CENTER COMMUNITY NEWS

Merry Song Speaks at the TAT Foundation

At the Truth and Transmission (TAT) Foundation's September 2023 virtual gathering, "Pretty Lies or Ugly Truths: Fighting Rationalization On The Spiritual Path," Merry Song shared the story of her spiritual path and realizations. Her talk, entitled "Longing for the Truth" covered topics including how some spiritual seekers are drawn by an undeniable calling, the value of trusted spiritual teachers on the path, and how taking spiritual precepts seriously can change your life. Merry Song says: "When I was invited to speak at the TAT conference, I worried that it would be an overly-demanding experience. However, I heard an absolute YES! override my hesitation, so I accepted. It turned out to be an uplifting experience and I felt filled with Divine energy during and after my talk."

According to the Truth and Transmission (TAT) Foundation's website: "The TAT Center is located on a beautiful wooded 15-acre site in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, only 35 minutes from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill...The TAT Center provides a location for TAT’s four yearly conferences, space for members and friends to spend time on retreats, and a place for TAT members to hold events such as group retreats throughout the year." As Merry Song found out, they use Zoom to reach members around the globe and to invite guest speakers to deliver talks.

Guest Teacher Matthew Lowes Shares Account of Awakening

On Sunday October 1st, 2023, CSS began a new guest speaker program by hosting guest speaker Matthew Lowes who shared with us an account of his spiritual path and Awakening. Matt concluded his presentation with this advice: "If you are seeking the Truth, keep going. The opportunity for Awakening never expires. Don't give up until the whole mountain of delusion collapses under its own weight. Throw yourself into your practice, and do whatever you can to bring yourself to the doorstep of Awakening. As the Gospel says, to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Enlightenment isn't complicated. It just doesn't leave anything out. So find whatever you're leaving out, and fold it into everything."  After his presentation, he answered questions from the audience. The talk was followed by a potluck and informal discussion.

Matthew Lowes is a spiritual teacher based in Eugene, Oregon, and author of several books. In 2016, a sudden, unexpected, and profound spiritual awakening completely transformed his life and perception of reality. If you are interested in attending Matt's teachings via Zoom, which currently take place every 3-4 weeks on a Thursday evening at 5 PM, contact Bruce Abel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more about Matt, see his website matthewlowes.com.

Guest Teacher Jim Carson Gives Talk on Kashmir Shaivism

Our Sunday November 5 public meeting featured a talk by guest speaker Jim Carson. His talk was titled "Kashmir Shaivism: Tantric Intimacy with the Play of Consciousness.” This was the first of a three-part series of talks. In this first talk, Jim provided an overview of Kashmir Shaivism, which is a very influential Shaiva-Shakta Tantra nondual tradition that originated in Kashmir c. 850 CE. He also led us in several guided meditations in which we practiced several upayas —  techniques to free ourselves from the contracted coverings that seem to veil Reality.

Jim and his wife Kimberly will give the second and third parts of this series of lectures at our Sunday meetings on January 7 and May 5, 2024. The Carsons have studied, practiced, and taught the powerful teachings of this tradition for over 25 years. For more information about Jim and Kimberly Carson, see their website mindfulyogaworks.com.

Monthly Saturday Meditations Resume

Please join us in person on the first Saturday of each month for silent group meditation. This is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your meditation practice. These events are open to the public. Although there is no charge, donations are welcome.

Schedule:
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM  Morning session (5 rounds of meditation)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM    Lunch break
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM      Afternoon session (5 rounds of meditation)

Each round of meditation includes 25 minutes of sitting meditation and 5 minutes of walking meditation (preceded by a minute of stretching). Participants may arrive or leave during the walking meditations, which are scheduled to begin on the top of each hour and on the half hour. Chairs and meditation cushions are provided.

Location: Center for Sacred Sciences, 5440 Saratoga St. Eugene, Oregon
Directions: From Fox Hollow Rd, turn right on Saratoga Street. Then take the first left into our parking lot.

Merry Song Leads Writing Workshop on SOS: Same Old Story or Stairway of Selflessness?

What is the True Meaning of selflessness? Is fear-facing a spiritual practice? Why is wanting things to be different than they are a source of suffering? Is it true that worry is a waste of time? These questions and more were explored this fall in two Go As Nothing Writing Workshops with Merry Song. Twenty practitioners made a commitment to write for at least ten minutes a day for six weeks following daily prompts. The workshops met for two hours each week to share results and insights. During each session Merry Song presented a poem and then guided the writers to create their own poem within three minutes. Below is an example, starting with the poem “Guest House” attributed to 13th century Persian mystic/poet Rumi, followed by creations from Vip Short, Debbi Cassidy, and Donna L. Atkinson.

Tuesday Session Participants:
Niraja, Merry Song, Ike,
Bev, Vip, Debbie,
Stella, Hillery, Joyce, Jude.

Rumi says:

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
They may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Vip Short wrote:

“This being human is a guest house.
Every morning, a new arrival.”

When anger comes, I will heat up the teapot and invite it to tell its story of betrayal and disappointment. I will stir honey into it.

When sorrow comes, I will fluff up the extra bed and prepare some pillows … and offer a plate of cookies.

When self-doubt comes, I will set aside my usual preoccupations and light the fire for coziness. I will gaze upon the pictures of my ancestors to remind my doubter of all the vast strength and resilience available to us.

When love comes dancing in, I will turn up the music, kick off my shoes and put on a new hat. I will waltz and samba and limbo-rock with my most cherished company! Love will stay for dinner and dessert, and the guest house will vibrate with all the goodness it holds.

Thursday Session Participants:
Sweet Bird, Merry Song, Shannon, Donna,
Robin, Meg, Laura, Wesley,
Carol, Sharry, Heart Song, Maura

Debbi Cassidy wrote:

“This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.”

When anger comes I will lay down a few rules: Please walk quietly. Don’t bother the other guests. If you need to shout, do so in your pillow.

When sorrow comes I will give her a hug. I will give her my favorite handkerchief. I will offer to sit with her until she is ready to rest.

When self doubt comes I will breathe deep. I will say: Don’t worry you are enough. Perfection is not the goal. Enjoy yourself now.

When love comes dancing in I will polish her shoes. I will dance with her. I will invite her to stay, to be my lifelong companion. I know she will be the guardian of the guest house, the light that guides all souls through the door.

Donna L. Atkinson wrote:
"This being human is a guesthouse
Every morning a new arrival"

When anger comes
I will swallow it deep into my plexis
Then flow it through my breath of fire 

When sorrow comes
I will sink within to a place that merges with the galaxies
Allowing my tears to make the stars and suns novas.

When self-doubt comes
I will allow it to flow like a stream riffling slowly over stones
Beneath the surface – catching glimpses of honesty and truth of self-love. 

When love comes
I will expand my heart consciousness
Know God in the leaves, the sun-blazed afternoon and ecstatic dance of my soul
Reaching out to embrace all of you
My fellow human.

For information about future Go As Nothing Writing Workshops, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Her newly released 4-part video series is offered free of charge through this link. It’s designed for the viewer to join in. On Facebook, look for Merry Song (Spiritual Teacher) and you can follow her page Merry Song's Go As Nothing Writing Workshops.