Location: Various locations in the U.S. and Europe
What it is: At the School for The Work, participants spend nine days and nights “learning to unlearn” the stressful thoughts that cause fear, anger, stress, and suffering. Exercises are based on Katie’s personal experience of “waking up to reality” to ground participants in practical applications of The Work’s four questions and turnaround.

Description: The Work’s founder Byron Katie presides over the curriculum and presents the exercises, but it is the students who are the true teachers in this experiential course, facilitating and learning from each other. Staff, who are School graduates, take care of the mechanics and are available to support participants to focus completely on their process. Participants in this total immersion experience spend more than a week in inquiry as both “client” and “facilitator,” instilling in each one the ability to meet with understanding all of the thoughts that produce all of the suffering in the world. The Work is presented in the context of universal stressors such as money and career, body and health issues, addictions, sex and relationships, and family issues. The curriculum changes and evolves according to the needs of the participants present.

Anecdote: There’s not much I can say anecdotally. Because of the “element of surprise” aspect of the School, past participants are asked not to say anything specific about the curriculum or personal experiences so as not to water it down for future participants. I can tell you that it is a mind-blower in most ways, like an internal Outward Bound.

Potential Turn-Offs: If you are a very private person or uncomfortable with others emoting, you may not want to get vulnerable with or in front of 300 strangers. There’s a fair amount of personal sharing going on throughout the workshop, plus partner and group work that requires some self-revelation.

What I Got out of it: Each time I do The Work I have a more peaceful perspective than I did before. The School got me into the habit of a regular practice of self inquiry, so that I always have a way to bring myself back to the peaceful center that is our true nature. The School was so impactful for me that I have made The Work my life’s work, offering it to others around the world.

Learn more about The School for The Work