Category: Uncategorized

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

Podcast
The Induction Series continues with a selection from Alfred Pulyan titled “The
Penny that Blots out the Sun.” Pulyan was a little-known Zen teacher based in Connecticut and active in the 1950s through his death in 1966. Like so many authentic teachers, he labored in relative obscurity, yet his words and deeds continue to affect many. Listen to my reading of The Penny that Blots out the Sun — another example of a work infused with the “living word” of its author.  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 up to 46 so far!

Event
The August TAT gathering is… not virtual!  It’s a live, on-the-ground gathering at the TAT Center titled “Love, Friendship, and the Return Home” Join other seekers on August 13-15 for what is bound to be a moving weekend of insightful talks, small group dialogue, and panel discussions. As well as the magic of meeting in person. See the full schedule. 

New Book from TAT Press
Always Right Behind You: Parables & Poems of Love & Completion by Anima Pundeer and Art Ticknor is now available in paperback.  The kindle version is taking a bit longer, but I’ll let you know when it’s available. Anima and Art have created a masterful work, combining their feminine/masculine and East/West perspectives to provide the reader a wide-ranging journey into the spiritual search and enlightenment.

Quote That I’m Pondering
“As death draws near, I feel the same uncomfortable transition I experienced when I was a teenager at Brantwood Camp in Peterborough, New Hampshire, packing up to go home after a grand summer. I’m not sure what awaits me when I get home, but this has certainly been an exciting experience. I had a loving family. I had a great job at the newspaper. I met fascinating people, and I saw myriad worldwide wonders. It’s been full of fun and laughter, too, a really good time. I just wish I could stay a little longer. ” ~ from “I just learned I only have months to live. This is what I want to say” by Jack Thomas in The Boston Globe.

Wishing you all the best,
Shawn

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

Podcast
The Induction Series continues with a selection from William Samuel titled “The World is After the Fact” from his book The Child Within Us Lives! I’m not too familiar with Samuel’s work, so I owe thanks to a listener who recommended this piece. It’s at once simple but multi-layered, compassionate, yet unrelenting. Listen to my reading of The World is After the Fact — another example of a work infused with the “living word” of its author.  As always, the podcast is free. 

Event
The August TAT gathering is… not virtual!  It’s a live, on-the-ground gathering at the TAT Center titled “Love, Friendship, and the Return Home” Join other seekers on August 13-15 for what is bound to be a moving weekend of insightful talks, small group dialogue, and panel discussions. As well as the magic of meeting in person. See the full schedule. 

Book That’s Changing Me
Nonviolent Communication: a language of life, by Marshall Rosenberg grabbed my daily attention with its absolute dedication to meeting interior and exterior violence with inquiry. “Violence” defined as encompassing blame, criticisms, comparisons, all forms of judgment. If you’re looking for the latest “hit” of nondual one-ness, this is not the book. But if you want some inspiring real-world, real-feeling, honest looking at what’s happening in your interior world, this might be a light to help you dive deeper.  

Quote That I’m Pondering
“First, I believe every person is conducting an experiment of one. We all have different backgrounds, needs, goals and abilities. I would never blindly follow anyone else’s diet or training regimen, and I don’t expect anyone to blindly follow mine. That’s why I always try to explain not only ‘how’ I eat or train, but ‘why’ as well. That’s so readers can understand and evaluate my methods, weigh my advice. I expect you to take what rings true, makes sense – most of it, hopefully – and adapt it to your special situation. Leave the rest..” ~ Clarence Bass dispensing wise advice on fitness that is 100% applicable to the spiritual search.

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

Podcast
The Induction Series continues with a selection titled “How it Works” from Bernadette Roberts’ The Experience of No-Self.  She quickly dives deep into the paradox of the unmanifested, manifesting, and manifested.  Listen to my reading of the short, but powerful “How it Works” — another example of a work infused with the “living word” of its author.  As always, the podcast is free. 

Event
The June TAT virtual gathering is titled “The Way, The Life and The Truth: Essential Steps on the Threefold Path.”  Join other seekers from around the world on June 12 and 13 for an exploration of the essential steps to spiritual discovery as outlined by Richard Rose.  Rose said, “I feel that a sincere seeker, who possessed the determination to find the Truth at any cost, suffering, or expenditure of energy, would most certainly find the Truth, if he followed the threefold path with an open mind.” So, you know, that sounds like it might be worth a listen….  Featuring talks and small group dialogue sessions.  See the full schedule. 

Quote That I’m Pondering
“Forgiveness is giving up hope of a different or better yesterday.” ~ The Grief Recovery Handbook by John W. James and Russell Friedman  

Wishing you all the best,
Shawn

Podcast
I’m taking a break from interviewing spiritual teachers in order to introduce The Induction Series.  There are certain writings which embody the “living word.”  They stir the soul by resonating with the highest parts of our self.  In The Induction Series, I’ll read from a number of these works with the hope of allowing all who listen an experience of something other than ordinary consciousness – a glimpse behind the veil.  Appropriately enough, the first episode is a reading of Bart Marshall’s essay “Transmission.”  As always, the podcast is free. 

Books
There will be at least two new books from TAT Press this year, but in the meantime I have one favor to ask.  If you’ve enjoyed the podcast and all the resources I provide, please leave a review on Amazon of my book Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment.  There are currently 32 reviews and once we reach 100 reviews that boosts the visibility of the book.  You don’t have to purchase the book on Amazon to leave a review, and a few minutes of your time will help others seekers find the book.  Just click the link above and leave a few words in a review.  Thank you!   

Event
TAT’s June virtual gathering is titled “The Way, The Life and The Truth.”  Join other seekers from around the world on June 12 and 13 for a deep dive into the essential steps of the Threefold Path as outlined by Richard Rose.  Featuring talks and small group dialogue sessions, this promises   See the full schedule.

Watching
Kudos to Tim Ferriss for passing on this video in his newsletter.  The Electrical Blueprints that Orchestrate Life.  This 19 minute talk is straight science, but its implications are startlingly profound.  For one, it explains why techniques such as The Secret or any mind influencing matter may actually have an effect, but it also addresses radical life extension and the creation of new life forms.      

Quote That I’m Pondering
“Many people are afraid to empty their own minds lest they plunge into the Void. Ha! What they don’t realize is that their own Mind is the Void.” ~ Huang Po 

Wishing you all the best,
Shawn

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

Website News
To welcome spring, Pattiann Rogers provided both a poem and prose piece to update her webpage on the Spiritualteachers.org site. “Watching rain raining on a lake or pond is mesmerizing. Few can turn quickly from the sight of raindrops striking in chaotic randomness every part of the surface of the water, then immediately losing themselves as they merge into the whole and disappear as separate entities.” Read more on the Pattiann Rogers page. 

Event – redux
If you missed it the first time, catch my poetry reading with coauthor Phaedra Greenwood at SOMOS.  If words and space can pass truth, these certainly did: Hydroglyphics book launch.  As a bonus, you’ll see me try to disguise eight months without a haircut….

Listening
Check out Shawn Feeney’s Thin Places — “music written for quartz singing bowls,” contemplative, yes.  

Dutch
InZincht magazine published a guest column by me on Bernadette Roberts. The fact that it’s in Dutch only makes it slightly less intelligible for the English reader….

Quote That I’m Pondering
“Either I get honest or nothing is going to change.” ~Chris L.