The Value of Spiritual Community

The value of spiritual community shows itself in the positive changes experienced by its members. When people’s lives are enriched by what they learn and practice together, that’s a sign the community is doing its job.

A healthy organization focuses on empowering the individual. It reminds each member of their inherent potential and supports them in releasing whatever blocks prevent them from accessing that potential.

Like any healthy relationship, it should avoid encouraging dependency on the community itself or, God forbid, its leadership. And though, like any business, it is wise to develop fresh offerings to keep your base interested and engaged, the focus should always remain on empowerment, not on keeping people attached.

Running a spiritual community is tricky, especially when it depends on the financial generosity of its members. Leadership has to stay rooted in the principles it teaches and trust that the highest good is always unfolding. More on that later.

Reflections on Leading a Spiritual Community

For over a decade, I served as the Spiritual Director of a community in West Hollywood. When I first stepped into that role, I was a textbook people pleaser. Most of my energy went into making sure no one felt uncomfortable. I even changed the words I used for God mid-teaching, tailoring them to whoever was in the room, hoping not to trigger anyone.

It didn’t take long to realize there’s nothing less effective than a people-pleasing minister. In trying to avoid discomfort, I lost sight of the real task at hand. Instead of demonstrating spiritual principle, I was modeling codependency.

What I learned is that when a group is truly anchored in healing, everyone becomes a teacher. A Course in Miracles reminds us that each person who crosses our path is there by divine appointment, offering us a chance to heal, just as we offer the same to them. Whether or not we rise to meet that moment is up to us.

In community, it’s natural to experience discomfort or even upset. I used to think that meant something was wrong, but it’s often the opposite. Triggers are like spiritual pop quizzes. You may not want them, but they show you exactly where healing is available. Over time, I came to see these moments not as interruptions but as invitations. The role of a spiritual teacher, and of the community itself, isn’t to avoid these experiences but to hold the space with integrity so that healing can unfold.

A community loses depth when it focuses only on comfort. Its real strength lies in helping us reclaim courage by facing what arises. Healing rarely comes easily. It calls for honesty, humility, and the willingness to lean into what feels hard. This doesn’t mean we go around stirring up conflict in the name of spiritual growth. It simply means we don’t take it to heart when someone projects personal upset onto us. Take responsibility for your part, then move forward with love.

And to be clear, I’m not suggesting we ignore conditions that genuinely need to change. This isn’t a call for non-action or for placing all responsibility on personal healing. Sometimes upset points to a flawed system that needs correction, and that’s a call to action. The deeper invitation is to build discernment, to know when it’s an inner assignment and when it’s a call for outward change. That kind of clarity is one of the true gifts of heart-centered community.

Speaking at Inspire Spiritual Community in West Hollywood, circa 2017.

Safe Space and Shared Values

The idea of “safe space” is a valuable one, though it means different things to different people. In the context of spiritual community, safety doesn’t mean you’ll never feel confronted by a challenge. Instead, it means that everyone, leaders and participants alike, commits to practicing nonviolence, kindness, and non-judgment to the best of their ability.

When these values are honored, the community becomes a container where you can explore deeply, trusting that whatever arises within you is part of your healing journey. In this way, safe space is less about removing discomfort and more about cultivating the conditions where peace can be remembered.

True Prosperity in Relationship

Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo teaches, “Our relationships are our most valuable form of currency.” This wisdom lives at the heart of spiritual community.

When you’re surrounded by heart-centered relationships, you’re already experiencing prosperity. True wealth is knowing you’re supported in love, that you don’t walk alone, and that there will be hands to lift you when you’re weary.

I’ve seen this truth revealed countless times in community. The generosity of spirit people show one another continues to move me deeply. Whether through a kind word, a shared meal, or the willingness to listen, these moments prove that prosperity isn’t about what we accumulate but about the love we exchange.

In a time when loneliness is so widespread, community offers good medicine. It creates connection, belonging, and the assurance that healing isn’t something you must do in isolation.

The Gift of Giving and Receiving

A thriving community is sustained by participation and contribution. Giving isn’t about obligation or guilt. It’s about reciprocity—the natural flow of energy that strengthens any relationship.

I used to resist giving money to spiritual centers. For a long time, I thought my presence was contribution enough. Eventually I realized that even sacred spaces have to pay the electric bill.

Maybe it was leftover judgment or guilt from old church experiences, where giving often came with pressure. Over time, I developed a different and more meaningful relationship with giving, especially to spaces that nurture my spiritual growth.

Today, I see it differently. It’s unreasonable to expect a space or organization to run on good intentions alone. There are real expenses involved in hosting gatherings—rent, staff, resources, and more. If you love a space and want to see it thrive, contribute to it. That simple act of support allows the community to keep doing what it does best.

For me, giving has become a joyful act of gratitude. I’m happy to support the teachers, organizations, and communities that feed my soul. Offering support feels like saying, “Yes, I want to see this thrive.” That shift turned giving into one of the most meaningful spiritual practices of my life.

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It’s important for leadership to stay grounded in principle and trust that needs will be met. Managing the finances of a spiritual community takes skill and constant awareness that the real purpose of the organization is service. It’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing on retention: doing whatever you can to keep and grow membership for the sake of the bottom line. Ask any minister and you’ll hear stories about the challenges that come with walking this delicate balance. There are plenty of examples of people who started with the best intentions but got swept up in the business of well-being. Some even abused their positions for personal gain. What minister needs a jet?

There are some excellent books that explore how multi-billion-dollar industries have formed around wellness practices. I recently finished McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality by Ronald Purser, and I highly recommend it. Convincing people they’re broken seems to keep the system thriving—an ironic contradiction, since it does the exact opposite of what true spiritual work is meant to do.

The real work of spiritual community is to remind people of their wholeness, not to sell them a sense of lack. That’s why it’s so important to have a vision-oriented leadership board and members who manage finances with integrity and transparency. This is where spiritual visioning meets real-world practice. It’s also why leaders need people around them who are willing to offer honest perspective when it serves the highest good of the community.

A Shared Intention of Peace

At its essence, spiritual community is a living expression of peace. That peace begins within each of us and naturally flows outward, touching our families, our neighborhoods, and the larger world we share.

When we come together with sincerity and love, devoted to healing and the practice of truth, we become part of something greater than ourselves. Through that shared intention, spiritual community becomes a genuine force for good, helping to extend peace throughout the world.

A Few Tips on Engaging with Spiritual Community

Here are a few ways to deepen your relationship with community in a meaningful way:

Show up fully. Bring your presence, even when it feels uncomfortable. Your willingness to be authentic supports collective healing.

Practice generosity. Give from joy—whether through resources, time, or encouragement. Your contribution helps the community flourish.

See every relationship as a divine appointment. Whoever sits before you is part of your healing, just as you’re part of theirs.

Hold the intention of peace. Remember that your healing ripples outward. By choosing peace within, you help create peace in the world.