Wolfgang Bernard's Advaita Teaching Homepage

 

The following interview has been taken from: Spiritual Teachers

Wolfgang Bernard proposes to use the techniques of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to explode our belief in a personal identity. He calls this the uncovering of the "Original Belief". I have never met the man (he lives in France), but have read his book NLP And Beyond - The Original Belief Process . He was kind enough to answer a few questions of mine via email:

I gather that your teaching is taking the form of workshops. How should a person prepare before coming to a workshop? For example, should they be well versed in NLP?

WB: Here's how it happens: friends organize a 2 days meeting with not more than 15 participants who have to have read my book. It's question and answers. Participants can come only once, then they have to decide if they attend to a 2 years nlp training with me (13x3 days). I don't accept everyone. It's using regular nlp technology but the overall approach is not to enhance identity but rather to understand the mechanisms of it in order to be able to become free of it. Usually participants live what I call "existential breakthroughs". My goal for them is to be able to live this on a permanent basis independantly of me. After the two years I might invite some of them to twice a year meetings (4 days; we're about 25).

Are those who speak English able to attend?

WB: No.

Is there anyone in America doing equivalent work?

WB: Not as far as I know. Stephen Wolinsky did so, but he's stopped teaching. For the time being, I also don't plan new trainings.

You don't seem to be travelling the world putting on a show.

WB: Right. I only accept to work with those whom I consider to have the potential to "make it". That's probably less than 1% of so-called spiritual seekers.

Have any of them discovered what you have?

WB: Yes.

Do you recommend that a person spend an extended time working closely with you, or can they simply come to a workshop and leave with all the tools they need to "do the job."

WB: I'm present for them during the workshops only; I don't answer any personal questions on the phone. Sometimes I answer questions on a mailing list. They know that I "hate" people relying on me (laughing). I leave themwith the tools and they do (or not) the job.

Do you have an opinion on the neo-Advaita teachers such as: Francis Lucille, Tony Parsons, or Gangaji?

WB: Not really. Most of the teachers I heard of (exept stephen wolinsky) may live or pretend to live something similar to what I live but probably do not have the tools to get their students to live the same thing. My teaching is like a traditional existential school teaching on a small basis. It happens with selected students who are willing and able to work on themselves for many years and who are able to take their responabilities in daily life. I insist that they continue to live their family and professional life unless there are obvious, good sense reasons for a change. The only teaching that has become more known which is similar to what I do (although with a completely different methodology) is Gurdjieff's.

You said you don't plan any new trainings. Do you mean you aren't accepting new students?

WB: Yes, for the time being, I have decided to take a break. I don't know yet if I'll continue in 2004 or not.

Has your own state "faded" in and out, or varied in its constancy?

WB: It's not a state. Yes, when "it" happened to stabilize about ten years ago, there was some weeks later two days when "it" dissapeared. Then "it"came back, fortunately for me, it was grace that made it come back because I was unable to do anything to get "it" back. I knew what made it fade (attachment to bliss sensations), since then I'm aware of it and never ever faded. Very slight variations in constancy once in a while, maybe once or twice a year.

Do you think we are all already enlightened, but just don't know it?

WB: Yes, of course.

I suspect that if people don't discover their true nature in this life, then they will continue to search in another life. I do not know this for certain, though. Perhaps at death, everyone discovers their true self. What do you think is the after-death fate of unenlightened people?

WB: I don't know and I don't know if there is reincarnation or not. My only reference is the present.