About us
We are a group of seekers, searching for ways and means to find answers to the big questions in life: 'Who is it that exists?' or 'Who is it that is here?' questions that can only be answered by looking inwardly, by whatever means possible, and not through beliefs or theoretical aspects of philosophy and psychology, or through science or dogma. A search for a final indisputable answer to the age-old question "Who Am I?"
Our regular online attendees are from all four time zones in NoAmerica and occasionally elsewhere. Our backgrounds may be Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, atheist, mysticism, philosophy, psychology -or as anyone with serious questions about who they are and the meaning of life.
Our meetings ask for participants' beliefs, first-hand subjective experience and observations, shared with and questioned by others also serious in looking for answers. And no one can give you those answers, but together we can help evaluate each others' thinking, feelings and experiences. Rest assured, our meetings do not tolerate "attack dogs" or insensitive questions. One regular member acts as monitor to keep questioning from being embarrassing and disruptive. We do not allow "preaching", nor solicitations to join, believe or buy a single thing.
Self-inquiry is the investigation of the "I" or "me", and the “selfing” with which one identifies.
The format of our meetings is both discussion and group confrontation, to examine, question and confront our convictions, motivations and identities in an organized way. We use others as mirrors as they question our own and others' opinions and views, in a respectful and sincere manner. Each meeting focuses on a prepared specific topic.
There is nothing to join, nothing to buy, meetings are free and there is nothing to believe in. This is not a solicitation for any belief system, organization or philosophy. Just “Take what you need, give something in return and leave the rest”. Think for yourself and figure out what’s true. That’s all it's about -sifting and asking yourself what’s true until you know. You are welcome if you are willing to question yourself and others.
Some previous meeting topics have been inspired by:
Zen
Christian Mysticism
Sufism
Advaita Vedanta
Buddhism
Ramana Maharshi
Nisargadatta
Douglas Harding
Richard Rose
Bernadette Roberts
Franklin Merrell-Wolff
John of the Cross
Rumi
Theresa of Avilla
G.I. Gurdjieff
Eckhart Tolle
Rupert Spira
J. Krishnamurti
P.D. Ouspensky
Paul Brunton
Hubert Benoit
Currently (2025) we hold two in-person meetings each month in person at Aladdin's Restaurant /Eatery in Pittsburgh, an online Zoom meeting every Wednesday evening and occasional monthly book reviews and talks by authors and noted speakers.
Our online meetings are 2 hours long, based on a new topic each week, and everyone who wants to participate gets somewhat equal time to give their view or opinion and then be questioned.
Typically 8-12 people attend Wednesday evening online Zoom meetings, and 3-6 people attend Monday evening in-person meetings, both to which new people are welcome. We do ask for a short introduction from newcomers.
Some resources regarding self-inquiry include:
- TAT Foundation.org: a self-inquiry organization that hosts four in-person weekend retreats each year at the Claymont Retreat Center https://claymont.org/ 80 miles NW of W.DC as well as "TAT Talks" one Sunday online each month. Check out the book titles for sale as well as references to the teachings of founder Richard Rose, various instructors and member activities in both the U.S. and Europe.
- TAT Forum: Monthly publication of self-inquiry articles and reader feedback which includes a list of self-inquiry groups. Subscription is free and your participation is welcomed.
- spiritualteachers.org
- selfdefinition.org
- selfdiscoveryportal.com
- mysticmissal.org
Meet-up groups:
Pittsburgh Self-inquiry Group -online Wednesday 8PM (check out listing of meeting topics since 2016)
Pittsburgh Self-inquiry Live -local in-person meetings two Mondays each month
For further info, or Zoom invitation to public meetings, please email us.
Thank you for your interest and hope to see you soon.
selfinquirer@aol.com
Upcoming events
1
ONLINE Wed, Apr 15: "The Vector and Retreating from Untruth"
·OnlineOnlineAnyone who attends our meetings will hear the phrase "to become a vector" used. Another is the "retreat from untruth".
This evening's meeting will pursue a critical review of our understanding of both phrases, which together Rose termed a "reversal technique" and how they are meaningful in our individual attempts for "going within".Richard Rose's suggestion has been described by some as an aggressive approach to Truth, but regardless, it only matters to the individual if this approach to self-inquiry answers to their intuition.
There is a Law of the Reversed Vector: "Man must become identified with a vector, as a force, if he wishes for results. If the vector is aimed in the wrong direction (relative world objectives) his life is wasted. The Law states that you cannot approach the Truth. You must become (a vector) but you cannot learn the absolute Truth. We find there is only one way, and that is to first build ourselves a very determined person - a vector. We must back into the Truth only by backing away from untruths." -Rose
“… We begin to notice a motion within the head. The physical head does not move, but we become conscious of a mental head that literally turns away from a view. When you are able to turn this internal head, whenever you wish, without any inability to continue thinking, you are halfway home.” -Rose
To aid in the discussion this evening, we'll be selectively referring to a Google Doc by Lenny, here. It is worth further contemplation as are other writings for pursuing a reversal technique. There is no single technique to learn, only hints, inspiration and one's own intuition to guide us. Our evening's discussion will hope to sift through some of these ideas so that each of us can better 'catch the drift'.
******************************
Similar phrases:
Un-Manifesting the ManifestedBecoming via Un-becoming
Retreating From Un-truth, Re-traversing the projected ray
Going within, Backing away, Letting go,
Stopping, Turning away, Subtraction, Eliminating, Shifting, Rising aboveAttempts at definition:
Definition of Truth: The Absolute absence of ALL un-truth. Cannot be: conceptualized, described, pointed at, known. Has no existence. “Absolute”Definition of un-truth: m/Mind/s ~ c/Consciousness/s interpretations of received &/or interpreted data: i.e. our perception of: All & Everything. All that exists.
Definition of Retreating From un-truth: Retraversing The Projected Ray, Un-Manifesting the Manifested, Becoming via Unbecoming
Definition of The Projected Ray: God's Will (i suppose we could say God is the “Light” of The Absolute)
Definition of God's Will: Intent to Manifest All Possibilities (Infinite Creation followed by Intent on continuation of the species)
Definition of Enlightenment: Having “experienced” the Absolute absence of all untruth (death of the m/Mind)… … a word-jumble to attempt description: a shift prior to existence / non-existence…Examples of simple "untruths" worth investigating:
We/ego/entity/it: wants a snack, feels ashamed, thinks, believes, is confused, questions, feels insulted, awakens, imagines, dreams, story lines
We notice that we have deep seated pre-existing beliefs about various things that don’t allow us to see each individual situations clearlyWe are very angry when someone infers we are less than them/others
We see that we have groups of egos/entities that form a “collective” referred to as “states-of-mind”
We get angry, frustrated & depressed in specific situations
We think we know things (it is not the things we think we know but that we think we know)
***************************
Questions to further ponder:- If you do not practice retreating, how do you re-traverse the projected ray?
- If you do not or do not believe in re-traversing the projected ray, what do you do?
- How does re-traversing work?
- Are there differences between: retreating, going within, backing away, letting go, shifting
surrendering, stopping, turning away, subtracting, eliminating, ignoring, rising above? - How important is retreating from little un-truths?
- Who/what is doing the retreating?
- How does retreating feel?
- How do we know if we are retreating?
- What is the outcome of retreating?
2 attendees
Past events
436
