Teach on Udemy

Turn what you know into an opportunity and reach millions around the world.

Learn More

Your cart is empty.

Keep shopping

Living in a Living Universe - for Changemakers

Name: Living in a Living Universe - for Changemakers
Rating: 4.8 (24 reviews)

Dr. Duane Elgin on the mindset and skillset for creating high impact in our interconnected and rapidly evolving world

Created byUbiquity University, Duane Elgin

Last updated 3/2016

English

What you'll learn

Express clearly the major differences between the views regarding a living universe and a non-living or dead universe
Describe your sense of personal and collective purpose from the perspective of each of the two, major views of the universe
Describe how we might live differently in a world that embraced a living universe perspective
Define the key skills that you see as essential, both personally and socially, for moving through this time of great transition and living in this new world
Describe your views for “vision,” “voice,” and “community” that will support the key skills you identified

Course content

15 sections • 47 lectures • 7h 22m total length

Introduction2:38
In the first module, you meet the course instructor, Duane Elgin, and explore the core theme of a living universe, how this view contrasts with the perspective of a non-living or dead universe, and the importance a living systems perspective has for our lives. You will also be given the “creative assignment” for this class.
What It Means to Live in a Living Universe3:13
(3 minutes) Duane Elgin and Ubiquity president, Jim Garrison: The Foundational nature of the “Living Universe” for the overall academic approach of Ubiquity University. This perspective is commonly understood in some cultures and not in others.
What Can You Expect in this Course1:27
(2 minutes) In this course you will: 1) learn the basic ideas regarding a living versus non-living universe, 2) ground those ideas in your direct, personal experience, and 3) collaborate with colleagues and peers to explore the meaning and significance of this emerging view of reality.
The Living Universe4:39
Explore the core theme of a living universe, how this view contrasts with the perspective of a non-living or dead universe, and the importance a living systems perspective has for our lives.
The Universe as a Living System3:26
Duane Elgin explores what it means to see our world and the universe as a "living system".

Introduction to Module 21:40
(2 minutes) This week we begin the journey of discovery. It has been said there are three miracles: the miracle that anything exists at all, the miracle that living things exist such as plants and animals, and the miracle that living things exist that know they exist. We begin with the “first miracle” that anything exists at all. What kind of universe do we live in?

Transition from the “long view” to the “now view” (Duane Elgin)1:22
(3 minutes) We have taken the “long view” and have explored the universe unfolding over nearly 14 billion years. In this session, we begin to consider the “now view” and what the universe looks like in the current time. For example, right now, how much of the universe is invisible and how much is visible matter? How big are we humans in the cosmic scale of things?
We are Giants/Cosmic Ruler (Duane Elgin)2:15
(5 minutes) We are vastly larger than we ever imagined. A cosmic ruler shows our size relative to the rest of the known universe. We discover our size on the cosmic ruler is at the middle—even a little on the big side. In short, there is more smallness within us than bigness beyond us!
Dark Matter and Dark Energy (Duane Elgin)1:37
(2 minute video). Duane introduces the idea that 95 percent of the known universe is a combination of dark matter (22%) and dark energy (73%) and both are invisible to us. Dark matter pulls things together and dark energy pushes them apart.

Introduction to Paradigms (Duane Elgin)2:31
Duane Elgin introduces the concept of "paradigms" or worldviews and the implications of changing our paradigm.
The Universe Seen By Science (Duane Elgin)2:30
(3 minutes) A growing body of evidence points toward regarding the universe as a living system. Here we consider two aspects of a living systems view—the unified nature of the universe (non-locality) and the immense amounts of energy flowing through it.
A Multiple-Choice quiz on what we have covered so far

Finding Consciousness in Nature Part 1 (Duane Elgin)14:02
(27 minutes). There seems to be an ecology of consciousness. Consciousness is found in both plants and animals as well as at more micro levels. Is consciousness fundamental to the nature of the universe? Headlines from recent, trusted science sources for both animals and plants, showing sentience or consciousness throughout the universe.
Finding Consciousness in Nature Part 2 (Duane Elgin)13:57
There seems to be an ecology of consciousness. Consciousness is found in both plants and animals as well as at more micro levels. Is consciousness fundamental to the nature of the universe? Headlines from recent, trusted science sources for both animals and plants, showing sentience or consciousness throughout the universe.
The Mind of the Dolphin (Part I)14:02
Pete and Duane's Window is a series that explores our world in transition including topics such as consciousness, world trends, sustainability, spirituality, and our common future.
The Mind of the Dolphin (Part 2)14:38
Pete and Duane's Window is a series that explores our world in transition including topics such as consciousness, world trends, sustainability, spirituality, and our common future.

Biblical Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)20:32
There is so much conflict in the world based upon religious differences. We are going to look beneath these differences to see if there is a common understanding about the universe that is shared across the world’s wisdom traditions. This is important because when we shift from the “outer sciences” and the intellect to the “inner sciences” and intuition, what we discover about the universe is truly awe inspiring.
Islamic Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)9:38
Bringing Appreciative Reflection to Our Inquiry: There is so much conflict in the world based upon religious differences. We are going to look beneath these differences to see if there is a common understanding about the universe that is shared across the world’s wisdom traditions. This is important because when we shift from the “outer sciences” and the intellect to the “inner sciences” and intuition, what we discover about the universe is truly awe-inspiring.
Hindu Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)9:59
Buddhist Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)4:20
Bringing Appreciative Reflection to Our Inquiry: There is so much conflict in the world based upon religious differences. We are going to look beneath these differences to see if there is a common understanding about the universe that is shared across the world’s wisdom traditions. This is important because when we shift from the “outer sciences” and the intellect to the “inner sciences” and intuition, what we discover about the universe is truly awe-inspiring.

Taoist, Confucian Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)17:35
Bringing Appreciative Reflection to Our Inquiry: There is so much conflict in the world based upon religious differences. We are going to look beneath these differences to see if there is a common understanding about the universe that is shared across the world’s wisdom traditions. This is important because when we shift from the “outer sciences” and the intellect to the “inner sciences” and intuition, what we discover about the universe is truly awe-inspiring.
Indigenous Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)10:26
Bringing Appreciative Reflection to Our Inquiry: There is so much conflict in the world based upon religious differences. We are going to look beneath these differences to see if there is a common understanding about the universe that is shared across the world’s wisdom traditions. This is important because when we shift from the “outer sciences” and the intellect to the “inner sciences” and intuition, what we discover about the universe is truly awe-inspiring.
Western Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin and Jim Garrison)11:30
Bringing Appreciative Reflection to Our Inquiry: There is so much conflict in the world based upon religious differences. We are going to look beneath these differences to see if there is a common understanding about the universe that is shared across the world’s wisdom traditions. This is important because when we shift from the “outer sciences” and the intellect to the “inner sciences” and intuition, what we discover about the universe is truly awe-inspiring.

Integration of Science and Wisdom Traditions (Duane Elgin)5:33
(5 minutes). When we bring together the core insights of science and wisdom traditions, what is the view of our universe and ourselves that emerges? What are the key insights from these two different lenses?
A Mother Universe (Duane Elgin)2:34
Key Themes included in this video and the reading are:

Multi-verse Theory and A Mother Universe – we live in one of many universes.

Just Getting Started: Recall the idea that we are only in the 3^rd or 4^th dimension in a universe of infinite dimensionality.

The core task of getting ahold of ourselves as self-organizing systems. We are “closing the loop” and connecting our knowing capacity with itself—we are becoming self-reflective in our knowing.
Three Areas of Oneness (Duane Elgin)2:53
Science and Spirituality- Part I (Duane Elgin and Peter Russell)14:21
Pete and Duane's Window is a series that explores our world in transition including topics such as consciousness, world trends, sustainability, spirituality, and our common future.
Science and Spirituality- Part II (Duane Elgin and Peter Russell)13:58
Pete and Duane's Window is a series that explores our world in transition including topics such as consciousness, world trends, sustainability, spirituality, and our common future.

Who are we? (Duane Elgin)20:46
Who Are We? A Body of Music, Light, Love and Knowing If 96% of the known universe is invisible and we are made from and continuously participate in the aliveness of a living universe, then what does that mean for who we are? Are we invisible aliveness seeking to know itself and express itself? Are our bodies are biodegradable vehicles for acquiring “soul growing” experiences? How can we develop ourselves as a body of music, light, love, and knowing?

Where is the Universe Going? (Duane Elgin)8:26
What is humanity’s “central project”? What kinds of changes are required for we humans to come into alignment with the self-organizing nature of the larger universe? What are the most basic properties found throughout the universe? Centering, consciousness, freedom, community, emergence, and more.
Human Toroidal Connectivity--Center to Center (1 minute) (Duane Elgin)0:41
About the toroidal architecture of the universe and how it reveals that it is creating self-organizing systems and self-organizing activity at every scale.

Requirements

15 modules with over 15 hours of course material and multiple-choice quizzes to help you integrate your learning - you can work through it at your leisure and find what is most relevant to you
You will need a decent internet connection and the software on your computer or mobile device to be able to watch video comfortably
Being familiar with a context involving people collaborating together to achieve a collective goal helps you to ground these ideas in a real context. That could be an organization, community or group that you are involved in

Description

This course puts you on the leading edge of thinking today and equips you to navigate our increasingly complex world with clarity, compassion and impact.

The course explores three, major questions:

First, where are we? Are we living within a living system—or a non-living system? Where does the evidence of science point? In what direction do the insights from wisdom traditions point?

Second, who are we if we assume we live in a living universe? What is the nature of our identity?

Third, where are we going? As we awaken into aliveness and a more spacious view of our identity, how does that inform our evolutionary journey?

The course is made up of 15 modules each with a core video from Duane Elgin and many other great resources. It should take you between 7-12 hours depending on the amount of extra resources you explore.

By the end of the course you should be able to:

Express clearly the major differences between the views regarding a living universe and a non-living or dead universe.
Describe your sense of personal and collective purpose from the perspective of each of the two, major views of the universe.
Describe how we might live differently in a world that embraced a living universe perspective. How would that change your everyday life? For example: The work that you do? The ways in which corporations would operate, advertise, treat their employees and customers? The ways in which local governments invest their public resources—in education, health care, social justice, and more?
Define the key skills that you see as essential, both personally and socially, for moving through this time of great transition and living in this new world? Describe your views for “vision,” “voice,” and “community” that will support these skills. Are there other competencies, both inner and outer, that have been left out?

This course is available for undergraduate and graduate credits at Ubiquity University. For the full Ubiquity experience including small-group interaction, creative assignments with faculty feedback, extra self-mastery modules, mission change-project support and academic credits, contact registrar@ubiquityuniversity.org.

You can also engage with others in the Facebook group for this course - search for livinginalivinguniverse on Facebook and request to join!

Who this course is for:

People looking to explore and develop a more holistic view of life and its implications
If you are ready to change your behavior based on a living universe perspective, then this is for you
The course combines theory and practice, so you need to be prepared to engage mind, heart and body
There is much new thinking and many leading-edge practices described in the course so an open mind and willingness to experiment is important!
This course is available for undergraduate and graduate credits at Ubiquity University. For the full Ubiquity experience including small-group interaction, creative assignments with faculty feedback, extra self-mastery modules, mission change-project support and academic credits, contact registrar@ubiquityuniversity.org.

Living in a Living Universe - for Changemakers

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Module 1 - Welcome and Introduction5 lectures • 15min

Module 2 - Beginning the Journey1 lecture • 2min

Module 3 - The Universe Seen By Science (Part 1)3 lectures • 5min

Module 4 - The Universe Seen By Science (Part 2)2 lectures • 5min

Module 5 - The Universe Seen By Science (Part 3)4 lectures • 57min

Module 6 - The Universe Described By Wisdom Traditions (Part 1)4 lectures • 44min

Module 7 - The Universe Described By Wisdom Traditions (Part 2)3 lectures • 40min

Module 8 - The Combined Understanding of Science and Wisdom Traditions5 lectures • 39min

Module 9 - Who Are We?1 lecture • 21min

Module 10 - Where Is the Universe Going?2 lectures • 9min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: