Schedule of Speakers & Workshops

Saturday, April 16th, 2005

  10:00 to 11:15 AM
From Rock 'N Roll to Silence: Sounding the Longing String, by Bob Fergeson. Nostalgia, intuition, and love form a string of longing, which leads us back beyond mind and death to our home in simple awareness. In retreating from duality and complexity, we travel back up the longing string and begin to "go within," finding our road home. Join Bob in an exploration of how simple is better. To read an article by Bob, click here.

  11:30 AM to 12:45 PM
Where, exactly, is "within"? by Art Ticknor. "Our immortality is dependent not upon our ability to extend our personal illusion indefinitely but to transcend it. Our immortality is dependent upon our becoming the Light, by identifying with that which is Real, and really is us and has been us all the time." -Richard Rose, The Mind
"There is a Light in the Light-man and it lights up the whole world.... Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death." -Jesus, The Gospel of Thomas
The answer lies within—but where, exactly, is within?

  Break for Lunch (provided).

  2:00 to 3:15 PM
Becoming Versus Dying--The Paradox, by Bob Cergol. "You cannot learn the truth. You must become the Truth." -Richard Rose
"That which is born dies. That which is never born cannot die." -Nisargadatta
"Body and mind perish and are dissipated. Nothing of you shall remain." -Alfred Pulyan
This session will challenge the participants to ponder the paradox and examine their definition of life and death, of living and dying. Click here for some thoughts by Bob.

  3:30 to 4:30 PM
Retreat center walk. Trails through more than one hundred fifty acres of woods, fields and streams offer a wonderful opportunity to commune with nature—together, yet alone.

  4:30 to 5:30 PM
Effortless Meditation: Starting with the Goal, by Michael Conners. Is enlightenment beyond us or within, far in the future or always with us waiting to be discovered? Presentation & exercises by this long-time student and teacher of Effortless Meditation. Click here for an excerpt from Michael's writing.

  5:30 to 7:00 PM
Break for Dinner (provided).

  7:00 to 7:30 PM
Poetic interlude, by Shawn Nevins. Visit The Poetry Chaikhana for a sample of Shawn's poetry.

  7:30 to 8:45 PM
Befriending Death, by Bart Marshall. Bart is a long-time seeker, talented writer, co-producer of the "Richard Rose" video, and speaker known for his "From Vietnam to Zen" lecture. A recent visit with Douglas Harding catalyzed a radical change in perspective that completed his search for answers. Click here for an article by Bart.

Sunday, April 17th, 2005

  10:00 to 12:00 Noon
Panel Question and Answer Session.

  12:00 Noon
Departing words, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

The event is being held in TAT's beautiful rural facility near Wheeling, WV. Wheeling is in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, approximately 1 hour from Pittsburgh International Airport and 2.5 hours from Columbus International Airport. There are many lodging and dining facilities within a 15-25 mile radius.

A group encouraging people to think rather than believe. A group determined to help people find ways and means to answer their deepest philosophical questions. A gathering of folks who are not afraid to be honest with one another. An island of hope and sanity (or at least the hope for sanity!). Last, but not least, TAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization chartered in 1973.