Before Everything, I Am
Home Meditation Retreat At A Glance
What: Home Meditation Retreat
Where: Over Zoom
When: Friday, October 27 to Sunday, October 29 (please see schedule below)
About Me
I'm a meditation teacher and a practical philosopher. My understanding of the nondual teaching is drawn, in the main, from Zen (specifically, Chan) and Advaita Vedanta. You can learn more about me by visiting my website.
The Nondual Teaching In Brief
What the perennial nondual teaching (of the sort found in Zen, Daoism, Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, and so on) says is as beautiful as it is true: "There is only One Reality, that Reality is Abiding Peace, and you are IT."
And yet, what does it mean to truly, experientially understand this? And what would it be like to to live it clearly and completely?
I Amness As A Stepping Stone
A question may soon arise: since I'm apparently a separate person, how can I be Abiding Peace?
Some teachings, like those of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897-1981), invite us to start with "I Am": that is, with the sense of conscious presence, the intuitive, innocent, non-reflexive understanding of being aware. In Prior to Consciousness, for instance, Nisargadatta states,
"That knowledge of ‘I am’ is the greatest foe and the greatest friend. Although it might be your greatest enemy, if you propitiate it properly, it will turn around and lead you to the highest state."
"I Am" is seemingly our greatest foe because this conscious presence can grab onto a "this" or a "that" (like: "I am unworthy" or "I am unlovable") and thus give rise to suffering. Yet, in actuality, it's our greatest friend because our "discovery" and then our familiarization with "I Am," with our open aware being, can, in due course, take us all the way home to Abiding Peace.
During this home retreat, therefore, we'll deeply contemplate I Amness: "What is 'I am' before everything--before the 'ten thousand things'--arose? And what is this nameless Reality that's prior, even, to 'I Am,' the Reality that we ultimately, always are?"
Details
From Friday, Oct. 27 to Sunday, Oct. 29, we'll explore the heart of the perennial nondual teaching together.
Each day, you'll have the opportunity
To sit for 2 hourlong silent meditations so as to see the mind from the outside (*),
To attend an hourlong satsang (that is, a question and answer session devoted to clarifying the nondual teaching) (**),
And to take part in an hourlong guided meditation that will take you back to I Amness (***).
Brief Notes On These 3 Genres
(*) Silent Meditation Period: The sitting period will begin with 3 strikes of the singing bowl. At the 30-min. mark, a bell will sound once; this will indicate that you can (a) get up and leave, (b) get up, stretch your legs, and then return for the second half of the sit, or (c) "sit through": that is, continue sitting without moving until the end of the 60 minutes.
(**) Satsang Period: This is an opportunity for you to have your questions answered, your real doubts resolved. Bring with you any questions or doubts pertaining to (a) your understanding of the teaching, (b) anything that has come up during seated or guided practice (e.g., physical pain, certain recurrent thoughts, etc.), and (c) ultimate concerns about life that may have sprung forth from your life situation (e.g., not knowing what you're doing with your life, etc.).
(***) Guided Meditation Period: Simply sit openly and follow the exploration we'll be undertaking together. We'll conclude a few minutes before the 60-min. mark. If, for instance, I stop speaking around, say, 40 minutes, this is to be taken as an invitation to continue the meditation right here in silence.
Schedule
One Further Unofficial Note About The Schedule
Though not included above, yaza (or "free sitting") is encouraged as your schedule allows. This means sitting still without using a timer. Just sit. For my part, I'll be sitting through part of the night. On your own, you're welcome, wherever you are, to join me. Zoom will not be on, of course.
Dana
Dana, loosely translated as "donation" or "generosity," is given with a view to helping to support others--here, my family and me.
The following provides some guidance on how much is appropriate to give:
Suggested Dana: $80 USD
Limited Means Dana: $40 USD
Patron Dana: $120 USD
Your donation, which will secure your spot in the retreat, can be offered through any of these 3 platforms:
1.) Venmo
2.) PayPal
3.) Cash App: $deserttaggart (Bitcoin please: If you're new to sending Bitcoin, see instructions here.)
How To Register In 2 Steps
FIRST: Sign up for the 3-day retreat via Luma One-Click Register.
SECOND: Offer dana via Venmo, PayPal, or the Cash App.
Once you've registered and offered dana, you'll receive a message that will confirm your participation; this email will also include the appropriate Zoom links. Since this is not an automated process, you can expect to receive Zoom joining information from my wife Alexandra within 24 hours.
A second email will go out a couple of days before the retreat begins.