Great Awakenings Introduction

Guidelines & Instruction

Creating a Sacred Space

For the workshops together, and also in general for your own contemplation for the course, it is very helpful to create the most conducive environment at your home for going deeply into the subjects discussed.

Creating a sacred space means setting aside a space and a time of special focus and significance for yourself; a way of consciously valuing and giving meaning to an activity and a time together.

It can be as simple as designating a small area, a favorite armchair in the corner of a room, a comfortable spot which feels at home and easeful. A pleasant view out of the window, lighting a candle, natural objects of beauty, flowers, a pleasing scent, or facing a favorite painting or image on your desk or wall, can all help to create a meditative field. It’s the consciously marking out a special time and setting which helps imbues the sacred dimension.

As much as is possible, try to have a quiet undisturbed spot for the duration of the workshop which you can use each time. Spend a few minutes sitting quietly in your spot, perhaps eyes closed. A few minutes of meditation beforehand is a wonderful preparation. The age old tradition of sacred space can serve us in our workshops in creating a container for honoring depth, consciousness and our collective inquiry. After all, it is a special and precious time when a group of people chose to come together for the express purpose of deep inquiry and growth.

Transformative Dialogue Guidelines

Transformative dialogue is an art and a practice that is both individual and collective.

In the Great Awakenings course, the focus is on opening up and exploring key passages from the works of great visionaries, and there is enormous potential in approaching this as a collective inquiry.

These are a few simple guidelines which we have found over time to be helpful in creating the most conducive conditions for a rich and deep quality of dialogue to emerge.

Before starting, remind oneself of the special nature of the occasion which is different from a conversation, a debate or a discussion. It’s an unusual time when a group of people consciously decide to give time to coming to greater depth and mutual understanding of the chosen subject and in exploring what can emerge between them. It’s not going too far to call it a sacred endeavor.

Take a short period for preparation, of being at ease before you start; allow the  events of one’s day to fall away and ideally come into the dialogue empty handed

A few moments of meditation beforehand will pay great dividends in the dialogue

Here are a few general pointers to bear in mind in the dialogue:

• Be at ease, relax

• Listen, listen, and listen – the importance of listening cannot be overstated

• Bring a generous attention which is focussed without being a narrow focus

• Let go of what you already know, so there can be room for exploration and novelty

• Be open to your being changed by the whole encounter

• Be interested in depth and in following those points which tend towards depth

• Be open to many possibilities and not set on any particular outcome

• Endeavor to have one conversation together, responding to what is being said, following on from points made

• Make the effort to keep to the subject – this takes a real noble effort, but is so worthwhile

There are three ways to approach the mystery of the divine.

The first practice is prayer. The second is meditation.

And the third, and most important, is conversation.

~ Rumi

Course Audios

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Introduction