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Intention

Jim Gillespie

June 12th-14th 2026

Tension, Attention, Intention

Please join us for TAT’s annual June event for a weekend of exploration, sharing, and questioning. Since its founding in 1973 by Richard Rose, TAT has sponsored numerous events that offer a remarkable gathering of seekers, finders, and friends.

Tension, Attention, Intention 

In the spirit of “looking under every rock”, the June 2026 TAT meeting will be an exploration of several styles of meditation and other self-inquiry techniques, combining instruction, experiential practice, and a chance to ask questions.

This weekend is an opportunity to look at your priorities, contradictions, and direction. What is the focus of your attention in daily life? Why? What do you expect to see, or to find? Bring these questions and your own for an open-hearted exploration of what really matters to you the most.

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.

Meet our featured presenters:

Brian Tom O’Connor is the author of Awareness Games: Playing With Your Mind to Create Joy, and Awareness Adventures: Discovering Your True Nature, as well as a co-host of the Awareness Explorers podcast. He’s a formerly depressed guy who stumbled onto the source of joy and happiness in the background of all experience. If someone as imperfect and flawed as he is can find it, so can you. The Play Awareness Games website: https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

Bhante Ethkandawaka Saddhajeewa Thero (Bhante Saddha) is Co-Abbot of the Bhavana Society in High View, WV. He received his higher ordination in Sri Lanka. He is a meditation and Dhamma teacher with many years of experience in working with youth and young adults as an educator, administrator, psychotherapist, as well as a social worker. Bhante Saddhajeewa holds master’s degrees in psychology, sociology and education from universities in the United States and Sri Lanka. In addition, he holds a doctorate from the University of the West in Rosemead, CA with research focus on Mindfulness for substance abuse recovery. He has published eleven books and many articles and was the coordinator for the United Nation’s 2600th year commemoration of the Buddha’s enlightenment. At the Bhavana Society, Bhante teaches alongside Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (author of Mindfulness in Plain English), carrying forward the tradition of Theravada Buddhist meditation rooted in the Pali Canon. Website: https://bhavanasociety.org.

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.


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. Watch his May 2024 TAT Talk. 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.

Click HERE to register

The registration deadline for TAT’s June Spiritual Retreat Weekend is Wednesday, June 10 2026.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, June 12, 2026

  • 5:00–7:00 PM — Setup and Arrivals
  • 7:00–7:15 PM — Welcome / Opening Session
  • 7:15–8:15 PM — Breakout Groups – “What Are You Hoping to Get Out of This Weekend?”
  • 8:15 PM–? — Free Time

Saturday, June 13, 2026

  • 7:30–8:00 AM — Optional Meditation
  • 8:00–9:00 AM — Shared Breakfast & Open Dialogue
  • 9:00–9:15 AM — Opening Remarks & Welcome
  • 9:15–10:45 AM — Awareness Games and Meditations: Playing With Your Mind to Uncover Joy (led by Brian Tom O’Connor)
  • 10:45 AM–12:00 PM — Small-Group Confrontation Practice (Directed Questioning)
  • 12:00–12:30 PM — Break
  • 12:30–1:30 PM — Potluck Lunch
  • 1:30–2:15 PM — Meditative Movement Session
  • 2:15–3:00 PM — Artistic Activity
  • 3:00–3:15 PM — Break
  • 3:15–5:00 PM — Loving-Kindness Meditation: Intro, Practice, Discussion (led by Bhante Saddha)
  • 5:00–5:30 PM — Break
  • 5:30–7:00 PM — Potluck Dinner
  • 7:00–8:00 PM — Walking Meditation
  • 8:00–8:45 PM — Spiritual Poetry exercise

Sunday, June 14, 2026

  • 7:30–8:00 AM — Optional Silent Meditation
  • 8:00–9:00 AM — Breakfast
  • 9:00–9:05 AM — Reconvene
  • 9:05–11:30 AM — Rapport: Intro, Practice, Discussion (led by Mike Gegenheimer and Paul Constant)
  • 11:30–11:45 AM — Break
  • 11:45 AM–12:00 PM — Retreat Closing Circle & Feedback Sharing
  • 12:15–2:00 PM — Farewell Potluck Lunch & Open Dialogue

Location, Facilities, and Lodging

Claymont's great barn meeting room

The event is being held at the Claymont Mansion near Charles Town in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. The Mansion’s presence mixes perfectly with 350 private acres of forests and farmland. Sleeping accommodations include a mixture of single and double beds with dormitory style 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 guests should expect to share sleeping quarters and bathrooms with other participants.

The Claymont Mansion is located at 577 Claymont Mansion Rd., Charles Town WV, 25414. Claymont is 50 miles/60 minutes from the Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C. Travel directions to Claymont Mansion.

Costs

The fees per person for TAT members are as follows:

$175 for members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in Claymont’s Mansion, or
$115 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:

$235 for non-members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in Claymont’s Mansion, or
$165 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 the Wednesday before the event. To Register:

To register for the event, please click HERE ! 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 the Wednesday before the event. Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a confirmation message with additional information. You may cancel your registration on or before this day and receive a refund minus processing fees. Cancellations less than two days before the event will not be refunded. Because ADA-compliant facilities are limited, persons with a disability should contact TAT Foundation events before registering.

Click HERE to register

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 located near the Claymont Society:

  • 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

You may also try searching Airbnb or VRBO for accommodations in the Charles Town or Ranson areas.