Sedona Method Retreat Days 4 and 5
Written on June 26, 2008 by Tom Stine
This retreat has been amazing. While the Sedona Method in general seems more like a personal growth, self-help course with some spirituality tossed in, the “advanced” retreat is completely focused on what Hale refers to as “the realization of what you are” but in other spiritual circles would be called awakening. Personally, I love the term awakening, as it captures the flavor of the experiential side of things. It feels as if one is awakening from a dream. The dream of a separate self called “me.”
Let me share with you a few gems from the past 2 days:
- If there is no separate individual, then there is no one who can or has done anything. No doer. Just bodies in motion. Therefore, I’ve never done anything, and no one else has ever done anything.
- As you look within at various aspects of what you are, you discover that quite often you arrive at “I don’t know.” This not knowing IS what you are.
- The ultimate knowingness is not knowing.
- Lester Levenson, the creator of the Sedona Method, used to say, “Miracles are the world’s shortcut.” And Hale added to that, “And so what? It isn’t about miracles.”
- I realized that as much as I’ve wanted to know the structure of the world, the underlying principles that govern it, the rules for how it works, I never will. It is all a great mystery. I don’t know. And what a relief!
- Manifestation is all the rage in the spiritual world thanks to the Secret. But here are some questions to ask: if my thoughts create my experience, did I choose which thoughts to think? Did I create the “good” thoughts? Or did the thoughts just arise spontaneously in my mind? Did I think about what I wanted and then make it happen, or did I simply have a thought about what was going to happen anyway and merely watched it play out?
- One of the “problems” with most methods is that people are always trying to change things. People especially want to get rid of their feelings. But what does someone who has realized the truth do when they are sad? They cry. What do they do when they are joyous? They laugh. There is no need to do anything with our feelings. Just feel them.
That’s all for today. I hope you all are doing well. I’m having a wonderful time. I’m mellow and tired. Until next time. Namaste.
Comments are closed at this time.
on June 27th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Thanks for the update. I especially like the manifestation and problems points. If we accept that its all consciousness, how can there be a mistake? How can there be a need to change anything? If it all happens in consciousness, who is the doer? If our response to circumstances is based on our awareness in the moment, who is determining that awareness? Where then is blame? Yada yada…
I would however disagree with one point.
“The ultimate knowingness is not knowing.” I have learned to never say never, never say ultimate, final, highest, etc. In the infinite there is always more.
The deep acceptance of not knowing, followed by the deep knowingness of nothing are stages in opening. I would not say this is ultimate but rather the beginning. When you realize all of what you knew was an illusion, this is just the opening to begin to really know.
Yes, its a relief to let go of the idea of ever knowing as it is not the mind that can really know. Thats a necessary step. But much deeper is the knowingness itself. The flow that we see as the world, the movement of awareness through all things, that is pure knowledge. Veda. We stand immersed in a sea of knowledge. Indeed we are knowledge. But not knowledge the mind can grasp except in facsimile. Knowledge we can only be. And that is knowledge it would take many lifetimes to explore.
One final thing. A much wiser man than I said that not everyone can cognize. But everyone can realize.(awaken) I would suspect if you have that tickle to know its because you can.
Davidya’s last blog post..The A to Z of Being
on June 28th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Thanks for this post. I was recently in Sedona also - a very high place I felt. Your cactus photo is great.
on June 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I’ve really enjoyed these updates, Tom! Sounds like you are having an incredible experience.
I would agree with Davidya that acceptance of not knowing is a beginning, because it is the point at which we let go of the mind and start knowing through being.
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea Hess|Empowered Soul’s last blog post..Intuition, Intention and Decision-Making
on June 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
@Davidya while it is true that there is a knowingness that comes after awakening, and that it is probably wise to never say never, the point with regard to “mental” knowingness is well made. Knowingness, as you describe, is a fresh, “in the moment” kind of thing.
@Sam Glad you enjoyed the post. Sedona is one of my favorite spots on Earth. It is wonderful being here. Thanks for the comment!
@Andrea Yes, this retreat is a very good one. The Sedona Method, as one goes beyond the basics, fits squarely into the entire nondual, advaita tradition. As I mentioned to Davidya, I agree about knowingness. It is a beginning. There is a knowing that is clearly beyond the mind. And much preferable.