| The Fundamental Questions | 'Nothingness' | |
| Throughout time mystics and devotees of the enlightenment traditions have contemplated the fundamental questions which arise out of a sincere and conscious consideration of life and human existence. In relation- ship to this specific format there are four potential areas of contemplation. Who am I? What am I? What is life? What is another? The aim of this contemplation is not to find the correct answer to the question, rather it is to have a direct experience of it. The individual is invited to suspend all ideas, beliefs or predilections held, letting go for a moment, free from the burden of holding on to being right or wrong, and simply resting in what Is. | ||
| The Immaculate Way of No Teaching | ||
| Although
there is a very specific structure within the Enlightenment Intensive format,
there is no formal teaching offered. The Enlightenment Intensive is ultimately
focused upon supporting the contemplators to experience the Truth for themselves.
This is an empowerment process which encourages Self-Realisation, without
the use of imposed religious/spiritual perspectives. Teaching methods serve
only by means of contemplative instruction. Whilst this is a highly effective format there is no guarantee how many people will have enlightenment experiences. Approximately 30% is normal. Regardless of the degrees of experience occurring, whatever realisations and insights participants do receive on Intensives, the benefits are rarely insignificant. Generally speaking, the enlightenment experiences received on Intensives have a lasting effect and are usually sufficiently powerful to empower definite transformation in peoples lives. Profound appreciation of life and others, authenticity of Being, openness, clarity, increased capacity to Love, are some of the qualities which are cultivated as a result of direct experiences of Self, life and others. |
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| The Journey | ||
| The Intensive does not in itself function as a psycho-therapeutic forum, although it is quite normal for participants to come up against mental and emotional barriers on their journey toward the Truth. Participants are supported to work through these, while keeping focused on the goal of enlightenment. Although Intensives usually last only 3 days the challenges encountered can be considerable. It is quite normal for participants to undergo a diverse journey through the different facets of their own psyche. This journey often includes as many shadow aspects, such as frustration, fear and hopelessness, as it does the generally preferred states such as euphoria, love and clarity. Although the intention of the individual always remains to penetrate ultimate reality, this is not a transcendence process where reason is used to justify a bypass of the undesirable. The key to this process is being open to whatever occurs in the experiencer whilst contemplating, regardless of whether this is comfortable or not, and allowing it to be as it is, neither clinging to preferable experiences nor rejecting uncomfortable experiences. As a result an allowance is cultivated where different states come and go naturally within the process, whilst the contemplator remains resolute in their intention to discover the Truth which underlies all these transient states. | ||