Enlightenment and Grace

"Enlightenment and Grace: Removing Resistance to Destiny" A Weekend Spiritual Intensive

Friday, October 9th - Sunday, October 11th, 2009 Durant Nature Park - Raleigh, North Carolina

"Do understand that you are destined for enlightenment. Cooperate with your destiny, don't go against it, don't thwart it. Allow it to fulfill itself." -- Nisargadatta Maharaj "Man is asked to make of himself what he must become to fulfill his destiny." -- Paul Tillich "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." -- John Newton

The Self Inquiry Discussion Group (SIG) of Raleigh, NC is hosting a weekend intensive October 9th - 11th, 2009. The purpose of this retreat is to provide a forum for like-minded individuals to convene with the intent of furthering the search, and advancing the endeavor of finding an answer to one's deepest longing. Seekers and finders alike will come together in an atmosphere of friendship, camaraderie, and focused intention. You are encouraged to come and participate, to share what you may have to offer fellow seekers, and to welcome help from others. The weekend will include a variety of speakers and activities, all geared toward helping one to hear and heed the Call. We will open the weekend at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 9th and continue through the evening of Sunday the 11th, checking out of the lodge by 9:45 Monday morning. (You are encouraged to arrive prior to 7:30 p.m. Friday in order to settle in at the lodge and to hang out. The space is available to us starting at 1:00 p.m. Friday, so you are welcome any time after that.) The agenda will include presentations led by Avery Solomon, Bart Marshall, Bob Cergol, Bruce Rubin, David Scoma, Michael Casari, Michael Hall, Mike Conners, and Nathan Spoon, along with sessions centered on a variety of thought-provoking topics and insight-inducing experiments. http://www.selfinquiry.org/. MORE on the SELF INQUIRY DISCUSSION GROUP of RALEIGH, NC The Self Inquiry Discussion Group provides an opportunity to meet with others involved in the search for Truth and Self-definition via Self-inquiry. Our meetings consist of an informal and open discussion of paths, teachers, techniques, philosophical and spiritual systems, and possible ways and means for expediting the search. The discussions are not academic or theoretical, but rather focus on our own personal experiences as seekers. There is usually also a period of silent meditation at some point during the evening. Most people who continue to come to our meetings are not concerned with "Why should I seek Self-realization?" but rather, "What is the best way to go about it?" There is a paradox in that we use words to talk about that which is beyond words, and although there is often talk of paths and things to do, there is also general agreement that the best approach is subtractive: that is, rather than try to accumulate more spiritual and worldly knowledge, doubt the truth of all you think you already know. If you find yourself drawn to teachers like Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Richard Rose, Ramana Maharshi, Douglas Harding, Tony Parsons, Franklin Merrell-Wolff, Eckhart Tolle, Adyashanti, and the ancient masters of Zen, Advaita Vedanta, and Christian Mysticism, you may find the retreat and our meetings very worthwhile.