Vichara 2

SATURDAY NIGHT at ACIM Gather
June 20th
8:30pm - 10pm ET

Mike Helsher
Teacher, Counselor , Inspiration

"The Conversation is the Teacher"

Mike Helsher is the founder of the Vichara Conversation Group on Yahoo at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vichara_Conversation/

I asked Ben Gilberti to provide an overview for this evening,

as Mike Helsher had consented at last moment to this evening!
Ben Gilberti replied as follows:

As an overview of the evening, a look at Vichara below is helpful

John Sherman wrote to the Vichara_Conversation Group explaining what he means by the word "Vichara" . . . . as follows:

For me, vichara is a word, a container of understanding. I started to use it because I was looking for a word, and when I tried to find out what that word actually meant, I discovered that although it is most often used to mean something along the lines of investigation or reflection, its range of permissible usage seems to have no boundaries at all, encompassing all manner of things and activities, across all parts of speech. Much like human selfhood; much like the ocean of consciousness itself.

When I speak of vichara, I am speaking of the entire expanse of reality -- certainly including the intentional turning of attention inward looking for one's own actual nature, and certainly including the fruit of that inward turning, which is the snuffing out of the ignorance and fear that spoils life.

But I mean all the rest as well, all the limitless rest. When I speak of vichara, I think what I see is similar to the wild perfection spoken of as the Tao, but so far as I know, the teachings of the Tao are focused on outward measures intended to bring the life into alignment with the Tao, as if it were possible to be out of alignment.

Sometimes I feel that certain Christian expressions are closer to what I mean: the way, the truth, and the life. When I speak of vichara, I mean to indicate the wide-open-eyed wonder of the simple beholding of all in all. - John Sherman

To introduce Mike Helsher, simply say that he is a friend of mine and a friend of John Sherman as well, is the Founder of the Vichara_Conversation Yahoo Group, and has studied and practiced a wide variety of spiritual disciplines,

including ACIM, for many years.

Please send both of us a copy of the announcement when you post it to POG, and please also post the announcement to the Vichara_Conversation group.

Thanks for all your help, patience and forbearance.

Ben Gilberti

http://bengilberti.com/

John Sherman Podcasts
John Sherman talks that explain the Vichara, for free streaming or downloading
http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/

June 6, 2009 World Wide Online Meeting with John Sherman
1 hr. 55 min
http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2009/06/a-worldwide-meeting---june-6-2009.html

This Is Not Spiritual
John makes this clear in this seven minute video
http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_videos/page/2/

But the main focus here is on what doesn't come and go; what is always here, present in this moment, that never changes; is neither harmed nor helped by all of whatever comes and goes in us; that which cannot be spoken about, that is almost too simple to understand.

We're talking about the ordinary, un-mitigated, un-describable, un-clouded by spiritual or therapeutic understanding, experience of YOU, here, now, in this instant.