August 2023 Gathering: Becoming Truth
August 2023 Gathering: Becoming Truth
A TAT Foundation Retreat: Friday through Sunday, August 18-20, 2023
“Keep active along the direction of truth, the direction of discovery . . . then you find out you don’t discover anything . . . you Become.”
– TAT Founder, Richard Rose
What do you really, really want? Is it Love? Truth? Meaning? What would it mean to have these things? What would it mean to BE these things? Richard Rose spoke to a system of becoming Truth, a backing away from un-truth that emphasized action and shunned belief. What does it mean to Become the Truth? Join us as we explore the potential for Becoming Truth, and interactively investigate the teachings of Richard Rose and others as they point to this place beyond words.
The registration deadline for TAT’s August Spiritual Retreat Weekend is Wednesday, August 16th.
Session Leaders and Students of Richard Rose
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 September 2016 podcast interview of Paul Constant on SpiritualTeachers.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.
Mike Gegenheimer met Richard Rose in Pittsburgh in the fall of 1972. A freshman science and engineering student, Mike was interested in “the unknown” and the nature of existence. He worked with Rose and other students in Pittsburgh during college and moved to the Rose farm following graduation. Rose’s teachings, insights from several rapport sessions, and a few TAT members were a lifeline during a 15 year hiatus from serious group work during which he married and had a family. Returning to TAT with renewed commitment in 2000, his search ended with an intense realization during a rapport session at the April 2019 TAT meeting. A brief description can be found at www.searchwithin.org/. Mike remains active in the TAT Foundation and recently co-authored with Shawn Nevins, Passages: An Introduction and Commentary on Richard Rose’s Albigen System. Listen to the March 2023 podcast interview of Mike Gegenheimer at Spiritual Teachers.org.
Shawn Nevins “fell onto the spiritual path in 1990,” had an enlightenment experience in 1999, and since then has enjoyed making films, writing, and working with the TAT Foundation. His creative endeavors include the book The Celibate Seeker and the film Closer Than Close — an acclaimed documentary on Self-realization. Shawn is also the author of Images of Essence with photos by Bob Fergeson, Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment, Hydroglyphics: Reflections on the Sacred with photos by Phaedra Greenwood, and Passages: An Introduction and Commentary on Richard Rose’s Albigen System co-authored by Mike Gegenheimer. Shawn and his wife live in the San Francisco Bay area.
“I’m not a teacher,” says Norio Kushi, “I’m not someone who knows something you don’t know. Just look for yourself and see what you see.” When not crisscrossing America in his truck, Norio makes an occasional landing to deliver a dose of wisdom. His talk “Recognizing the Human Dilemma” is from the April 2019 TAT retreat. Norio is also the subject of Awake at the Wheel: Norio Kushi’s Highway Adventures and the Unmasking of the Phantom Self, a surprising story of spiritual awakening behind the wheel of a truck, authored by Stephen Earle.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, August 18th, 2023
- 5:00 to 7:30 PM – Set-up and arrivals; potluck drop off; informal tours of the TAT center
- 7:30 to 9:00 PM – Welcome, ice breaker/evening session
- 9:00 PM to ? – Informal conversation
Saturday, August 19th, 2023
- 7:30 to 8:00 AM – Optional group meditation
- 8:00 to 8:30 AM – Break (volunteers set up breakfast)
- 8:30 to 9:30 AM – Potluck breakfast and open discussion
- 9:30 to 9:45 AM – Break (volunteers take down breakfast)
- 9:45 to 10:00 AM – Welcome and Introduction
- 10:00 to 11:30 AM – Session 1: Participants break into two smaller groups for interactive sessions with Mike Gegenheimer and Paul Constant.
- 11:30 to 12:30 AM – Break/quiet reflection (volunteers set up lunch)
- 12:30 to 1:30 PM – Potluck lunch and open discussion
- 1:30 to 2:00 PM – Break (volunteers take down lunch)
- 2:00 to 3:30 PM – Session 2: Participant groups rotate between Mike G and Paul C.
- 3:30 to 5 PM – Break/quiet reflection (volunteers set up dinner)
- 5:00 to 6:30 PM – Potluck dinner and open discussion
- 6:30 to 7pm – Break (volunteers take down dinner)
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM – Session 3: An interactive session with Norio Kushi as he discusses his perspectives and how they relate to Rose’s teachings.
- 9:00 to ? PM – Free time; informal discussion
Sunday, August 20th, 2023
- 7:30 to 8:00 AM – Optional group meditation
- 8:00 to 8:15 AM – Break (volunteers set up breakfast)
- 8:15 to 9:00 AM – Potluck breakfast and open discussion
- 9:00 to 9:15 AM – Break (volunteers take down breakfast)
- 9:15 to 11:45 AM – Knowing, Feeling, Being – Shawn Nevins discusses the meaning between these words, followed a rapport session.
- 11:45 to Noon – Break
- Noon to 12:15 PM – Weekend wrap-up and feedback for future retreats (led by Mike R)
- 12:15 to 12:30 PM – Break (volunteers set-up lunch)
- 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM – Potluck lunch and open discussion
- 1:30 PM to ? – Check-out, clean-up, talk, walk, explore . . . depart.
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 click “Add to Cart” under the Room reservation section below.
Lodging is an additional $50 for the weekend. Note that we will do our best to accommodate room preferences, but all guests should expect to share sleeping quarters and bathrooms with at least one other participant.
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 August 16, 2023. To Register:
A. To register for the event only, please enter your name, email address, and meal preference. Registration fees depend on membership status. Check the drop-down list below. If you are interested in on-site lodging, please click “Add to Cart” under the Room reservation in section B. If you want to become a member or renew an annual membership in the same transaction, please see the drop-down list in section D.
B. Room Reservations are $50. Add to Cart if required. Please note these are sold on a first come, first served basis.
C. The TAT Foundation currently has three categories of membership:
- Annual (calendar year): $40
- Sustaining: $10 per month
- Lifetime: $500
Please note that while one membership covers both spouses, two participation fees are required if both spouses participate in the event. You can pay for a $40 Annual membership in section D below, or visit our membership page for the Sustaining and Lifetime options.
D. Become an annual member/renew membership AND register for the event:
The deadline for registration is Wednesday, August 16th. Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with information on the venue’s address, facilities, and meals. You may cancel your registration on or before August 16th and receive a refund, minus the PayPal transaction fee. Cancellations after August 7th 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
For those who register using the alternative (off-site) lodging option, 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.