Caravan Discussion Group

What is Caravan

We are a caravan of seekers embarked on a journey of spiritual and intellectual discovery. Each of us is on an individual quest to find truth and meaning. Yet we travel together with this caravan because the desert we are traversing is a dangerous place, full of perils that threaten our minds, hearts, and souls. And our journey has no end, only oases of temporary refuge where we may draw sustenance and inspiration.

Our journey is sacred because there is no greater human endeavor than seeking to understand our place in the universe, our relation to one another, and to the underlying mystery of existence.

The desert we travel through is indifferent to our suffering. To survive we must accomplish two, seemingly irreconcilable, tasks. We must support each other’s needs for autonomy, freedom of conscience, thought, and self-expression. At the same time, we must ensure the safety and survival of the caravan as a joint enterprise. This requires us to relate to one another with both compassion and integrity. Most of all, it requires tolerance and acceptance of each other’s points of view, finding areas of commonality while respecting differences.

Through this process of reconciliation, we achieve the joy of being a part of something greater than our individual selves, of knowing that this holy caravan serves as a beacon of light and warmth. The journey becomes the destination, the travelers become one living and evolving being, the caravan becomes a sanctuary where the mind and spirit dance in a limitless universe, a place where we can expand our capacity for empathy and love.

For seekers who would like to sojourn with us, for one session or many, welcome to Caravan.

Guidelines and Procedures

We seek to learn from the wisdom of the ages and from the many religious traditions that we inherit, while also welcoming the living spirit within. We will use books, poems, quotations, music, art, and other mediums to provoke thought and explore the dimensions of our souls.

Our goal is to create an intellectually stimulating and spiritually uplifting experience. Some sessions will be more intellectually oriented, others may be more oriented to our emotions and intuition. Most important, we seek to create a mutually supportive community of persons engaged in the search for truth and meaning.

All sessions will be facilitated to help keep us on topic and promote equitable participation. We ask that participants keep their remarks to 1 to 2 minutes. We ask that all comments be pertinent to the subject.

There are no wrong or right questions or answers. After each speaker we observe a few seconds of silence to allow their words to be fully heard. Anything said, of a personal nature, during the session should be held in confidence.

Caravan does not advocate for any belief system, dogma, or orthodoxy. We are committed to an open exploration of diverse viewpoints. However, advocacy for a specific political or philosophical position, argumentative behavior, hate speech, or derogatory comments are counter to the spirit we seek to create. If someone strays off topic or speaks too long, the facilitator will gently remind them of our shared objectives.

Each meeting will begin with an invocation, during which participants will hold hands. Each meeting will end with a benediction and a group embrace. Anyone uncomfortable with touching, for any reason, is free to refrain.

Meetings will take place at public libraries or other venues, on a regular basis, beginning monthly.