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The Abiding Heart Education™ Approach

The primary purpose of the Abiding Heart Education™️ approach is to (re)connect to our innate goodness according to each individual's capability. We take our inspiration from contemplative traditions paths of personal development that are experiential and transformative. By immersing ourselves in this way of being and learning, individuals, parents, educators, teachers and children alike, discover a space within themselves that is open, soft and radiant. The essence of this openness is love, which is at the core of all true awakening endeavour that, ultimately, transcends desire and concern for oneself. It is the very heart of enlightened wisdom.

This contemplative approach fosters a process of re-discovering our inner well-being. The path to such determination begins with understanding and deepens through direct experience. We learn to apply our insights, or heart understanding, in everyday life gradually forming new habits that are motivated by immeasurable love and compassion. This transformative style of learning engages the head, heart, and doing. It teaches us to learn about life from life as part of the journey beyond, towards self awakening.

The Abiding Heart Education™️ approach rests on the understanding that awakening means the spirit of enlightenment motivated by love and compassion for the individual, (for oneself and others), or by the power of innate goodness. Abiding Heart's learning integrates awareness and mindfulness together with engaging the head (understanding/contemplating and knowing) and the heart (experiential/meditation). Embodied understanding and experience naturally gives rise to healthy habits and ways of being in our everyday lives (application). True transformation occurs when our innate qualities of wisdom and compassion are fully expressed, enabling us to care deeply for ourselves, for each other, and for the world.

With the Abiding Heart's approach, the educator is central to the quality and relevance of the education that a child receives. The process by which educators are being prepared for this task is a critical indicator, not only of the future quality and depth of learning but the potential for self-transformation and healing. In this way, this learning approach encourages accumulating merit with the heart's wish that the right causes and conditions allow children and teachers to remain and progress on the path to self awakening.

To support this, our learning approach and curriculum content encourage a celebration of our common humanity and inspires creativity, curiosity, kindness and self-reflection; all in the service of nurturing in children’s and teachers' inner awakening.

Keeping this close to our heart, participants at Abiding Heart's courses are engaged in learning that is situated in: greater view of reality, awareness and mindfulness practices;

contemplative science;

integrative therapeutic exercises;

and connecting to sense of place and heritage.

In our approach, the needs of the child are considered in relation to each phase of their development and supporting transformative learning suitable for each year group.

Our transformational learning approach includes insights into the child’s changing consciousness and how this knowledge is translated into a curriculum that in itself is healing. Such healing pedagogy deeply supports the child’s all round flourishing. It is centred on children's wholesome physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, healthy sense of self, and spiritual development. This is interlinked with transformative learning methods for delivering the curriculum with the aim of supporting children reconnect with our innate wellbeing.

Education can be understood in relation to uncovering the very nature of our mind. Our innate goodness is not merely an empty vessel that requires filling with endless information. Rather, our innate goodness, replete with compassionate qualities and wisdom, is waiting to be expressed and to shine through the cracks in our (seemingly) solidified, hardened sense of self.

The Modality of the Abiding Heart Education™️ Approach