From the New Archive Project
In the June/July 1985 retreat in Springwater, Toni Packer gave three connected talks on "Effort." At the beginning of the third talk she comments that she doesn't remember a topic that ever stirred people's minds so much. To hear the talks, follow the links below to Toni's audio page on the web site.
In the
first talk she maintains that effort is always connected with resistance. It is up to the individual to test this out by by exploring the complex program of thinking that one needs to make an effort.
In the
second talk, Toni deals with questions raised by the first, including "What's wrong with working hard and achieving?" She goes into the difference between setting a goal, using willpower to achieve it, and working hard without opposition.
Does insight into the complex program of making an effort need a quiet hillside retreat in order to happen? Can one withstand the current of pushing and attaining when one returns to home and job? These are questions Toni addresses at the beginning of the
third talk, then she goes on to speak of dying.
These talks are available online thanks to a generous donation from Toni's family in Swizerland that enabled the Center to have old reel-to-reel tapes transferred to digital format. Warm thanks once again to Erika Leiser, Martin Leiser, and Lucie Zaugg-Leiser.
