Insight at Los Angeles Mission College, California
10th November 2010
OWA North America faculty members Ashwin and Matthew (Uttamaji) presented a 3 hour Youth Insight workshop for the first time today, to a group of 70 students at Los Angeles Mission College.
Dr Parthenia Grant, Senior Lecturer for English and Critical Thinking at the college's Arts Department, had kindly organized the event and opened the program with a short talk about some of her experiences of personal growth and transformation. Dr Grant shared that it was her own growth through these experiences that had led to her seeking a way to provide similar opportunities for her students and today’s workshop was the beginning of this.
Ashwin gave an introduction about how Life is an experience to us and that everyone has the opportunity to see for oneself whether he or she wants an ordinary experience or an extraordinary experience.
He explained that extraordinary experiences are not necessarily about always having extraordinary events in our outer world but rather about experiencing an inner shift, whereby, life as it is in the ordinary everyday can be experienced in an extraordinary manner.
For this shift to happen there has to be an inner inquiry and one of the most important areas to begin this inquiry is in the area of relationships. This process of inquiry can be learnt and is an important tool that will assist us to deal with all situations from a different place.
Matthew (Uttamaji) took the group through a beautiful session that included a process of discovering love in relationships. He specifically explained the root of every disturbance in any relationship and how it is sourced in our conditioning.
Everyone paid rapt attention and one could witness the whole group sinking into a mode of contemplation and feeling the essence of how an awareness of conditioning could qualitatively improve their relationships, especially with their parents.
Then Ashwin took them through a session of learning the art of inquiry. He spoke about the fundamental reason for inner conflict and how it is predominantly a struggle between our past conditioning, what is happening in the moment and how to deal with that.
There was an insightful discussion on how one needs to really pay attention to his/her own thought patterns and their roots, as it is through an unawareness of these that we think in a compulsive and repetitive manner. Becoming aware of these patterns will help create the shifts necessary to experience life in a new way and create new beginnings for ourselves.
The whole group was thrilled at the end and were curious to know more about OWA's activities and participate in the regular events at OWA's Los Angeles centre.
This is one of many monthly sessions to come and OWA is excited to develop this growth and learning filled relationship with the University of California as OWA believes that it is the youth of today that will help in shifting the perception of tomorrow.
Testimonials
I would like to begin by saying that after the Insight program, I am definitely feeling so much better. I no longer feel unworthy and was able to write my personal statement for my UC college applications. I had Dr.Grant edit my statement and she said she can see in my writing that I had a breakthrough. I made an announcement on Wednesday during Dr.Grant's class and shared a bit about my experience. Later I also brought a friend to the weekly LA OWA center, who is also struggling with a break up. She said that she felt most peaceful in a long time.
Arleen Grande-Student, L.A. Mission College, California
Ashwin & Matthew thank you so much for the workshop. The students are still talking about it and are grateful. Some of the students are really looking forward to going deeper into this work. Bless both of you for your kindness and generosity of spirit.
Love, Dr. Parthenia Grant
Member Of
English - Faculty
L.A Mission College, California
