What is Needed for Enlightenment in a Weekend
We are approaching the formal start of the Enlightenment Intensive retreat. If the retreat was a marathon race or a 10 K fun run that you were going to participate in you'd probably be doing some preparatory stretching of your muscles and getting fit for the event. I want to suggest that you stretch your contemplative and meditative muscles as you approach the start of the Enlightenment Intensive.
If you are doing a daily meditation such as the breath meditation that I suggested, great! In another Pre Enlightenment Intensive Teaching I suggested you take some time during your day to do a simple self inquiry exercise. I wrote "Stay open to knowing who you are by setting your intention to stay open to your true self." I also said this was not an intellectual exercise but a "being open or conscious of who you are." This is an exercise in witnessing or being 'mindful' of what you are conscious of about yourself.
An important aspect of the Enlightenment Intensive process is communication and understanding. It is this aspect of the process that accelerates enlightenment. So, as a preparatory exercise I also suggested that you keep a spiritual journal and if inspired to do so that you can communicate what you become conscious of about yourself by emailing me or private messaging me on FaceBook. This is just a 'warming up' exercise for the depth of self inspection and self disclosure that you will immerse yourself in during the Enlightenment Intensive.
And just to make it clear so as not to be misunderstood and possibly create guilt. It is always YOUR CHOICE to experiment with these preparatory Pre Enlightenment Intensive activities. They are not requirements, only suggestions.
An important aspect of the Enlightenment Intensive process is communication and understanding. It is this aspect of the process that accelerates enlightenment. So, as a preparatory exercise I also suggested that you keep a spiritual journal and if inspired to do so that you can communicate what you become conscious of about yourself by emailing me or private messaging me on FaceBook. This is just a 'warming up' exercise for the depth of self inspection and self disclosure that you will immerse yourself in during the Enlightenment Intensive.
And just to make it clear so as not to be misunderstood and possibly create guilt. It is always YOUR CHOICE to experiment with these preparatory Pre Enlightenment Intensive activities. They are not requirements, only suggestions.
There are two ways you can review this teaching on what is needed for enlightenment in a weekend.
One, you can watch the video below.
Two, read the text below.
One, you can watch the video below.
Two, read the text below.
An Appropriate Focus
'Who AM I' is the meditative focus used as the object of enlightenment on the Enlightenment Intensive. It is a guide to help you cut through the thousands of possible areas of unfruitful contemplation on your quest to know your true self. 'Who AM I' is a proven self inquiry contemplation used for thousands of years by those individuals seeking to directly experience Reality, Truth, God, Love and Self.
A Master Facilitator
Proper Diet
The Schedule
Treating Other with Consideration
Grace
The 8 that are needed at an Enlightenment Intensive in order for enlightenment experiences to regularly take place in as little time as a weekend.
In the essay below I’m going to summarise the 8 Key Elements that are needed at an Enlightenment Intensive in order for enlightenment experiences to regularly take place in as little time as a weekend. They are not in any particular order.
1 The first thing you need is a relaxed and intense effort.
You need to keep your attention focused for a long time on that which you want to be enlightened upon, in this case your self.
This requires intense effort and concentration without struggling or forcing. You want to maintain a consistent relaxed concentration and intensity.
2 The second quality you need is Mastery of Attention.
Mastery of Attention is the ability to put your attention on the object of your enlightenment and keep it there inspite of what distractions, obstacles or barriers you may face in your body, mind, or emotions or in the physical environment.
The power of the tantric enlightenment dyad structure that I’ll describe in a moment is that another individual tells you to put your attention on the object of your enlightenment, when they say, "Tell me who you are." And they do this repeatedly throughout the retreat.
3 The third element is an appropriate focus for your attention.
The focus that is used during the Enlightenment Retreat is the self enquiry contemplation, ‘who am I.’
This ancient yogic meditation was brought into modern prominence by the spiritiual teacher, Ramana Maharshi.
Historically there is a variety of means have been devised by different spiritual traditions and teachers to help keep one’s attention on the object of enlightenment. It could be a candle, the breath, a chant, the sound of bells, pictures or statues. These have all been used and continue to be used today.
4 The fourth element that is used is the Enlightenment Dyad Structure.
The word dyad is a Greek word and it means the number two, as in two people. An Enlightenment Dyad is a formal and structured tantric style contemplation and communication exercise for two people. The effect of this technique is that it dramatically increases your ability to relate yourself to others. And it is relating or communication that is the key principle that accelerates the process of enlightenment.
When your partner gives you the instruction, “Tell me who you are,” and you follow that instruction by being open to directly experiencing ‘who you are’… something will rise in your consciousness. It could be anything …. and not necessarily who you actually are. It could be a thought, a memory, a feeling, a body sensation, subtle psychic phenomena. Anything. It could also be a direct experience. It could be enlightenment.
What ever you become conscious of as a result of contemplating upon who you are, you communicate to your partner. Simple, isn’t it?
And all the while you are communicating, using whatever it takes to get yourself across whether its words, emotions, body language or silence …. your partner keeps their full attention on you. They look, listen and understand you to the best of their ability. They say nothing. You will learn in more detail how to do this technique during the Enlightenment Intensive retreat.
5 The next important key element is the Enlightenment Master or facilitator.
The term ‘Enlightenment Master’ is drawn from Eastern spiritual traditions in general and the Zen Buddhist tradition in particular. It is used in the sense of one who is adept, not in the sense of a power relationship as in ‘master/slave’. A more Western version of the term ‘master’ would be a facilitator, guide or teacher. The primary quality of such a person, that is one who facilitates an Enlightenment Retreat is the absolute certainty that he or she can get participants through the barriers to enlightenment.
Where does this certainty comes from? It comes from personal enlightenment experiences and a dedication to help and serve others. And it comes from past successes in helping people through the difficulties that arise on the path to enlightenment.
6 The sixth element is a balanced schedule of daily activities and processes that heal, purify and awaken the body, mind and feelings to the truth of oneself.
The schedule includes a balance of intense effort … and rest, nutritious food and exercise, silent contemplations and movement meditations, outdoor walks in nature, the alchemy of breath meditation and the enlightenment dyad technique.
This intense, yet balanced meditative schedule helps to soften what is ridged and inflexible in the body, mind, and feelings …and supports openness, trust, joy, acceptance, love and understanding.
7 Treating others with kindness is the seventh element that helps to accelerate enlightenment.
If you can open up to others with sincerity, authenticity and honesty and at the same time not hurt another, you create a situation in which a direct absolute experience of your own true nature can spontaneously occur.
8 The final element is Grace.
Enlightenment is ultimately an act of surrender to that which already is.
There’s nothing you can actually do to make it happen. You can only be open. You can do things to create the ideal internal and external environment for the Truth to be revealed, but you can’t force it to be. It is beyond any egotistical control and beyond your desire.
Enlightenment in a weekend?
Yes … If you are willing to choose love over fear.
Yes … if you’re willing to discover that there is no right and no wrong.
Yes … If you are willing to discover the truth of who you really are.
1 The first thing you need is a relaxed and intense effort.
You need to keep your attention focused for a long time on that which you want to be enlightened upon, in this case your self.
This requires intense effort and concentration without struggling or forcing. You want to maintain a consistent relaxed concentration and intensity.
2 The second quality you need is Mastery of Attention.
Mastery of Attention is the ability to put your attention on the object of your enlightenment and keep it there inspite of what distractions, obstacles or barriers you may face in your body, mind, or emotions or in the physical environment.
The power of the tantric enlightenment dyad structure that I’ll describe in a moment is that another individual tells you to put your attention on the object of your enlightenment, when they say, "Tell me who you are." And they do this repeatedly throughout the retreat.
3 The third element is an appropriate focus for your attention.
The focus that is used during the Enlightenment Retreat is the self enquiry contemplation, ‘who am I.’
This ancient yogic meditation was brought into modern prominence by the spiritiual teacher, Ramana Maharshi.
Historically there is a variety of means have been devised by different spiritual traditions and teachers to help keep one’s attention on the object of enlightenment. It could be a candle, the breath, a chant, the sound of bells, pictures or statues. These have all been used and continue to be used today.
4 The fourth element that is used is the Enlightenment Dyad Structure.
The word dyad is a Greek word and it means the number two, as in two people. An Enlightenment Dyad is a formal and structured tantric style contemplation and communication exercise for two people. The effect of this technique is that it dramatically increases your ability to relate yourself to others. And it is relating or communication that is the key principle that accelerates the process of enlightenment.
When your partner gives you the instruction, “Tell me who you are,” and you follow that instruction by being open to directly experiencing ‘who you are’… something will rise in your consciousness. It could be anything …. and not necessarily who you actually are. It could be a thought, a memory, a feeling, a body sensation, subtle psychic phenomena. Anything. It could also be a direct experience. It could be enlightenment.
What ever you become conscious of as a result of contemplating upon who you are, you communicate to your partner. Simple, isn’t it?
And all the while you are communicating, using whatever it takes to get yourself across whether its words, emotions, body language or silence …. your partner keeps their full attention on you. They look, listen and understand you to the best of their ability. They say nothing. You will learn in more detail how to do this technique during the Enlightenment Intensive retreat.
5 The next important key element is the Enlightenment Master or facilitator.
The term ‘Enlightenment Master’ is drawn from Eastern spiritual traditions in general and the Zen Buddhist tradition in particular. It is used in the sense of one who is adept, not in the sense of a power relationship as in ‘master/slave’. A more Western version of the term ‘master’ would be a facilitator, guide or teacher. The primary quality of such a person, that is one who facilitates an Enlightenment Retreat is the absolute certainty that he or she can get participants through the barriers to enlightenment.
Where does this certainty comes from? It comes from personal enlightenment experiences and a dedication to help and serve others. And it comes from past successes in helping people through the difficulties that arise on the path to enlightenment.
6 The sixth element is a balanced schedule of daily activities and processes that heal, purify and awaken the body, mind and feelings to the truth of oneself.
The schedule includes a balance of intense effort … and rest, nutritious food and exercise, silent contemplations and movement meditations, outdoor walks in nature, the alchemy of breath meditation and the enlightenment dyad technique.
This intense, yet balanced meditative schedule helps to soften what is ridged and inflexible in the body, mind, and feelings …and supports openness, trust, joy, acceptance, love and understanding.
7 Treating others with kindness is the seventh element that helps to accelerate enlightenment.
If you can open up to others with sincerity, authenticity and honesty and at the same time not hurt another, you create a situation in which a direct absolute experience of your own true nature can spontaneously occur.
8 The final element is Grace.
Enlightenment is ultimately an act of surrender to that which already is.
There’s nothing you can actually do to make it happen. You can only be open. You can do things to create the ideal internal and external environment for the Truth to be revealed, but you can’t force it to be. It is beyond any egotistical control and beyond your desire.
Enlightenment in a weekend?
Yes … If you are willing to choose love over fear.
Yes … if you’re willing to discover that there is no right and no wrong.
Yes … If you are willing to discover the truth of who you really are.