NEAR ENEMIES OF THE TRUTH BOOK STUDY
with Joseph Bailey
February 3, 10, 17, March 3, 10 6:30PM - 7:45PM
Marigold [648 SW 2nd St. Suite 100, Corvallis, OR]
Sliding Scale: $45•$60•$75
ABOUT THE BOOK STUDY
The contemplative path can be one of the most worthy and rewarding paths of a human life. The benefits for ourselves and the world around us are immeasurable. Just as there are a vast amount of practices that can lead us to Awakening; there are pitfalls in anyone’s spiritual journey. In his book, Near Enemies of the Truth, Dr. Christopher Wallis discusses 17 pitfalls, or misconceptions, that commonly arise for modern spiritual practitioners.
A few common misconceptions he writes about:
- Follow Your Bliss
- Everything Happens for a Reason
- You Are Your Own Guru
- You Create Your Own Reality
Some of his suggestions are provocative, and during the workshop you will have an opportunity to talk about them.
During the weeks of inquiry, we will discuss the concepts and then practice techniques to help identify points of inquiry in our own paths. Disillusionment may prove to be rich fodder for new insight and lead to possible ways of adjusting and refining our approach to contemplative practice.
WHAT ARE "NEAR ENEMIES?"
Near enemies are defined as “states that appear similar to the desired quality but actually undermines it.” Christopher Wallis, PhD
Jack Kornfield writes, “The near enemies depict how spirituality can be misunderstood or misused to separate us from life.”
In Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown writes, “the near enemies of emotions or experiences might look and even feel like connection, but ultimately they drive us to be disconnected from ourselves and from each other. Without awareness, near enemies become the practices that fuel separation, rather than practices that reinforce the inextricable connection of all people.”
PRAISE FOR NEAR ENEMIES OF THE TRUTH
“Near Enemies of the Truth is like a Zen master’s sword—both uncompromising and kind—and, as such, an invaluable companion to anyone who wishes to be scrupulously honest in their quest to recognize their essential nature and its inherent peace.”
—Rupert Spira, spiritual teacher, philosopher, and author of You Are the Happiness You Seek
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“A much-needed book for not just the world of spiritual seekers but for anyone interested in understanding their inner landscapes and arriving at peace and wisdom.”
—Kavitha Chinnaiyan, MD, award-winning author of Shakti Rising and Glorious Alchemy
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“Near Enemies of the Truth is a deliciously disruptive inoculation against BS teachings in the world of alternative spirituality. I wish this could be required reading for all ‘spiritual teachers'.”
—Harshada David Wagner, meditation teacher and spiritual coach
BOOK ACCESS
| BUY THE BOOK |
Grassroots Bookstore (Local!) | Thriftbook | Amazon (Hardcover) | |
|---|---|
| BORROW THE BOOK | Libby Library | Cloud Library | World Cat |
READING SCHEDULE
| Week 1 | February 3 | Introduction, Near Enemy (Ch. 1-3, pp. ix-31) & Reality (pp. 185-200) |
| Week 2 | February 10 | Near Enemy (Ch. 46, pp. 45-67) & Enlightenment (pp. 201-214) |
| Week 3 | February 17 | Near Enemy (Ch. 7-10, pp. 69-100) & Ego (pp. 215-228) |
| Week 4 | March 3 | Near Enemy (Ch. 11-13, pp. 100-147) & Nonduality (pp. 229-238) |
| Week 5 | March 10 | Near Enemy (Ch.14-17, pp. 149-181) & Surrender (pp. 239-249) |
ABOUT THE TEACHER
Joseph Bailey
Joseph Bailey’s wisdom traditions inquiry spans over 50 years. It began in the early 1960’s as a child living in Japan as a secular Christian within a military culture. Retreats in India in the early 80’s deepened his practice. The last 30 years’ primary focus has been in the Buddhist tantric and dozoghcen traditions (Tibetan and Indian). He completed a variety of foundational practices and long individual retreats within the Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma and Dzogchen paths.
Somatically his path includes a variety of hatha yoga, pranayama and other Indian and contemporary movement practices. The mid-80s found him teaching hatha yoga in the Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions. He has been a student of a variety of somatic practices and lately with Continuum and Imaginal and Ecstatic Movement. Through the 80s and 90s he was a mountain, river, and wilderness guide.
Over the last 5 years he has studied nada yoga (sound practice within the Tibetan and Indian traditions).
Currently he is interested in the tantric and dzogchen wisdom traditions, ancient and contemporary somatic and sounding practices, and mythopoetic inquiries that help people thrive in concert with the more-than-human-world.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For ability-related accommodations, please email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 541-737-4785. Registration fees are refundable before January 31. Click to register.