Nonduality Satsang, July 25, 2009, at 1313 Hollis St., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Organizers and Contacts: Mandee Labelle, James Traverse, Dustin LindenSmith, Jerry Katz
Contributors: Mandee Labelle, Jerry Katz, James Traverse, Dustin LindenSmith, Noogamijiij, Little Grandmother Selina, Terry Choyce, Rashana, Navjeet Kaur, Maureen Nowlan, Allie Kane, Oriah Ori, Josh Coleman, Susan Johnstone.
Summary of talks and events:
On July 25th, 2009 a second Non-Duality
Satsang was held at 1313 Hollis Street in Halifax. The theme of
this event was to celebrate Oneness through first being together
in a gathering in the service of truth (the meaning of the word
'satsang') and also by the presentation of various art forms. The
event was organized by Jerry Katz, James Traverse, Dustin
Lindensmith, and Mandee Labelle, and the greater community was
invited, not only to attend, but to participate and express
themselves in this open and welcoming forum.
Jerry Katz beautifully set the tone of the event with a poetry
reading of Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself'. Jerry not only read
the enlightening verses, but proceeded to highlight where to look
in Whitman's words for the depth of understanding that is being
expressed. If you would like to read Jerry's notes on this poem
you can visit his blog at http://nonduality.org/2008/11/27/walt-whitman-living-the-paradox-of-nonduality/
James Traverse followed with a few moments
of silence that set the scene for his short commentary on Satsang
that seamlessly transitioned into his reading of some prose
poetry by J Krishnamurti about a solitary tree in a meadow. He
then presented brief comments on the three titans of
Nonduality-Advaita of the past hundred years as the sages Ramana
Maharshi and his inquiry based teaching of 'Who am I?',
Nisargadatta Maharaj and his teaching based on the understanding
'I am That', and Atmananda Krishna Menon who proposed the
deconstruction process to reveal one's true nature. James then
connected back to the Krishnamurti reading by inviting folks to
join him as he led an exploration of a variation of the 'tree'
pose in the light of Atmananda's deconstruction process; he
finished his presentation with a summary that naturally flowed
into the silence between presenters.
Noogamijiij, Little Grandmother Selina then stood up to extend an
ancient sound greeting to everyone.
Mandee Labelle then led an inquiry and guided meditation into the
question 'What Am I?'.
Terry Choyce, moved into the silence with offering a celebration
of Oneness by encouraging the group to connect physically through
being closer to each other until there was physical contact.
Dustin LindenSmith started his presentation with a rendition on
tenor saxophone of an old jazz standard ballad called "You
Don't Know What Love Is," first made popular by the seminal
jazz tenor saxophonist and spiritual aspirant John Coltrane. He
continued with a brief talk on his personal history with
nonduality and how he has used his evolving understanding of
nonduality to contextualize and understand some of the more
significant sorrows in the world which have touched him since his
childhood: namely, the Jewish Holocaust in WWII and the
enslavement of blacks in the United States. The history of black
enslavement is particularly significant to Dustin inasmuch as it
became the foundation upon which the music he so loves was
invented: jazz. As Dustin's nondual insights have coalesced over
the past 10-15 years, he has come to believe that literally all
of the world's problems and conflicts could be resolved with
profound nondual understanding. He closed his presentation with a
B-flat blues called "Sonnymoon for Two," written by
another great black jazz tenor saxophonist named Sonny Rollins,
who also still happens to be alive and performing today
Rashana shared her sound healing voice with the group with a
blessing. She then opened the forum for participants to request
sound for certain things such as peace, love, and as she made
sound people also joined in.
Navjeet Kaur shared her healing voice by leading the group in the
Gayatri Mantra.
Maureen Nowlan read three beautiful poems that she had written.
Allie Kane played and sang an amazing song she was inspired to
write for the guitar.
Mandee and Oriah Ori then led an Osho Kundalini Dynamic
Meditation that consisted of movement and dance, leading
naturally into a Healing Laughter Session and then into Savasana,
yoga relaxation pose.
The presentations concluded with a gentle healing meditation
offered by Josh Coleman.
Upon coming out of the savasana meditation, a circle naturally
formed and Susan Johnstone shared a song which we sang. There
were concluding comments and gratitude shared and several people
stayed for a while.
Overall, the transitions flowed seamlessly, the vibe was open,
honest, and accepting, it was a model for how things can really
be that radically free and welcoming. Just as life truly is,
beyond our ideas and concepts of it.
namaste'