience of the world (aka perspective) has changed (most dramatically during the latter half of 2006, in which time he has apparently been operating and in a constant samadhi even though he works with students 15hrs/day 6days/wk)
LL - cultural differences are not at all problem, and a universal teaching is intended, drawing from various traditions, not holding any as more important than others, but with an apparent appreciation for the failings of strict relativism, working with some senior students who seem have more experience (he's only 28) and are more widely read to further develop his own understanding of his UL experience, and (to correlate with the last item in the LR listing) there seems to be an appreciation that there is a cross-cultural attitude in the modern age that you get what you pay for (which means it ain't free) and that when people have to bring something to the process (which in today's world includes money, and which in the teaching primarily includes dedidication to the path but not the teacher, there is no devotional requirement towards the teacher, though many including myself just can't help but love him immensely) there seems to be an understanding that people take seriously that which they invest in (in this case, mainly emphasized in terms of time that one is willing to spend for their own sake, with no expecation at all from the teacher….though he'll cash your checks as long as you send them;-)
UR - subtle body work and even physical body care (with a loving attitude towards the vehicle) is important, various “healing” modalities are employed depending on circumstances, methods of inquiry are tested and verified to the extent possible (the work of David Hawkins is important in that regard, but not as an ideology that is defended rigidly), and whether things make sense or not often depends as much on rationality as it does on anecdotal/emprical evidence, nothing is held as sacred (except Truth, which is not defined but allowed to just be what it is), nor is anything automatically off limits, it is very open to a variety of possible approaches and outcomes
LR - many factors are included in a systems approach, apparently with the recognition that opening in one area may expose constriction in another, and that the process unfolds over time, also there is emphasis on serving others in socially appropriate ways, and never that I am aware has there been a recommendation to escape from anything (not even ego…it is taught to accept, not expect, and surrender, which seems to result in healthy ego/personality development, rather than making the ego the enemy), and perhaps least appealing to many but not a problem for me, it takes money to live in our society so it's not free, but reasonable, and scholarships are offered (nobody is asked to give money in a cultish way, and “fees” are proportional to the time invested by the teacher, considering either one-on-one contact, group settings, etc.)

So, there you have it.  My ten-point commercial for my teacher;-)  Hope you enjoyed it.


Keith

Re: Brian Nager

Re: Brian Nager

Thanks for posting all this, Keith.  Did anyone check out the talk?

arthur

Re: Brian Nager

Thank you for your detailed post, Keith. This is a kind of work I find highly interesting.

Re: Brian Nager

Retreat with Brian Nager

2/9/07-2/12/07

FRIDAY

6:00 – 7:00                      Meditation and breathing             

8:00 – 10:00                    Brian describes his path

                                          Q & A

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

 7:30 -10:00                          EVENING SESSION               Q & A

I have been to several retreats with Brian, including hosting one in my home, but never have participated via Paltalk.  I do listen to satang several times a week via Paltalk, and I have heard him speak so many times that the content is fairly routine, though new questions do come up.  The main thing, if one is open to it and remains present, is the apparent context from which he speaks.  This can be very powerful.  Some friends gathered as a group to listen to a whole retreat broadcast and they said it was a great experience for them.  This will be my first full retreat via the internet (except for the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions…my daughter turns 6 on Saturday!), and I am looking forward to it.