Supporting Transformation via Practice Groups
informed by the Integral Perspective
The great mystical traditions are astonishingly united in claims that we are essentially sparks of Divine Consciousness
and may obtain conscious union with Spirit. Transformational practices are
the tools that make this growth possible. Divine Grace may initiate us
through inner mystical experience or revelation, but it is through daily practice that these initiations become integrated into every aspect of our life. Doing such practices within a group supports each
person's growth and serves as a model for the greater sense of
connection our world so desperately needs.
I developed this particular model for Transformational
Practice Groups to fill a hole I saw in the offerings of the personal
and spiritual growth movement that I have been intimately involved with
for thirty years. One TP group I personally belong to has met weekly
for nine years and continues to deepen and enrich our experience.
No matter what the level
of our spiritual awareness, unless we embody that awareness we
have missed the opportunity for service, for fulfilling our sacred
nature. This is the aim of all our seeking, the answer to a lifetime of
longing, the cause of mystical bliss, and the source of overwhelming
and enduring joy. The divine power of love and compassion is within
each of us. We all have the potential to grow into its possession, and
to act with its wisdom, courage, and intense hunger for justice and
reality. To serve God, our divine human self, our friends, our
community, and the world with all our gifts and energies empowers us to
help birth a new creation, a new world.
I invite you to try this model for yourself.
James R. Jones
Director, Personal Awareness Institute
Washington, DC
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