18. WHAT IS STONY HILL

by Dick Rauscher

Abstract

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