Group Application - Dom Liber

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 – treat it as your own fresh inquiry into your situation and your soul’s journey at this time. On completion, upload the form using the bottom button.

Download the application form

Upload application form

DHUK Students – Application Fee

Pay £35 Application Fee

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

Upon application, you will join the group for a provisional period typically a year or so, to get a sense of the approach and to see whether it is a good fit for you.
Your exploration of your inner world will grow and expand with the teachings, with each weekend building on the ones that have gone before. As a group member you commit to attending all weekends and meetings as far as possible, and to review any missed teachings via recordings if you are unable to attend.
You are free to end your membership at any time, and we recommend a private session or two before making any final decision.
A daily Kath meditation practice and ongoing engagement with the sensing looking and listening will be invaluable for your growth and learning.
Inquiry practice with fellow students is encouraged.
Private sessions with a teacher will be a great support if possible for you, in addition to what is included in the retreats. Once you complete your provisional period, you will be required to do at least five extra private sessions a year beyond the two that are included with your group membership.

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.

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.