What an Enlightenment Intensive is
An Enlightenment Intensive (EI) is a minimum three-day, highly focused and structured residential retreat
designed to assist participants in an accelerated process of self-discovery, with the aim of an ensuing
breakthrough into non-dualistic consciousness or enlightenment. During the EI participants are asked to set
aside life’s many distractions and engage in a monastic lifestyle in order to direct their energy and attention to
the practice at hand. EI’s have been operating for over 35 years in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia,
and have been experienced by thousands of people. Developed by an American named Charles Berner in the late
1960’s, the EI combines the contemplative practices of Rinzai Zen meditation with Ramana Maharshi’s teachings
from the Vedanta tradition and the more recent Western element of the dyad form of communication (Berner,
1981). Berner observed that the combination of these elements into a specific technique allowed individuals to
achieve an enlightenment experience in a matter of days rather than months or years as with other disciplines
and practices (Noyes, 1998).
There exists an inherent challenge in defining the construct ‘enlightenment’, or discussing unity consciousness in
general, as it requires the use of language, symbols and ideas that are based in duality and therefore incapable of
expressing a true definition. As Ken Wilber (2001) put it, “The structure of language cannot grasp the nature of
unity consciousness, any more than a fork could grasp the ocean.”
That said, for the purpose of this work, the term enlightenment refers to a breakthrough of consciousness
into Truth or Absolute Reality that is non-dualistic in its nature. It’s meaning is derived from the Zen tradition
and equivalent to the Japanease words, Kensho and Satori (Noyes, 1998). Kensho is an experience of sudden
realization, “a seeing into one’s true nature” accompanied by an awareness of non-separation, completeness and
perfection of self and all things (Kapleau, 1989). Stated negatively, “it is the realization that the universe is not
external to you.”
Although the nature, or enlightenment, is always the same for whomever experiences it, the depth, clarity and
completeness of the experience may vary greatly for each individual. Satori is distinguished from Kensho in that
it is the lasting experience of non-dual awakening. Where Kensho could be said to be a sudden realization lasting
for timeless moment, Satori is a more permanent awareness where one does not return to dualistic consciousness
(Noyes, 1998). Although both types of enlightenment may be attainable through the Enlightenment Intensive
process, it is generally Kensho, not Satori, that is achieved. The terms “direct experience” and “non-dualistic” or
“oneness consciousness” can also be used synonymously with the term “enlightenment”.
The core of the EI is contained in the enlightenment technique. The EI technique involves the contemplation
of a koan, or question irresolvable by the mind. The concept of contemplating a koan comes from the Rinzai
Zen philosophy, specifically the meditation practice of zazen, maintaining that through the single-hearted
concentration on the koan, one will gradually dispel the “I-concept” from consciousness and hence experience
enlightenment (Kapleau, 1989). A popularized Zen koan would be ‘what is the sound of one hand clapping’.
There are four possible questions or koans a participant can work on while on an EI: who am I, what am I, what
is life, and what is another.
A cycle of the enlightenment technique begins with the contemplator first grasping an actuality of their object
of enlightenment (i.e. themselves) in that moment, whatever is true and real to them (i.e. hungry, sad, having
thoughts etc.) and then intending to directly experience it. While continuing this intention, they remain open to it,
and to a direct experience of it, and to whatever occurs in their mental, emotional or physical fields of awareness
as a result of this intention. They then get across to the listener whatever occurred as a result of contemplating,
without adding anything in or leaving anything out. Charles Berner found from his own observations of running
over 50 intensives with hundreds of participants, that if this technique is done diligently for an optimal period of
time (usually two to three days) the mind will dissolve and enlightenment is likely to occur.
Dyad Communication
The dyad structure is a fundamental part of the EI technique. A dyad is a form of partner-assisted meditation
guided by simple rules that bring one’s inner world outward into a space that is shared with another
(Noyes,1998). During a dyad or “enlightenment exercise”, which is 40 minutes in length, the ‘listening partner’
is instructed to ‘give their partner their instruction’ in the form of the question “tell me who you are”(Berner,
1981). That person then listens attentively with out any evaluation, judgment or verbal or non-verbal interaction
(i.e. smiling, nodding, frowning or speaking) for five minutes while their partner contemplates using the EI
technique. By the listening partner remaining neutral and not engaging with their partner, the contemplator
is free to express their truth fully and is not lead in one direction or another by what the listener might find
amusing, interesting or disturbing. Another element of the dyad that can assists in the process is the witnessing
of another’s willingness to express their truth. Where one may not go alone (i.e. divulging very personal and
uncomfortable material, if that is what arises for them) they may go if another goes there first (France, 2002).
The dyad can be of great service in this way. Finally and most importantly, being received and understood by
another not only clears the mind of mental activity but the constant contact generates intimacy, openness and
higher levels of safety that assist with ones willingness to open to and express their truth.
Why the EI lasts for three days
For the majority of us, joining a monastery or giving up one’s precession and retreating to the wilderness for
several months or years is not a practical option. The 3-day format of the EI allows us to explore the depths
of the Truth of ourselves without having to abandon our lives in the process. This is not a casual three days
however. There is a good reason it is called an intensive. If you were to practice the same technique at home
for two hours a week it would take an entire year to equal the time you will spend contemplating on one 3-day
intensive. The EI structure supports participants in breaking through the barriers that keep us from experiencing
our Truth. One simple way this is done is by removing the distractions of normal social interaction, reading,
writing, television, preparing food, work, etc. All social and physical toxins are removed on an intensive so
that all that is left is you and your question (i.e. ‘who am I’). Dissolving the mind requires concerted will, and
doing it hour after hour prevents the mind from rebuilding. An intensive is not easy and participants can face
considerable difficulties while engaging in this work. In the midst of transformation one can experience fear,
confusion, disorientation, pain, torment and madness. Even thoughts that one might die are not uncommon.
During this time one would normally quit and find a distraction: turn on the TV, make a sandwich or take the
dog for a walk. On an intensive, participants are supported by the master and the staff to continue to persevere
and break through these barriers. The old proverb ‘it is always darkest before dawn’ is often seen to be true doing
this work.
Historical Background
Sri Ramana Maharshi, considered to be the greatest modern sage of Vedanta Hinduism, spent his lifetime
contemplating the question ‘Who am I’ (Wilber, 1999). Maharshi’s unique contribution to achieving unity
consciousness, or enlightenment, was his recognition that the ‘I-thought’ is the source of all other thoughts.
Maharshi advocated for the intensively active inquiry ‘who am I’ to achieve a state of consciousness where there
is no mental image or object and one is open to seeing the Truth. According to Maharshi: The only inquiry
leading to Self-realization is seeking the source of the “I” with in-turned mind and with out uttering the word
“I”…If one inquires ‘Who am I?” within the mind, the individual “I” falls down abashed …and immediately
reality manifests itself spontaneously as “I-I” [Absolute Subjectivity, non-dual awareness] (Maharshi, 1959, cited
in Wilber, 1999).
Consistent with Maharshi (1959), Wilber (1999, 2001) and Zen teachings (Puhakka, 1998), Berner maintained
that the key to enlightenment was in the dissolving of the mind (Berner, 1981). By including the element of
communication to the contemplative practice, the EI technique works with greater efficiency to achieve this aim.
Participants do not merely sit in silence and contemplate their koan as in zazen practice, but instead sit facing
each other and communicate to their dyad partner whatever arises as a result of their contemplation. According
to Berner: “when things in the mind are communicated, they dissolve and vanish out of the mind to the degree
that they are understood and received by another individual…that is the crux of the power of this technique”
(Berner 1981).
What an Enlightenment Intensive isn’t
NOT A CULT
There are many people who have concerns about group work and residential retreats because they are afraid that
they may be ‘cults’ or run by people whose intention is to manipulate or control them. This could not be further
from the truth when it comes to an EI. It is true that the schedule can be grueling and participants can get tired,
but at no time on an intensive are you ever told who you are or what the truth is by the master or their staff.
Intensive are not affiliated with any group or particular belief system. All are welcome regardless of culture or
spiritual background.
NOT PSYCHOTHERAPY
An EI is not psychotherapy. Although intensives can and do have powerful psychotherapeutic effects on
people, and facilitate enormous growth and lasting change in a very short time, the purpose of the retreat is to
experience directly the truth of yourself, another or life. For a participant to get the most out of this experience,
this should be their primary goal.
Simon Thomson
[email protected]
Victoria, BC
+250.885.7077
www.essentialinquiry.com