|
|
Post by zendancer on Aug 22, 2019 17:12:56 GMT -5
The recent TAT retreat at the Claymont Mansion near Charles Town, WVA was lots of fun, and I can recommend attending a future retreat at that location for any people interested in the TAT foundation/organization. If three words had to be chosen that could sum up the attitude of attendees, they would be "integrity," "sincerity," and "friendship."
The Claymont Mansion was built by the grand-nephew of George Washington, and it is now owned and operated by the Claymont Society which rents it out to spiritual groups for retreats. It's a large sprawling plantation structure with about 40 rooms, and is located on a beautiful 260 acre piece of land about 5 miles from Charles Town. The Claymont Society was founded by a follower of Gurdjieff, and it's stated purpose is to foster education, with an emphasis upon spiritual investigation. The structure and history of the mansion, itself, is interesting, but that info can probably be found online.
The theme of this retreat was "Beyond Mindfulness," and the presenters included Bob Cergol, Paul Rezendes ("The Art of Seeing," The Wild Within," etc), etc. The theme was appealing, of course, because what I point to with ATA-T is definitely beyond mindfulness. Norio Kushi attended the retreat, and when Carol and I returned home, his book, "Awake at the Wheel," had arrived in the mail. I picked it up, and couldn't put it down because his story is utterly fascinating, and I can highly recommend it. Paul's book, "The Wild Within," arrived today, and it, too, is a great read. At this retreat we had people from California, Florida, NY, DC, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, Tennessee, Maryland, etc.
Some of us discussed the future retreat center for TAT, and as most TAT people know, the 11 acre wooded site near Roxboro, NC has had a driveway installed and has been excavated for the foundation. As soon as sufficient funds are available for the construction to commence, a general contractor will be hired. More later.....
|
|
|
|
Post by bluey on Aug 25, 2019 13:29:06 GMT -5
Zen dancer 💃🏽 :
FWIW, Norio Kushi's story is pretty fascinating. I had heard about him, but meeting him in person was a real trip! As soon as I saw him and heard him speak, his state of mind was obvious--one of the happiest and most radiant people I've ever met. He never meditated in any formal sense, but he contemplated various questions that arose in his mind while driving a big rig across the country, and his contemplation of those questions resulted in a whole series of realizations culminating with the realization that he didn't exist. The final step for him occurred when he got interested in how thoughts arise from silence and disappear into silence. He noticed the tiny gap of silence between thoughts and began focusing on that gap strictly out of curiosity. As he did so, the gap became wider and wider--from a few seconds to several minutes to an hour at a time. At a certain point his mind fell totally silent, and after three days of that extended silence, he woke up and realized the fictitious nature of his previously imagined identity. It's a cool story with many interesting twists and turns.
Fascinating, I came across this podcast. Seems like an earlier podcast, interview from 2017 you guys did. Enjoy
|
|
|
|
Post by zendancer on Aug 29, 2019 15:50:36 GMT -5
Zen dancer 💃🏽 : FWIW, Norio Kushi's story is pretty fascinating. I had heard about him, but meeting him in person was a real trip! As soon as I saw him and heard him speak, his state of mind was obvious--one of the happiest and most radiant people I've ever met. He never meditated in any formal sense, but he contemplated various questions that arose in his mind while driving a big rig across the country, and his contemplation of those questions resulted in a whole series of realizations culminating with the realization that he didn't exist. The final step for him occurred when he got interested in how thoughts arise from silence and disappear into silence. He noticed the tiny gap of silence between thoughts and began focusing on that gap strictly out of curiosity. As he did so, the gap became wider and wider--from a few seconds to several minutes to an hour at a time. At a certain point his mind fell totally silent, and after three days of that extended silence, he woke up and realized the fictitious nature of his previously imagined identity. It's a cool story with many interesting twists and turns. Fascinating, I came across this podcast. Seems like an earlier podcast, interview from 2017 you guys did. Enjoy Bluey: I think you'd find Norio's book (Awake at the Wheel) or his batgap interview even more interesting. He had an unusual childhood and a whole series of insights that culminated with his realization, "I don't exist." That was his way of saying, "I discovered that I was not who I thought I was." His first major realization, that now gives him a big laugh, was, "Life isn't going to work out!" You'd have to hear him describe his situation at that time to fully appreciate the humor of that insight. After he had that realization, he gave up trying to be a success in conventional terms, and decided to go drive a truck. By that time he was married and had six children to care for. After he got a job driving a big rig, which he loved, he began contemplating the question, "What does it mean to be human?" That question led to all kinds of subsequent realizations and what one might call "psychological integration." After seeing through the illusion of selfhood, he got interested in sharing what he had discovered, searched around, and eventually found the TAT group. I smile every time I think about him and all of the twists and turns of his unusual path. |
|
|
|
Post by bluey on Sept 1, 2019 9:48:46 GMT -5
Thanks Zen, I have ordered it as it's available in the UK, delivery on Monday.
So with the TAT centre being built in Roxboro which is taking shape.
A list of teachers associated with TAT, on the tat site lists the below as former students of Richard Rose. Are these guys the main speakers at TAT
Anima Pundeer
Art Ticknor
Bart Marshall
Bob Cergol
Bob Fergeson
Paul Constant
Shawn Nevins
Tess Hughes
And then you have additional guest speakers?
The domain Tatroxboro.com is available too if you need it.
|
|
|
|
Post by zendancer on Sept 1, 2019 10:25:06 GMT -5
Thanks Zen, I have ordered it as it's available in the UK, delivery on Monday. So with the TAT centre being built in Roxboro which is taking shape. A list of teachers associated with TAT, on the tat site lists the below as former students of Richard Rose. Are these guys the main speakers at TAT Anima Pundeer Art Ticknor Bart Marshall Bob Cergol Bob Fergeson Paul Constant Shawn Nevins Tess Hughes And then you have additional guest speakers? The domain Tatroxboro.com is available too if you need it. Yes, other presenters, such as Don Oakley, Paul Rezendes, myself, etc. are also brought in from time to time. TAT holds 4 retreats/year--each one focused on some particular aspect of the search for truth. The construction of the Roxboro retreat center has not yet begun. We installed the driveway (which was a big deal because the site is heavily wooded and it took two weeks for big machines and some of us with chainsaws to cut in the winding road) and then excavated for the foundation, but are currently waiting to work out financing and other details. The bids from 3 general contractors came in too high for TAT to proceed, and the building committee is still discussing various proposals. When finished, the structure will house up to 60 retreat attendees. There are also discussions about building some small individual cabins in the future for people who want to do solo retreats. |
|
|
|
Post by bluey on Sept 8, 2019 16:58:57 GMT -5
Thanks Zen, I have ordered it as it's available in the UK, delivery on Monday. So with the TAT centre being built in Roxboro which is taking shape. A list of teachers associated with TAT, on the tat site lists the below as former students of Richard Rose. Are these guys the main speakers at TAT Anima Pundeer Art Ticknor Bart Marshall Bob Cergol Bob Fergeson Paul Constant Shawn Nevins Tess Hughes And then you have additional guest speakers? The domain Tatroxboro.com is available too if you need it. Yes, other presenters, such as Don Oakley, Paul Rezendes, myself, etc. are also brought in from time to time. TAT holds 4 retreats/year--each one focused on some particular aspect of the search for truth. The construction of the Roxboro retreat center has not yet begun. We installed the driveway (which was a big deal because the site is heavily wooded and it took two weeks for big machines and some of us with chainsaws to cut in the winding road) and then excavated for the foundation, but are currently waiting to work out financing and other details. The bids from 3 general contractors came in too high for TAT to proceed, and the building committee is still discussing various proposals. When finished, the structure will house up to 60 retreat attendees. There are also discussions about building some small individual cabins in the future for people who want to do solo retreats. Sounds good. There are some beautiful retreats out there these days for seekers. I once visited the RSSB organisation as I once served a girl who purchased an item from us. And I said you are in this place as I am. As your eyes have a great depth to them. She had awakened at an early age in her school days. So I visited their set up a few times as a result. Every volunteer I spoke to said they love just being at the centre. From builders to electricians to even the accountants doing Seva. The accountants really made me laugh as they were dressed in long coats and were actually smiling 😂 Awakening at the wheel is a good book. Fascinating story. I will pass it on but I feel to write the words write your own book in your own words no matter what. Couldn't help but feel that Stephen Earle was goading part of the understanding. Its not written by Norio. I could be wrong but it may have been better to have Norio write the book no matter if there were typos or a slip of the pen. Any reason why Norio never wrote the book? It's the same with Ramanas books most are polished written by western students. So for certain people, seekers they may automatically feel that's how he may have came across in his Satsangs. And you may miss the silence, stillness in the words even if there are typos or something comes across as not so polished I say this as I once came across a seeker who couldn't read or write but he would have the experience of being made still as he was planting out flowers. And if he were ever to write a book I feel most would resonate with the honesty behind it. As we have all been at school. I remember being in the top class and one student would always have his hand up with the answer. Walking home with my sister she laughed and said of course he knows as his mother is a teacher at the school. She will buy past exam papers be ahead of the game. You won't be as your fathers out of work. So put your hand up and tell your teacher that. No wonder Oxford and Cambridge were competing for her. Either way it's a good book. A book that will resonate with most people. The mileage I worked out I only do under 10,000 a year. Norio 144,000 miles a year. He does love his wheels. But it's a beautiful book. Thanks for sharing. |
|
|
|
Post by zendancer on Sept 8, 2019 19:16:01 GMT -5
Yes, other presenters, such as Don Oakley, Paul Rezendes, myself, etc. are also brought in from time to time. TAT holds 4 retreats/year--each one focused on some particular aspect of the search for truth. The construction of the Roxboro retreat center has not yet begun. We installed the driveway (which was a big deal because the site is heavily wooded and it took two weeks for big machines and some of us with chainsaws to cut in the winding road) and then excavated for the foundation, but are currently waiting to work out financing and other details. The bids from 3 general contractors came in too high for TAT to proceed, and the building committee is still discussing various proposals. When finished, the structure will house up to 60 retreat attendees. There are also discussions about building some small individual cabins in the future for people who want to do solo retreats. Sounds good. There are some beautiful retreats out there these days for seekers. I once visited the RSSB organisation as I once served a girl who purchased an item from us. And I said you are in this place as I am. As your eyes have a great depth to them. She had awakened at an early age in her school days. So I visited their set up a few times as a result. Every volunteer I spoke to said they love just being at the centre. From builders to electricians to even the accountants doing Seva. The accountants really made me laugh as they were dressed in long coats and were actually smiling 😂 Awakening at the wheel is a good book. Fascinating story. I will pass it on but I feel to write the words write your own book in your own words no matter what. Couldn't help but feel that Stephen Earle was goading part of the understanding. Its not written by Norio. I could be wrong but it may have been better to have Norio write the book no matter if there were typos or a slip of the pen. Any reason why Norio never wrote the book? It's the same with Ramanas books most are polished written by western students. So for certain people, seekers they may automatically feel that's how he may have came across in his Satsangs. And you may miss the silence, stillness in the words even if there are typos or something comes across as not so polished I say this as I once came across a seeker who couldn't read or write but he would have the experience of being made still as he was planting out flowers. And if he were ever to write a book I feel most would resonate with the honesty behind it. As we have all been at school. I remember being in the top class and one student would always have his hand up with the answer. Walking home with my sister she laughed and said of course he knows as his mother is a teacher at the school. She will buy past exam papers be ahead of the game. You won't be as your fathers out of work. So put your hand up and tell your teacher that. No wonder Oxford and Cambridge were competing for her. Either way it's a good book. A book that will resonate with most people. The mileage I worked out I only do under 10,000 a year. Norio 144,000 miles a year. He does love his wheels. But it's a beautiful book. Thanks for sharing. Bluey: I suspect that Norio's friend wrote the book because Norio doesn't have as great a command of English as his co-author. Like Paul Morgan-Somers, he suddenly quit school during his second year of high school, so his lack of a complete formal education may also be a factor. Having talked to Norio at length, I was amazed that the essential aspects of his self inquiry were presented as well as they were in the book and also captured the flavor of his personality. I never asked him this, but he may not enjoy the craft of writing as much as some of us do. AAR, he's one of those people who light up a room with his smile and his understanding. ZD |
|
