PLANETARY COLLEGES
OF AGELESS WISDOM

Wisdom is the enlightened application of knowledge, through love, to the affairs of men.

These colleges are a global initiative in response to humanity's need for a significantly deeper level of spiritual education.  The colleges are designed for emerging leaders – men and women who are the seeds of the next renaissance – embodiments of the next evolutionary potential of the human spirit.

• The changes in our society demand leaders who are grounded in a planetary vision

• Mental development needs balancing with healthy psychological and practical maturity

• Understanding and developing the individual spirit is essential to a responsible world citizenry
  

For more in depth information, please visit: www.shamballaschool.org

Foundational Principles
These schools are based upon the practice of meditation, study, and service. Teachings emphasize development of the creative imagination, compassion, and spiritual will in applying knowledge to the needs of the current and emerging civilization. The core principles are:

• The essential unity of all life
• The cyclic nature of manifestation
• The evolution of consciousness through a graded series of expansions, realizations, or 'initiations'

Meditation
The ultimate teacher is the soul, the inner self, knowledge of which is unfolded through contemplative practices. A significant proportion of each class day is set aside to understand and practice meditative work to ensure the student is capable of working according to his or her own highest intentions..

Study
The colleges are formed to generate the insights and collective breakthroughs that will advance key areas in human endeavour. A core curriculum has been developed, which includes the following:

• the sciences, from a wholistic and spiritual perspective (reviewing biology, ecology, astronomy, geometry, physics, etc.)
• The constitution and evolution of man and the other kingdoms in nature
• Critical thinking and debate
• The paths of probation, discipleship, and initiation, in individual and group context
• The creative and expressive arts: music, drama, dance and visual art techniques
• Experiential group work and collective processes
• Work with subtle energies and senses
• Eastern and Western philosophies and culture
• Cosmology, astrology, and mythology
• Study of symbol, colour, sound, light, and vibration
• Transformative, trans-personal psychology, sexuality, and the healing arts
• Politics, business, and economics
• Spiritual law and the compassionate application of the will to planetary affairs

Each college will adapt and develop this material according to the needs of their nation and students. A range of synthetic teaching styles will be used to create a dynamic balance of academic and experiential techniques.

Service
These educational centres are created for the mature, joyful demonstration of group living, learning, and creativity. Each week, and daily in the advanced years, students focus upon creating solutions to key problematic issues of the planet and society – nationally and internationally.

Schedule
Each year is divided into two halves. The first half concentrates on learning and theory; the second half on creative and practical expression. The students will be actively involved in service activities throughout the year. The best of creative and academic work will be made available to the public.

Location
Currently offering the full residential programme is the Shamballa School on the north island of New Zealand; other developments are planned and periodic intensives underway in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, and the United States.

Programme Schedule
The prototypical programme is offered as a full-time, residential, five-year schedule. However, depending upon individual needs, this time may be lengthened or shortened. Public courses, series of intensives or week-long retreats in non-residential school programmes, and related programmes are now available in all locations.

Teachers
The tutors come from diverse backgrounds: many teachers have qualifications from mainstream universities, and all have extensive spiritual training in various disciplines, and rich life experience.

Students
Students for residential programmes are likely to have experienced some tertiary education and are looking to deepen their contact and understanding of divinity and their own soul energies. They will in their twenties to early forties, and show aptitude for some line of creative endeavour on behalf of humanity. The willingness and ability to work in group situations, and a deep love of humanity, are prerequisites. As the work is designed to contact spiritual energies, a high level of physical health, emotional maturity, dedication and steadfastness is required. Acceptance will be based upon a series of interviews with the directors of the schools.

Funding
Students are expected to be somewhat self-supporting and able to meet their expenses while in college; however, no fee is charged for this teaching. Funding for these schools will therefore be primarily by donation from those individuals and groups who recognise the far reaching benefit this type of educational experience can provide. Tutors receive no financial compensation for their services.

 
If you share the vision of these colleges, are or know of a suitable student, or if you are able in some capacity to help support these centres of higher education ...

... please visit the school's website: www.shamballaschool.org or write to:

Ageless Wisdom
Private Bag 11081
Palmerston North
New Zealand