The concept of oneness—the understanding that we are all one people, one planet, one universe—is profound and beautiful. But it has been so overused that it borders on cliché. We hear sayings like “We really are all one,” or “We are the world.” Then there’s the old joke about the monk who approaches a hot-dog vendor and says, “Make me one with everything.” While there’s nothing inherently malicious or damaging about these examples, they’re sorely lacking in depth. The reality that people,...

Most people think of compassion as something soft, passive, or even slightly patronizing—feeling sorry for someone, offering pity, or performing a kind gesture. It’s frequently associated with being a “do-gooder,” someone who helps others but remains fundamentally unchanged themselves. However, in the teachings of Royal Way founder and master teacher Michael Gottlieb, compassion isn’t merely an emotion or virtue, but a gateway into higher consciousness.

Anyone who visits Royal Way Ranch is immediately struck by the beauty of the setting. Its backdrop is the soaring peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains. Its immediate surroundings are the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert, abundant with Joshua trees, yucca, sage, and seasonal wildflowers. Its expansive views take in the vastness of the desert and sharp outlines of the Granite Mountains.