What we’re about

Welcome to the Portland Philosophical Self-Inquiry Group

Who am I? What is my true nature? Why am I here? What is the ultimate nature of reality? What is really true? If you find yourself returning to these questions, you might be interested in attending our meetings.

The group’s purpose is to work together — to help each other — to explore these questions without reliance on dogma or blind belief. Rather than promoting particular answers or the accumulation of more spiritual knowledge, our general approach is self-inquiry and “backing away from untruth.” If you find yourself drawn to teachers like Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Franklin Merrell-Wolff, Douglas Harding, or Richard Rose, you may find our meetings worthwhile.

We aim to provide an environment where people seeking to discover a true understanding of themselves and their place in the cosmos can work together.

Meditation shouldn't be sitting there looking at your third eye or something like that. It should be arguing with yourself, analyzing within your own mind. I don't believe in sitting down for the purpose of meditating. I believe in productive thinking … to find out what your obstacle is. I don't tell you to pursue knowledge; I tell you to do things that will provoke your mind to think.

~ Richard Rose

I aim to find and work alongside individuals who are consciously seeking for a permanent end to suffering, or those who are looking for something in themselves that is eternal, beyond time.

In such an endeavor, one's potential to deceive oneself, or get off track is great; working with a group of individuals who are aiming for a similar goal can provide invaluable mirroring, jolts, feedback, inspiration and, -- perhaps most importantly -- friendship, when one is stuck in a rut, unawares.

Rocking the boat by questioning deeply-held beliefs is one way, in my view, that has the potential to accelerate the rate of disillusionment and self-discovery. What we're doing is not always comfortable -- but it has the potential to be deeply meaningful for someone who wants it all.

To get a feel for our approach and orientation, you can look up Art Ticknor (see links below), his teacher, Richard Rose, and the TAT Foundation. Some others who have a related approach and orientation are Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Marahshi, and Franklin Merrell-Wolff.