THE NEW SPIRITUALITY STUDY GROUPS
Philippines
There could be more New Spirituality Study Groups in the Philippines than meets the eye, operating under the radar, or what we could possibly officially name and consider part of the team. While a lot of us think that Humanity's Team Philippines began as a CWG study group in 2000, nothing could be further from the truth. A few of these study groups were then converted into that of The New Spirituality, although nothing much had to be changed. Way back a few devoted members of these study groups decided to form a foundation called Highest Vision Foundation (HVF), which continues to support activities of Humanity's Team Philippines by providing resources and guidance.
How does one form or attend a studygroup?
First and foremost, you must have a spiritual material that you honestly connect with and continues to grow on you. This material could be New Thought, New Age, Metaphysical, Mystical or Philosophical. You call some friends or acquaintances who share the same interest in the material to meet with you, you agree on a comfortable date and place, then decide to assemble weekly, bi-monthly or monthly. The structure of study groups is very flexible, depending on the material, your convenience and the degree of challenge you would like to take every time you meet.
If truth be known, however, a lot of experienced people say, including Worldwide Team New Spirituality Study Group Coordinator Alyse A. Rynor, that all it takes is enthusiasm. Study groups have been formed upon enthusiasm and inspiration. Some people have formed study groups just because. As a facilitator or co-facilitator, there is no need to be knowledgeable about everything either. In Manila, study groups were formed by people who had more questions than answers and these meetings were held in the privacy of their homes, at centers, cafes and restaurants. If it makes you feel any better, you may attend an existing study group and/or contact us for a PDF of a standard format by Rynor, which doesn't contain rules, just very wise suggestions that include a list of reading materials, among which are the following:
Paths to Love - Deepak Chopra Life After Life - Dr. Raymond Moody The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield Many Lives, Many Masters - Dr. Brian Weiss As A Man Thinketh - James Allen A Course In Miracles - Foundation for Inner Peace Anatomy of the Spirit - Carol Myss You Can Heal Your Life - Louise Hay Works by Neale D. Walsch: Conversations with God Trilogy CWG Guide Books Communion with God Home With God: In a Life That Never Ends Tomorrow's God What God Wants The New Revelations | Illusions - Richard Bach Practical Spirituality - John Randolph Price Love is Letting Go of Fear - Gerald Jampolsky The Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman Return to Love - Marianne Williamson Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle The Holographic Universe - Michael Talbot What You Think of Me is None of My Business - Terry Cole-Whitaker Seat of the Soul - Gary Zukav The Power of Positive Thinking - Dr.Norman Vincent PealeThe Nature of Personal Reality - Jane Roberts Transforming Pain into Power - Dr. Doris Helge Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda The Politics of Meaning - Michael Lerner When Bad Things Happen To Good People - Rabbi Harold Kushner Unconditional Love - Paul Ferrini |
Is it possible to walk into a study group as a total stranger and survive? Yes. This happens more often, in fact, than people getting totally dismayed by its participants, which is usually part and parcel of the spiritual experience. Some have shown up and still do without having a clue about the reading materials or what to expect, unless there are certain rules being observed by a particular study group and specific requirements as to how to join. It may help to be reminded, though, that a lot of people attend these study groups to relax and have fun in an atmosphere of having the luxury of kindred spirits around them.
MAKATI GROUP: The Java Man Cafe inside Powerbooks, 2nd Floor Greenbelt 4, Makati City every Friday, 5:00 p.m. onward
MALATE GROUP: The groundfloor yoghurt area of Pan Pacific Hotel, M. Adriatico corner General Malvar Streets, Malate, Manila every Thursday, 7:00 p.m. onward
BAGUIO GROUP: Kamalayan Library Cafe, King's Court Bldg., 31 Rimando Road Baguio City every Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. onward
TEMPLE OF PRAYER, PEACE & PROSPERITY/TOPPP (A Registered New Thought Congregation): 3rd Floor, Priscilla 100 Building 2297 Pasong Tamo Extension (near Mantrade), Makati City every Sunday, 4:00 p.m. ~ 8:00 p.m.
What's all the fuss about Yellow Pad?!
Uniquely The New Spirituality Study Group newsletter in the Philippines, Yellow Pad was born black and white on paper in 2001, thanks to Nikie Jacinto-Lingad and Nancy Abeleda of the Ortigas study group. They created this to cover their CWG study group meetings and events. Publication came to quite a charming pin-drop halt in the same year and although there weren't any strident demands for it to be revived, it had so much character. Moreover, we can't resist the thought that it harbored plans, goals and dreams - their plans, goals and dreams - that seemed to be coming true in the form of The New Spirituality. Could this be Yellow Pad's little voice message to us: you never know when a dream is coming true until it's there. And finally, oh, thank heavens, finally... it's yellow.