PONG, or the Power of Now Group, is a place where people meet to enjoy a topic of discussion. Past discussions have included The Power of Now and A New Earth, A Course in Miracles, The Four Agreements and The Mastery of Love, Conversations with God, The Law of Attractionand The Power, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, The Tao, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, The Celestine Prophesy, “What the BLEEP Do We Know”, Buddhist teachings, and others). The topic can be based on a book, a poem, a piece of writing of some sort, a talk, a video, etc. It can also be simply a source of inspiration for the facilitator.
PONG is a place where people grow personally and spiritually. It is a place where participants can learn something that may serve them in their growth. The common question is: How can I apply this to my life and how does it serve me?
People are learning the confidence to face life experiences, and PONG is a medium for this to happen. Here is a space for people to grow in their own way, according to their own choosing. Negative criticism or condemnation is not a healthy way to share your thoughts to another. We encourage each other and try not to give advice. We simply listen and are present with each other. We respect each other’s contributions to the group.
PONG is a place where contemplative silence is encouraged, giving people time to reflect and respond. Amazing awareness can emerge from these pauses in conversation.
Participants are invited to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable.
PONG is a place where a facilitator leads a discussion on a topic that is meaningful to them. This topic is something that is open for discussion and further reflection. The most successful topics are thought provoking, with material that is amenable to group discussion.
There are both conceptual and experiential parts to discussions. It is good to have a healthy balance of both. Questions like "How is this true for you?" or "Can anyone share an example of this?" are good for grounding abstract or conceptual ideas.
PONG facilitators have the capacity to share their vision and their passion with the group. This includes asking probing questions for participants to contemplate and answer. The most engaging conversations happen when the facilitator is to be open to truth, in whatever shape or form it comes in. One of the main intentions of PONG is to expand our awareness, for both the facilitator and the participants.
Discussions can move in different directions, and it is the facilitator's role to be aware of the direction the group is going while remaining open to new avenues of discussion. Sometimes the group can be led completely off-course and the facilitator may find it necessary to lead the group back to the topic of discussion.
PONG facilitators are asked to prepare ahead of time. The average time is usually 20-30 min. This prep time includes defining the topic, thinking about discussion questions, and connecting the discussion to real-life experiences and circumstances. Some of this information is then emailed to the group a few days before our meeting to allow everyone time think about the topic.
The discussion usually ends with “Take Aways”, where participants are asked to share what has inspired them the most about the discussion.
Please refrain from discussing political and social issues during PONG. We all have various beliefs and we respect and honor each other's beliefs by not debating them. This group is about personal and spiritual growth, not swaying people's opinions about current events.
