TAT 2018 June Gathering
In Search of Happiness

Friday through Sunday
June 15-17, 2018
at the Claymont Society Mansion, WV

Someone once asked Richard Rose: "Now that you're Enlightened, are you happy?" And he replied: "I'm free of happiness."

Happiness is the topic of thousands of books, websites, and films. Research indicates that social relationships are central to our happiness and life satisfaction, at least according to the longest and most comprehensive study on adult development. But what is stopping us from making heartfelt connections? Is it a lack of knowledge? Is it our belief that we are separate selves? Is it our psychological defenses? Our self-concern? A heart closed to life?

On a psychological level, all of those reasons might be at play. Yet, while fulfilling relationships may open our heart, they may not be enough in life if we still experience existential longing and haven't fully transcended our beliefs about happiness. The TAT Foundation's June gathering forges together two principles that can lead to the truest of relationships as well as freedom from ideas about happiness:

• By helping and being helped by others with a common goal, our bonds with fellow spiritual inquirers will expedite our journey toward Truth, and...
• Our efforts to fully reveal the illusions, lies, and inconsistencies in our own lives and in everything else—including spiritual systems—will resolve the root cause of unhappiness.

Our weekend together creates an atmosphere in which our heart and mind might open wide to a simple answer behind our most profound question. We hope this TAT event will be an intimate gathering where seekers as well as finders join together to help each other, while sharing their stories, their successes, their struggles. We aim to foster an environment where the bonds of true friendship and spiritual community will be formed and renewed.

Meet our presenters:

  Avery Solomon: Four Views of Happiness: three steps beyond the search

Avery Solomon is a teacher and researcher at Wisdom's Goldenrod Center for Philosophic Studies in Hector, NY. He has a Ph.D. in Math education, a divinity degree from IM school of healing arts, a Qi-Gong instructorship, and is a practicing astrologer. He has been a faculty member in math science institutes for Tibetan monks.

Avery has facilitated over 200 weekend seminars around the world, where people gather for shared discussion, meditation, and inspiration. He has given numerous talks on ancient wisdom and modern science.

  Gary Weber: How You Can Be "Free of Happiness"

Gary in the author of several books, including Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening and the newly released Evolving Beyond Thought: Updating Your Brain's Software. He was featured in Robert Wright's recent non-fiction best-seller, Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment. He has a Ph.D. in physical sciences and worked in the military, national labs, industry, and academia in R&D and management. Simultaneously, after over 20,000 hours of self-inquiry, Zen, and yoga, he experienced the falling away of the "I" and the loss of self-referential thoughts, desires, and fears. He has produced over 110 videos, a blog, interviews, podcasts, and presentations on nonduality, meditation, yoga, and neuroscience at conferences, gatherings, and universities around the world.

Gary and his wife live in Pennsylvania. For a taste of his writings and presentations, visit Awakening Beyond Thought.

  Larry Inderbitzin: A Personal Perspective on Friendship: Ode to "Mrs. C."

With a background in neurophysiology and psychopharmacology, Larry became an academic psychiatrist and a training and supervising psychoanalyst. He has been a lifetime seeker and a Soto Zen practitioner for the past 35 years. Currently, he teaches meditation in a community in Durham, NC, where he lives with his wife and canine best buddy Enso. Larry has recently embarked on a collaborative study of consciousness with a neurobiologist friend.

  Paul Constant: Rapport and Group Meditation Sittings

Paul Constant's fascinations and explorations are directed toward uncovering the mysteries of life and ourselves. Of late, his spiritual interests include balancing the natural intelligence of our body, the wisdom and resourcefulness of our mind, and the feeling-sense of our Heart. Listen to a podcast interview of Paul Constant on SpiritualTeachers.org or visit searchwithin.org.

For the past 30 years, Paul has expressed his love for Truth by facilitating retreats, leading rapport sittings, serving as a TAT Foundation member, and studying with Richard Rose during 1985-1995. Paul and his wife live in Pennsylvania. They were adopted by two kittens in 2013.

  Additionally, during the weekend there will be Group Inquiry, rapport, and meditation sittings.

The registration deadline for the June Gathering is Sunday, June 10th.

Location and Facilities

The event is being held at the Claymont Society Mansion near Charles Town in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. The mansion's historical ambience mixes perfectly with 350 private acres of forests and farmland. Sleeping accommodations include a mixture of single and double beds in 12 rooms and 6 shared bathrooms. Claymont provides towels and bed linens for overnight guests (guests make and strip their own beds). During the registration process, we will do our best to accommodate room preferences, but all mansion guests should expect to share sleeping quarters and bathrooms with other participants. On-site camping is available in the lawn area near the mansion.

The Claymont Society Mansion is located at 577 Claymont Mansion Road, Charles Town, WV 25414 [GPS coordinates: N39.26740, W77.90390]. Claymont is 50 miles/60 minutes from the Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C. Travel directions to Claymont Mansion.

 

Costs

The June Gathering fees per person for TAT members are as follows:

• $130 for members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in the Claymont Mansion, or
• $80 for members who arrange alternative lodging; this includes meeting registration and on-site camping if desired. Camping is informal—no hook-ups or restrooms.

The non-member fees per person are:

• $180 for non-members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in the Claymont Mansion, or
• $120 for non-members who arrange alternative lodging; this includes meeting registration and on-site camping if desired. Camping is informal—no hook-ups or restrooms.

Full-time students should contact for information on discounted registration fees.

Use PayPal to pay with these credit cards (PayPal account not necessary). PayPal is "fast, free and secure" and allows payment by credit card or electronic withdrawal from a bank account. Checks (in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank) or money orders (domestic only) made payable to the TAT Foundation are also accepted if received by the registration deadline.

Support TAT by becoming a Regular, Sustaining, or Lifetime Member.
Visit our membership page for information about TAT memberships.

* The TAT Foundation hosts four public events each year. Registration fees vary depending on the event location. Because we are an all-volunteer organization, please allow up to 5 business days before receiving confirmation of your payment. See our membership overview or email if you have questions about registration fees.

Space is limited, so registration is required. The deadline for registration is Sunday, June 10th. Upon receipt of your registration, a packet containing information on lodging and driving directions will be sent to you. You may cancel your registration on or before June 10th and receive a refund, minus a $5 handling fee. Cancellations after June 10th will not be refunded. Because ADA-compliant facilities are limited in the mansion, persons with a disability should contact before registering.

 

Meals

Meals are potluck style for Saturday and Sunday continental breakfasts, Saturday and Sunday lunches, and Saturday dinner. We ask that each event participant bring 2 items, totaling about $15. A good rule of thumb is to bring enough food to serve 7 people with each item. All meals are included for non-members. Sorry, we cannot reduce fees for those who prefer to bring their own food. TAT will provide coffee and tea.

 

Lodging

For those who register using the alternative (off-site) lodging option, the following overnight accommodations are located near the Claymont Great Barn:

• Americas Best Value Inn, 807 Willow Spring Dr, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-2041
• Carriage Inn Bed & Breakfast, 417 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV (800) 867-9830
• Hampton Inn and Suites, 157 Pimlico Drive, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-2200
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel Ranson, 681 Flowing Springs Road, Ranson, WV (304) 725-1330
• Northgate Inn, 106 Jefferson Terrace Rd, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-1402
• The Inn at Charles, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV (304) 885-5800
• Towne House Motor Lodge, 642 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-8441
• Turf Motel, 741 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-2081

What is the TAT Foundation?

A group encouraging people to think rather than believe. A group determined to help people find ways and means to answer their deepest philosophical questions. A gathering of friends who are not afraid to be honest with one another. An island of hope and sanity (or at least the hope for sanity!). Last, but not least, TAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization chartered in 1973.