The Diamond Approach is a path of personal awakening to the
true nature of realty. 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, Chappel Hill in the Texas
hill country, and other outlying retreat centers. Monthly follow-up sessions
occur in Houston and Austin, Texas. Teaching includes lectures and discussion,
self- and group inquiry, meditation and work sessions designed to promote
awareness, and individual sessions with the teachers.
The group is taught by Ridhwan teachers Debbie Ussery and Morton Letofsky,
who, for the past 25 years, have been students of A. Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas,
founder of the Diamond Approach). Residents of Boulder, CO, Debbie and Morton
travel to Houston and Maui, Hawaii, to teach groups, work individually with
students, and to train teachers in the Diamond Approach. Their Maui group
has been ongoing since 1988.
****NEW GROUP BEING FORMED****
Applications are being accepted for new members to Group IV of the Gulf Coast Region Diamond Approach.
For information, or to receive an application and reserve your place, contact: