On August 9-10, 2010, Spiritual Paths presented an entertaining and enlightening program at the Aspen Chapel with a renowned “mentalist,” Gerard Senehi, a revered Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Geshe Lobsang Negi, and the President of the Spiritual Paths Foundation, Dr. Ed Bastian.
Click here for event details and registration.

“Mentalism,” as practiced by Gerard Senehi, projects the possibilities of telekinesis, clairvoyance, thought reading, and telepathy.  His work inspires us to marvel mysteries of existence, to question the illusions of everyday experience, to examine the capacity of meditation to perceive the nature of reality, and to explore the practice of spirituality for transforming our lives.

Gerard’s demonstration led into a discussion with Geshe Lobsang and Dr. Ed Bastian about the nature of consciousness, the causes of illusion, and meditative methods for achieving wisdom, liberation, and compassion to help others.  Their discussion with the audience opened minds and stimulated further exploration of the nature of reality and purpose of spiritual practice.

Our events included a Monday, August 9 benefit dinner at private home (5:30 pm), followed by a presentation at the Aspen Chapel (7:30 pm), and a Tuesday morning seminar at the Aspen Chapel ( August 10, 9:00 – Noon).

Geshe Lobsang Negi is a revered Tibetan Buddhist teacher.  He is senior lecturer in the Department of Religion and Director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership. He serves as Co-Director of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative and Co-Director of the Emory Collaborative of Contemplative Studies.  His career has focused on the potential of mind to affect well-being on physical, emotional and mental levels and is now centered in three areas: Clinical research on the behavioral, immune and stress impacts of contemplative practices; Developing and implementing a science curriculum for Tibetan monastics; and Teaching Tibetan Buddhism both at Emory University and Atlanta’s Drepung Loseling.

Gerard Senehi is an awe-inspiring and entertaining mentalist.  An artist who projects the possibilities of telekinesis, thought reading, and telepathy, he has performed throughout the world, expanding the minds and inspiring the most serious skeptics, scientists, world and business leaders. He uses his abilities to help people suspend and question their fixed and limited ideas of reality, to engage in life’s mysteries, and open up to the extraordinary potential of human consciousness.

Ed Bastian is President of the Spiritual Paths Foundation, holding a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies.  He brings together extraordinary teachers and practitioners of meditation from the world’s great spiritual traditions.  Through meditation Ed and his teachers help people transcend the boundaries of normal perception, to find joy in the magic of everyday life, to live fully in wisdom and compassion, and develop their own spiritual paths.

Together, the “Mentalist and the Meditators” will share their knowledge, penetrate the illusions of everyday life, and explore the extraordinary possibilities of the human mind and our collective future.

Schedule

Monday, August 9, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Benefit Dinner & Demonstration
Home of Lexie and Robert Potamkin$100 Tax Deductible Donation

Monday, August 9, 7:30 – 9 pm
Presentation at the Aspen Chapel
Aspen Chapel
(0077 Meadowood Dr., Aspen, CO)
$20.00

Tuesday, August 10, 9:00 am – Noon
Informal Seminar
Aspen Chapel
$20.00

Click here for event details and registration.

Program Rationale

“When ordinary folk perceive phenomena,
They look on them as real, not illusory…..”

“All things, depend on other things,
And these likewise depend; nothing is independent.
Knowing this, we will not be annoyed
At things that are like magical appearances.
(Shantideva, “Way of the Bodhisattva”)

Buddha taught that the world as it normally appears is an illusion, like the appearance of the rope as a snake, the mirage as a lake, the gold as beautiful, the leper as ugly, the objects in a dream as real.  Reality, as it normally appears, is colored by our false projections, our intellectual bias, our cultural conditioning, and our emotions.

Buddhist Meditation is designed to help us to eliminate the ignorance and negative emotions that cloud our vision of the world. When our minds are clear of these, we can objectively see the world as it is. When we are free of illusion, we can become tranquil, compassionate, and wise.

Classical Buddhist texts claim that meditation can induce paranormal states of consciousness like clairvoyance, mind reading, and a host of other psychic powers.  These are not regarded as spiritual virtues or ends in themselves, but just natural capacities of consciousness.  Compassionate and wise practitioners can use these powers to help others.  In the wrong hands, they can do great harm.

Gerard Senehi has generously agreed to participate in a program where these fascinating issues can be explored.  Although he is an adept in the art and skill of a “mentalist,” he does not confuse these with spiritual virtue or prowess.  Rather, he uses his art and skill to open people to grander possibilities of human consciousness and to transcend the illusions of normal perception.  While he does not claim magical or psychic powers, his demonstration of this potentiality is breathtaking.

Gerard will provide a fun and provocative window into the subject of consciousness, illusion, meditation, and spiritual practice.  His demonstration will lead into a discussion with Geshe Lobsang and Dr. Ed Bastian about the nature of consciousness, the causes of illusion, and meditative methods for achieving wisdom, liberation, and compassion to help others.

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT DETAILS AND REGISTRATION.