Category: Uncategorized

New this Week: 9/14/2022

The TAT Foundation’s Fall virtual retreat is fast approaching. Of special interest is that Jerry Wennstrom will be speaking. I interviewed Jerry on the podcast a few years ago, and it will be a real treat to hear him speak. This one-day event is a great way to check out TAT, especially for those a long distance from TAT’s North Carolina center. For more details and the full list of speakers and events, see Make Your Life a Prayer: TAT’s September Virtual Retreat.

New this Week: 7/12/2022

Here’s a quick update on what’s new at SpiritualTeachers.org and elsewhere.

Podcast
The latest edition of the Journals of Spiritual Discovery podcast features “Honesty, Focus, Intuition, and the Natural Koan,” an interview of me by Rev. Saina Fernandez of the Awakening Together organization. As always, the podcast is free.  If you’re inspired to support my efforts, check out my selection of books, t-shirts, notebooks, and films.  

New Book
I’m happy to announce that the latest book from the TAT Foundation Press, Passages: An Introduction and Commentary on Richard Rose’s Albigen System, is now available in print on Amazon.com. Passages highlights the tools and techniques for self-realization that Richard Rose recommended. It’s perfect for those looking for an introduction to Rose’s teachings, but is also a great handbook and source of inspiration for those familiar with his work.  It is a concise yet deep plunge into these valuable spiritual teachings. Please show your support by purchasing a copy and leaving a review on Amazon.  Thanks!

Events
Meditation and the Path Within, August 19-21, is the next event at TAT Foundation Center in North Carolina. There will be three interactive workshop sessions, so lots of opportunity to practice meditation and ask questions.  Events at the TAT Center are really “heating up” with lots of good energy and inspiration. Check it out.  

Miscellany
I’m always surprised when Richard Rose’s name is mentioned somewhere new. A reader directed me to writer Matt Cardin on the Weird Studies podcast briefly mentioning Rose. After following the link, click play and it will take you directly to where Rose was mentioned in the last few minutes of the show. “You gotta remember, there is no enlightened ‘you.'”

Quote That I’m Pondering
“The line between perceiving and hallucinating is not as crisp as we might like to think. In a sense, when we look at the world, we are hallucinating all the time. One could almost regard perception as the act of choosing the one hallucination that best fits the incoming data, which is often fragmentary and fleeting. Both hallucinations and real perceptions emerge from the same set of processors. The critical difference is that when we are perceiving, the stability of external objects and events help anchor them.” V.S. Ramachandran

Wishing you all the best,
Shawn

New this Week: 4/30/2022

Here’s a quick update on what’s new at SpiritualTeachers.org and elsewhere.

Podcast
The Induction Series continues with “Induction and Subtraction: The Plunge into Enlightenment” an excerpt from my book Subtraction. In it, I describe the moments that led up to my enlightenment experience, which occurred as I was reading a transcript of Franklin Merrell-Wolff’s “Induction” talk. The reading is a mix of my words and quotes from Merrell-Wolff.

As always, the podcast is free. I set a goal of getting 100 reviews by April 28th for my book Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment on Amazon, and thanks to many of you that goal was reached!  If you haven’t already done so, please take 3-4 minutes and follow the link to leave a review.  It really helps the book get noticed, and you don’t even need to have purchased the book to leave a review. Thanks!

Books
Jerry Wennstrom, whom I interviewed on the podcast, recently published a new hardcover book, a beautiful exploration of his art and life called A Second Wind: Art Resurrected.  It’s the sort of book I feel honored to hold in my hands and explore.  Jerry’s journey into art was a journey into his self that culminated in a letting go of all forms.

Events
On Sunday May 15th, I’ll led a session for the “GMT Support Group for Seekers.”  If you’re interested in attending, reach out them for details on how to log in, etc.  You’ll find the contact info on the TAT local groups page.  The session is at GMT 18.30 (which, I think, is 10:30 am PT).

T-Shirts
I have two t-shirt designs available: “Life is… Poetry in Motion” and “I cannot distinguish myself from the Light”- a Doré painting paired with a Rumi quote. There are long sleeve, short sleeve, and V-neck styles. Check them out at the SpiritualTeachers.org Store.

Quote That I’m Pondering
“Personally you did not create even the smallest microscopic fragment of the materials out of which your opinion is made; and personally you cannot claim even the slender merit of putting the borrowed materials together.  That was done automatically – by your mental machinery, in strict accordance with the law of that machinery’s construction. And you not only did not make that machinery yourself, but you have not even any command over it.  ~ Mark Twain in “What is Man?”

Wishing you all the best,
Shawn

New this Week: 2/21/2022

Here’s a quick update on what’s new at SpiritualTeachers.org and elsewhere.

Podcast
The Induction Series continues with Ramana Maharshi: Exploring Who am I? a selection from the book Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. Covering the period 1935 to 1939, the book is an excellent resource for the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and was a constant companion while I lived in a cabin on Richard Rose’s farm.

 As always, the podcast is free. I am asking one favor during the Induction Series, however. Please leave a review of my book Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment on Amazon. If we can get 100 ratings/reviews, it will really help the book get noticed. We’re at 67 so far!

Events
What Does It Mean to Be Awake? is the theme of the April 8 – 10, 2022 TAT meeting, which will be held in-person at the TAT Center in North Carolina. It’s the first official in-person meeting at the TAT Center since it opened in 2020!  Paul Rezendes, Art Ticknor, Bob Cergol, Anima Pundeer, Mike Gegenheimer, and Paul Constant are some of the many teachers and friends planning to be there.  Check out the full schedule and register to attend. 

On February 23, 8:00pm Eastern Time, I’ll lead a session for the Pittsburgh Self Inquiry Group on “The Contraction of Self.” They meet via Zoom so anyone can check it out!

Videogames?
I didn’t know it was possible, but I recently received an email from a video game designer who, by himself, built a spiritually-themed videogame titled Separation for Playstation VR.  I haven’t played video games since I was a kid playing Tron at the arcade, but they’re obviously a way to reach people with messages.  I’m glad there are people raising the bar on the themes videogames tackle. Here’s an in-depth review on YouTube.

Quote That I’m Pondering
“We all assume that we’re never going to die at an inconvenient time.” ~ Bob Cergol. 

Wishing you all the best,
Shawn