June 2024
Unmani ~ What is the Awakened State?
Beyond all states that come and go, there is the knowing of them all. The Awareness of whatever is here. This is who you really are as Life itself, always awake, and always aware. This is all very well, however, in your human experience, you might not always feel or acknowledge this knowing that is always awake. You might experience being caught up in your mind, emotions or the dramas of life, and then this Awakening is simply a beautiful and spiritual intellectual concept that is very far from your own experience.
If you have had some kind of awakening recognition, you might experience a kind of flip-flopping in and out of the clear seeing of the Oneness of your true nature, and then being again caught up in the dramas of the apparent separate 'me'. This can be very painful as you experience the strong contrast between these two states of being.
In this Meeting with Unmani, we will discuss what the Awakened State is, and any confusions around this. We will also look at the various misconceptions about Awakening in general. We will then explore how Awakening can be lived in our human lives with all the ups and downs and challenges, as well as the fast pace of our modern human lives.
Unmani gives practical pointers and support on how to live in and as Awakening. Join the 'live' session to be able to ask questions, and investigate your direct experience with Unmani.
About Unmani
Meeting with Unmani is meeting with yourself in the most real and alive way. Unmani is originally from the UK, but has lived in many countries around the world. Since she was a child, Unmani didn't identify with being a separate individual, but assumed there was something wrong with her, until she came across the expression of Satsang and nonduality. Truth has always been her passion. Unmani had teachers including Osho, Dolano, Nathan Gill, Tony Parsons, Gangaji and several other amazing people who are not considered 'teachers'.
In 2013 she met her husband, the wonderful musician, and courageous lover of life, Robert Hanuman. In 2015 their son, Sky, was born. On 3rd January 2018, Robert Hanuman died suddenly from a heart attack while they were in India. Robert Hanuman's presence deeply influenced Unmani's teaching, and in the time they were together it evolved into a more human expression of the courage to live the paradox of the Absolute, living as this human. Robert put Unmani's words to his beautiful classical guitar music and Unmani still plays his songs at her meetings.
Unmani has been holding meetings and retreats all over the world for since 2003, and in this time people have been deeply touched by her work: She meets each person exactly where they are at, and in whatever they need at the time, while at the same time holding them in the truth of who they really are beyond it all. This combination, and paradox, of the personal and impersonal, brings so much depth, openness and healing to people's lives. They wake up to who they really are, and discover how this is lived and integrated into their daily lives.
Unmani has written 3 books 'I am Life itself', 'Die to Love' and 'The Courage to Come Alive'. Unmani holds regular meetings and retreats several times a year as well as monthly webinars on different themes.
For more information about Unmani's work go to: www.die-to-love.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unmani
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unmani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unmani_hyde/
Robert Hanuman's music can be downloaded on iTunes here: https://music.apple.com/nl/artist/robert-hanuman/1329878840?l=en
Suggested donation: $15 to $40
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Please register early if you can.
The event will be recorded and emailed to participants within a week.
To check your local time, use a tool such as: Time Zone Converter
Unmani ~ What is the Awakened State?
Beyond all states that come and go, there is the knowing of them all: the Awareness of whatever is here. However, in your human experience, you might not always feel or acknowledge this knowing, and might experience being caught up in your mind, emotions, or the dramas of life.
In this meeting with Unmani, we will discuss what the Awakened State is, and look at the various misconceptions about Awakening. We will then explore how Awakening can be lived in our human lives, with all the ups and downs and challenges, as well as the fast pace of our modern human lives.
Unmani is originally from the UK, but has lived in many countries around the world. Truth has always been her passion. She meets each person exactly where they are at, while at the same time holding them in the truth of who they really are beyond it all. This combination and paradox of the personal and impersonal, brings so much depth, openness and healing to people's lives.
Find out more »Silent Group Meditation (Free, No Guidance)
Join us for a silent group meditation. Do your own practice quietly in the company of others. Let’s be present, together. .... more details
Mon.: 8:00am – 8:30am (PT) and Wed.: 9:00am – 9:30am (PT)
Ongoing drop-in group – attend as often as you like.
Weekly, with rare exceptions. Verify dates on Full Calendar.
Dorothy Hunt ~ Mystery and Manifestation
Although given many names, there is an unnameable Mystery that cannot be spoken. It reveals itself most deeply in Silence. There are also the “ten thousand things”—life in its ever-changing manifestations. When we experience that both Mystery and manifestations arise from the same source, we are invited to the freedom, depth, and aliveness that come from not dividing essence from what is here now. We are invited into the intimate and ever-present mystery that is illuminating our every experience, loving its own expressions, giving worth and beauty to the wholeness of Being, including our uniquely human and precious place within it.
Please join Open Circle and Dorothy Hunt for this 2-hour satsang exploring Mystery and manifestation through guided meditation, silent sitting, and dialogue.
Dorothy Hunt currently serves as Spiritual Director of Moon Mountain Sangha, teaching at the request and in the spiritual lineage of Adyashanti. The flavor of her teaching blends Advaita and Zen with a deep welcoming of the human expressions of the Mystery. Dorothy is the founder of the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy, and practiced psychotherapy from 1967 until her retirement in 2020. She is the author of Only This!, Leaves from Moon Mountain, and Ending the Search: From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness. In addition, she is a contributing author to two books on Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, and the editor of Love: A Fruit Always in Season.
Presently, Dorothy offers satsang and retreats via Zoom, and dokusan by phone. For more information, please visit www.dorothyhunt.org
Suggested donation: $15 to $40
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Please register early if you can.
The event will be recorded and emailed to participants within a week.
To check your local time, use a tool such as: Time Zone Converter
Dorothy Hunt ~ Mystery and Manifestation
Although given many names, there is an unnameable Mystery that cannot be spoken. It reveals itself most deeply in Silence. There are also the “ten thousand things”—life in its ever-changing manifestations. When we experience that both Mystery and manifestations arise from the same source, we are invited into the intimate and ever-present mystery that is illuminating our every experience.
Dorothy Hunt currently serves as Spiritual Director of Moon Mountain Sangha, teaching at the request of, and in the spiritual lineage of Adyashanti. The flavor of her teaching blends Advaita and Zen with a deep welcoming of the human expressions of the Mystery.
Find out more »Silent Group Meditation (Free, No Guidance)
Mondays: 8:00am – 8:30am Pacific Time
Wednesdays : 9:00am – 9:30am Pacific Time
Ongoing every week, with rare exceptions. Check Full Calendar to verify dates.
Join for a group meditation – just us, without a teacher. Do your own practice silently in the company of others. There will be no talk or guidance – only a bell to start and finish. Let’s be present, together.
After half an hour of silent sitting, there will be space for a brief hello in the end, if we like.
Please be seated by the time meditation starts, so that we can begin together. You are welcome to have your camera and microphone on (unless you have a lot of background noise), so that we can feel as if we were in one space.
The zoom link remains the same for all the sessions, so you are welcome to register only once and save the link for future reference.
To check your local time, use a tool such as: Time Zone Converter
Where Awakened Heart Meets Broken Heart: Attending to A World in Crisis with John Prendergast, Riyaz Motan and Lisa Ferguson ~ Bay Area Daylong Retreat
Where Awakened Heart Meets Broken Heart:
Attending to A World in Crisis
This daylong is an opportunity to turn toward our world in crisis and explore how our awakened hearts and deep knowing are called to respond. Whatever is touching your heart is welcomed, including climate and ecosystem breakdown, war and conflict, injustice and polarization. How is Being moving through us in response? We will explore through meditation, dyadic inquiry, and group interaction what it means to open to the deepest knowing of our awakened nature, while also being touched by our collective heartbreak.
Bios
John J. Prendergast, Ph.D. is the author of The Deep Heart (2019 ) and In Touch (2015) and is working on a new book for Sounds True about the Ground. He is a retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies as well as a retired psychotherapist. He studied with the European sage Jean Klein for many years as well as with Adyashanti who gave dharma transmission to John in August, 2023. John and his wife Christiane offer residential retreats in the United States and Europe.
www.listeningfromsilence.com
YouTube channel
Riyaz Motan is a spiritual guide, teacher, and former marriage and family psychotherapist. His work interweaves Western psychology & Eastern wisdom traditions to help others find freedom from suffering to awaken to their essential wholeness. Through one-on-one spiritual mentoring, small intimate groups, day-long or multi-day retreats, he supports others in the journey of discovering who they truly are: to uncover who and what they are at essence, and to fully embody and express this in their lives and relationships.
Lisa Ferguson, Ph.D. is the founder of Climate Compassion, and has focused on supporting planetary wellbeing as a healing arts practitioner, climate justice activist, organizer and contemplative. She offers psychospiritual support to activists through one-one sessions and small groups, weaving together a focus on awakening, healing and wise action.
The meeting will be from 10:00am to 4:00pm, with a break for lunch.
Please bring your own lunch, or feel free to go into town to one of the restaurants or to Good Earth Natural Foods.
Pre-registration required, as space is limited.
Registration closes at 5 pm on June 21st
Suggested donation: $75
(any amount acceptable, no one turned away for lack of funds)
For inquiries contact LocalEvents@opencirclecenter.org
Location:
The meeting will be held at a private home in the Fairfax hills, with views of Mount Tam and hiking trails. Address and directions will be provided upon registration.
If you have symptoms of a viral infection, or have had a recent
Covid exposure or positive test, please stay home out of consideration for others.
Where Awakened Heart Meets Broken Heart: Attending to A World in Crisis, with John Prendergast, Riyaz Motan and Lisa Ferguson ~ Bay Area Daylong Retreat
This daylong is an opportunity to turn toward our world in crisis and explore how our awakened hearts and deep knowing are called to respond. Whatever is touching your heart is welcomed, including climate and ecosystem breakdown, war and conflict, injustice and polarization. How is Being moving through us in response? We will explore through meditation, dyadic inquiry, and group interaction what it means to open to the deepest knowing of our awakened nature, while also being touched by our collective heartbreak.
The event will be guided by a three-person panel.
John J. Prendergast, Ph.D. studied with the European sage Jean Klein for many years, as well as with Adyashanti who gave him dharma transmission. He is is a retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology and psychotherapist, and the author of The Deep Heart (2019 ) and In Touch (2015).
Riyaz Motan is a spiritual guide, teacher, and former psychotherapist. His work interweaves Western psychology & Eastern wisdom traditions to help others find freedom from suffering to awaken to their essential wholeness.
Lisa Ferguson, Ph.D. is the founder of Climate Compassion, and has focused on supporting planetary wellbeing as a healing arts practitioner, climate justice activist, organizer and contemplative.
Find out more »Jeannie Zandi ~ Women, Spirit & the Body (women only)
Join Jeannie for a special call for women exploring the theme of spirituality and the body.
Jeannie’s gift for inviting people to join her in resting and rooted presence evokes a deep meeting with oneself and reality. Within that, Jeannie’s humor and iconoclasm serve to bring people into an understanding that is beyond the intellectual. Through silent and guided meditation, spontaneous talks and exchange with participants, Jeannie will host a space of clarity and warmth where the richness of relating can be explored safely and your innermost questions met fully.
Jeannie Zandi is the director of Living as Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to seeding a culture of the Heart on the planet, inspiring, teaching and supporting people to live from their essence as Love. A year before the birth of her daughter, Jeannie was plunged into a dark night of the soul that culminated in a radical shift of consciousness. She is known for her fearless clarity, tender mercy toward humanness, and a juicy, poetic and often humorous style that draws from Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, Christian mysticism and the ongoing revelation of fully engaged living.
Suggested donation: $15 to $40
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Please register early if you can.
The event will be recorded and emailed to participants within a week.
To check your local time, use a tool such as: Time Zone Converter
Jeannie Zandi ~ Women, Spirit & the Body (women only)
Join Jeannie for a special call for women exploring the theme of spirituality and the body.
Jeannie’s gift for inviting people to join her in resting and rooted presence evokes a deep meeting with oneself and reality.
She is the director of Living as Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to seeding a culture of the Heart on the planet, inspiring, teaching and supporting people to live from their essence as Love. She is known for her fearless clarity, tender mercy toward humanness, and a juicy, poetic and often humorous style that draws from Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, Christian mysticism and the ongoing revelation of fully engaged living.
Find out more »