Allan Hardman describes himself as a relationship coach, author, teacher, and Toltec Master, trained by Miguel Ruiz in the tradition of The Four Agreements. He teaches in Sonoma County, CA, and guides “Journeys of the Spirit” to sacred sites and tropical beaches in Mexico and beyond. He is the author of The Everything Toltec Wisdom Book, and contributor to two books with Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil, Caroline Myss, and others.
During the winter Allan lives in the tropical beach village of Chacala, Nayarít, Mexico, and invites you to join him there for a wellness vacation, a personal intensive, relationship counseling, or his annual Valentine’s Week Workshop on Love, Romance, and Relationship (February 9 ~ 13, 2009). Allan is known as the “High-Tech Toltec” for his dynamic online teaching and spiritual networking community called “TACO.” Accessible through www.joydancer.com.
For information about Allan’s work with The New Relationship, spiritual coaching, journeys, teleclasses, and to subscribe to his free e-newsletter, “The Weekly Word and News,” visit: www.joydancer.com. Or call (707) 528-1271. E-mail: allan@joydancer.com
Check out these Mevio discounts: Budget rental car, GoDaddy.com, and if you have a petPetMeds offer.
A psychology podcast by David Van Nuys, Ph.D.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
One of the first email I ever sent to Allan was regarding the fear I had about how close to a sect the Toltec community was. Same fear as you mention at the end of the interview. Well, I have been an apprentice (or customer, whatever the name) for 6 years, and the only danger there is working with Allan, or following the Toltec path as taught by Don Miguel Ruiz is to be happier!
Miguel mentions quite often in his books “don’t believe me!” (as part as “don’t believe anyone, even not yourself”). Starting from there, there is no way one can be directed in an unwanted path. There is nothing intrusive, nothing demanding in the teaching. It is not even a teaching, but more like Allan menionned, a set of tools that are offered to us for enjoying life a bit more (or a lot more!).
Up to us to use one or all of those tools. Remembering that we actually don’t need any of those to be perfect just the way we are.
(but the tools might help us remembering it…)
Florian
To call someone else or myself a master requires a judgment. Then there is the whole “everyone is doing the best they can” thing, which is utter nonsense. I spent a good chunk of my life as a body guard and have come face to face with evil intention disguised and apparent. I have a hard time reconciling a system of thought that advances as part of its fundamental premise seeing ourselves and the world we live in in its true state and yet at the same time advances the idea that everyone is fundamentally good i.e perfect as they are (just more or less enlightened). I think that is what people like Nicholas Berg thought right up until they were being beheaded by a guy who was praising the god of his understanding while Berg screamed in agony. Not all values are of equal value nor are most people at their core completely good or bad. If what Mr. Hardman believed were true I would be the first in line to pursue and develop a deeper understanding of this way of thinking because it is truly a happier thought to think of each person as doing their best with the knowledge they have at that moment in time. With that in mind it’s only fair to say that there are many who are doing the best they can and are committed to their own personal search for truth. What separates them from those who could care less about personal growth, spiritual evolution, and moral responsibility is INTENTION. Part of the human experience is that we will all unfortunately cause harm to others as we live our lives, it is the intent behind our behaviors that matter in the end. Al Capone ran soup kitchens during the depression and gave to the poor liberally but his motives for doing this were to improve his public image and garner support from his local community so that the community would place pressure on the authorities to leave him alone, he didn’t give a damn about starving Chicago citizens. Pablo Escobar followed Capone’s model giving to the poor in the small community he grew up in of Medien Columbia while murdering people by the hundreds if not thousands. It is important, our responsibility, that we learn to judge accurately and that we refine this skill through out our lives so that we may not only protect ourselves from harm but those we love and in some cases are responsible for. I like Dave did like Mr. Hardman and I wish him the best but as I have said before embracing the truth doesn’t always feel good or elicit happiness, sometimes it can be down right agonizing to know the truth. Finally any belief system that encourages embracing beliefs that fly in the face of reason immediately send my red flags up the pole. I enjoyed the show and listen to every minute of it.
This person’s representation of himself as a Toltec Master cries out, “Fraud!” Listen to his response when questioned about it. “Well, you gotta to be something in this world.” Then he goes on to attribute his right to the title as having been bestowed upon him by his “teacher” don Miguel.
He, and apparently his teacher, seem to want to associate themselves with the tradition described by Carlos Castaneda, but what they teach bears no resemblance to that tradition. Castaneda’s books “The Journey to Ixtlan” and “Tales of Power” give a pretty thorough description of the basics of the tradition related by Castaneda.
If these guys are so enlightened, then why do they attempt to mooch off of Castaneda’s reputation?
Mr. Hardman should represent himself not as a “Toltec Master,” but as “some guy who claims to have tools that can help you achieve happiness in your life.” Hmmm, I guess that might not sell as well as “Toltec Master.” But, that might give you insight into the real motives of this person. Maybe it’s not your happiness, but, rather his own financial success and the glorification of his ego. If becoming a “Toltec Master” is as easy as representing yourself to be a “Toltec Master,” then just represent yourself to be a “Toltec Master” and, there you are – you’re a “Toltec Master.” (If you feel you have benefited from my teaching on how to become a “Toltec Master,” then please make a financial contribution to support the “Shrink Rap Radio Podcast.”)
For what it’s worth, I do not know whether Castaneda’s writings are fiction or non-fiction. However, the goal of the teachings was never to achieve happiness. A fool can live a quite happy life in ignorance and deception. My interpretation of Castaneda is that the goal of the teachings is for one to become fully aware of the totality of the true nature of one’s being, before death. Regardless of whether these teachings are fiction or non-fiction, I think there is much value in the philosophy described by Castaneda. But, if you want to study this path, then your source should be the writings of Castaneda.
-ED