The Three Principal Areas of Research

Understanding the Research Documents

Research Documents [Drafts 11-Sep-2021]

This research document forms part of an overarching piece of work considering the principles that underlie the purpose and form of the School. With COVID 19 and the dawn of the online courses, an initiative was started to review the strategy and operation of the School by a working group comprising the Tutorial leadership and the Executive. As this group considered the pathways of student development provided by the School it was felt to be useful to take stock of the principal frameworks and methods which the School has evolved over 80 years of operation and study them in order to lay out the central principles and consider how they meet the needs of this time and place in the School’s history.

Principles for the Purpose and Form of the School - this document provides a consolidated summary and synopsis of the main findings of the research work referenced in the documents below. The three key areas of research are provided in further detail here:

1. The 7 Stages of Development: An exploration the developmental model which has guided the pathway in the School for many years continues as the guideline for self discovery. This model underpins the way the School provides student journeys and pathways through its offerings.

2. Sanatan Dharma [WIP]: practical, spiritual guidance for living naturally as householders in the world, enunciating the human qualities to develop.

3. The Four Pillars of the School are the methods central to the offerings of the School, evolved over the decades.

1. Group - describes the history, purpose and principles of group work, including best practice.

2. Meditation - describes the heritage, history and reason for the specific form of meditation used within the developmental methods offered by the School.

3. Service - describes the importance of growing beyond purely individual consideration to make a contribution to the wider world and dedicate work to something bigger than myself.

4. Retreats [WIP] - describes the purpose and importance of retreats in the School’s developmental methods. [This paper is still under development and not yet available]

It is anticipated that this research will be of use to those who, mindful of the heritage of the organisation, are considering any changes to the structure or form of the School. It should also assist in the formulation of material and tutorial content within a coherent framework.