What we’re about
Welcome to the Gainesville Philosophical Self-Inquiry Group
What's behind the sense of "I am"? Who's living, and who's facing death? Who or what am I, essentially? Will some part of me continue on after death? Is there an unchanging, eternal part of me? Am I a part of some unchanging, eternal essence?
Occasional individuals throughout history have told of finding the answer to those questions, and their testimonies often have a surprising consistency. Richard Rose wrote: "Beyond the mind is a golden find...."
For individuals seeking to find the answer for themselves, those testimonies provide helpful clues for pursuing the search to a successful conclusion.
For some searchers, working by themselves is the preferred method. Others intuit that finding a few fellow seekers to work with may expedite their progress. Still more fortunate may be those who find a living person who has made the journey and can provide assistance from the perspective of that realization.
~ Art Ticknor (part of intro to his website)
I aim to find and work alongside individuals who are consciously seeking a permanent end to suffering.
In such an endeavor, it can be difficult to stay on track; working with individuals who are aiming for a similar goal can provide invaluable mirroring, jolts, feedback, inspiration, and friendship.
Having deeply-held beliefs challenged is one way that has the potential to accelerate the rate of disillusionment and self-discovery; in our meetings we aim to do just that, and often use a form of questioning called confrontation.
We're fortunate to have Art Ticknor working with us, a seeker of 25 years, who finally found "the solid ground of being." Art currently comes to meetings every other week; he aims to do what he can to aid those of us still lost in illusion. In knowing him over the past few years, I have found his perspective and experience invaluable. His perspective, combined with a keen understanding of psychology, and first- and second-hand knowledge of the many traps seekers can fall into, has likely saved me many byways and dead-ends.
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.
~ Nathan
FAQs
Q: I was hoping to have a free-form discussion on spirituality. Why don't we do that instead?
A: Discussion is valuable, but it can also quickly devolve into mutual back-patting, complaining, advice-giving or weighing the pros and cons of X, Y, or Z. We attempt to create a situation that is different from everyday life where one participant, with the help of the group, is turned in on themselves -- hopefully to see something new.
Occasionally we'll have retreats or meet outside of the meetings -- I can assure you that normal and everyday conversation does occur!
Q: I see you have a topic for this week -- I prepared notes. Why aren't we staying on topic?
A: It's hard to predict where a line of questioning will take us -- a topic for the week is valuable in that it gives people somewhere from which to start. But questioning can take us somewhere seemingly quite different, entirely. That's the beauty of the whole group process.
Links
Group
Art Ticknor
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Philosophical self-inquiry meetingAlachua County Library District Headquarters, Gainesville, FL
This Meeting Location: (see location explanation below).
Topic: Transcending the Mind
Objective: Solve the existential riddle (and big problem) of life and death.
Direction: Inquire into the core of being.
"Our view of identity is that it's a structure made of what we identify with. Rumi says that identity must be torn down, completely demolished along with its little tailoring shop, the patch-sewing of eating and drinking consolation. Inner work is not all ecstatic surrender. Don't listen too often, Rumi advises, to the comforting part of the self that gives you what you want. Pray instead for a tough instructor. Nothing less than the radical disassembling of what we've wanted and gotten, and what we still wish for, allows us to discover the value of true being that lies underneath. The pickaxe, for Rumi, represents whatever does this fierce attention-work: clear discernment, a teacher's presence, simple strength, and honesty with oneself. The pickaxe dismantles the illusory personality and finds two glints in the dirt. Like eyes they are, but these jewels are not personal. Rumi points to a treasure within our lives unconnected to experience. It is intrinsic, beyond calculation, a given, reached after the ego is cleared away and a one-pointedness digs under the premises. ~ "On the Pickaxe" introduction by Coleman Barks to Chapter 9, "The Pickaxe: Getting to the Treasure Beneath the Foundation," of The Essential Rumi, New Expanded Edition.The discussions are focused on self-inquiry and structured around a topic or whatever is on your mind.
We meet on alternate Saturdays (occasionally with an extra week between), and since 2013 all meetings were at the Main Alachua County Library ... until 2025. The library system allows us to reserve one meeting room each month in advance, then not until the day of any other meetings. So far this year we haven't been able to reserve rooms in advance at the main library.
We will include locations reserved in advance on these meeting blurbs. For other meetings, we will message members who accept messages as soon on the meeting day as we've been able to reserve a location.
At meetings at the main library, check with the information desk on the 2nd floor for the exact meeting room location.
> Philosophical Self-Inquiry is an unconventional adventure.
> Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.
> Self-Inquiry is going within to find answers.
> The general self-inquiry question for each meeting: What are you at the core of your being? - Philosophical self-inquiry meetingAlachua County Library District Headquarters, Gainesville, FL
This Meeting Location: (see location explanation below).
Topic: The Treasure Within our Lives Unconnected to Experience
Objective: Solve the existential riddle (and big problem) of life and death.
Direction: Inquire into the core of being.
In his introduction to Chapter 9, "The Pickaxe: Getting to the Treasure Beneath the Foundation," of The Essential Rumi, Coleman Barks refers to the "treasure within our lives unconnected to experience."
The enso, or calligraphic circle, represents an opening of the mind to That which is beyond experience and beyond imagination.The discussions are focused on self-inquiry and structured around a topic or whatever is on your mind.
We meet on alternate Saturdays (occasionally with an extra week between), and since 2013 all meetings were at the Main Alachua County Library ... until 2025. The library system allows us to reserve one meeting room each month in advance, then not until the day of any other meetings. So far this year we haven't been able to reserve rooms in advance at the main library.
We will include locations reserved in advance on these meeting blurbs. For other meetings, we will message members who accept messages as soon on the meeting day as we've been able to reserve a location.
At meetings at the main library, check with the information desk on the 2nd floor for the exact meeting room location.
> Philosophical Self-Inquiry is an unconventional adventure.
> Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.
> Self-Inquiry is going within to find answers.
> The general self-inquiry question for each meeting: What are you at the core of your being?
