A Glimpse into Total Freedom

A Glimpse Into Total Freedom September 25 – 27, 2015 Richard Waxburg and Deborah Kerner, from Ojai, California,  joined us for the second year in a row as the facilitators for a weekend exploration into freedom. Their mode of working is mostly inquiry in a group setting.  Topics are proposed for possible exploration, but the actual process is a very open and spontaneous investigation of whatever the group members bring forward.  A booklet used as the guide for the retreat says, “Working together, we want to explore and expose the nature of consciousness, what we think of as the “self”, or “me-idea”; the sense that there is a thought -based conscious entity, a controller, a center, that resides inside of us, that has continuity and exists in time, with a past, a present, and a future.”  Richard spoke of the fact that the “me” idea is being continually questioned and challenged within the group inquiry and therefore has no place to hide.  In being exposed and seen clearly, the “me” will lose strength and the dimensions of “being” will be more accessible.  The whole weekend was essentially focused on this process.  Participants took up the invitation to look and listen with total attention and to explore how they are responding to each moment.  Is there “something” that responds, or can one respond as “nothing”, with no resistance?  Just the seeing of resistance is very valuable and necessary in exploring our true nature.  The eleven participants all felt the weekend was extremely interesting and worthwhile, and Deborah and Richard expressed an intention to return next year.