• “It was one hell of a shock. The daily schedule ran from about six in the morning to nearly eleven at night, and it was "Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?" virtually all the way. No social chat, no alcohol or coffee, no wristwatch, no shaving or cosmetics – just nothing to do but contemplate that question.” ⎯barry

For three days, you are immersed in continuous self-enquiry.

This isn’t simply meditation – it is an active search for truth within your own experience.

At the start of the Intensive, you are taught a simple contemplation technique using the question: “Who am I?”

You will be supported to contemplate this question throughout the three days. This is part of what makes the process intense.

• “Never before had I spent such a concentrated time looking into myself, my 'essence' if you will. Feeling at once exhilarated and scared, I asked the question "Who am I?" continuously for three days. By the end of the third day... I felt for the first time in my life I had experienced the transcendent truth.” ⎯T. R.

Also at the heart of this process are partnered contemplation exercises called dyads.

Sitting in pairs with other members of the group you take turns to communicate what's happening in your contemplation.

• “I learned what it takes to be honest. To find the courage to reveal oneself no matter what it is. I realised the true commitment required, and felt that this grew stronger as each day passed. I learned it’s important to be a good listener and how this truly helps in the sharing of yourself with another.” ⎯maxine

Talking with others in this way is not like having a normal conversation.

You listen and are listened to with full attention but what you say is never commented on. No advice is given, no judgements made.

This gives you incredible freedom and promotes ever increasing openness.

• “It is a huge relief to remove the social masks I wear….I put so much pressure on myself to be somebody else. Now I can see how to be me – without barriers!” ⎯joe

Trust, courage and great heart build up within the group. You are not alone in your quest.

• "Seeing others taking risks to say what was really going on for them was, for me, incredibly inspiring, and I began to feel very close to several in the group, despite the formalities. That second day was the noisiest - there was screaming, shouting, hysterical laughter, yet all the time we remained sitting respectfully in our neat rows!” ⎯ barry

The daily schedule alternates between these partnered contemplation-communication exercises and periods of silent contemplation, including walking, eating and gentle physical exercise.

• “There is no way I could ever have discovered what I did without this openness and connection during the intensive. I certainly did resist it a little on the first day, tending to withdraw into myself rather than maintaining this connection, but it was when I began to give everything to both the listening and the sense of trust and connection that things began to really open up for me.” ⎯ sean

The human contact and communication that occurs within the very safe space of the dyads, added to the focused self-enquiry, is the unique ingredient that accelerates self-discovery.

This radically speeds up the process of getting past everyday thoughts and concerns, dis-identifying from one’s social persona, and opening up to what is ultimately real.

• “I have learned the true power of really listening, and of being fully open. There is no way I could ever have discovered what I did without this openness and connection during the intensive. … It was when I began to give everything to both the listening and the sense of trust and connection that things began to really open up for me.” ⎯ sean

It is this combination of continuous contemplation, communication and contact with others that is responsible for the speed and intensity of the process – and for enlightenment experiences to occur in this relatively short time.

• "Using the technique over and over through the weekend, I was able to cross through my self-dislike and self-admonishment, and brush up against utter beauty. The utter beauty of myself, just the way I am. And the utter beauty of the absolute truth and its transformative power. Those sound like grand words but the exquisite, extraordinary delight I felt at those moments will change my life." ⎯ emily

As Carl Jung said:

• “We do not become enlightened by imagining beings of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

Although this technique can be many times faster than traditional methods, it is not a short cut.

There is a reason why it is called ‘intensive’: If you give yourself whole-heartedly to the process it will challenge you. Your fears about yourself, old ideas you have taken on, preconceived ideas about reality - these are likely to come to the surface.

In seeking to know truth, we inevitably encounter our own resistances to it. 

In her book What We Ache For (HarperCollins, 2005), Oriah Mountain Dreamer describes her experience of participating on an Enlightenment Intensive in the US:

• "As a student and teacher of spiritual practices for many years, I began by giving what I thought were pretty insightful, lucid, erudite answers. Then I moved through a vast range of responses: boredom, annoyance and irritation, ... the desire to entertain, trying to reach for profound insight (usually followed by increased boredom and irritation). Finally I simply had to give up wanting to look or sound like anything in particular. Eventually I just didn't care anymore whether or not I was sounding profound or stupid, attentive or bored, polite or rude. All the ideas I have about who I am, all the stories I tell myself, had been told, and they all rang pretty hollow."

All genuine pursuit of greater spiritual awareness involves meeting one's personal inner barriers.

Enlightenment Intensives simply accelerate this meeting.

They encapsulate both the grace and the grit of true seeking and true finding.

• “Speaking and expressing the truth is truly transformative and leads me closer to my heart’s desire: closeness with others, authentic contact, self-acceptance and oneness. I experienced that death leads to life. In healing my grief at the loss of my son, I have a new journey and direction to undertake if I choose to. There is a blessing in all things if we are open to knowing the truth that lies at its heart.” ⎯ anthony

The closeness and camaraderie that develops within the group is one of the most striking features of an Enlightenment Intensive.

• "All voices became my voice; all sorrows echos of all the troubles I have faced, and somehow as the talk softened in the long afternoon, I began to see everyone as part of myself, and myself in everyone. And they were all beautiful." ⎯ frances

• “The structure was held so beautifully that when I really had no idea of myself, I felt totally safe to fall to pieces.” ⎯ amala

On a typical Intensive usually about a third of the group will have an enlightenment experience. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

There is a build-up and break-through process and it may take more than one three-day Intensive to reach that breakthrough. The build-up comes from spending all those days immersed in truth-seeking, honesty and trust.

• “At my first two Enlightenment Intensives I didn't have a direct experience. I got rid of so much baggage though, by managing to express thoughts and feelings and fears that I had never before felt able to express, in an atmosphere of complete and unconditional acceptance.” ⎯ sally

Spending three days immersed in honesty; in sincere, heartfelt quest and openness to truth is one of the most powerful things you can do for one’s spiritual and personal development.

• “If I have given myself fully to the process, it's as if I have had my internal lenses cleaned. I experience myself being washed out by my moment to moment ordinary truth. I see both myself and others without the filters and pain that builds up in day-to-day life. This process is deeper than a breakthrough or not. I will keep taking intensives because whatever happens -Enlightenment experience or not- being in truth with myself, opens the door for deeper contact with myself, reality and the people I love.” ⎯ E. Y.

Taking part in an Enlightenment Intensive produces a wealth of insights, awareness and new perspectives on you and your life. This is so whether you have an enlightenment experience or not.

Our Enlightenment Intensives also include a period of integration work which is designed to enable you to take what you have learned and experienced during the Intensive into your everyday life.

• “Probably the most powerful experience of the retreat for me was after the intensive was finished, on the ‘integration day’….I felt proud of all of us for how far we had come and the struggles which we had been through….I had learned many things, but the most important thing I had learned was to love myself, which would help me to love other people more fully.” ⎯ ben

• “I am far less apprehensive about taking steps to move on: I feel more dynamic and positive about taking responsibility for that. In fact I'm actually excited about finding out what move to make next and going for it." ⎯ claire

• “The process and reflection and time out of life have given me the things I need to forge bravely on.” ⎯ mary

Enlightenment Intensives are not associated with any particular teaching or philosophy.

The self-enquiry technique is similar to a method used in the ancient Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedanta. And the retreat format is similar to an intensive Zen meditation retreat.

But the only thing you are taught is how to do the technique, and nothing else.

• You are not required or expected to buy into any belief system whatsoever.

• There are no teachings, no philosophy, no religion.

• There are no discussions about what the "answer" is, or might be.

It is purely and simply about you finding out for yourself through your own experience here and now.