©
Dick Rauscher
Welcome
to the Stonyhill Spiritual Retreat Center on-line web site. This
site
will bring you our thoughts, ideas, and reflections on subjects such
as community building, the sources of violence, pain, and suffering
in our world; the spiritual and mental health practices needed to
bring love and compassion into our daily lives; the developmental
stages of spiritual growth; and the skills that are required
for us to experience fully aware lives that are lived in the moment.
The
educational talks and experiential workshops taught at Stony Hill
are specifically designed
to help us find happiness and meaning in the three primary stages or
areas of spiritual growth. Talks and workshops in the first stage are
focused on bringing spirituality into our own personal lives. Thus
stage one work is focused on happiness, building self esteem, individual
growth and meaning, stress reduction, anxiety reduction, sources of
illness and spiritual disciplines helpful in healing, and living happier
more authentic lives. Stage two talks and workshops focus on
the 1:1 relationships in our lives. In stage two we focus on
sources of conflict, increasing intimacy, effective parenting, strengthening
marriages, and developing healthy families. In stage three, our
spiritual focus is on walking the middle path and the skills of building
community. We believe at Stony Hill that most of the pain and suffering
in the world is caused by the creation of “otherness” created
by the black and white beliefs, ideals, opinions, certainties, and
the illusions created by our own egos. In Stage three talks and workshops
we work on the middlepath integration of psychotherapy, meditation
(listening prayer), the religious traditions of the world, and
the wisdom of the spiritual mystics.
All
teachings at Stony Hill are built on the belief that a healthy and
effective spirituality
requires a deep understanding of self and our own egos in Stage one
work before we can move with a gentle heart into the many relationships
in our lives and the larger community we call society. When we
understand the ways our egos create pain and suffering for ourselves
and those around us, we are then better able to transcend our
egos and move toward becoming love and compassion. We encourage
keeping the spirituality of all three stages in focus and balanced.....self,
relationships, and the world.
The
primary focus at Stony Hill is learning how to walk the middlepath
in life so as
to do no harm to ourselves, others, or the earth we live
on. We are a fully ecumenical Spiritual Retreat Center that believes
and teaches there are many paths to the Consciousness of the Universe
that we refer to as God, Creator, or Mind of the Universe. Stonyhill
welcomes spiritual seekers of all faiths and beliefs. We believe
every genuine seeker of the spiritual life brings a piece of the Truth.
Stonyhill
is available to individuals or groups seeking a quiet rural setting
that is supportive
of reflective discernment, meditation and the slowing down of our lives. We
can host groups of 15-18 adults for day long meetings. The facilities
are not developed yet for overnight stays, but we hope to have
rustic camping and several small overnight meditation cabins available
by next year.
Stonyhill
is a ministry and thus charges very modest fees for the use of the
Center’s
meeting rooms, use of the grounds, or for the workshops and discussion
groups that are offered throughout the summer and fall. Refreshments
and excellent light lunches (home made breads, pastries, and soups)
are always included as part of any programs offered here at Stony Hill.. Thus,
to continue the growth of the Center’s buildings and grounds,
we ask that individuals and groups donate as generously as possible
to the Center’s growth fund. If you are interested in donating
time and working on projects here at the Center, you are encouraged
to join the Friends of Stonyhill. This group will explore the
meaning of community as we work together to build Stonyhill into a
viable and exciting ecumenical spiritual retreat center.
We
look forward to meeting all of you in the months and years ahead. If you are
interested in receiving specialized mailings of workshops and discussion
groups that will be meeting here in the coming months, write, call, or
email us. We will put all meeting and events information on the
website, but some of the workshops, programs and work parties may be
offered on short notice. Please include email addresses since that
is a fast and efficient way for us to keep you informed.
If you have questions
or areas of spiritual formation that you would like to see explored
in the newsletter or in workshops offered at Stony Hill, give us a
call. We welcome your thoughts and insights on how Stony Hill can be
helpful as we learn the spiritual practices needed to build a peaceful
human community.
Dick Rauscher
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