An Overview of the Institute

A Policy of Inclusivity - All are Welcome

As a nonsectarian, non-profit foundation, the World Dharma Online Institute (WDOI), invites individuals from all countries, traditions, and backgrounds to participate in our Ongoing Year Around Program as vital members of an emerging global community of artists, activists, and seekers.

We are a "Free Speech Zone"

The World Dharma Online Institute's Program and interactive Forums are a free speech zone, rooted in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: "Everyone has the right to the freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers." To us every voice matters, uncensored.

Favor the Question

WDOI is rooted in a central idea: "Favor the question, always question," Nobel Peace laureate and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel reminds us. "Do not accept answers as definitive. Answers change. Questions don't. Always question those who are certain of what they are saying. Always favor the person who is tolerant enough to understand that there are no absolute answers, but there are absolute questions."

Uniqueness to Us Means "No one way."

We feel there is no one way to manifest this uniqueness, this life force. Just as there are no two finger-prints the same, there will be no two identical expressions of freedom. Awakening to World Dharma honors this quality of inherent uniqueness, and sees it as the source of creativity, genius, and love.

Empowering Relationships.

The wisdom of our Program focuses on finding liberation through living, which means engaging in relationships of all kinds as the dynamic context in which to actualize freedom, love, and authenticity.

Our Program's Presentations are therefore not intended to be exercises in conceptual stimulation alone, but as organic contexts in which to ignite impassioned presence-to embrace life, engage people, and manifest one's dreams in the world.

We strive through our Presentations to provide as much practical support in the form of practices, tools, attitudes, and reflections to make one's life a creative expression of their most cherished goals.

We are Guided by the Principle-"Use Your Liberty."

The guiding principle of our Program is best described by the phrase "Use your Liberty" - words offered by Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's Nobel Peace laureate, and the (imprisoned) leader of her country's ongoing struggle for freedom against dictatorship.

In other words, the World Dharma vision operates from the premise that we are inherently free as human beings, and not bound. Therefore freedom is the starting point of our Program, not the end point. In this way, the 'ongoing always evolving nature of the Program' is meant to ignite an already existing freedom - liberating it over and again, allowing it to breathe and flourish.

Everyday revolution.

Freedom is our birthright, but enjoying our own personal freedom is not enough. Just as love is an action, and not just a state of mind, so too is freedom an action. Aung San Suu Kyi's injunction to "use your liberty" essentially means committing oneself to everyday revolution- spontaneous acts of liberating authenticity that serve our own happiness as well as elevate the happiness and freedom of others.

It is our long term hope that as we explore new dimensions of inner and outer space, the Awakening World Dharma Program will serve the future of life, its well-being, sanctity, and peaceful exploration of the Cosmos.

We are just beginning...

It is our belief that we are just beginning to understand the structures of consciousness and the nature of the universe.

This is our time on earth.

Let us enter life fully, evolving the highest intelligence possible, both individually and together.

Thank you for believing in us and partnering with us in this adventure.