Description
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go out and do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~ Howard Thurman
- Why is this moment in human history so significant and what is required of those of us who recognize it?
- What does it mean to live with aliveness?
- What is the role of trust in individual and collective transformation?
- How does inner wellbeing support the wellbeing of the world outside us?
- What happens when we fully attune to and accept our emotional selves?
- What opportunities arise when we move from individualistic and competitive perspectives to cooperative and compassionate ones?
Please join us in exploring these questions, and many more, in this eCourse featuring a provocative and inspiring conversation held between Br. David Steindl-Rast and Christian Plebst in Buenos Aires, Argentina in May of 2018. Christian Plebst is an Adolescent and Child Psychiatrist, Director of the Academy of Conscious Teaching, and a leader in mindfulness in education.

Course Details:
This eCourse contains four sessions to explore at your convenience.
Each session will include:
- short video
- supplemental resources
- practice suggestions
- questions for reflection
I’m surprised to hear so many words ending with fullness – gratefulness, mindfulness, joyfulness – it’s an indication to me that what we are missing is full life. We are only half alive… ~ Br. David Steindl-Rast
Session Themes:
Session One: The Opportunity Before Us: A Paradigm Shift
Session Two: Aliveness
Session Three: Wellbeing from Within
Session Four: The Practice of Living
This Program is Designed to Help You:
- understand the opportunity offered by this moment in history.
- recognize that reclaiming our “aliveness” is possible and valuable.
- identify the stressors that hinder wholeness in our individual lives and in the world.
- learn ways to access innate, inner capacities, such as joy, compassion, and gratefulness.
- explore mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and grateful living as tools to nourish our wellbeing.
- experience greater trust in the fullness of life.
- feel inspired and equipped to step into our aliveness and be the human beings the world needs us to be.FAQs about the eCourse
It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world. ~ Mary Oliver
eCourse Cost $0
* This eCourse is currently offered at no cost as part of our mission to make our services accessible to all. All donations to our non-profit enable us to offer our services at no cost and without advertising. Donations are tax-deductible and deeply appreciated.
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Christian Plebst
Christian lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He trained in general and child and adolescent psychiatry in Argentina and at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, he then completed a postgraduate training in special education at Teachers College, Columbia University. A nationally recognized expert in autism, he has cross-trained in many early childhood intervention methods, including ABA, DIR-Floortime, and Son-rise. He was recently named Consultant in Child Development and Education for the Unit of Future Mental Resource Development of the government of Buenos Aires.
With an interest in personal development, in 2006 Christian was invited, in the presence of HH the 14th Dalai Lama, for a dialogue about science and spirituality. For the past 15 years he has researched a variety of contemplative practices, especially Vipassana Meditation, has been certified as a Child and Adolescent Mindfulness trainer in Eline Snel´s Method, and is co-director of the Academy for Mindful Teaching (AMT) for Latin America.
Christian’s interests and his children’s education have brought him close to anthroposophy and Waldorf education. He is an active member of the San Miguel Arcangel Waldorf School community in Buenos Aires. Christian is currently exploring intentional communities, in particular anthroposophy-based communities, around the world, and is participating in an initiative to develop a Camphill Community in Argentina.
Br. David Steindl-Rast
Born in Vienna, Austria, David Steindl-Rast studied art, anthropology, and psychology, at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts (MA) and the University of Vienna (PhD). In 1953, he joined Mount Saviour Benedictine Monastery, where he is now a senior member. He began studying Zen in the 1960s, and became a pioneer in interfaith dialogue. In 1975 he received the Martin Buber Award for his achievements building bridges between religious traditions.
His books have been translated into many languages. Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer and A Listening Heart have been reprinted and anthologized for more than two decades. His most recent books are Words of Common Sense, Deeper Than Words: Living the Apostles’ Creed, 99 Blessings: An Invitation to Life, The Way of Silence: Engaging the Sacred in Daily Life, and Faith Beyond Belief: Spirituality for Our Times; A Conversation.
Br. David is a co-founder of A Network for Grateful Living and gratefulness.org, where he currently serves as a senior advisor.