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#3885 - Friday, May 7, 2010 - Editor: Jerry Katz
The Nonduality Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
News of people, plans, and programs.
http://www.shiningworld.com/Home%20Page%20Links/Vedanta%20Retreat%20Portland%20July%202010.pdf
Vedanta – The Vision
of Non-Duality
Five Day Campout in
the Portland Area
9th – 13th July
2010
James Swartz aka Ram will give a laid back five day retreat in the Portland area. He will unfold the classic Vedanta text Atma Bodh (Self Knowledge). This informal retreat will involve two daily talks and satsang on demand. Attendees are responsible for their own sleeping arrangements, cooking and campsite fees. There will be no charge for the teaching, but donations will not be refused. The venue will be close enough to Portland to allow those who are not comfortable tent camping to stay in nearby motels. The morning talk will start at 10:00 am which will allow those staying outside to comfortably have breakfast and get to the campsite in time. The evening talk will end early enough to permit those staying outside to return to their motels at a reasonable hour. It is important that you express interest as soon as possible so we will know how many campsites to reserve. For more information contact Lida at lidavangeest@gmail.com
This is a very nicely designed
website by Jason Sawicki, from whom I'm sure we'll be hearing
more:
The Institute of Spiritual Awakening
http://www.ispiritualawakening.com
In brief, the Institute was formed
out of an overwhelming passion to serve all of humanity in the
realization of the true Self. Unlike traditional Institutes, the
ISA is not one of learning, but of deconstructing ... of
unbecoming. Spiritual seekers are presented with teachings from
both classical and contemporary non dual teachers, along with the
exploration of leading science in physics and cosmology, in a one
to one or group satsang format. There is no price for any of the
teachings, in line with the purpose of reaching as many people in
the world as possible. The Institute will be continually looking
for those whose realization leads them toward teaching, enabling
the Institute to naturally branch out. In the future, the ISA
will also be looking to sponsor many leading conferences and
leveraging the power of the media in film to nurture the growing
awakening that is unfolding.
Robert Wolfe is interviewed on his website
http://www.livingnonduality.org/robert-wolfe.htm
During Robert's travels he has
labored as an auto assembly line worker in Detroit, as a carnival
worker, a journalist in New York City, on a farm of a Zen
community in California, as a landscaper, a financial consultant,
a janitor. After living in the Mendocino area for about twenty
years he bought a camper van and moved onto a property in a
redwoods forest where he studied the inner life intensely.
Something fell into place there after a number of years, and out
of that period of solitude, Robert began writing and sharing his
observations on the reality that surrounds and includes us.
Shortly thereafter, Robert moved to Ojai, California where he
continues to live and write.
A magazine interview from 2004 is extracted below. The monograph 'The Absolute Enigma' from Living Nonduality also
contains biographical details.
New Spirit: You've been
running a classified listing, under Classes, that is brief and
somewhat unusual: "One-on-one discussion... non-duality
explored". What can you tell me?
RW: I was baptized at 13, and an atheist by age 20 - due
to the hypocrisy I saw in religion. But by age 30, I became
interested in Zen, to discover spiritual truth directly. But I
then put all that aside, to focus on my marriage and career -
both of which ended in dissatisfaction. So, I returned to my
earlier questions with a resolve to answer them fully. This took
three years, and much solitude and contemplation. But, about 15
years ago, a sudden and thorough transformative awakening
occurred. Since then, my only real interest has been to assist
others to discover for themselves their true essence.
NS: From the standpoint of Zen?
RW: From the standpoint of any and all direct spiritual
traditions. I've had enough time to become conversant with what
is effective among the teachings, both historic and contemporary;
particularly the message of advaita, which means "not
two". Nonduality is at the root of Hindu, Buddhist, Tao,
even Christian spirituality. All point the seeker to ultimate
truth, once one has unraveled the mystery in what is being said.
NS: What part do you play?
RW: Minimal. I had no teacher, so I can attest that one is
not necessary. What one has to confront is the divisive,
dualistic nature of our very thought process. All that a teacher
can do is challenge your false perceptions until you recognize
for yourself their deceptiveness. That profound "Aha!"
can arrive in as little as a half hour, for a person with an open
mind.
NS: You discuss these matters on an individual basis?
RW: Over the years, I've experimented with various
approaches. I've found the most fruitful to be a direct dialogue;
sometimes this is done by phone, or even by correspondence, such
as with a prison inmate.
NS: And fruitfully?
RW: A trail marker can only point the way; not everyone is
interested in departing the highway. To awaken to your true
essence is likely to fundamentally change your life. Even the
prospect of this evokes paralysis in many people. But, thanks to
New Spirit, I've been able to be of assistance to men and women
from Goleta to Santa Ana.
NS: According to your listing, at "no cost".
RW: I'm retired. My only interest is in sharing the wonder
of the discovery that it has been my fortune to partake of.