NON DUAL SPIRITUALITY    Part one includes interviews with teachers with backgrounds in the various Eastern and Western non dual spiritual traditions.   The bios were taken from the various teachers websites.

 

7. SHAWN NEVINS     Shawn Nevins began his spiritual search in 1990, a search that culminated in a final Realization in 1999 as he was reading Franklin Merrell-Wolff's paper entitled The Induction. His creative endeavors include the book The Celibate Seeker and the film Closer Than Close—an acclaimed documentary on Self-realization. Shawn is also the co-author of Images of Essence, and his poems have appeared in Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, Sacred Journey, and Poetry Chaikhana. Presently, Shawn is involved in numerous outreach activities for seekers through the TAT Foundation. More information: Poetry in Motion Films.  www.spiritualteachers.org

INTERVIEW

 

Can you please tell me why you set up the web site www.spiritualteachers.org ?   Shawn Nevins: In 1999, during a low point of my spiritual search, I'd basically given up the idea that I would have a spiritual realization. I still, however, felt that my years of seeking were well spent and I wanted to share some of the knowledge I had found. In retrospect, I feel this was a significant milestone on my path. My only thought was to share what I had found of value and that maybe some others would be helped by my sharing. That sharing was the first truly selfless thing I did.   Can you please tell me about your teacher Richard Rose; did he charge you for these teachings in any way in terms of expecting you to repay him by cash, work, gift or any another way?   Shawn Nevins: I knew Richard Rose from around 1991 till he passed away in 2005. I spent three years living on his farm in West Virginia. The most significant thing I could say is that he gave me a taste of the Absolute. There were times around him, when the air would grow thick with profundity. I knew that he knew what was Real and that there was a Reality, somewhere, for the finding. He was also kind enough to give of his time and his property for people who wanted to engage in serious pursuit of spiritual goals. He charged me $50/month to stay on his farm. I would help out, now and then, feeding the goats or mending a fence, but there was never a requirement or even a feeling of obligation to do those small chores. Most of my time was spent reading and meditating. Once a week or so, I would drive into town to talk with him in the kitchen of his house in McMechen. Rose sold his books for a small profit and gave public talks into the mid-90s, but he never charged anyone for just talking with him. He was the first to expose me to the idea of "not eating from the altar." There was always the idea, though, that if you found anything of value from your search, you should "pass it on" and help other people.   On your website you say that:   “Preoccupation with money and material. This is a controversial point. The argument goes that a spiritual teacher provides a service, like a plumber, so deserves to be compensated. Also, if the disciples pay the teacher, then the teacher can spend more time helping them. My retort: if a person has had a complete realization, the idea of asking someone to pay to speak with you is ludicrous. It is reasonable to ask people to help pay to rent a room, or help with travel expenses, or buy a book. We do not have to expect our teacher to live as a monk, yet a preoccupation with "big cigars and motor cars" is cause for concern. We know all too well of the stories of fancy cars, wild parties, country estates, and big bank accounts. Seen with your own eyes, such behavior is inexcusable. Why? Because a spiritual realization doesn't plunge you further into this dream world."   How did you come to form this view? Is this based on scripture, doctrine or more to do with experience or personal insight of some kind?   Shawn Nevins: I think that opinion originated with Rose -- it made sense to me and over the years it's made more sense. In 2000, I had a spiritual realization that gave me some perspective on this world. All I can say is really... really.... the idea of asking someone to pay you before you will speak to them about something that is priceless and that puts the world and the self in an unimaginable perspective is truly ludicrous. Logically, I can also see that once you start making a living as a spiritual teacher, there is the temptation to make more money by speaking to larger audiences, selling more books, broadening your message, etc. In short, you spend more time in a shallower interaction. If you wanted to spend your time in one-on-one conversations, you'd have to charge people $500/hour!    What are your thoughts on retreats or paying a set fee for workshops?   Shawn Nevins: I've organized retreats, and it is a challenge to keep costs down. Without owning your own facilities, you have to pass the costs on the participants or else no more retreats. There are ways to get creative: like doing potluck and more rustic facilities. There is a difference between paying for costs and pocketing a $1000 or more profit at the end of the retreat. That difference is easier to see when retreat/workshop pricing is broken out into fees for meals/lodging/and the retreat itself.

Is  strongly encouraging one’s devotees to make large donations dana or something else?