Diamond Approach South Africa (DASA) is South Africa’s first Diamond Approach group. It is open to new students. There are around five weekends per year. Three weekends start on Friday evening and run to Sunday afternoon. Two are long weekends, full day Friday to Sunday. We expect to continue with this format, with occasional adjustments as needed. All are online for now, but when covid permits, some weekends will move in-person.
Below you will find:
- The calendars for 2020 and 2021
- Registration for future weekends
- A link to the Ridhwan School Information Statement, which all students must sign electronically
- Access to past teachings and events
- Information about ongoing group application and membership
- An application form to download, and a place to upload it once completed
Learn more about the Diamond Approach and what an ongoing group is here.
2021 Calendar
Information Statement & Group Membership
Everyone attending a second weekend must electronically sign the information statement here: https://online.diamondapproach.org/rf-is-eu/
Joining the group and the Ridhwan School
The Ridhwan School consists of all members of Diamond Approach groups as well as students working individually with a Diamond Approach teacher. After attending two or three weekends, all students need to apply to join the group and the School to continue participating. To apply, please download the application form using the button below. We suggest taking your time to contemplate it and respond fully. On completion, upload the form using the bottom button.
The baseline 100% dues are the default. Lower dues can be requested in cases of financial need. Students who can pay higher dues to support the valuable work of the School are invited to do so.
A lower scale of dues applies to private session students who are not part of an ongoing group.
Group Membership Requirements
- The teachings build on each other, as with any ongoing program of study and development. Group members commit to attending all weekends and meetings as far as they can, and to pay for and review any missed teachings.
- You are free to end your membership at any time, although we recommend a private session or two for any open threads of inquiry.
- Membership is provisional until the completion of seven pieces of substantial work with a teacher either in private sessions, or in small group meetings.
- A daily Kath meditation practice and ongoing engagement with the sensing looking and listening is required.
- Inquiry practice with fellow students is encouraged.
- Private sessions with a teacher are recommend if possible for you, in addition to what is included in the retreats.
Your teachers will contact you to confirm your membership, or with any questions around your application. On initial acceptance, you will also be contacted by someone from the Ridhwan Foundation to give you login details for the Ridhwan portal, and to pay your annual student dues. All students pay student dues are based on a voluntary sliding scale. Please contact your teachers with any questions.
Private Sessions
Please read here for detailed information about private sessions. If you are interested in more sessions than are included in the weekends, please register your interest here.
Past Weekends / Now available as Online Courses
Review or Register to Access Past weekends.
2020 Retreat Dates
Weekend 1: 25-27 April 2020 (3 days) – fee R3600 / €320
Follow up Saturday afternoon 30 May
Follow up Saturday afternoon 20 June
Weekend 2: 18-19 July 2020 (2 days) – fee R2300 / €220
Follow up Saturday afternoon 1 August
Weekend 3: 5-6 September 2020 (2 days) – fee R2300 / €220
Follow up Saturday afternoon 10 October
Weekend 4: 30 October – 1 November (3 days) – fee R3600 / €320
Follow up Saturday afternoon 12 December
Follow up Saturday afternoon 9 January
Creating a Retreat Environment at Home
Here are a few guidelines for creating a sacred retreat space for when we are on retreat together, that will support us all while participating remotely by Zoom.
Find a quiet and private space to participate in the retreat. Arrange your computer so you can see and hear well. If you like, you can arrange a small altar near you with a candle, flowers, a cloth and objects that help you connect with your inner depth. Keeping a small candle burning throughout the day helps to remind us we are practicing on retreat.
We realize creating space will be different for everyone, so do the best you can in your personal situation.
Entering the Sanctuary together. We want to create a space that feels like we are in person with each other as much as possible. Even though we are not in person, arriving on time is still important. Arrive 5-10 minutes before the start time, and begin to sit quietly. Logging in early for each meeting may help with being on time. Consider your computer or device as a necessary part of the sanctuary. It is your portal to the retreat space.
Familiarise yourself with Zoom. Registering for a free Zoom account is optional, but ensure zoom is downloaded and test your zoom link ahead of time. If you can, ensure that you can hear and see on a zoom call, and that you can be seen and heard. Try using a headset if you have difficulty hearing or being heard. Familiarise yourself with the Zoom controls, including:
- Start/stop your video camera at the bottom of the Zoom screen
- Mute/unmute your microphone – and please keep your microphone muted until the exercise or you are called in on the questions and commentsAt the top right of the Zoom screen, the icons that let you switch between gallery view and speaker view
Being present and attentive during the meetings. We want to hold the space together and being present and attentive is crucial to creating a field of presence. Your complete attention to yourself, to your presence, and to the retreat space, will help to create the right environment for us all.
Limit distractions. Be mindful of the temptation to pull yourself away from the meetings. Because you are home there could be many things that distract you. Do what you can to limit distractions, i.e. turn off phones, don’t check e-mails, try to keep children and pets in the other room. Remember we are all online and our videos are on, and everyone else could be distracted by the goings on in your immediate space. During interruptions, if you need to turn your video off for a brief period of time, that’s fine. However on the whole, we do want you to be visually present, as this creates more of an in-person feel to our retreat experience. Please do not just leave your video off.
Creating a time for community sharing. There will be time to open the space up and share. This will happen during the comments and questions, after the exercises, as well as during the community meeting. You may also want to arrange informal social time with other students to catch up or get to know one another.