Far Horizons in the Sierras - Mark Sawyer: Advaita, Isms, and Doings

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Mark Sawyer, "Don t preach, but if you are asked, answer." Mark Sawyer lives by these words, which were given to him in India during one of his last visits to his primary Advaita teacher, Ramesh Balsekar. Mark came to Advaita after a strong upbringing in Christianity followed by years of studying and practicing aspects of Zen and Shingon Buddhism during about fifteen years living in Japan and in Korea. He has taken the eight precepts while practicing at Forest Tradition Temples in Thailand, and still lives by the five precepts. Since the 1980s he has been in India for extended periods. In India (and Nepal) he has visited the four main pilgrimage spots of Buddhism, and has stayed for extended periods in the hills above Dharmasala with the Tibetan Buddhists. In India he heard much of Krishna (Vishnu), Shiva, and Brahma. He savored the spiritual energy of some of the Hindu holy places. Among holy books, he was particularly attracted by aspects of the Bhagavad Gita. Then came Advaita, where (to his mind, as much as he ll admit to having one) it all comes together. His first inspiration, and still unsurpassed, was Ramana Maharshi. He then learned more through the live and written teachings of the sage of Mumbai, Ramesh Balsekar. His books include: The Priest Wonho s Memories of Admiral Yi and Married To Islam, which was co-written with Dalia Shah. His next book is set in India and features many of his own teachers, places visited, and experiences. www.mfsawyer.com

Advaita, Isms, and Doings
Mark Sawyer
August 19 - August 23, 2009

Program fee $90

"Truth is Truth, and if it is the Truth, then it is the same for all of us, and every great teacher, every truly enlightened sage, would have to at the most basic level, agree with all of the others."

Mark Sawyer spent years looking for this common thread and believes he found it in Advaita.

--Come prepared to have seemingly self-evident Truths called into question, or tossed aside.

--Be ready to hear how, at their deepest levels, the teachings of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are the same and all are in synch with Advaita, of course.

--Come to hear stories about many of the great Gurus, Swamis, and Teachers, and about religion as compared (opposed) to spirituality. You will hear the pro and con, good and bad (even when it fact there is no positive or negative or better or worse, there just is what is).

--Be prepared, also, to smile and to laugh. Advaita is often taught in a very serious manner, but not (all the time) by Mark. He does not use this name, but he was given an Indian one in Maharashtra by a satsang-giver. He will reveal this at the course, which will in itself reveal a lot.

--Morning Tai-chi and afternoon hikes with Mark will be available. Individual meetings will also be offered.