August 2022 / More
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Convictions & Concerns
TAT members share their personal convictions and/or concerns
Intuition & Honesty
Everyone treads the path to Truth based on feelings, even those who see themselves or are seen as the analytical and intellectual type. After all, feeling precedes thinking. It influences, even generates, thoughts. Thinking is largely—maybe even completely—reactionary, and feelings along with physical sensations are primary sources of our mental reactions. Emotions likewise are largely—maybe even completely—reactionary, being preceded or triggered by physical factors, both arising in the physical body and from the continuous onslaught of experience.
Left-brained seekers typically react without acknowledging their feelings, devising rational explanations for their reactions and getting caught-up in conceptual thinking. Right-brained seekers largely bypass such analytical spinning and go directly into the whirlpool of emotions.
Both approaches to finding the Truth, to finding the Real, are lacking. They might never bring you to clear, objective seeing of yourself, the way you live your life, and the world in which you live. Chief among the reasons why is lack of self-honesty. Another reason is your need to protect yourself, psychologically. Another reason is a lack of consciousness of desires and the degree to which you are driven by them.
Everyone has blind spots. Everyone is blind to whatever they cannot accept as true about themselves, or even if ever so vaguely aware of such things, avoids looking at them directly. If someone, or some experience, forces you to see something you do not want to see, by placing it directly in front of your attention, you become defensive, or argumentative, or emotional—all of which gives you something else to look at instead! If your desires are thwarted, negative emotions and thoughts ensue.
Richard Rose frequently emphasized the need to develop one's intuition. Intuition is seeing clearly what is, without interpretation and unaccompanied by discursive thinking. Rose also emphasized the need to check one's intuition because it can be imperfect. Key reasons for a lack of intuition, or imperfect intuition, have been described in the preceding paragraphs. Rose's poetic prose piece, The Way, might be his most profound writing on intuition, honesty, and the central role they occupy on a spiritual path dedicated to finding Absolute Truth. It is well worth returning to this bit of his writing often.
The shortcut to developing a greater capacity for self-honesty, clear seeing and keen intuition, in three words is: Commit. Look. Act.
Why don't or can't you see clearly? Is the failure to see clearly due to:
- Something wrong with the object being viewed? (No!)
- Lack of "seeing" ability? (What are the means of seeing?)
- Lack of looking?
- Avoidance?
- Lying to oneself about what is seen (lack of acceptance)?
Experience is binding. Intense experience is intensely binding.
Experience binds us to body-mind-ego and clouds our seeing. Experience manifests both externally and internally, and there are two levels of reaction to experience: feeling and thinking.
Any external threatening experience can range from one that triggers the fight or flee response, to a continuum of less dramatic experiences that trigger a range of emotions: irritation, anger, calmness, physical sensations of pain/pleasure, comfort/discomfort, wakefulness/sleepiness, etc.
Our internalized experience may be triggered by the real external experience, or by imagination, or by a mixture of the two. The body may or may not in fact be threatened, but when the ego-body is threatened, the same range of emotions can occur, yet in a sort of mental-equivalent way: anxiety, depression, non-physical yet painful discomfort, etc. The fight or flee response might manifest as a thought storm or placing before one's attention anything other than the trigger experience itself. This could be watching a movie, reading a book, getting intoxicated, picking a fight with someone, or all the above.
The rush of urgent thinking triggered by a real, external physical threat is part of the body's survival mechanism. Incoming perceptual data must be processed and conclusions drawn about how to best ensure self-survival. Conceptualization is the process that organizes experience into context that enables such conclusions.
But this too gets internalized and can occur when no threat to the physical body occurred or exists. Conceptualization run amok is pure rationalization aimed at preserving the ultimate context: ego.
Witnessing experience is liberating.
Automatic behaviors due to emotional reactions intensifies our sleep. That is why it is so important for waking up to gain perspective, and distance, by calm self-observation. This is very difficult to do regarding recent experiences. But since such reactions tend to be patterns in our personal history, the benefit of self-observation can be had by observing the self in the past. (Observing—not thinking, conceptualizing, explaining—just observing!—especially one's reactions.)
Rationalization keeps the identification going by obscuring the inconsistencies that are otherwise apparent and/or disturbing to us. That is why it is so important to "unwind" one's rationalizations via observation of conflict and one's inconsistencies. This effort is the process of witnessing, and that is more the underlying essence of spiritual practice resulting in self-realization. You can meditate on many things. Why not meditate on the observable you? Leave imagination out of it! Such observation will lead to a transcendent realization of the real nature of you.
Living your understanding.
Acting, based on the understanding gained by clarity of seeing due to self-observation (detached witnessing), is critical in breaking the hold of emotions and rationalizations. (This is the foundation of Rose's system.)
If you are not troubled, you are just not going to look very deeply, and you will not be able to generate enough self-honesty—so absent some nagging trouble that compels you to search, it behooves you to make the kind of commitment to spiritual work that causes you some trouble! Examples of such actions are:
- Declaring a life-long commitment to the Truth as priority 1
- Celibacy
- Group work
- Confrontation, etc.
Your most immediate experience is the self.
The real Self is screaming out to you ceaselessly, broadcasting its presence to you. But in not perceiving an affirmation of the form and identity, you mistake yourself to be in that Presence, you seek to know yourself by looking outward at, and affirming, your shadow.
That is why the poet writes: "All things betrayest thee, that betrayest me."
Some good questions to ask yourself and your friends on the path.
- Do you want to validate yourself?—or know yourself? Both desires are innate to your being—but one will win out—for most, the former.
- What is the difference between a thought and a feeling?
- What does it mean to adjust?
- What are causes for dishonesty with others?
- What are causes for dishonesty with oneself?
- What controls or dominates your behavior?
- What controls or dominates your thinking?
- What controls or dominates your feeling?
- Which is most dominant in your reactions: thinking or feeling?
- How susceptible are you to becoming angry?
- How susceptible are you to becoming sad?
- On a scale of 1–10 rate your overall contentment.
- On a scale of 1–10 rate your capacity for self-honesty. (Careful....)
~ Thanks to Bob Cergol for this essay based on a presentation he made at the September 2009 TAT meeting. Photo from pixabay.com.
Comments or questions?
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TAT Foundation News
It's all about "ladder work" – helping and being helped
(This is a complete listing of local groups. See the main page section for just the groups with recently updated information.)
New listing for Aiken, SC:
Looking to start a self-inquiry group ... finding like-minded people to talk about Richard Rose and his teachings either online or in-person in a home setting ... to question what it means to find our true selves.
~ Email
.
Update for the Amsterdam, NL Self-Inquiry Group:
The group is not holding meetings currently, but email
for information.
Update from the Central New Jersey Self Inquiry:
Our group is now meeting every other Sunday at 6pm eastern time. The topic of our most recent meeting: In almost all spiritual traditions, reaching the final "goal" means eliminating the "I", the "Sense of Self", or the "Ego". And to do so, for most people it means generally weakening this "I" gradually till it disappears.
~ For meeting info: facebook.com/groups/429437321740752.
Update from the Central Ohio Non-Duality Group:
The Columbus, Ohio self-inquiry group, now known as the Central Ohio Non-Duality Group, has continued to meet virtually on Tuesday evenings at 6:30PM during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please email one of the people's names below if you wish to get a link to the meeting. Meeting format involves discussion of topics of interest to seekers and often bridges from the concerns, questions and interests of the core members in attendance into the topic which we intend to discuss. We look forward to the easing of restrictions to the point where we feel comfortable meeting again in person.
~ For further information, contact
,
, or
.
We're also on Facebook.
Update from the Dublin, Ireland self-inquiry group:
We meet every second Wednesday on Zoom. We are working using two different approaches. The first is the standard confrontation approach of people giving an update on what was coming for them in the previous period, in terms of their path. The second is the distribution of a piece in advance for reflection. We will continue in this vein for the time being, using either a general update or a piece for reflection shared in advance.
~ Contact
for more information.
Update from the email self-inquiry groups:
The Women's Online Confrontation (WOC) group consists of weekly reports where participants can include:
> What is on your mind?
> Any projects that you want to be held accountable for?
> Responses to a selected excerpt (in the previous report).
> Comments/responses/questions for other participants.
A philosophical/spiritual excerpt with two or three questions is included in each report.
Based on what we share, participants ask questions to help get clarity about our thinking.
The intention is to help each other see our underlying beliefs about who we are.
One rule we try to adhere to is not to give advice or solve problems.
The number of participants, to make it work efficiently, is between 4 and 7 including the leader.
Currently we have two men's email groups. They (the weekly exchanges, not the participants :-) function like slow-motion self-inquiry confrontation meetings, which has its pros and cons. We alternate by asking each other questions one week then answering them the following week. Participants provide brief updates of highlights from the previous week and optional updates on progress toward objectives that they use the reports for accountability on.
Both the women's and the men's email groups welcome serious participants.
~ Contact
or
for more information.
TAT Press publishes Anima's and Art's book: Always Right Behind You: Parables & Poems of Love & Completion.
Update from the Gainesville, FL self-inquiry group:
The Alachua County library reopened its meeting rooms on July 5th, and we were the first group to meet after the reopening.
We decided to change our meeting day from Sunday to Saturday, at the same time as previously (2 to 4 PM). Our first meeting was on July 10th, and subsequent meetings are scheduled for alternate Saturdays with an occasional extra week between meetings due to holidays or the TAT meeting schedule and our group's associated retreats.
~ Email
or
for more information.
TAT Press publishes three of Art's books: Solid Ground of Being: A Personal Story of the Impersonal, Beyond Relativity: Transcending the Split Between Knower & Known and Sense of Self: The Source of All Existential Suffering?
Update from Galway, Ireland:
Tess Hughes is starting a women's group on Wednesday evenings, 7pm Dublin time, using Zoom.It will begin mid September. Sessions last 90-120 minutes usually. Anyone who's interested in joining can contact
.
TAT Press publishes Tess's easy to read, profound This Above All, the story of her journey of Self-Discovery.
Update from the GMT Support Group for Seekers:
We meet every Sunday gmt 18.30, live on Google Meet. Rapport and confrontation, talk and exchange.
Someone mostly brings a theme, like a text, poem or whatever to set the mood. Then 10 minutes of silent rapport after which everyone gets their turn on the "hot seat" for 10-15 minutes—the group listens to what the person has to say about the theme then asks friendly questions—depending on how many participants we are. The questioning is aimed at providing material for self-inquiry. There have been sessions in which we just chatted, but that is more the exception.
~ Contact
*
The GMT support group group held a
weekend intensive retreat in West Sussex, UK on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 12–13.
On the weekend of 12-14th November a small number of people gathered for an in-person spiritual retreat in West Sussex
U.K. The aim was to foster a spirit of friendship and provide a face to face retreat for TAT interested European folks with the
theme of ‘Make Your Whole Life a Prayer’.
Tess Hughes joined us via Zoom and Peter O. made a moving talk about his life and spiritual path. Freddie L. offered a very
powerful guided meditation, we conducted Harding experiments, rapport, and it was a great opportunity for discussion and a
deepening of friendship. We hope to run another similar retreat sometime next year.
See "A Seeker-Organized Weekend Intensive Retreat" for feedback from participants including a poem by one of them.
~ E-mail
for more details.
Update from the Greensburg, PA self-inquiry group:
I am meeting every Saturday morning with three of my former Greensburg SIG group participants who are into non-dualist paths, such as Adyashanti and Mooji. There is also another participant, a professional psychologist who is interested in eastern philosphy and who wasn't in my SIG group but makes a great addition to our proceedings. These fellows are sincere seekers. We spend our time discussing our respective paths and comparing notes. Our new venue is a place called the White Rabbit Cafe in Greensburg. I'm hoping that the lull here has ended and that we're ready to be more dynamic again.
~ Contact
if interested in local self-inquiry meetings.
An update from the self-inquiry group in Houston, TX:
The backyard patio meetings are now moved to Zoom meetings, which take place at 4 pm on Saturdays. There are 3 active and inspired participants right now. Topics vary from Mr. Rose's writings to "What is on your mind?"
~ Contact
for more information.
"Ignoramuses Anonymous" blog
Ignoramuses Anonymous is for seekers to explore questions together…a fellowship of seekers for whom ignorance of the absolute truth had become a major problem. It started as a blog for Pittsburgh PSI meeting members back in 2009. Welcoming discussion on the path.
To get notices of new posts, you can subscribe by RSS feed or by
email.
See the 2020/11/28 post:
Four-day isolation retreat at TAT Center, with photos and YouTube clips.
Update from the Lynchburg, VA self-inquiry group:
We have been meeting on Thursday evenings from 7pm—8:30pm, online, via zoom. Norio Kushi, Paul Rezendes, and Bob Harwood are consistent guests. We've also had some other interesting characters show up from time to time. Topics come from readings or questions brought up by our members. These are sent out, along with the zoom invitation each week. Recently we posted some "considerations" for joining our group:
** Try to frame your comments as questions to Norio, Paul, or Bob. Draw these questions from you own experience rather than generalities. Maintain attention and discussion on the question rather than philosophical musings.
** Question other participants, in the spirit of group-assisted self inquiry, but without attempting to lead them to any particular conclusion or bring attention to yourself.
**Allow for and attend to the silence and the space that is always present. When you aren't speaking, see that as your role—to hold that space.
**Question, in yourself, the use of personal story-telling and quoting others—though sometimes both are helpful and appropriate.
**Consider the way in which you are listening. Does it have a quality of acquisitiveness or openness?
**Continue to question your own intention for coming to this meeting and let that guide any comments/questions/discussion.
~ Please contact
or
if you're interested in being on the email list.
Update from the New York City self-inquiry group:
The New York City Self-Inquiry group meets by Zoom every Monday from 6-8 PM EST. The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3098361863?pwd=anY5OFlMT0pNMld6VXJDb0Z2SjY0UT09. For those joining by phone, the number is +1 929 205 6099 US (New York), with Meeting ID: 309 836 1863, and Passcode: 895478. More details, as well as our weekly discussion topics, are available on our MeetUp page (link above) and via email at
.
|
|
Update from the recently listed Online Video Confrontation Group:
The Monday Night Online Confrontation Group is going strong with a core group of participants and room for a few more. Now meeting at 7:30 pm EST (previously at 7 pm), using the online video conference platform from Zoom. The goal of the group is to practice confrontation/group self-inquiry.
~ If you're interested, email
or
.
Isaac and AJ interviewed Art Ticknor on their Plant Cunning Podcast series, where they "invite herbalists, ethnobotanists, farmers, mages, fungi experts, community organizers and all kinds of other interesting people to the microphone to share their wisdom and experiences with us": Self Realization with Art Ticknor.
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Update from the Portland, OR self-inquiry group:
A small group of us meet most Sundays at a coffee shop. The format for our meetings is to give each person 20 minutes or so to talk about whatever is coming up for them in their practice and to answer questions from the others.
~ Email
for more information.
Update from the Raleigh, NC Triangle Inquiry Group:
We're continuing with Zoom online meetings for now--first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Interested?
~ Email
for more details.
Update for the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area TAT Center:
Bob Fergeson spent a year as resident teacher before returning to Colorado in March.
Mark Wintgens continues as our chief-seeker in residence and invaluable caretaker. He is looking forward to hosting retreats and meetings for local group members as well as all TAT seekers. And TAT is looking forward to the possibility of hosting the August 2021 TAT meeting at the Center.
~ Email
for information about the TAT Center.
Update from the Richmond Self Inquiry Group:
There isn't a Richmond self inquiry group at the moment…it never really got off the ground. I'm considering a few different approaches for round three, but it'll be at least a few months away before that takes form.
~ Email
for information about future meetings and events.
Update from the San Francisco Bay area self-inquiry group:
See the Shawn Nevins interview by Iain McNay of Conscious.tv, kicking off the publication of Shawn's book Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment.
~ Email
for information about upcoming meetings and events.
TAT Press publishes Shawn's Images of Essence: The Standing Now, which features his poems with photos by Bob Fergeson, The Celibate Seeker: An Exploration of Celibacy as a Modern Spiritual Practice, Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment, and Hydroglyphics: Reflections on the Sacred, which features his poems with photos by Phaedra Greenwood.
Update from the Washington DC Area Self-Inquiry Discussion Group:
[This group was previously listed as the Rockville, MD self-inquiry group.] We've been meeting monthly at Rockville, MD Memorial Library. While the library is closed for public health reasons, we're participating more in a weekly online book club. Forum readers are welcome to participate.
~ For more information, please email
or see the website http://firstknowthyself.org/virtual/.
Downloadable/rental versions of the Mister Rose video and of April TAT talks Remembering Your True Desire:
"You don't know anything until you know Everything...."
Mister Rose is an intimate look at a West Virginia native many people called a Zen Master because of the depth of his wisdom and the spiritual system he conveyed to his students. Profound and profane, Richard Rose was not the kind of man most people picture when they think of mystics or spiritual teachers. Yet, he was the truest of teachers, one who had "been there," one who had the cataclysmic experience of spiritual enlightenment.
Filmed in the spring of 1991, the extraordinary documentary follows Mr. Rose from a radio interview, to a university lecture and back to his farm, as he talks about his experience, his philosophy and the details of his life.
Whether you find him charming or offensive, fatherly or fearsome, you will not forget him, and never again will you think about yourself, reality, or life after death in quite the same way.
3+ hours total. Rent or buy at tatfoundation.vhx.tv/.
2012 April TAT Meeting – Remembering Your True Desire
Includes all the speakers from the April 2012 TAT meeting: Art Ticknor, Bob Fergeson, Shawn Nevins and Heather Saunders.
1) Remembering Your True Desire ... and Acting on It, by Art Ticknor
Spiritual action is like diving for the Pearl beyond Price. What do you do when you don't know what to do or how to do it? An informal discussion centered around the question: "What prevents effective spiritual action?"
2) Swimming in the Inner Ocean: Trips to the Beach, by Bob Fergeson
A discussion of the varied ways we can use in order to hear the voice of our inner ocean, the heart of our true desires.
3) A Wider and Wilder Vision, by Shawn Nevins
Notes on assumptions, beliefs, and perspectives that bind and free us.
4) Make Your Whole Life a Prayer, by Heather Saunders
An intriguing look into a feeling-oriented approach to life.
5+ hours total. Rent or buy at tatfoundation.vhx.tv/.
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Inspiration & Irritation
Irritation moves us; inspiration provides a direction
???
~ Thanks to
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???
*
~ Thanks to Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Beyond Mind, Beyond Death
