INTERSPIRITUAL MEDITATION MANDALA PROCESS. Mentor Training Program. Edward W. Bastian, Ph.D. Spiritual Paths Foundation

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1 INTERSPIRITUAL MEDITATION & MANDALA PROCESS Mentor Training Program Edward W. Bastian, Ph.D. Spiritual Paths Foundation

2 SUMMARY The Spiritual Paths Certificate Training Program entails a process of Inquiry, Insight and Integration. It helps each individual to create a personal spiritual path through the Mandala Process and InterSpiritual Meditation. This program begins with a personal profile instruments for assessing one s archetypal spiritual learning styles and spiritual questions. It then provides books, workbooks, audio-visual materials, online courses and resources to help participants harness their styles and questions to cultivate the best spiritual and contemplative practices for them. The program combines meaningful personal inquiry with disciplined study of authentic source materials, teachers and exemplars from the world's great spiritual, philosophical, mythological, and scientific traditions. It challenges participants to become the change they wish for the world and to lead from within by cultivating their own personal spiritual path. MISSION Train participants to fully engage in the Mandala Process and InterSpiritual Meditation to create their personal paths and practices. Train teachers and mentors to guide others in this process. Create a community of mentors to support their work with mentees. Provide mentors with ongoing support and materials for both in-person and online courses and personal mentoring. Partner with like-minded educational organizations to offer this certificate program to their students, members and constituents. PROCESS INQUIRY The Mandala Process The process of inquiry focuses on the Spiritual Paths Mandala that outlines twelve families of spiritual styles, questions, and traditions. Through the Mandala Process, students and mentors-in-training learn to use our profiling instruments, methodology, workbook, course readings book, and course website. Participants will learn to help themselves and others to discover their own spiritual styles, honor their deepest spiritual questions and discern the best spiritual practices for their lives. INSIGHT InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM) InterSpiritual Meditation provides students and mentors-in-training with a process for creating a contemplative practice based on her/his own spiritual styles along with the teachings of authentic contemplative traditions and their own life experience. Here, trainees will use our books, workbook, guided meditations and course website to master the theory and the seven-step practice of ISM, develop their own personal practice, and learn to mentor others in this process. INTEGRATION Leading from Within Self, Family, Career & Community Mentors will integrate their own working knowledge and experience by mentoring and teaching their own students while using our resources of the workbooks, books, audios, and course websites. Mentors and mentees will learn to integrate their internal spiritual values and experiences into their relationships, careers and community. Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 1

3 REQUIREMENTS 1. Introductory Class An in-person & online class covering the basics of the Mandala Process and ISM 2. The Mandala Process (Inquiry) Students and trainees will fully engage in their own personal inquiry by completing the following: (A) An intensive (offered simultaneously in-person and online) (B) An extended online course. Required coursework that includes: (1) Personal Profile Instrument, (2) online discussions, (3) periodic webinars (4) the workbook, (5) study of relevant resources, teachers and exemplars, (6) a five to ten page paper on how they are harnessing their spiritual styles to answer their questions and cultivate the best practices for them. 3. InterSpiritual Meditation (Insight) Trainees will develop a personal contemplative process by completing the following: (A) An intensive (offered simultaneously in-person and online) (B) An extended online course on ISM. Required coursework that includes: (1) online discussions, (2) periodic webinars (3) the workbook, (4) study of relevant resources, teachers and exemplars, (5) a five to ten page paper on the content, focus and approach to each of the seven steps in ISM. 4. Mentoring Intensive (Integration) Trainees will attend and complete a multi-day intensive on how to integrate and use the books, workbooks, audio-visual materials, online courses and Guidelines for InterSpiritual Dialog for leading groups and mentoring individuals. (Offered simultaneously online and inperson.) 5. Certification This final phase of the training consists of the following elements. A. Mentoring Guidance: one-on-one guidance sessions with program director. B. Practicum: Mentors-in-training will work with their own mentees. C. Online Support: Mentors will support each other and share experiences and practices. D. Certification: Those who successfully complete the program earn certification. E. Licensing and Membership: Certificate holders will license use of all course materials with their own students and mentees. They will become mutually supportive members of the community of Spiritual Paths teachers and mentors. 6. Integrating this Work into Personal Life, Family, Career and Community Certified Mentors will work with their own mentees while continuing to communicate with the program director and our community of mentors. Periodic mentor retreats and webinars will be scheduled to help mentors stay in touch, to support each other, to develop best practices and to create additional online, print and audio-visual materials to support this work. Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 2

4 The Mentor Training Process Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 3

5 CREATING YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH (The Mandala Process) The Spiritual Paths Mandala outlines a life-long journey of spiritual inquiry, insight and integration wherein we are empowered to fully engage in the challenges of the world from the inside out. The Mandala contains twelve families of spiritual styles, questions and traditions. By systematically moving through these, we collect and integrate the knowledge, practices and experiences that give our lives meaning, joy and purpose. We harness and balance all the archetypal styles within us to create our own spiritual paths and to serve others. Courses on the Mandala provide a non-sectarian, holistic, integral process for creating a spiritual path. These courses are given in several formats including introductory weekend retreats and five-day intensives, three-month online course, life-long learning, and personal mentoring. Because of its comprehensive scope, the Mandala Process can be seen as a life-long process for spiritual inquiry, insight, and integration. In this course, students can integrate their study of classical spiritual traditions with those of interfaith ministry, mythology, depth psychology, philosophy and science. The curriculum and content are designed to be molded around the archetypal spiritual styles and questions of each student. This educational approach provides a vehicle for objective academic study, subjective personal spiritual development as well as extended training for mentoring others. It provides a program of study and practice that can be incorporated into a variety of disciplines including psychology, mythology, religious studies, spiritual counseling, leadership training, healthcare and end-of-life care. Training in the Mandala Process will help people of many professions to develop the inner wisdom, empathy, and tools for leading from within. Following is an overview of the process. 1. Fill out the Spiritual Styles Profile Instrument. The results help students to discover and harness their archetypal spiritual styles that often lie hidden within our unconscious minds. These styles, or ways of knowing, are the lenses through which we interpret the world and shape our spiritual path. Here we begin to recognize and balance the archetypal styles within us. 2. Fill out the Spiritual Questions Profile Instrument. The results help students to rediscover and honor the grand questions they have harbored, perhaps since childhood. This opens up joy of exploration and discovery. 3. Explore answers to our questions through the lenses of our spiritual ways of knowing. Here, we harness our natural styles for an exploration and discovery of perspectives within the traditions of spirituality, mythology, philosophy and science. 4. Discern the best spiritual practices and paths that give our lives profound meaning and purpose and enable us to lead from within. 5. Refine and deepen our practice through InterSpiritual Meditation 6. Earn a certificate and license to mentor others in this process. Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 4

6 Twelve Families of Spiritual Styles, Questions &Traditions The following chart lists each of these three sets of twelve families of archetypal styles, questions and traditions. These are listed in alphabetical order. But, in your individual Mandala discernment process, you will line up your personal styles with your personal questions and the tradition(s) within which you seek answers. This will help you to better focus on your journey of discovery. Families of Archetypal Styles Families of Questions Families of Traditions 1 Arts (The Artist) Consciousness Buddhism 2 Body (The Mover) Death Christianity 3 Devotion (The Devotee) Existence Hinduism 4 Imagination (The Dreamer) Freedom Islam 5 Love (The Lover) God Judaism 6 Meditation (The Meditator) Good & Evil African 7 Mystic (The Mystic) Happiness Asian 8 Nature (The Naturalist) Reality American 9 Prayer (The Prayer) Soul European 10 Reason (The Thinker) Spirit Beings Middle Eastern 11 Relationships (The Mensch) Suffering Oceanic 12 Wisdom (The Sage) Transformation & Ultimate Potential Science, Philosophy, Mythology Course Objectives The purpose of this course is to help people develop their own spiritual paths based on their own natural archetypal spiritual styles and questions. We explore answers to our questions through the lenses of our spiritual ways of knowing. We harness our natural styles for an exploration and discovery of perspectives within the traditions of spirituality, mythology, philosophy and science. We discern the best spiritual practices and path that give our lives profound meaning and purpose and enables us to lead from within. Course Options These courses are given in several formats including introductory weekend retreats and fiveday intensives, online courses, long-term learning, mentor training and personal mentoring. Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 5

7 Combined training in both the Mandala Process and ISM will enable each individual to create their own spiritual and contemplation practices with a goal to fulfill their highest potential, to lead from within, and to become agents for positive change in their families, communities and professions. Course options include but are not limited to the following. Weekend Introductory Course This course includes the printed workbook, sessions on each of the twelve families of spiritual styles and questions. It includes periods for journaling, discussions, movement and contemplation. The per-student fees will vary according to customary program fees of each partnering institution. Five-Day Introductory Intensive This course includes the above course elements but stretches out the time for discussions, journaling, contemplation, in-depth interaction with teacher and group activities. The perstudent fees will vary according to customary program fees of each partnering institution. The Online Course The 10-week online course generally begins with an introductory in-person weekend or fiveday course. Then, students actively participate in the interactive online website, and weekly webinars. The online course contains the following elements: 1. Selected Readings from the book by Ed Bastian. 2. Interactive class reflections and discussions. 3. Individual weekly worksheets to be completed by each student weekly assignments based on each of the questions and styles. 5. Resources for extended study. 6. Weekly video calls for instruction and discussion. 7. A final paper or project (for Certificate students). Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 6

8 INTERSPIRITUAL MEDITATION InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM) is a universal process drawn from the world s spiritual traditions. It helps individuals to cultivate inner peace, wisdom, and compassion. Its seven-step process enables people of different spiritual practices to create engaged contemplative communities based on empathy, understanding, shared contemplative intentions, and compassionate service for the common good. The Seven Steps of InterSpiritual Meditation are: 1. May We be Healthy and Happy 2. May We be Grateful 3. May We be Transformed 4. May We be Loving and Compassionate 5. May We become Mindful through our Breathing 6. May We become Wise through our Meditation 7. May We be in Service to All Beings Course Objectives o To help each student to develop and sustain a comprehensive, satisfying, and sustainable process of meditation based on their spiritual learning styles, questions and traditions. o To model a profound process for people of various religious traditions, and those without a tradition, to join together in mutually supportive InterSpiritual communities. o to fulfill our highest potential and to lead from within as we become healing agents for positive transformation in our families, relationships, professions and communities. Course Options These courses are given in several formats including introductory weekend retreats and fiveday intensives, online courses, long-term learning, mentor training and personal mentoring. Combined training in both the Mandala Process and ISM will enable each individual to create their own spiritual and contemplation practices with a goal to fulfill their highest potential, to lead from within, and to healing become agents for positive change in their families, communities and professions. Course options include but are not limited to the following. Weekend Introductory Course This course includes the printed workbook, sessions on each of the seven steps of InterSpiritual Meditation. It includes periods for journaling, discussions, and contemplation. The per-student fees will vary according to customary program fees of each partnering institution. Five-Day Introductory Intensive This course includes the above course elements but stretches out the time for discussions, journaling, contemplation, in-depth study and practice and group activities. The per-student fees will vary slightly according to customary program fees of each partnering institution. Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 7

9 The Online Course The 10-week online course generally begins with an introductory in-person weekend or fiveday course. Then, students actively participate in the interactive online website, and weekly webinars. The online course contains the following: 1. Selected Readings from the book by Ed Bastian. 2. Interactive class reflections and discussions. 3. Individual weekly worksheets to be completed by each student weekly assignments based on each of the seven steps. 5. Resources for extended study. 6. Weekly video calls for instruction and discussion. 7. A final paper or project (for Certificate students). Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 8

10 InterSpiritual Meditation MENTAL STATE PRAYER ATTRIBUTES 1 Motivation May I Be Healthy and Happy Mind Body Spirit 2 Appreciation May I Be Grateful Remembrance Thankfulness Trust and faith Devotion Prayer Offering Sacrifice 3 Transformation May I Become My Highest Ideal Imagine the Ideal Self-Assessment Confession Remorse Forgiveness Commitment 4 Intention May I Be Loving and Compassionate 5 Attention May I Be Mindful Through Breathing 6 Meditation May I Become Wise Through Meditation Sympathy & Empathy Exchange self and others Interdependence Universal Reciprocity Universal Essence Body Position Focus on Breath Patience Observation & Vigilance Perseverance Recollection Concentration Tranquil Focus Insight Via Positiva and Via Negativa Bliss Equanimity Unity 7 Dedication May I Be In Service to All Beings Bring this meditation into all relationships and situations in the coming days. Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 9

11 Mentor Training INQUIRY, INSIGHT, INTEGRATION INQUIRY INSIGHT Discovering Your Personal Path Creating Your Contemplative Practice The Mandala InterSpiritual Meditation Honoring your Spiritual Styles & Questions Seven-Step Process A Foundation for Action & Service INTEGRATION Engaging in Life with Equanimity, Wisdom & Compassion Students will increase their capacity to engage in the world by leading from within based on a solid inner spiritual foundation and personal contemplative practice. This process will help them to integrate their spiritual practice into their families, communities and professions. Business Community Service Education End-of-Life Preparation & Care Environmental Activism Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Family Care Healthcare Law Enforcement/Military Ministry Peace-Making Personal Relationships Political Action Psychology Social Justice All Your Relationships Page 10

12 Edward W. Bastian, Ph.D. Brief Resume Ed is the founding president of the Spiritual Paths Foundation that provides InterSpiritual programs, books, websites and websites for the study of meditation and the application of contemplative values and insights in the world. These programs and resources enable people to "lead from within" by developing a spiritual foundation to guide their work for the common good. The foundation also focusses on the interdependent nexus between nature and spirit. His Doctorate is in Buddhist Studies and Western Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bastian studied for nearly a decade with Buddhist Monks in monasteries in the U.S., India and the Himalayas. As a Fulbright Scholar, he studied Indian philosophy at Banares Hindu University and translated Buddhist scriptures from Tibetan and Sanskrit sources. At the Smithsonian Institution, Bastian served as Director of programs on BioDiversity and Intellectual History, where he taught courses and moderated programs on Buddhism, world religion, and Tibetan human rights. He has lectured, presented scholarly papers and his films in the U.S., England, Japan and India. Bastian is an award-winning executive producer of television programs on Asian religion for the BBC, PBS, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is the author of the award winning "Living Fully Dying Well," as well as "Creating Your Spiritual Path," and "InterSpiritual Meditation." (Click here for more information on Ed Bastian.) Edward W. Bastian, Ph.D. 6 Harbor Way, Box 249 Santa Barbara, CA ed@spiritualpaths.net Mentor Training, Ed Bastian, Page 11