Leading Adult Assemblies: A Guide for Teachers

But as she watched her friends settle into their chairs, some with cups of tea, others having just rushed from work, she remembered something important Tom had told her: “You’re not here to lecture or to have all the answers. You’re here to create a space where people can explore life’s important questions together.”

I want to share with you what makes an Assembly teacher effective, not through rules and procedures, but through understanding the heart of what we’re doing. Consider how Tom opens each session. He doesn’t stand and lecture. Instead, he sits with everyone else in the circle and begins with a story from his own life – perhaps about a moment of forgiveness he witnessed at the grocery store, or how his young daughter taught him about seeing beauty in simple things.

“You know,” he often says, “we’re all walking this path together. Some of us may have walked a little further in certain directions, but we’re all still learning, all still growing. Tonight, we’re going to explore what it means to show compassion, not just in grand gestures, but in our everyday lives.”

Watch how he guides the discussion that follows. When Sarah shares about struggling to forgive a coworker who took credit for her work, Tom doesn’t jump in with advice. Instead, he asks, “What do others hear in Sarah’s story? When have you faced similar challenges?” The conversation flows naturally, with people sharing their own experiences, their struggles, their small victories.

Here’s what I’ve learned from watching skilled Assembly teachers: They understand that their role isn’t to fill minds with information, but to help people uncover the wisdom that comes from shared human experience. When someone makes a judgment about another person’s actions, they gently redirect: “Let’s try to understand what might lead someone to make that choice.” When discussions become abstract, they bring them back to the personal: “How does this show up in your daily life?”

Think of yourself as tending a garden. You don’t make the plants grow – they do that naturally. Your job is to create the conditions that allow growth to happen. You maintain the right environment, ensure there’s enough light and water, protect the tender shoots until they’re strong enough to weather challenges.

Let me share with you the words Tom uses to begin each Assembly. Notice how they set the tone for everything that follows:

“Welcome, friends. Each week we gather here to explore what it means to live with wisdom and compassion. We’re not here to find perfect answers, but to grow in understanding – of ourselves, of each other, and of the challenges we all face.

Tonight, like every week, we create a space where we can be honest about our struggles and hopes. Where we can share without fear of judgment. Where we can question old assumptions and explore new possibilities. Everything shared here stays here, allowing us to speak truthfully from our hearts.

We’ll begin by checking in with each other, sharing briefly what’s on our minds and hearts. Then we’ll explore tonight’s topic through discussion and reflection. Remember, there are no wrong answers when sharing personal experience. We’re here to understand, not to judge; to support, not to fix; to explore, not to debate.

Before we begin, let’s take a moment to settle ourselves. Feel free to close your eyes if you’d like. Take a few deep breaths. Let the concerns of the day settle for a while. Bring your attention to this room, to these people, to this moment of learning together.”

An Assembly moves like a river, sometimes swift with energy, sometimes slow and deep with reflection. A skilled teacher learns to read these rhythms and work with them. Here’s how a typical evening unfolds:

First Half Hour: The group settles in naturally. Some quiet conversation, perhaps some tea being poured. No need to rush. This settling time is important – it allows people to shift from the busy world outside to the thoughtful space we’re creating.

Next comes the welcome and opening reflection. Then a brief check-in, where each person shares in a sentence or two how they’re arriving. “I’m bringing some worry about my mother’s health.” “I’m feeling grateful for an unexpected kindness at work today.”

The teacher then introduces the evening’s topic through a story, perhaps from their own experience or from the shared wisdom of human tradition. When exploring forgiveness, for example, Tom might share the story of two brothers he knows who healed a decade-long rift through small acts of reaching out.

Watch how Sarah handles the main discussion in her Assembly. When exploring the topic of integrity, she begins with a simple story: “Last week at the grocery store, the cashier gave me too much change. It was just two dollars – a small amount that no one would miss. But it made me think about all the small choices we make each day that shape who we become.”

She lets that story settle for a moment, then asks: “When have you faced similar small choices? What helped you decide what to do?”

Notice how she handles different responses. When Michael shares about returning a lost wallet, she helps the group dig deeper: “What thoughts went through your mind as you made that decision?” When Lisa admits to sometimes taking office supplies home from work, Sarah doesn’t judge but asks the group: “How do we draw these lines in our daily lives? What helps us make these choices?”

Sometimes discussions can veer off track or become too abstract. That’s when you’ll hear Sarah say, “Let’s bring this back to our own experiences. Can someone share a specific example from their life?”

Maria’s Assembly was discussing empathy when James, a new member, made a harsh judgment about homeless people. Watch how Maria handled this moment: “James, I hear frustration in your voice. Let’s pause for a moment and try to understand what life might be like for someone who ends up on the street. Has anyone here ever been close to losing their home, or known someone who has?”

This gentle redirection opened up a powerful discussion about vulnerability and compassion. Several members shared personal stories that transformed the conversation from judgment to understanding.

Here are topics that consistently create meaningful discussions in Assemblies. Each one connects to core teachings of The Path while touching our daily lives:

Understanding Empathy:

• When has someone shown you unexpected kindness?
• What makes it hard to empathize with certain people?
• How do you maintain compassion when others act unkindly?

Living with Integrity:

• What small choices reflect our values?
• When has standing for truth been difficult?
• How do you handle situations where being honest might hurt someone?

Practicing Forgiveness:

• What makes forgiveness difficult?
• How do you forgive without forgetting wisdom learned?
• When has being forgiven changed you?

Building Community:

• What keeps us from knowing our neighbors?
• How do you maintain connections in a busy world?
• When have you needed community support?

Finding Wisdom:

• What life experiences have taught you most?
• How do you learn from mistakes?
• What helps you make difficult decisions?

Let me share how experienced teachers handle typical challenges:

When someone dominates discussion: “Thank you for sharing, Michael. Let’s hear from others who haven’t spoken yet. Susan, what thoughts has this conversation brought up for you?”

When conflict arises: “I notice we have different views here. That’s natural – we each speak from our own experience. Can we take a moment to understand what shapes each perspective?”

When someone gives advice instead of listening: “I appreciate your desire to help. Right now, let’s focus on understanding Maria’s experience. What feelings come up as you hear her story?”

When discussion becomes too abstract: “These are interesting ideas. Can someone share a specific example from their own life?”

The final fifteen minutes of an Assembly are precious. Watch how Tom brings the evening to a close:

“As we prepare to end our time together, let’s take a moment to reflect. What’s one insight you’re taking with you? What small action might you take this week based on our discussion?”

He lets each person share briefly, without pressure. Some insights are profound, others simple. All are honored. Then he closes with a reminder:

“We’ve explored integrity tonight through our shared stories and reflections. During the week ahead, notice the small moments where you can practice what we’ve discussed. Next week, we’ll begin by hearing how these ideas showed up in your lives. Thank you all for your presence and honesty.”

Remember Rachel, who was nervous about her first time leading? She discovered that being a teacher on The Path isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for wisdom to emerge through shared exploration.

Your role is to:

• Hold space for honest sharing
• Guide discussion back to personal experience
• Help people connect ideas to daily life
• Maintain an atmosphere of acceptance and growth
• Support each person’s journey of understanding

The most important thing you can do as a teacher is to walk The Path yourself. Your own sincere exploration of these principles, your honesty about your struggles and learnings, your commitment to growth – these create the foundation for authentic teaching.

Remember: every great teacher began as a student, and the best teachers remain students at heart. You’re not here to provide answers but to help others discover wisdom through their own experience and reflection.

As you lead your Assemblies, trust in the process. Trust in the wisdom that emerges when people share honestly about their lives. Trust in the power of simple questions to open hearts and minds. Most of all, trust in the human capacity for growth and understanding.

Welcome to the journey of teaching on The Path. May your Assemblies be spaces of discovery, connection, and transformation – one conversation, one insight, one moment of understanding at a time.