TAT Foundation Weekend Intensive
Saturday & Sunday, April 12-13, 2014
Doing Nothing vs Being Nothing
At
first glance, Doing Nothing and Being Nothing may seem easily dismissed as New Age or Neo-Advaita clichés. In fact, there have been many words spoken at TAT over the years that indirectly, or directly postulate the answer for the seeker, i.e. “you are awareness” and such things that seem to lead many into thinking they know the destination and so now all they have to do to get there is just sink into the proper meditative trance, etc. Yet, if you were to take either statement and examine what it really bears witness to, in your own experience, you might come to a state where you ask "What do I know for sure?" That state of uncertainty and urgency is the doorway to finding out. Join us for a weekend of examining the case of the forgotten self, and come a step or two closer towards discovering who you really Are.
Featuring:
Art Ticknor – author of Solid Ground of Being and the forthcoming Beyond Relativity
Longtime spiritual practitioner Paul Schmidt
Poet and Filmmaker Shawn Nevins
Bob Cergol – TAT Forum contributor and all-around spiritual good guy
Nature Walks, Group Inquiry and Rapport and Meditation Sittings
The registration deadline for the April intensive is Monday, April 7th.
Weekend Schedule
Saturday, April 12th, 2014
7:30 to 8:00 AM – Optional meditation in Lakeside Lodge – Led by Vince Lepidi
8:00 to 9:00 AM – Potluck continental breakfast
9:00 to 10:00 AM – Welcome by Mike Whitely and introductory activity by Shawn Nevins
10:00 to 10:45 AM – The Case of the Forgotten Self by Art Ticknor: Ranging widely, but ultimately tackling a single theme, Art's session looks at self-remembering, self-discovery and self-realizaton in examining the question "Who or what has forgotten itself."
10:45 to 11:00 AM – Break
11:00 to 11:45 AM – Further exploration of Art's talk
11:45 to 1:15 PM – Lunch (provided)
1:15 to 2:45 PM – Group Inquiry – session one: Through honest, open dialogue, we help one another clarify our understanding by turning away from untruths. Thus we turn from the illusion of life to the Reality. Such questioning is at the core of Richard Rose's Albigen System.
2:45 to 4:15 PM – Nature Walk with Augie Monge: Explore some of Penn Scenic View's 180 acres alone or with a group.
4:15 to 5:30 PM – Rapport sitting with Bob Cergol: "The purpose of a group rapport sitting is to transcend personal, ego-centric consciousness. It is Satsang with the silent, inner guru that is present in everyone – yet hidden behind the ceaseless chatter of the ego and the glare of sensory experience. It is the meaning of the saying: 'Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am present.'"
5:30 to 7:00 PM – Dinner (provided)
7:00 to 7:45 PM – My Path: Reflections of Paul Schmidt
7:45 to 8:00 PM – Break
8:00 PM to ? – Group Inquiry – session two: Continuation of the afternoon session.
Sunday, April 13th, 2014
7:30 to 8:00 AM – Optional meditation in Lakeside Lodge – Led by Shawn Pethel
8:00 to 9:00 AM – Continental breakfast
9:00 to 10:30 AM – Rapport Sitting with Bob Cergol
10:30 to 10:45 AM – Break
10:45 AM to Noon – Session with Shawn Nevins
Noon to 1:30 PM – Lunch (provided)
1:30 to 2:30 PM – The Jury's Verdict in the case of Doing Nothing vs. Being Nothing – Led by Nathan L.: Questions raised and lessons learned from our weekend together.
2:30 to 3:00 PM – Wrap-up
Location and Facilities
T
he event is being held at Penn Scenic View
in southwestern Pennsylvania. The facility includes conference rooms in Lakeside Lodge and Stable Lodge, which has an upstairs bunkhouse
room and several dormitory rooms for overnight lodging. Additionally, the Red Oak and Green Hemlock cabins are available for lodging and break-out
meeting locations. Penn Scenic provides bed linens, pillows, and bath towels for overnight guests. 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. On-site camping is available in the lawn area near Stable Lodge.
Penn Scenic View is located at 118 Scenic View Lane, Rockwood, PA 15557 [GPS coordinates: N39.97635 W079.24017]. Penn Scenic is one and a half hours from the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Costs
The April Intensive fees per person for TAT members are as follows:
- $60 for members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in the Stable Lodge, or
- $45 for members who arrange alternative lodging; this includes meeting registration and on-site camping if desired. Camping is informal; restrooms are located in another building.
The non-member fees per person are:
- $100 for non-members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in the Stable Lodge, or
- $80 for non-members who arrange alternative lodging; this includes meeting registration and on-site camping if desired. Camping is informal; restrooms are located in another building.
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.
Note: 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.
Become a TAT member for $40 on or before March 14th and register at the discounted member prices.
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 Monday, April 8th. 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 April 8th and receive a refund, minus a $5 handling fee. Cancellations after April 8th will not be refunded. Because ADA-compliant facilities are limited in the Stable Lodge, persons with a disability should contact before registering.
Meals
Lunches on Saturday and Sunday and dinner on Saturday are catered from a local establishment. Continental breakfasts are potluck style for Saturday and Sunday and include cereal, pastries, fruit, juice, bagels, etc. As a good rule-of-thumb, we ask that each TAT member bring enough breakfast food to feed 8 people. All meals are included for non-members. TAT will provide coffee and tea.
Sorry, we cannot reduce fees for those who prefer to bring their own food.
Off-Site Lodging
For those who register using the alternative (off-site) lodging option, the following overnight accommodations are located near Penn Scenic View:
- Americas Best Value Inn, 165 Waterworks Road, Somerset, PA (814) 445-3996
- Budget Host, 799 North Center Avenue, Somerset, PA (814) 445-7988
- Comfort Inn, 202 Harmon Street, Somerset, PA (814) 445-9611
- Days Inn Somerset, 220 Waterworks Rd, Somerset, PA (814) 445-9200
- Hampton Inn, 324 Laurel Crest Road, Somerset, PA (814) 445-9161
- Log Haven Bed & Breakfast, 1322 Trent Road, Rockwood, PA (814) 352-8971
- Quality Inn & Conference Center Somerset, 215 Ramada Road, Somerset, PA (814) 443-4646
- Rockwood Trail House, 131 Rockdale Road, Rockwood, PA (814) 926-4778
- Somerset Country Inn, 329 North Center Avenue, Somerset, PA, (814) 443-1005
- Somerset Plaza Hotel, 147 Gateway Road, Somerset, PA (814) 445-8933
- Super 8 Somerset, 125 Lewis Dr, Somerset, PA (814) 445-8788
- The Gingerbread House B&B, 156 Rockdale Road, Rockwood, PA (814) 926-2542
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 folks 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.