Simple Principles for Spiritual Living

... in ordinary, everyday life

A Three Principles Retreat with Dicken Bettinger, Ed.D.

and Ami Chen Mills-Naim

April 26-28, 2013

Muir Beach, California 

The Three Principles understanding that was revealed to a man named Sydney Banks in the 1970’s links the psychological world to the spiritual world. Each one of us can look beyond the external conditions of our lives, beyond our endlessly changing thoughts and feelings, and discover the inner world of spirit. This discovery quiets our personal thinking and awakens the consciousness of a continual peaceful presence within, during all the ordinary moments of our lives, including our inevitable ups and downs. 

Life remains “ordinary,” yet infused with a sense of aliveness, vitality, and connection.  This constant presence grounds us and helps us know what to do as we face the many challenges of life, work and family. This presence makes “ordinary mystics” of us all.  Discovering our core of peace—or pure consciousness—allows us to feel good for no good reason!

We can go through down times with greater ease and grace. We can begin to enjoy almost any relationship. We find love in the heart of each moment, with others and by ourselves. Throughout time, this silent presence has been called many names: Soul, inner light, wisdom, heart, pure consciousness, the Absolute, awareness, spirit, true self, love and many others. Regardless of names, and beyond all names, it is the source of all thinking and a home we can return to no matter what is happening in our lives.

Join Ami and Dicken, two practitioners with a combined 40 years of Three Principles teaching experience, globally, as they gently guide you beyond the psychological world, beyond stress and conflict, to the invisible spiritual world within.  Discover the true nature of your life and awaken to a deep, enlivened spiritual presence as you go about living it.

This workshop is appropriate not only for members of the general public but also for professionals seeking the benefits of the Three Principles understanding for their clientele.

Over two and a half days, through relaxed teaching sessions, silence, dialogue, lecture, reflection and possibly exercises, participants will come to know and better understand their profound spiritual essence as the deepest part of themselves. Participants will gain an understanding not only of the Three Principles of Sydney Banks but also of the global movement around this understanding.

Learn more about Ami and Dicken by listening to their dialogue on the topic of "Seeking Versus Finding" on "On the Front Porch with Ami Chen" on Contant Talk Radio. 

Ami Chen Mills-Naim is Co-founder and current Education Director of the Center for Sustainable Change, the author of The Spark Inside, and the host of the internet radio show, “On the Front Porch with Ami Chen.” Ami was eight when she first met Sydney Banks. She has 15 years of experience teaching the Three Principles in a wide range of settings, including schools, communities, social services and families. 

 

Dicken Bettinger, Ed.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist. Dicken met Mr. Sydney Banks in 1986 and has been teaching the Three Principles ever since.  He works with individuals and couples through retreats, phone, or Skype sessions.  He has extensive experience teaching the Principles in corporations.  And he has developed a distance learning program for professionals, counselors, and coaches.  He has been married 43 years, has two grown children and two adored grandchildren. See Dicken's website at www.3principlesmentoring.com.  

 

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Join us in Beautiful Muir Beach, California

"The sun shines not on us but in us."            -- John Muir

Muir Beach was named after John Muir, the Scottish-born American naturalist, author, early advocate of wilderness preservation and founder of the Sierra Club. His letters, essays, and books have been read by millions. His activism helped to save the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. We gather at the Muir Beach Community Center. The Center has a rustic lodge feel and spectacular views overlooking Muir Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Visit http://www.muirbeachcsd.com/center.html

 

More Information

• The retreat offers two and a half days of sessions at Muir Beach Community Center with access to quiet outdoor spaces, spectacular beach and Muir Woods.  
• The retreat fee covers sessions only. Accommodations and meals are the responsibility of the participant. 
• For an additional fee ($30), participants may pre-purchase an organic, gourmet lunch package (with vegetarian option) for both Saturday and Sunday that will be delivered to the Community Center. Otherwise, participants are free to bring a bagged lunch or go off site to a restaurant. Pre-purchased lunch is encouraged due to the fact that there is only one restaurant and no grocery store that is within walking distance of Muir Beach Community Center.
• Included in the retreat are optional light yoga sessions. 
• We begin on Friday: check-in and registration at 2:30 pm; session begins at 4:00 pm. We finish on Sunday at 3:00 pm.

Retreat Pricing

Per/person -  $375;  EARLY BIRD RATE - $325

EARLY BIRD RATE  is in effect through March 15th.                

Book early, space is limited!

Hold your space by paying a deposit of $95 now. If you register before March 16th and pay off the balance before April 16th, you will receive the EARLY BIRD RATE.

Registration closes on, and all registration fees must be paid in full no later than, Wednesday, April 24th, 2013.

Applying for a Scholarship

CSC has a limited number of partial tuition scholarships. To apply for a partial scholarship, email csc@centerforsustainablechange.org and tell us who you are and why you require a scholarship to attend the retreat. (Do not proceed to registration until your scholarship has been approved in writing.)

Reserve your space with only a $95 deposit

Register Now! 

Donations for Scholarships

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward a scholarship, please click here. It is always our intent to serve those who cannot otherwise attend due to financial barriers. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Refund Policy

• If written notice of registration cancellation is received on or before April 1, 2013, a full refund of all deposit and registration fees paid will be issued to the registrant.
•  If written notice of registration cancellation is received April 1 through 22, 2013, a refund of all deposit and registration fees paid less a $95.00 cancellation fee will be issued to the registrant.
• If registration cancellation is received after April 22, 2013, no refund of deposit and registration fees paid will be issued to the registrant.

Muir Beach Community Center

The Muir Beach Community Center is located at 19 Seacape Drive in Muir Beach, California. Street parking only; there is no parking lot, and care must be taken to not block residential driveways. There is a loading area up at street level and a ramp leading down to the building for handicap access. For directions to the Community Center, visit http://www.muirbeachcsd.com/center.html

Getting to Muir Beach 

Driving: Situated on the beautiful Northern California coast, the community of Muir Beach is 21 miles (about 45 minutes) from San Francisco. Click on the link for driving directions to Muir Beach at upper left of this notice.

Flying: If you are flying into the San Francisco Bay Area, the best airports are the San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland Airport.

Carpooling: If you are driving and would like to offer a ride to other participants, please contact CSC. If you would like to get a ride with another participant, contact CSC. Simply email us at csc@centerforsustainablechange.org or call us at 650-424-0705. The more notice you give us, the more likely we will be able to help you.

Overnight Accommodations and Dining 

For those who require overnight accommodations in the area, please contact us at csc@centerforsustainablechange.org and ask for a list of local accommodations. Accommodations and restaurants are limited in Muir Beach. However, there are more options in nearby Stinson Beach, six miles up the coast, and in Mill Valley, six miles northwest of Muir Beach, and other nearby towns.  Camping is available at Steep Ravine Environmental Campground south of Stinson Beach. We recommend that you book your accommodations well in advance.