The Integral Stage NEW MONASTERIES & INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES w/ Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
20 snips
Nov 24, 2025 Catherine Pawasarat-Sensei, founder of the Clear Sky community, shares her journey from Kyoto to creating a retreat center in Canada. She discusses the delicate balance required in intentional communities, addressing the risks of guru-dependence and handling scandals. Catherine emphasizes the importance of creativity and sustainability, exploring financial models and governance structures. Additionally, she reflects on the intersections of Western esoterica and Eastern practices, while also navigating the complexities of community living and relationships.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Learning Community By Living It
- Catherine Powassarat-Sensei lived with her teacher in Kyoto and discovered community only by actually living in one.
- She later moved to found Clear Sky after immersive experiences in Japan and the Brazilian Amazon shaped her view of communal practice.
Scandals As Growth Opportunities
- Scandals are inevitable and must be integrated as opportunities for learning and resilience.
- Cultivate mature conversations about money, sex, and power to probe boundaries before crises occur.
From Renting Retreats To Buying Land
- Circumstances pushed Catherine and colleagues to buy property when they realized renting retreats was unsustainable.
- They made a down payment on Clear Sky Retreat Center and later celebrated twenty difficult but rewarding years of growth.