This is a conceptual framework written from the perspective of an intentional community space that acts as a retreat centre environment offering a weekly schedule of classes and ad-hoc events (workshops and retreats).
Given this perspective, the community is made up of:
- A somewhat consistent group of residents who stay on a semi-permanent or recurring basis.
- Retreat/workshop/class participants who stay for the duration of an event.
- Volunteers who support the space in various ways as a retreat centre.
The residents, being the core of the community, would have shared intentions and values consistent with being part of a spiritually aware sanga, and would hold that conscious space for participants and volunteers to benefit from. This holding extends to both the informal interaction and arisings as community, and to the formal holding of classes, workshops and retreats.
The benefits for all can be seen as:
- Volunteers: an opportunity to serve, participate (in weekly classes), be a part of a spiritually-minded community and to develop/deepen a practice of awareness through yoga and meditation.
- Participants: attend classes, workshops and retreats.
- Residents: an opportunity to give/share/teach, and to practise skills of self-responsibility, self-enquiry and communication required for co-existing and co-creating in a conscious community.
With this in mind there are (at least) three perspectives for consideration:
Soul/spirit
This is addressed in part by the classes, workshops and retreats that are held in this space.
I also see these providing the awareness, tools and practices needed to navigate the heart-mind perspective.
Heart-mind
This is where the shared intentions and value of the community are held, along with the skills of self-responsibility, self-enquiry and communication required for co-existing and co-creating in a conscious community. Where needs for self-care, connection and support can be known, expressed and held with mindful consideration.
This doesn’t happen without the intentions, values and practices being formulated, shared, discussed, practised and reflected on, and is the ongoing ‘work’ of sanga (as best as I currently understand it).
Body-earth
This is the more practical aspects required to support the needs of the heart-mind and soul/spirit, covering:
- The functioning/intention/purpose of spaces for best use
- Communal growing and harvesting of food and herbs for nourishment
- The cleaning and upkeep of spaces
- Impact on the earth in terms of consumption and waste
- The systems necessary to support the functioning of these
This potentially provides a framework that can be developed further as per the needs of the space and community that co-exists there.