Dear Friends,

It is Cloud Mountain’s usual policy to not share our mailing list or to use it for purposes other than to bring your attention to Cloud Mountain’s own scheduled events. This is the first time we have made an exception to that policy and announced any event other than a retreat at the center. However, David and Laura have found our work with Michael Torresan and the Authentic Living Institute so meaningful and impactful on our own lives and practice that we are making this mailing exception to let you know about it.

It has been our aspiration for some time to bring this particular spiritual methodology and practice of inquiry to Cloud Mountain. In order to keep the work affordable, however, a retreat format is not the most suitable venue for the work. Currently it is offered by Michael Torresan as monthly non-residential weekends of teachings and practice in the Seattle area. (We have found it to be well worth the drive and the commitment of one weekend per month!) The structure of the work is different from the usual silent retreat. We utilize our own wisdom and that of other group members to resolve specific issues of being a human being through lecture, discussion, small group exercises, meditation, movement and personal sessions with Michael. Although there is no strict format to the work, there is a gradual and logical presentation and unfolding of the material presented.

This work can easily stand alone as a full and complete spiritual process. Alternatively, it also complements and beautifully enriches Buddhist understanding and practice for those of us who walk that path. At its foundation is the understanding that the cause of our suffering and chronic dissatisfaction is our clinging to the illusion of what we term a “self,” ego-structure or personality. Becoming liberated from this delusion allows us to manifest our pristine Buddha nature, or Essence. The work Michael presents offers both theoretical and practical approaches to directly experience and explore these facets of our Being.

The really unique and powerful piece of this work, from our point of view, is that it deals so directly with who and how we are in our daily lives – in our work, our relationships, etc. All of that becomes the place of direct inquiry into where and why we feel stuck or held hostage by our patterns and reactivity. And, even better, we also explore to see where we are not stuck – where and when we manifest from a place of liberation from ego-self.

We have found that there are two pieces of this particular method of self-inquiry that are invaluable to deepening and integrating spiritual understanding into every feature of our lives as human beings. One is the sophisticated and comprehensive application of Western psychology to objective understanding of this thing we call “self” or “ego.” We have learned to see in a detailed way the many component pieces of the total structure and to understand why they are there and what purpose they have served. This has added great power to the practice of “noting” a thought, feeling or emotion. The noting carries an understanding which allows letting go to take place. We have each felt the hooks of certain patterns of reactivity permanently released through understanding our particular ego-structures.

The other profound piece is the direct attention paid to the arising experiences of Essence, or facets of what we understand as Buddha nature. Often in Buddhism these experiences come up due to intensive practice, and indeed they are the fruits of practice. They are not manifestations of ego structure, but are openings into deeper levels. They are tastes of our Being, our true nature. But they are often undervalued by Buddhist teachers. Frequently we are instructed to note them and let them go as we would any other arising experience, perhaps out of concern by the teachers that we would develop attachments to or expectations around such experiences. From the point of view of the Authentic Living school, to not also inquire into these kinds of experiences is to do ourselves the greatest disservice possible. To not deepen our understanding and direct experience of our deepest nature condemns us to remain totally identified with our ego structure, because we do not come to see that there is anything else. We overlook the voice of Being itself!

If we seek enlightenment, Buddhism as it is currently being presented in the West asks us to take the huge and fearsome leap from ego structure straight into emptiness. There are no rest-stops in between. The work that Michael presents allows us to deepen incrementally and compassionately into our fundamental emptiness. We move progressively but surprisingly quickly away from desperate identification with various manifestations of ego-structure or self (it may cause us much suffering, but at least it’s something to cling to!) into increasingly transparent manifestations of Being. And we learn that absolutely everything in our daily lives – our relationship with our partner or our boss, how we react in traffic, our self-criticisms – is a possible access point to something deeper, richer, more personal and truly authentic.

Michael only starts a new group every few years, and since the work has progressive power we wanted every meditator and spiritual seeker we can reach to know about this rare opportunity. If you have questions, Michael Torresan’s phone number is on the flier. Our experience is that Michael is one of those rare teachers who can set the field of inquiry for a group that allows for group induction into deep insight and radical transformation. He is the best person to field your questions. Additionally, David and Laura are both happy to answer your questions if you want to call them at 360-274-4859 at Cloud Mountain. We encourage you at the very least to attend the free public talks to see if this work addresses areas you wish to explore.

Yours in Spirit,
David Branscomb & Laura Hauer
Directors of Cloud Mountain Retreat Center