Ready to Dive into Wisdom Work

Back in the 1980s, a group of spiritual teachers from many different traditions – Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Indigenous, and more—began gathering in Snowmass, Colorado. Their goal? Not to debate or convince, not even to simply accept the beliefs of people from different faith traditions, but to listen. To ask, how do YOU pray? Tell me YOUR experience of the divine. And to find the deeper truths that connect us all.

What came out of those gatherings was a list of eight points – core principles that nearly every tradition shares in some form. They didn’t all use the same words, but the meaning was unmistakable: We are connected. There is something sacred within. And love is the path.

At Common Thread Church, we share these core principles, too – simple, open-hearted, and rooted in the kind of wisdom work we’re doing here. Whether you’re new to spiritual exploration or have walked many paths, these truths offer a spacious place to stand, grow, and belong.

There’s more to this life than just this life.
Every tradition teaches that we’re more than flesh and bone. We cannot fully explain or contain it, but something deeper is going on – something eternal, sacred, and interconnected.

This sacred presence lives in all of us.
Whether we call it Spirit, God, the Divine, the True Self, or the Great I AM, there’s a divine spark within each of us that is our truest essence.

The path is transformation.
Across cultures and lineages, the goal isn’t to believe better – it’s to become more loving, more free, more whole. Transformation is the journey.

Practice matters.
Contemplation, prayer, meditation, breathwork, yoga, service, drumming, chanting, silence – all of it helps us shift from ego to essence. Different practices, same aim.

Compassion is the evidence.
When someone’s really doing the work – whatever tradition they follow – you’ll see it in how they treat others. Humility, kindness, nonviolence… these are the fruits.

Community helps.
While awakening can feel deeply personal, it almost never happens in isolation. We need each other. We regulate each other. We learn from each other. Together, we grow in spirals, not straight lines.

Wisdom is everywhere.
Every major tradition has gold in it. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we can recognize when something is ringing the same sacred bell.

Love is the bottom line.
However you get there, whatever language you use – the end of the path, the center of the circle, the heart of the matter… is always love.

Want to go deeper?

• Attend a Wisdom Work Drop-In (5th Sundays after service)
• Join a Wisdom Deep Dive Study Group
• Register for a Wisdom Retreat
• Inquire about our year-long practice