The Diamond Approach is a path of personal awakening to the true nature of reality. By making intimate contact with the truth of your everyday life, you can know the depths of who and what you are. You can learn to invite Being itself to provide you with profound guidance and understanding of your inner journey of self-discovery. You can come home to the still sweet simplicity of spirit while living in today's complex world.

METHOD OF THE DIAMOND APPROACH

As a contemporary spiritual teaching, the Diamond Approach to Inner Realization considers the totality of the human being. It is a path of self realization and human maturity based on an original synthesis of modern discoveries in the field of psychology and a new paradigm about spiritual nature.

We learn that we can experience our spiritual and true nature as a transcendent eternal truth and also as various spiritual qualities of presence like love, clarity, peace, truth and so on. These aspects of our essence are readily revealed through the heart-felt understanding of our normal everyday experience. In this way we can attain spiritual realization at the same time that we become liberated from our psychological patterns and limitations. Such an approach makes it possible to be a full human being in the world while grounded in the eternal spirit.

The Diamond Approach differs from most other paths in that it recognizes the uniqueness of each individual soul and adapts itself to each person's needs at the time. It does not require that people adapt to some ideal, but welcomes people as they are and helps them to take the natural next step for their unique development.

The Diamond Approach emphasizes the personal aspects of spiritual reality, in a way different from most spiritual paths. Development of the personal essence—the Pearl Beyond Price—is central to the Diamond Approach. This process honors, supports and develops the uniqueness of each individual to its fullest potential. Beingness in a personal form becomes a stepping stone from ordinary consciousness to the transcendent oneness of spiritual reality.

The Diamond Approach recognizes that Being or true nature manifests the fullness of reality, whereas the material world is only one part of that reality. This view contrasts with the materialistic perspectives dominating society today, of which most psychotherapy is an expression.

Following this path, we have the opportunity to discover, realize and actualize our true nature, our deepest spiritual dimension. The Diamond Approach uses methods such as meditation, self-remembering and inquiry to support this process of realizing our true nature.

For a more in-depth description of the Diamond Approach see the write-up under A.H. Almaas on the ridwan.org website.

ABOUT US

Established in 1996, the Gulf Coast Region Diamond Approach draws students from all over the Gulf Coast region, including Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Tennessee. The group encourages people from surrounding states without access to teaching in their own communities to feel welcome to join this growing spiritual community.

The Gulf Coast Region Diamond Approach meets four to five times a year in weekend or retreat settings at sites in Houston and other outlying retreat centers. Monthly follow-up sessions occur in Houston, Austin, and Dallas, Texas. Teaching includes lectures and discussion, self- and group inquiry, meditation and life practice sessions designed to enhance presence and awareness, and individual sessions with the teachers.

The group is taught by Ridhwan teachers Deborah Letofsky and Morton Letofsky, who, for the past 35 years, have been students of A. Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas), founder of the Diamond Approach). In addition, Ridhwan teachers regularly involved in teaching this group are Mike Boone, Gina Crago and Rick Gaines.

****NEW GROUP BEING FORMED****

A new group is being formed, beginning March 2013. For more information, or to receive an application, contact Annette Anderson at 214-660-4278 or annette@annetteanderson.com .