This is a condition to be wished, believe me. I left home and wandered off to the northeast a bit and found myself in the company of people who are thinking about deep stuff high on a mountain top. And they're not getting paid to do it. As a matter of fact, they're paying for the privilege.
In a framework of taking The Hero's Journey made so famous by Joseph Campbell, about 50 varied and sundry adults who are connected in some way with education, community building and organizational development - among other things - have assembled at Mt. Madonna School in Gilroy, California. The presence of Angeles Arrien and Peter Block, who have written a dozen books between them, coalesces the energy of the group and gives it form, guidance and wisdom. But, as they like to say, the wisdom is in the room. As Angeles has said, "Let's find out what's workin' you."
It calls itself a Chautauqua, a special meeting of teachers and students focusing on one subject, be it political, educational, religious or scientific. This chautauqua is meant to explore that which inspires us and propels us forward on our spiritual or intellectual journey in life.
Today we took the hero's first step - The Call to action or purpose. 50 people have stepped out of their usual roles as educators, scientists, researchers, community leaders, and students to face challenging questions and explore difficulties that usually prevent success or progress in their work. We got acquainted, spent some time thinking about what our personal Call might be and what we as a group might do to answer the Call. It's kind of fuzzy and nebulous stuff, but the facilitators are skilled, wise and patient, supporting our efforts to express ideas and form friendships and a brief community in this particular setting while gaining new perspectives.
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4 comments:
The search for oneself is also the quest to find one's bedrock principles. The biggest obstacle to overcome is the sheer amount of distracting noise and chatter that encompasses us, as--for example--that presented in the Chautauqua assemblage. For some probably good reason, the title of a long-forgotten old book comes to mind: "The Hound of Heaven." Thanks for reminding me of it....
Excuse me..."Hound of Heaven" is not a book, but a 187-line poem by Francis Bacon. I hadn't read it in many years, but its message will certainly be of interest to "searchers," especially in the barren times we live in today.
The participants are a highly principled and intelligent group of adults that I am inspired to be with. They are working hard to lead their respective communities out of difficult problems that exist for many reasons.
Really, its quite an assumption to believe that everyone finds group noise and chatter a disraction. Certainly, some process better in silence, but certainly others learn in community with all of its messiness and noise. Sounds like thats what you were up to.
Probably important to make a distinction between the quiet inner searching that one might pursue for ones own benefit, and the nature of a learning community. Not everything that matters is learned alone, some of the most important things we can possible ever learn will be in the presence of others.
There is no one way, no right way and no single path to anything.
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