Talk:Fellowship of Friends/Draft

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image:PIC004.jpg
Robert Earl Burton, the founder of the Fellowship of Friends.

The Fellowship of Friends is a non-profit religious organization founded in 1970 by Robert Earl Burton. Originally it followed the Fourth Way tradition, also known as "esoteric Christianity", while it currently includes other spiritual schools and religions, including the Egyptians, Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism. [1] The Fellowship of Friends states that the aim of all true religions and spiritual traditions has always been the same: to reach God and sustain the "Divine Presence" within. [2] The Fellowship of Friends' primary aim is to produce "Divine Presence" in its members and the organization teaches members both the principles of awakening and practical methods to apply those principles in daily life. The organization has approximately 60 centers in more than 40 countries worldwide. [3]

Contents

[edit] Beliefs and practices

[edit] The search for "divine presence"

According to the Fellowship of Friends, God has many names: The Lord, the Beloved, the Creator, Ra and Jehovah, among others, but the state of God is the same: "Divine Presence." The organization teaches that God placed within each human being the seed of "Divine Presence" as a reflection of his own Divinity, mentioned in the Bible as the "Pearl of Great Price." It is believed that Man’s highest yearning is to find this pearl and awaken its divine power within. The Fellowship teaches members to recognize their current internal situation: that they do not live in presence but rather in a type of wakeful sleep. The organization furthermore believes that with the help of an awakened guide to provide instruction, members can be taught how to be present to their lives.[4]


According to the Fellowship of Friends, God has many names: The Lord, the Beloved, the Creator, Ra and Jehovah, among others, but the state of God is the same: Divine Presence. The organization teaches that humans may have within them a seed of "Divine Presence", which acts as a reflection of God's Divinity. It is believed that Man’s highest yearning is to find this seed within themselves, cultivated it, and eventually awaken its divine power. The Fellowship teaches members to recognize their current internal situation: that they do not live in presence but rather in a type of wakeful sleep. The organization furthermore believes that with the help of an awakened guide to provide instruction, members can make effective efforts to be present to their own lives and share in Divine Presence. StillWorking 02:20, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

(Please forgive the re-edit of my own edits but I had an idea of a better way to link with the next section) According to the Fellowship of Friends, God has many names: The Lord, the Beloved, the Creator, Ra and Jehovah, among others, but the state of God is the same: Divine Presence. The organization teaches that humans may have within them a seed of Divine Presence, which acts as a reflection of God's Divinity, but that it is dormant and they are asleep to it in the current state. It is believed that Man’s highest yearning is to find this seed within themselves, cultivated it, eventually awaken its power, and share in Divine Presence. StillWorking 02:35, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Awakening: the core of the Fellowship of Friends' religious practice

The Fellowship of Friends states that its primary aim is to produce presence in its members. Members are taught both the principles of awakening and practical methods to apply those principles in daily life. It is believed that this spiritual work requires the instruction and guidance of an awakened teacher, a body of precise knowledge, the understanding and support of others working toward the same aim, and an environment in which to work.

The Fellowship of Friends states that its primary aim is to produce presence in its members, that individual share of Divine Presence. Members are taught both to recognize their current internal situation (a wakeful sleep) and the principles of awakening. This teaching is through practical exercises and methods that members apply in their daily life. It is believed that this spiritual work requires the instruction and guidance of an awakened teacher, a body of precise knowledge, the understanding and support of others working toward the same aim, and an intentional environment in which to work. [citation needed]

[edit] Being present

According to the teachings of the Fellowship of Friends, to be present means to be aware of the external world in which an individual is acting and simultaneously be able to observe how one’s inner world is stimulated by the external world.

The Fellowship of Friends believes that there is an automatic awareness that accompanies an individual throughout the day. To go beyond this level of awareness requires an intentional effort, an effort that can only come from, and be sustained, from within. Because it is not automatic, an individual needs to learn how to make this effort, and have help sustaining it.

For the Fellowship of Friends, to produce presence is simple, but that does not means it is easy. The notion that being in "the now" has something to do with "going with the flow" and passing from experience to experience in a passive state of mind does not lead to presence. There is no such thing, according to the Fellowship of Friends, as "going with the flow"; there is no conscious flow. An individual may be present for brief durations each time an intentional effort to be present is made. When presence recedes the intentional effort must be made again. According to their beliefs, the Fellowship of Friends teaches that without effort, presence will not remain.


(As a replacement for the above) Furthermore, the organization teaches that after gathering some moments of presence and experiences of struggling and failing to reach presence, the individual may come to understand the importance of finding ways to be more present more often.

[edit] Higher self

The “Higher Self” is believed to be the real Self. It is an individual’s "Divine Nature" and that it is the part in a person that is immortal and survives death. The real Self emerges more definitely the more frequently and deeply a person is present. The teaching of the Fellowship of Friends states that over the centuries esoteric literature has described the experience of the Higher Self in a many forms: the Buddhist state of nirvana; the Garden of Eden and the Sabbath of the Judeo-Christian tradition; the Third Eye of Zen; the Beloved in Sufi literature; and in more modern times Real I, as opposed to the many 'I's of mechanical life.

The Fellowship of Friends believes that not only is the state of presence simple, but that the Higher Self is also simple. They teach that it is easy for a person to regard incidental things as more important than the simplicity of presence, because the "lower self" opposes presence, and resists efforts to be present. [5]

[edit] Imagination and the lower self

"Imagination", for the Fellowship of Friends, is the world of dreams and internal chatter that almost always controls the individual's internal state. A person may be so immersed in a daydream that he or she cannot hear or see what is around him at all; the dream itself fills his mind and sensations so much that it becomes the primary experience of the moment.

The Fellowship of Friends defines the term “lower self” as the part of a person that considers his mechanical life to be real and sufficient. The organization teaches that the lower self is opposed to Divine Presence, and when a person makes active efforts to be present and sustain presence, the lower self continually tries to lure the person away from this effort. It is believed that the "lower self" is not a single being inside of a person, but the collection of attitudes, dreams and mechanical habits that dwell within.

The organization teaches that the effort to be present is a constant struggle against "imagination" and the "lower self" that never ceases, and over time, the desire to work practically to achieve moments of presence will grow as the individual desires to connect with the Higher Self. [6]

[edit] Esoteric traditions of the past

The Fellowship of Friends believes that esoteric traditions were preserved in religious schools and that only traces of these traditions remain. It is believed that school knowledge throughout time has been primarily intended for its own participants, either as direct instruction or as the preservation and refinement of a previous school. It is further believed that the outer meanings of school knowledge acts as keys to the inner meaning, and that schools eventually provided the basis for systems of philosophy and theology, as well as inspiration for literature and art. The Fellowship therefore interprets sacred texts and other literature and art using allegorical interpretation.

The legacy of an esoteric school, according to the Fellowship of Friends, usually includes some external form, such as a book or a building. It is believed that in many cases these legacies are only the byproducts of a school's active period, while the more lasting achievements, along with the direct work of the teacher-student relationship, are infused into everyday life through ideas such as love, presence, and a wonder and awe for the divine. In this regard a school's legacy, the Fellowship of Friends claims, is felt to be for all people, and not just the few--though the depth of understanding will vary.

The Fellowship of Friends teaches that the legacies of these spiritual schools of the past include:

The Fellowship of Friends believes that in each case the heart of the message is the struggle to awaken from sleep. Once this struggle is applied and felt by the individual, the schools of the past speak to us with their deep understanding of the present.

Traces of esoteric school traditions of the past that are included in the Fellowship of Friend's teachings include: Egyptian, Sumerian, Zoroastrian, Tarot, Toltec, Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, Zen Buddhist, Tibetan Buddhist, Judaism, Christian, Philokalia, Gothic, Islamic and Sufi.[7]

[edit] The Fellowship of Friends' organization

[edit] Robert Burton: the Teacher

Robert Earl Burton is the founder of the Fellowship of Friends and its spiritual leader. As a young man, Burton studied the Fourth Way teachings of George Gurdjieff and Peter Ouspensky. and was a student of Alex Horn for 18 months.[8] Burton focused on self-remembering, which the Fellowship of Friends believes is the practical side of the Fourth Way. In 1991 he published his book under the title Self-Remembering.

According to the Fellowship of Friends, Burton worked not only to create an environment of inspiration at the Fellowship's headquarters and spiritual retreat (Isis), but has also worked to extend the teaching to the organization's centers around the world.

It is also believed that Burton has come to understand the esoteric nature of all spiritual teachings throughout recorded time and has concluded that all religious traditions are the same, and that the basis of all great spiritual work is the same--to escape from "imagination" and the "lower self" and to awaken and recognize one's "Higher Self". Today, the Fellowship of Friends focuses on these basic spiritual ideas believed to be common to all esoteric traditions. [9]

[edit] Isis: the headquarters

The main center of the Fellowship of Friends, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Northern California, is called Isis. The property includes approximately 1,200 acres (5 km²). For over thirty years the organization's members have cleared and worked this land, gradually transforming wild terrain into a center for spiritual activity.

From the beginning, the Fellowship of Friends taught that the careful arrangement of impressions increases internal work. This became a principle of its spiritual process and an ideal for the standards of beauty that the Fellowship of Friends believes Isis inspires in its members every day. Members believe that by focusing on the different qualities of impressions, they may gain inspiration from any circumstance. As the heart of the Fellowship of Friends, it is thought that Isis itself is a primary source of inspiration. [10]

[edit] The organization

The Fellowship of Friends is registered as a 501(c)(3) California non-profit church organization and is a member of the International Council of Community Churches (ICCC) and the California Council of Churches. [11]

[edit] Membership payments

Being a member of the Fellowship of Friends requires a financial payment. Payments are made monthly. [12]

[edit] History

Burton has stated that he was receiving guidance from higher beings, and that he was told by them that a world-wide depression would occur in 1984, that an earthquake would destroy California in 1998, and that a nuclear war would follow in 2006.[19] The Fellowship of Friends believes that higher forces founded the Fellowship of Friends, that conscious beings guide the Fellowship of Friends and its members, and intend it to serve as an ark to survive the collapse of civilization. [20]

A former member sued Burton and the organization in 1996 for sexual abuse, sex with a minor, and brainwashing.[21] This case and another suit claiming sexual abuse were settled out of court, and the outcomes were sealed from the public.[22] The Fellowship of Friends' president stated in a newspaper article that "one suit was dismissed and two others were settled by the organization's insurance companies to save the costs of litigation." She also added that "the suits were filed by former members who failed to produce evidence to support their accusations." [23] —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wantthetruth? (talk • contribs) 19:51, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

The Fellowship of Friends was founded by Robert Earl Burton in 1970 in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California (USA). In 1971, the Fellowship of Friends purchased property in the Sierra foothills in northern California. [13] For the next five years, Burton focused his efforts on establishing a network of centers throughout California, and on developing the property to serve as a central spiritual retreat for Fellowship of Friends members and as the focus for both their internal and external efforts. [14]

By the mid-1970s the Fellowship of Friends was maintaining centers on the western coast of united States, from Seattle to San Diego, and in Hawaii. In 1976 centers across the United States and Canada, and soon after in Western Europe were opened. Approximately 20 centers were founded and the membership increased significantly. Centers were eventually established in Asia, Australia, Central and South America, and —after the fall of the Berlin wall— in Russia and Eastern Europe. The Fellowship of Friends has approximately 2,000 members and maintains over 60 centers in more than 40 countries worldwide. [15]

In 1978, the Fellowship of Friends founded the award-winning Renaissance Vineyard and Winery. [16]

[edit] Criticism

Claims of false prophecy and abusive behavior have caused controversy for the organization.[17] [18]

Burton has stated that he was receiving guidance from higher beings, and that he was told by them that a world-wide depression would occur in 1984, that an earthquake would destroy California in 1998, and that a nuclear war would follow in 2006.[19] The Fellowship of Friends believes that higher forces founded the Fellowship of Friends, that conscious beings guide the Fellowship of Friends and its members, and intend it to serve as an ark to survive the collapse of civilization. [20]

A former member sued Burton and the organization in 1996 for sexual abuse, sex with a minor, and brainwashing.[21] This case and another suit claiming sexual abuse were settled out of court, and the outcomes were sealed from the public.[22] The Fellowship of Friends' president stated in a newspaper article that "one suit was dismissed and two others were settled by the organization's insurance companies to save the costs of litigation." She also added that "the suits were filed by former members who failed to produce evidence to support their accusations." [23] A number of former members have criticized Burton for alleged sexual abuse, behavior control and brainwashing. Some members left the organization because of these concerns.[24]Robert Burtons's estimated $250,000 annual income, and the Fellowship's estimated $5 million annual income, have been criticized.[25]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Fellowship-Organization
  2. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php
  3. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=History-of-Fellowship-page-2
  4. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Search-for-Divine-Presence
  5. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Higher-Self
  6. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Imagination-and-Lower-Self
  7. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Esoteric-Traditions
  8. ^ "Taking with the Left Hand: Enneagram Craze, People of the Bookmark, & the Mouravieff Phenomenon" Written by William Patrick Patterson, Edited by Barbara Allen Patterson, Arete Communications, Publishers, 1998, ISBN 1-879514-10-9 pg. 49
  9. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Robert-Earl-Burton-page-2
  10. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Isis-Heart
  11. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Fellowship-Organization
  12. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=FAQ
  13. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=Isis-Heart
  14. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=History-of-Fellowship
  15. ^ http://www.beingpresent.org/index.php?toc=History-of-Fellowship
  16. ^ http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-review/443/North-Yuba-AVA.html
  17. ^ Steve Hassan Anti-Cult Website
  18. ^ "Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers", Captain Robert L. Snow. Praeger Publishers, 2003, pages 121/122
  19. ^ "Taking with the Left Hand: Enneagram Craze, People of the Bookmark, & the Mouravieff Phenomenon" Written by William Patrick Patterson, Edited by Barbara Allen Patterson, Arete Communications, Publishers, 1998, ISBN 1-879514-10-9 pg. 58
    LA Times 1996 Article. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
    "Creating a Soul: Insights from a Fourth Way School", Girard Haven, Publisher: Ulysses Books, ISBN 0-9645782-2-0, Library of Congress CCN 99-070784, page 581
    "Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers", Captain Robert L. Snow. Praeger Publishers, 2003, pages 121/122
  20. ^ The Fellowship of Friends Canons dated 1986; document on file with CA State and US Federal Governments
  21. ^ LA Times 1996 Article. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  22. ^ Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers, Captain Robert L. Snow. Praeger Publishers, 2003, page 123
  23. ^ [1]
  24. ^ "Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers", Captain Robert L. Snow. Praeger Publishers, 2003, page 123
  25. ^ LA Times 1996 Article. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.

[edit] Further reading

  • Self-Remembering by Robert E. Burton, Weiser Books, 1995, ISBN 0-877-28844-5
  • Ten Years of Daily Cards by Robert E. Burton, Ulysses Books, 2000, ISBN 0964578239
  • Dear Friend: Letters Based on the Teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky by Girard Haven, Ulysses Books, 2003, ISBN 0-964-57827-1
  • Creating a Soul: Insights from a Fourth Way School by Girard Haven, Ulysses Books, 1999, ISBN 0-964-57822-0
  • The Prize is Eternity: Foundations of Inner Work in the Fourth Way by Girard Haven, Ulysses Books, 2002, ISBN 0-964-57824-7
  • Notes on a Conscious Teaching by Girard Haven, Ulysses Books, 1997, ISBN 0964578212
  • Taking with the Left Hand: Enneagram Craze, People of the Bookmark, & the Mouravieff Phenomenon by William Patrick Patterson, Arete Communications, 1998, ISBN 1-879514-10-9

[edit] External links