Truth Is All That Matters

In 1993, I was in a federal prison in Englewood, Colorado in the fifteenth year of my imprisonment for a number of politically motivated bank robberies and acts of sabotage I had done in the ’70s. At that time, I was absolutely, utterly uninterested in anything spiritual. I had long since persuaded myself that all things spiritual were just stories we told ourselves to get us through the days without dying from despair at the obvious uselessness and hopelessness of our lives – lives that were in the end just dead meat walking and talking until it fell down dead again. I really didn’t have any interest in anything spiritual. But in September of 1993, a friend of mine invited me to a meeting with a spiritual teacher who was coming to the prison – according to him, a gorgeous, blonde, southern American woman – bringing some exotic, Indian spiritual teaching. He asked me if I would like to come to the chapel and spend a couple of hours with her. Well, of course I would. Her purpose was beside the point. I’m offered the chance to spend a couple of hours in a small group with a gorgeous, blonde Southern woman with some exotic teaching to offer. What could possibly be the down side to that? Continue Reading »

Date: Sunday, December 3
From 1:30 to 6:00 pmWe will meet in a house located on Country Ranch Road in Westlake Village, California, which is about 40 miles north of Santa Monica.

There will be two meetings with John, with a short break for tea and cookies.

John recommends that we remain in conversational silence during the afternoon, except during the time of formal satsang with him. This way, it is possible to avoid all unnecessary distraction and our energy and attention can be fully focused on the investigation.

All are welcome, with no regard for religious and spiritual beliefs or practices.

This event is free of charge.

There are a limited number of places available. Pre-registration is required.

IMPORTANT: This is an all-afternoon event and participants are required to attend both meetings. It is not possible to attend individual meetings.

ATTENTION: THE TIME FOR THIS MEETING HAS CHANGED

Sunday, November 19, at 2:30 pm
Joslyn Park - Crafts Room
633 Kensington Road
Santa Monica, California 90405-2417

Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early.
The meeting will last approximately 2 hours.

Meetings in Satsang are free of charge. All are welcome.

Donations for the support of satsang are always welcome and gratefully accepted.

For more information, please call 805-646-0994.

Click here for a map and driving directions

In ancient times, humanity — that is we — dealt with the horror of inexplicable existence in a harsh and unforgiving world by first creating and then worshiping with unconditional fear and devotion, gods and spirits; we bowed down to them as the source of all things, good and evil, that befell us. We sought ways to placate and protect ourselves from these dark and incomprehensible forces and their inscrutable movements in the world by sacrifice; by the intervention of shamans, rituals, superstitious rites and so forth; and by abject submission to what we imagined to be their will. Continue Reading »

Spiritual teachers must answer to a higher standard of behavior and accountability than their students; we can not be excused for abusive, cruel behavior on the basis of any idea that we are inherently immune from criticism by virtue of our advanced state of realization.

We are, after all, those to whom people come for help resolving the most profound and disturbing aspects of all human existence; we are those to whom they come seeking final release from the universal suffering that seems to be the natural lot of human life. And as such, like it or not, we are looked upon as being outside and above the norm, different from them, and answering to a higher call than service to ourselves and to our own happiness and gratification.  Continue Reading »