June 2024 Gathering: Unseeing What’s Not

A TAT Foundation Retreat: Friday through Sunday, June 14 -16, 2024

Photo by Tyler van der Hoeven on Unsplash

“Actually, the gold lies in a half-mile circle. It is all around you. You cannot fail to find it – if, of course, you wish.” Alfred R. Pulyan, The Penny that Blots Out the Sun

“If everything that isn’t true is let go, then what remains must be true.” Peter Ralston, The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness

“Only the hand that erases can write the true thing.” Meister Eckhart

“We must back into the Truth by backing away from untruth.” Richard Rose, The Albigen Papers

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Since its founding in 1973 by Richard Rose, TAT has sponsored numerous events that offer a remarkable gathering of seekers, finders, and friends. Please join us for TAT’s annual June event at our home in North Carolina for a weekend of exploration, sharing, and questioning. Together, we will look at…

Unseeing What’s Not

Embedded in this phrase are several hints around ‘how’ to find what we’re looking for. Most of us begin our search by trying to ‘See What Is’. We project ideas out in front of us and, like pursuing a carrot on a stick, we begin the chase. This can result in an endless pursuit as our ideas of “What Is”, like everything in this world, change.

After a time, if we’re lucky, we might stumble across another way of looking at this idea. “Seeing what is not” emphasizes the subtractive path of Neti-Neti from the Advaita tradition, as well as the Richard Rose concept of “backing away from untruth.”  But what of “Unseeing” ?

We hope to see you at the TAT Center for a weekend of friendship and contemplation.

Meet our featured presenters:

Norio Kushi – Norio was born in New York City to Japanese parents. At age five, while his mother was breastfeeding his younger brother, she said to Norio, “Always trust your feelings, your feelings will guide you through your life.” Many years later, he discovered that the world in which we find our self is a world that is continually being created from the way we’ve been programmed. Norio refers to this current programming as a “linear time-based reality.” In 2003, he inadvertently, without effort, shifted from this programmed way of seeing. With this perceptual shift—the attention no longer fixated in this programmed reality—the true nature of being human began revealing itself, finally unveiling the cosmic joke, that we’re never lacking, always whole and complete, always at home in our bodies and in the world. Norio currently drives a truck throughout North America.

Tyler Matthew’s spiritual search began when he first heard the Buddha’s four noble truths in college.  After that, there were a lot of years of undisciplined striving and many ups and downs.  But by working extensively with a close mentor on more direct pointers for five years, as well as learning how to move through a great deal of suppressed emotional baggage, and finally benefiting from at least two instances of sheer spontaneous Grace, Tyler found his true Self and is happy to do some pointing for others.  He lives a quiet life in western North Carolina with his wife and dogs. 

Eshwar Segobind is a spiritual seeker known for his remarkable journey towards self-realization and the profound insights he shares with others. His path to awakening is noteworthy for its swiftness, spanning less than a year from his engagement in a recovery program to experiencing a deep spiritual awakening. Eshwar emphasizes the simplicity and practicality of understanding one’s true nature in day to day life.

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The registration deadline for TAT’s June Spiritual Retreat Weekend is Wednesday, June 12.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, June 14, 2024

• 5:00 to 7:30 PM – Set-up and arrivals; Potluck drop off; informal tours of TAT center
• 7:30 to 7:45 PM – Opening greeting / announcements
• 7:45 to 9:00 PM – Getting to Know You – Casual introductory session. Writing exercise.
• 9:00 PM to ? – Informal conversation

Saturday, June 15, 2024

• 7:30 to 8:00 AM   Optional Group Meditation
• 8:00 to 8:15 AM – Break
• 8:15 to 9:15 AM – Potluck continental breakfast and open discussion
• 9:15 to 9:30 AM – Break
• 9:30 to 9:45 AM – Welcome/Announcements
• 9:45 to 10:45 AM – Eshwar Segobind
• 10:45 to 11:00 AM – Break
• 11:00 to 11:45 AM – Q & A with Eshwar
• 11:45 AM to 12:00 PM –Break
• 12:00 Noon to 1:15 PM – Potluck lunch
• 1:15 to 1:30 PM Free time
• 1:30 to 2:30 PM – Tyler Matthew 
• 2:30 to 2:45 PM – Break
• 2:45 to 3:30 PM – Q & A with Tyler
• 3:30 to 6:00 PM – Open Space (time for folks to have solitude OR do group inquiry with others – speakers will be available for small groups or individual discussion)
• 6:00 to 7:15 PM – Potluck dinner
• 7:30 to 9:00 PM – Panel Discussion with Norio, Tyler, Eshwar and John Troy Questions will be collected beforehand that attendees would like to have answered by the four panelists.
• 9:00 to ? PM – Free time; informal discussion

Sunday, June 16, 2024

• 7:30 to 8:00 AM – Optional group meditation
• 8:00 to 9:15 AM – Potluck continental breakfast and open discussion
• 9:15 to 9:30 AM – Break
• 9:30 to 10:30 AM – Norio Kushi 
• 10:30 to 10:45 AM – Break
• 10:45 to 11:30 AM – Q & A with Norio Kushi 
• 11:30 AM to 11:45 – Weekend wrap-up and feedback for future meetings
• 11:45 – 12:00 – Break
• 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM – Potluck lunch and open discussion
• 1:30 PM to ? – Clean up and adjourn… Talk / walk / explore…

 

Location, Facilities, and Lodging

The event is being held at the new TAT Center near Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, USA. The 5,500 square foot Center is situated on a beautiful 15-acre site. It is only 50 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

We ask that attendees respect the health of other attendees. If you think you’ve got something contagious, whether that be a cold, flu, or whatever, please use your common sense, think of others, and stay home. Refunds will be issued on request. Masks will be available at the TAT Center if needed.

There are a few (less than 15) on-site beds available. Sleeping accommodations include new, comfortable twin-size beds, linens, pillows, and blankets in bedrooms shared with 1 or 2 people. All bathrooms are shared and towels are provided. The capacity of the water system is suitable for the meeting and as there are three showers available during the weekend, we will schedule time slots for those at the TAT Center as you arrive.

If you are interested in on-site lodging, please select “lodging” when registering in addition to the retreat fee. Please understand there are a limited number of beds available on site. Contact us directly if there are no lodging spots available when you register and you would like one if possible, as there are occasionally spots that become available.

Costs

The fees per person for TAT members are as follows:

$90 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:

$130 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 TAT Foundation events for information on discounted registration fees.

If cost is a serious issue that will make or break your attendance, please let us know. We do not want someone to refrain from attending for reasons of cost.

Event registration closes on Wednesday June 12, 2024. To Register:

To register for the event, please click the button below! This will take you to our membership platform where you can register for the event. If you have any trouble registering, please contact us directly so we can help!

If you would like to become a member prior to registering for the event, please visit our membership page where you can learn more and join as a member.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, June 12th. Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a confirmation message with additional information. You may cancel your registration on or before June 12th and receive a refund minus processing fees. Cancellations after Junel 12th will not be refunded. Because ADA-compliant facilities are limited, persons with a disability should contact TAT Foundation events before registering.

Meals

Meals are potluck style for Saturday and Sunday continental breakfasts, Saturday and Sunday lunches, and Saturday dinner.  If you are already a TAT member, please help our meal planning team by visiting our potluck contributions page at PerfectPotluck. We ask that each TAT member bring 2 items, totaling about $20. A good rule of thumb is to bring enough food to serve 7 people with each item. 

All meals are included for non-members, but non-members are also welcome to bring potluck contributions by using PerfectPotluck. Sorry, we cannot reduce fees for those who prefer to bring their own food. TAT will provide coffee and tea.

Off-Site Lodging

The following overnight accommodations are a 20-to-30 minute drive from the TAT Center:

• Americas Best Value Inn Roxboro, 1006 N Madison Blvd, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-9276
• Budget Inn Roxboro, 1033 N Madison Blvd, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-3151
• Hampton Inn Roxboro, 920 Durham Road Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-8800
• Holiday Inn Express Hillsborough, 202 Cardinal Drive , Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 (919) 644-7997
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hillsborough, 120 Old Dogwood Street Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 (919) 245-3102
• Quality Inn Roxboro, 906 Durham Rd, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-3800

You may also try searching Airbnb or VRBO for accommodations in the Roxboro, Hillsborough, or Hurdle Mills areas.