Here is the first part of our two part Arizona story. It begins with the story of Paramacharya's work at Canyon Ranch, a wellness center in Tucson. A future Hinduism Today article will bloom out of the current data collection.


"Last night we met with the amazing group of counselors who work with clients at Canyon Ranch in a spiritual way. They are an eclectic group of men and women, among them doctors, PhDs in philosophy and psychology, highly certified yoga and tai chi instructors, healers, body movement experts, mantra initiates and more. The all came to the beautiful little sanctuary to sit with the monks from Hawaii and discuss the interesting topic of SNBR, Spiritual But Not Religious. It was a conversation, not a lecture or even a talk. As we say in Hawaii, it was Talk Story.
 
Paramacharya started it out with a short introduction about SNBR and said he was there with them to learn more about the spiritual trends they have discovered in their work each day with those seeking "spiritual wellness."
 
Within a few minutes they were sharing with each other their encounters, their insights into what works and what does not. It was clear that their clients have turned their backs on organized, doctrinal religion, but were seeking Something, often an undefined something in their lives. Many clients have been successful in material life, but still feel empty, feel depressed, unfulfilled inside. They try the tai chi classes, the nutrition classes, the yoga classes, and especially the mindfulness classes. Once in a while a client has an AhHa moment, life changes and new meaning and spirit floods in.
 
Several stayed after the gathering to talk more, ask questions. They seemed to have learned unexpectedly what each other is doing. It was a topic they do not explore among themselves normally, and thus the evening was a rich discovery, plus Paramacharya left with new insights into the growing SBNR movement in America."