Baha'i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson - Ep 73: Elena Mustakova

Hello and welcome to the Baha’i Blogcast with me your host, Rainn Wilson.

In this series of podcasts I interview members of the Baha’i Faith and friends from all over the world about their hearts, and minds, and souls, their spiritual journeys, what they’re interested in, and what makes them tick.

In this episode I interview Dr. Elena Mustakova, an educator, social scientist and integral psychologist who believes that psychological and spiritual health are inseparable. We talk about why individuals betray themselves, and the relationship between the individual and their environment. We discuss fear, the potential pitfalls of ideology, the interdependent world we live in, sacred activism, and the difference between spirituality, religion and collective consciousness. I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Find out more about some of the things we mentioned and covered below:

Find out more about Elena Mustakova from her websites and Youtube channel:


* QUOTE:
"We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions."
(Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, To an individual believer, 17 February 1933)

* Elena shares this quote by Max Planck:
"All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter."

* Elena shares this quote from Baha'u'llah:
"A mighty force, a consummate power lieth concealed in the world of being. Fix your gaze upon it and upon its unifying influence, and not upon the differences which appear from it."

* Elena shares this prayer by Baha'u'llah:
"Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire! Through the power of Thy transcendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God! Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquillity on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptible Essence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden!"

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Thanks for listening!

-Rainn Wilson

[FrazzleDazzle]

Enjoyed Elena’s eloquent and comprehensive approach to all points discussed.

[ibrahimhamadi]

ElenaMustakova y Rainn Wilson, Gracias por vuestra Magnífica intervención. Ibrahim hamadi

[drkacey]

Thank you for interviewing Elena. She was my teacher in the graduate program she mentions early in the show. She forever remains a guide and teacher in my heart. She is the reason I am a developmentalist.

I feel so fortunate to have caught this today, it was perfect timing. I just lost my dear, sweet grandmother. Hearing Elena’s gentle yet powerful way of interpreting the human condition is what my heart needed. Her voice always soothes me.

This was a beautiful interview, thank you both.

[petejams]

Social justice not possible without a spiritual awakening, beautiful insight

[celinebessem]

So beautiful I believe this is really a what humankind needs

[allenwarren]

'Hitting bottom, .' that's grounding the life of the Spirit. Thank you. Finally the Song is being Sung.

[johnforbes]

What a wonderful blog! I've added "Global Unitive Healing" to my MUST READ LIST. Right after I finish Soul Boom, which has my wife looking at me with an inquiring eye as a chuckle through that wonderful book. 🙂

[dianneberest]

MIissing your interesting chats Rainn.

[nahal]

Enjoyed listening to Dr Mustakova very much! Looking forward to reading her book.

[ShirleyJones]

Just loved this talk! Truth, beauty, imprinted on our collective soul. Wonderful and skillful interview.

[edwardbrightwell]

A brilliant discussion about what we need to know for our survival.

[jennysoldi]

Many thanks to both. I have learned several wonderful things that will help me with meaningful conversations and the sharing of the spiritual concepts. "Truth, Beauty and Goodness"....the -eternal- yearning of our souls. ❤️❤️🌟🌟🌷🌷

[parisaforpeace]

What a wonderful contribution to the discourse on social and personal transformation. The yearning to reconnect with absolute truth, beauty and goodness reminds me of Rumi's poem, The Reed Flute's Song:

Hearken to the reed flute, how it complains, lamenting its banishment from its home: “Ever since they tore me from my osier bed, my plaintive notes have moved men and women to tears. I burst my breast, striving to give vent to sighs, and to express the pangs of my yearning for my home. He who abides far away from his home is ever longing for the day he shall return.

[GretchenHewitt]

Just purchased book! Thank you Rainn and Elena. What a way to start my early morning.

[svetmak]

Beautiful insight about spiritual alphabet.

[josephjohnson]

sacred activist, I can relate. I also relate to hitting bottom. Thanks for sharing

[prladue]

Excellent interview, worth watching repeatedly. Thank you for your service.

[xpertusworld]

Thank you for the amazing Interview and the reciting of the Baha'i Prayer as well as the sharing of the experience in Zimbawe. I was only in Kenya but I learned a lot from children there.

[Farfar]

Yes the society has own shadow sides! Nelson Mandela use to say “ don’t be afraid of your enemy, don’t be afraid of your friends, men be real afraid of those you don’t know”. The shadow part of us frightens us and others. And when you live in a society where they don’t want to know about own shadow side and avoid to get involve in conflict with others, they make a universal shadowy atmosphere/culture. The result becomes that nobody comes “near enough ”! Then everybody talks about “ loneliness “, as a cultural sickness.

[Farfar]

To me the one who is happy with own “self”, is also happy in presence of others. Otherwise he who is not happy with own self feels always lonely where ever, and with whom ever he find himself. A happy person/ spiritual person is never “ lonely “. The whole Scandinavia talks about loneliness “.