An optional session for early birds involving 30 minutes of silent sitting with a group. Participants are welcome to use their own approach to meditation. Please bring your own zabuton or cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor.
We are living in a world that appears to be in a crisis approaching dysfunctionality, as almost nothing seems to be "working." Many/most of our crises appear to be the result of some badly outdated software in our brain's main "operating system" (OS) and "buggy" programs. Our main OS is a very recent development from about 75,000 years ago, or about 1% of the time since we broke off from chimpanzees. Along with this main OS came several other programs that approach "malware" in today's massively-interconnected, highly complex, nearly dystopian world. We will discuss the neuroscience that has revealed how this OS and these buggy programs operate and how our behaviors arise as a result of them.
Gary will also demonstrate approaches for making "upgrades" and even using some "malware removal tools."
If you are here today, the seed of awakening has already been planted within you. There is nothing you need to "do" for it to bloom. But are there ways to cultivate an environment that best supports true nature to blossom? Food – as food brings energy and power to the plant, attention and awareness to this here and now brings energy and power to the seed of awakening; Water – just as water flows effortlessly through life, life flows effortlessly through us when we surrender and accept What-Is; Weeding – can we remove the dysfunctional aspects of thinking? Can we look at "unbecoming," instead of trying to become something other than we are?; Sun – seeing grace and unlimited love as it shines.
Through everyone's participation, Jenny will explore ways to cultivate an environment that allows for true nature to blossom.
The world that appears "out there" is a reality that is continually being re-created from the way in which we've been programmed to think. Norio refers to this current reality that we find our self in as a "linear time based reality," and the way that we show up within this reality are as human "doings," not as human beings. I refer to this human doing self-identification as the "human dilemma," that we do not know what we are, and we do not know that we do not know.
Born as a human in today's world, through no fault of our own, we have no choice but to adopt this current human doing reality. Through conversation, Norio will introduce an alternate way of seeing, shedding light onto the way in which we've been programmed to think, thereby freeing the mind and allowing the attention to move into our true natural way of being.
What's One Thing You'd Like to Know?
Rapport means "harmonious relation," which is allowing yourself to open up through rapport with others and with your Self. It is the meaning behind the saying: "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am present."
Session leaders and participants provide observations and comments about the weekend and suggest improvement for future workshops and other TAT events.