News
2017 FMW Conference Report
August 17, 2017 / Leave a Comment / Trackback / Posted in News
The 2017 FMW Conference exceeded expectations insofar as it overflowed its designed framework in unexpectedly delightful ways. Also because those here for the first time made unique contributions. A pre-conference guest—a professor from Penn State University—set the stage for the weekend with a dynamic discussion at the Round Table over his gift of a home cooked gourmet meal. Two attendees were thus inspired to make a spiritual pilgrimage to the Ashrama on Thursday, bringing a profound energy to the group upon their return. Later, a friend who had recently attained his PhD in England brought his lovely friend from Malaysia. The core attendees were comprised of only 3 astrological signs—with no fire signs among all who were here.
After several who were invited to be Keynote Speaker had declined, Ron reluctantly accepted, presenting an exploration of various notions of truth: refuting several defective approaches to truth, clarifying our common conception of truth as the correspondence of a proposition to the facts, showing how phenomenological reflection reveals an originary ground in intentionality—as the appearance of an object fulfilling to whatever degree the meaning intended—then culminating in a treatment of Transcendent Truth with special connection to FMW.
Although Mike Ellis did not feel ready to be Keynote Speaker, his Inversion Workshop was worthy of that venue. He guided us effectively through a version of Shankara’s Atmavidya that evoked a deep meditative state resulting in a sense of freedom from the habitual identification with objects, revealing the Subject-to-Consciousness.
Doroethy presented Sherifa’s Story, emphasizing her first half of life…prior to her marriage to Franklin. What a remarkable woman!
The Special Program on Saturday evening turned out to be a Healing Circle, as Ron found that (suggested by the group Tarot reading) there were several in the group—and more outside the circle—in need of healing energy…which the group then provided in powerful abundance. A heartfelt Candlelight Ceremony followed, transitioning naturally into a Starlight Walk during the Perseid meteor shower.
Other spontaneous developments during the weekend included a work party to complete one of Doroethy’s outdoor projects at GSC, and the selection of the most inductive part of Franklin’s “The Unconscious,” which sparked a discussion twice as long as the tape.
As has become traditional, Baiba led us in a Sufi dance of love for the Closing Ceremony, just prior to an intimate group sharing over a delicious potluck.
Ron Leonard
2017 FMW Conference
April 09, 2017 / Leave a Comment / Trackback / Posted in News
The 2017 Franklin Merrell-Wolff Conference will be held August 10–13 at the Great Space Center. The keynote speaker, Ron Leonard, PhD, will focus on this year’s theme of Truth, distinguishing between the ordinary and Transcendent senses of the term, then guiding the group toward a Realization of the latter. Doroethy Leonard, M.Ed., MC, will discuss, Why I Wrote a Personal Memoir on Franklin, and share a lifetime of memories that were not included in her book. Mike Ellis, BA, MS, will conduct an Inversion Workshop, by leading a group meditation on the process of inversion—a turning of the locus of consciousness from the object to the subject. Once the full program is set, we shall announce the details on this website under Embrace.
Paypal Option
January 16, 2017 / Leave a Comment / Trackback / Posted in News
Paypal at Merrell-Wolff Press is a convenient option for purchasing Doroethy’s memoir of Franklin (See the MEMOIR tab), subscribing to the Sangha newsletter (See the Newsletter tab.), etc.
Doroethy’s Memoir Published
January 15, 2017 / Leave a Comment / Trackback / Posted in News
Doroethy is delighted to announce the publication of her memoir of her grandfather, Franklin Merrell-Wolff: An American Philosopher and Mystic. For more information about the book and author, and to order your autographed copy at a 20% discount, click the “Memoir” tab under the “Stimulate” tab.
2016 FMW Conference Report
August 13, 2016 / Leave a Comment / Trackback / Posted in News
This year’s FMW Conference was very gratifying for several unique reasons. Ray Kerr, our Keynote Speaker, delivered a tour de force in his talk on “Convergence” that more than succeeded in filling in the content in the broad scope suggested by his statement presented in the Sangha. [RL—I shall present a review of it in the Fall 2016 issue of the Sangha.]
Doroethy exceeded her original intention to present “The Intuitive Approach to Franklin’s Philosophy” by also comparing it to Jung’s typology and contrasting it to Introception. I ventured beyond developing a succinct definition of the term epiphany (with examples from various traditions and from attendees) to attempt by guided meditations to create a space that would be conducive for those in the group to open to their own epiphanies. The result in terms of depth and altered consciousness I attribute mainly to the rare capacity of this group to be willing to engage in the process. Sherie and Jennifer provided very personal value in their Saturday evening special program—you just had to be there….
Everyone was present for the dream and tarot circles (a first), which had an easeful profundity. The music for the conference, arranged by Sherie and Jennifer, created the mood for each talk (except that I chose music targeted to enhance the guided meditations.) Baiba conducted a heart-centered Closing Ceremony that balanced our weekend and set the mood for our celebratory potluck.
For the (I’ve lost count.) year in a row we had new participants, who brought a fresh dimension to enliven our round table discussions and ensure new energies for the continuing conferences. Overall, the theme of realization (Yes, epiphanies may be viewed as realizations.) presented from different perspectives (emphasized by our readings in EP and Franklin’s tape summarizing them), reaffirmed Franklin’s concern in later life that those who seek to understand his philosophy as a guide to their own spiritual development not lose sight of the foundation.
Ron Leonard