Are You Ready To Lose Your World PDF
Are You Ready To Lose Your World PDF
Jerilyn Munyon
Executive Director
Contents
Teachings 3
Events
Calendar 6
Satsangs (Online) 6 The Open Gate Sangha office is located in San Jose at 1299 Del Mar Avenue,
Satsangs (San Francisco Area) 7 Suite 200. Please send all mail to:
Intensives (San Francisco Area) 8 PO Box 112107
Travels 10 Campbell, CA 95011
Special Events 10 (408) 299-0201
[email protected]
Retreats 11
Acknowledgments Editor: Prema Maia Apolonia. Associate Editor: Julie
Mukti Donovan. Graphic Designer: Susan Kurtz, www.susankurtzgraphics.com.
Events, Travels, Private Meetings 1213 Photo Courtesies Steve Kurtz: cover, pages 5, 12 (background). Mukti:
pages 3, 8 (bottom), 10 (top & bottom), 16, back cover (top). Larry
Sangha Gray: page 4 (top). Prema Maia Apolonia: pages 4 (bottom), 6 (top), 14.
News, Gatherings, Volunteers 14 iStockphoto.com/Abby Wilcox: pages 6-7. Monique Martineau: page 8
(top). Adyashanti: page 12 (top). Dave Menke: page 13.
Bookstore 2007 Open Gate Sangha, Inc. All rights reserved.
Books, Videos, and CDs 1519
There is a very famous poem written by the third patri- mately aware of how the conditioned mind fools itself
arch of Zen, Seng-tsan, called the Hsin-Hsin Ming, which into false pursuits and blind alleys. He knew that seeking
translates as Verses in Faith Mind. In this poem Seng-tsan truth, or reality, is as silly as a dog thinking that
writes these lines: Do not seek the truth; only cease to it must chase its tail in order to attain
cherish opinions. This is a reversal of the way most peo- its tail. The dog already has full
ple go about trying to realize absolute truth. Most people possession of its tail from
seek truth, but Seng-tsan is saying not to seek truth. This the very beginning. Be-
sounds very strange indeed. How will you find truth if sides, once the dog
grasps his tail,
True awakening will not fit into he will have
to let go of
the world as you imagine it it in or-
der to
or the self you imagine yourself
to be.
you dont seek it? How will you find happiness if you do
not seek it? How will you find God if you do not seek God?
Everyone seems to be seeking something. In spirituality
seeking is highly honored and respected, and here comes
Seng-tsan saying not to seek.
The reason Seng-tsan is saying not to seek is because
truth, or reality, is not something objective. Truth is not
something out there. It is not something you will find
as an object of perception or as a temporal experience.
Reality is neither inside of you nor outside of you. Both
outside and inside are not getting to the point. They
both miss the mark because outside and inside are con-
ceptual constructs with no inherent reality. They are sim-
ply abstract points of reference. Even words like you, or
me, or I, are nothing more than conceptual points of
reference existing only in the mind. Such concepts may
have a practical value in daily life, but when assumed to
be true they distort perception and create a virtual reality,
or what in the East is called the world of samsara.
Seng-tsan was a wily old Zen master. He viewed
things through the eye of enlightenment and was inti-
Open Gate Sangha | www.adyashanti.org
function. So even if you were to find the truth through grasping, you will Adyashanti with his childhood pet.
have to let it go at some point in order to function. But even so, any
truth that is attained through grasping is not the real truth be- Through meditation we can come to see that the only thing that
cause such a truth would be an object and therefore not real makes us suffer is our own mind. Sitting quietly reveals the
to begin with. mind to be nothing but conditioned thinking spontane-
In order to seek, you must first have an idea, ideal, ously arising within awareness. Through cherishing this
or an image, what it is you are seeking. That idea may thinking, through taking it to be real and relevant, we
not even be very conscious or clear but it must be there create internal images of self and others and the world.
in order for you to seek. Being an idea it cannot be real. Then we live in these images as if they were real. To be
Thats why Seng-tsan says only cease to cherish opin- caught within these images is to live in an illusory virtual
ions. By opinions he means ideas, ideals, beliefs, and im- reality. Through observing the illusory nature of thought
ages, as well as personal opinions. This sounds easy but it is without resisting it, we can begin to question and inquire
rarely as easy as it seems. Seng-tsan is not saying you should into the underlying belief structures that support it. These
never have a thought in your head, he is saying not to cherish the belief structures are what form our emotional attachments to the
thoughts in your head. To cherish implies an emotional attachment and false self and the world our minds create.
holding on to. When you cherish something, you place value on it because This is why I sometimes ask people, Are you ready to lose your world?
you think that it is real or because it defines who you think you are. This Because true awakening will not fit into the world as you imagine it or the
cherishing of thoughts and opinions is what the false self thrives on. It is self you imagine yourself to be. Reality is not something that you integrate
what the false self is made of. When you realize that none of your ideas into your personal view of things. Reality is life without your distorting sto-
about truth are real, it is quite a shock to your system. It is an unexpected ries, ideas, and beliefs. It is perfect unity free of all reference points, with
blow to the seeker and the seeking. nowhere to stand and nothing to grab hold of. It has never been spoken,
The task of any useful spiritual practice is therefore to dismantle never been written, never been imagined. It is not hidden, but in plain view.
cherishing the thoughts, opinions, and ideas that make up the false self, Cease to cherish opinions and it stands before your very eyes. w
the self that is seeking. This is the true task of both meditation and inquiry.
Letters to Adyashanti
Open Gate Sangha, Inc. Please know that I read every letter, card, and email that is sent to me.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, CA, the Open Gate Sangha Due to my teaching schedule and working on various writing projects,
organization supports the teachings of Adyashanti by making them I very rarely respond to written inquiries. If you have a pressing ques-
available to all who sincerely yearn for peace and freedom. Founded tion or issue that requires personal attention, you may want to contact
in 1996, the organization is run by a small staff and many dedicated one of those that I have asked to share the dharma. They can be found
volunteers, who form the heart of this growing community. on the Sangha/Transmission page of our website.
Most of your financial contributions to Open Gate Sangha are Many Blessings to all.
tax-deductible, including payments for satsangs, intensives, and re-
treat event fees. The housing portion of retreat fees, however, is not
~ Adyashanti
June
Wed, Jun 4 Palo Alto Satsang 78:45pm
Sun, Jun 8 Mount Madonna Retreat Check-in: 35pm
Fri, Jun 13 Retreat Ends Check-out: 1pm
Participants understand that all events hosted by Open Gate Sangha
will be recorded for use by Open Gate Sangha, Inc.
For events with Mukti, see page 13.
q 2007 Christmas Intensive.............................. $_______ Mail-in registrations must be postmarked on or before the deadline
December 15, 2007 in Palo Alto date, two weeks prior to each intensive.
$50 postmarked by November 30, 2007. $75 at the door.
Limited seating. Register early. Open Gate Sangha, PO Box 112107, Campbell, CA 95011
Payment in full is required. If you are paying for more than Work Phone: ______________________________________________________________________
one intensive, write one check.
Email: _____________________________________________________________________________
If you are interested in volunteering at any of these events, please email
[email protected]. q This is a new/updated address, phone number, or email.
Travels
Adyashanti will be offering satsangs and intensives in the following areas
during 2008:
w San Diego, CA March 68
w Vancouver, BC April 12
w Seattle, WA April 45
w Chicago, IL May 1920 (first visit!)
w Philadelphia, PA May 2224 (first visit!)
w Boulder, CO October 911
w Phoenix, AZ October 12 (first visit!)
Out-of-town events with Adyashanti usually take the form of satsangs,
book signings, or intensives. Intensives include a full day (or weekend),
with meditation and multiple satsangs that explore teachings in greater
depth. Bring your innermost questions, or simply come and immerse your-
self in the silence and presence of eternal truth.
Details about these events will be posted online as they become avail-
able. Please do not call the office. Event announcements will be included in
our monthly email prior to each event. To get on our mailing/email list, go
to the Contact Us page of our website.
Online preregistration is now available for travel intensives.
You can also find scholarship information for these events online.
If you would like to volunteer at any of these events, contact the local
event host listed online.
Dear Sangha,
Abide For each one of us life is a surprise. No matter how we picture it, it
at the edge shows up in forms that defy all thought.
After years of travelling with Adya for his teaching, I never thought that
of inner Id be travelling on my own, responding to invitations extended from cities
both local and afar. Below youll see that my role of Associate Teacher here
and outer at Open Gate Sangha has expanded beyond the one-on-one dokusan meet-
ings to also include group satsang and one-day silent retreats.
worlds until Im particularly interested in the one-day silent retreat format, which
they disappear Ive structured to include three short satsangs interspersed with periods
of meditation. Im also interested in bringing the possiblity of retreat and
into one extended time in silence and inquiry to more people.
Also a great surprise has been getting to experience the wonderful fla-
without another. vors of many of you, all of whom are indeed Dear Sangha.
May you know without question the flame of liberation that burns
~ Mukti
brightly, continually.
Your One True Self,
About Mukti
Mukti, whose name is translated as liberation, is the Associate Teacher
of Open Gate Sangha. In 1996 she began studying the nondual, Zen-
flavored teachings of Adyashanti, her husband. Prior to that, Mukti stud-
ied the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda for over 20 years. In her own
teachings, Mukti points audiences back to their natural state of wholeness
or undivided consciousness. Licensed in acupuncture and certified to teach
hatha yoga, Mukti has a love of the whole, in form as well as the formless.
Gatherings
Adyashantis teachings are being shared globally as well as locally, as groups
gather to listen to Adyashantis CDs or watch DVDs. There are over 50 Gath-
erings now taking place in 23 states and 4 countriesand the list contin-
ues to grow. Be sure to check the website for an offering in your area.
The nature of Gatherings is as varied as the people who come together
to share Adyas teachings. Some groups have chosen a silent format where
they meditate, watch a DVD, and
leave in silence. Some listen to
News & Gratitude Adyas guided meditations, read
from his books, and share how
w This past year Adyashantis travels these teachings have affected their
included only two locations: New York lives. Whatever the format, there is
and Australiabut he visited many an opportunity to share time with
countries via his internet radio pro- others in the love of truth.
gram! Adyashanti receives many invi- To find out more about attend-
tations, and the radio program is his ing or hosting an Adyashanti Gath-
way to meet the growing requests for ering, visit the Sangha/Gatherings
his teachings. In 2008, for the first time, page at www.adyashanti.org.
Adyashanti will travel to Chicago and
Philadelphia, finding himself on the
East Coast more often as the sangha Volunteers
there continues to grow. Open Gate Sangha is fortunate to
w There is a huge team of people who have a dedicated pool of volunteers
run Adyashantis live events all over who contribute their time, energy,
the world. From Travel Hosts who plan and talent to help support the
events for a one-time trip, to Retreat Helping out at the Open Gate Sangha office teachings of Adyashanti. From
Managers who dedicate years of service arranging the stage or greeting
at a time and hours equivalent to a part-time job, to volunteers who show people at events to offering professional skills such as event coordination
up for one event to ring a bell, and everyone in betweenwe thank you and sound engineering, our volunteers are essential to the day-to-day
all for your beautiful heart of service. Wed like to specifically mention our operations of the sangha. Because of their generosity, Open Gate Sangha is
hosts in Australia for their dedicated work on Adyas Down Under trip in able to bring Adyashantis teachings to a community of people all around
October 2007, and thanks to all the hosts all over the United States who are the world. If you feel called to offer your time at events, in our San Jose
well in the swing of planning 2008 events! We honor Priya Irene Baker for office, or at home, please send an email to [email protected].
her years of service as Intensive Manager; her nurturing spirit and atten-
tion to detail will be missed. Wed also like to thank Maya Vidhyadharan for
her contributions to the Intensive Manager role. We wish both of them well
on their new adventures. Were happy to welcome Edward West as our new
Intensive Manager.
w Muktis first two travel events were successful, with people expressing
gratitude for the teachings and clear transmission of presence. These events
are made possible through the dedication, open heart, and generosity of the
hosts who organized the events. Our thanks to the many volunteers who
My Secret Is Silence
Poetry and Sayings of Adyashanti
2003 by Adyashanti
141 pages, softcover.
ISBN: 0-9717036-1-2
$17 Item #3MSI True Meditation
Book with CD
In this book of poetry and teachings, Adyashanti cel- 2006 by Adyashanti
ebrates life from the vantage of the laughing Buddha 87-page hardcover book plus CD
and gently invites the mystery to wake up to itself in the ISBN: 978-1-59179-467-1
heart of each reader. A wonderful gift for anyone who $19.95 Item #3TME
loves getting drunk on truth or still imagines they are
What would happen if you were to allow
thirsty and need a long, sweet sip from the Beloveds
everything to be exactly as it is? What
overflowing cup.
if you gave up the need for control, and
instead embraced the whole of your
experience in each moment that arose?
This engaging and elegant hardcover
book invites you to explore these life-
The Impact of Awakening
changing questions as Adyashanti offers
2000, 2002 by Adyashanti
his unique and powerful perspective
130 pages, softcover.
on the art of meditation. Chapter titles
ISBN: 0-9717036-0-4
include:
$17 Item #3IOA
Beginning the True Spiritual Journey
In this collection of dynamic excerpts from Adyashantis
The Ultimate Act of Faith
satsang dialogues, the reader is guided from the initial
Live in the Same Way You Meditate
impulse to be free to its culmination in liberation. Adya-
shanti also speaks about the role of grace, the student- Based on the True Meditation album
teacher relationship, and how to move beyond beliefs (page 18), this book includes 29 chap-
that distort our perception of truth. ters, a 16-page interview, and a 60-min-
ute CD with two guided meditations.