Study and/or Discussion Groups
The following suggestions have been prepared for those people who, after sufficient introduction to the USB, feel that they wish to study more deeply and better familiarize themselves with the USB teachings, in order to better apply them in their everyday lives.
From experience we have found that most people who take seriously teachings like the USB’s find it especially enjoyable and satisfying to study the teachings informally as members of study groups or discussion groups, together with a few like-minded people. (Individuals are welcome to study alone if necessary or they prefer.) Study groups concentrate more on serious study, while discussion groups emphasize more the discussion process (avoiding debate). Group leaders tell members in advance the topics, by number, in Spiritual Light, that they will discuss at the next meeting; members can then read and study them in advance to the extent they are able. Then at the next meeting they discuss those topics, and particularly any questions they may have about them. In time it is likely that they will find answers to many of their questions in different parts of the book.
To facilitate discussion of topics after reading and studying them, groups may choose to make use of the Student’s Manual which contains questions on each topic (suggested “answers” are available for leaders in a Group Leader’s Manual). The group leader may assign some of these questions as “homework,” and discuss students’ answers (and the Manual answer) at the next meeting. It should be made quite clear that Manual answers are not claimed to be “correct.” Group leaders may also develop other questions and answers of their own. All such questions (and answers) are primarily intended to provide a stimulus to discussion. We hope that discussions will develop on related topics of interest to the participants. (We suggest that group leaders study a Group Leader’s Manual even if their groups do not make use of the Student’s Manual.)
After discussing the topics just studied, groups may find it helpful to read together (perhaps out loud, taking turns) the material to be discussed at the next meeting. This may include some discussion of preliminary questions that arise.
We recommend that part of the time, either at each meeting or at regular intervals, be allocated to discussion of how to apply recently-reviewed teachings in our daily lives, and how to spread them to others.
We suggest that group leaders generally follow the sequence of material in the USB volume. They may skip material of less interest to their group, so long as they build the needed foundation for material to be covered later. But we do advocate that beginners always first cover the front matter and the key parts of Chapters 1–7. Leaders may wish to break the material up into courses with “levels” (e.g., beginning, mid-level, advanced), or to arrange courses addressing particular subjects (e.g., covering one or two longer chapters in more detail). There will probably be certain times of the year when it will be advisable to take breaks between courses.
It is important always to remember that whatever interpretations and conjectures are made by anyone, the only definitive USB teachings are those contained in Spiritual Light.