Welcome
Gaunts House is a part of The Richard Glyn Foundation, located in the beautiful Dorset Countryside.
It is a place of Profound Learning,
where like-minded people can come together
to share experiences, teach, laugh, play, and flourish.
We aim to provide a comfortable environment with an open atmosphere such that visitors may feel inspired to seek their inner self and their own path to follow.
Who We Are
Since officially opening in 1989, Gaunts House has been at the forefront of the evolution of human consciousness. Over the years Gaunts has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors to experience the unique freedom it has to offer – a dogma free space in which each person can take time to explore, embrace and express their most beautiful potential.
Over the years this homely Dorset mansion has played host to many leading teachers of healing, transformation and self-awareness including: Robert Bly, T.Desikachar, Gangaji, Thich Nhat Hanh, Dadi Janki, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Satish Kumar, Denise Linn, Gabrielle Roth, Vimala Thakar, Sir George Trevelyan, Neale Donald Walsch and others.
Our ethos echoes perennial Universal values and we look to improve and evolve outdated ways of thinking, living and being. The Richard Glyn Charitable Foundation at Gaunts House exists because we sense the real need to support the emergence and expansion of human consciousness. We seek to explore and establish real, safe and holistic ways of living which may support and evolve individuals and society alike.
What We Do
Gaunts House provides a safe, sanctuary space for events, workshops and education that resonate with our ethos and Charter (created in 1989).
Courses facilitated at Gaunts offer a broad range of creative, practical, environmental and empathetic themes, as well as group and private retreats.
The Foundation seeks Realisations of Life through wisdom teachings, mindfulness, conscious awareness and pure intent in thought, expression and action. We offer learning on: Communication, Community, Contemplation, ‘Conversations’, Creative Arts & Expression, Education, the Environment, Healing, ‘Hearth Times’, Meditation, New Organisational Structures, Philosophy, Spirituality and particularly ‘Profound Learning’.
Below is a sample of the typical feedback we regularly receive from guests and visitors;
“Thanks so much for providing me with a peaceful, loving and enjoyable time. I love this place dearly.” – DS
“It felt like coming home. I have never been more at peace. I can’t wait to return.” Jackie .B
“Thank you and your host of angels for providing such a wonderful environment. We both learned valuable life lessons during the time we spent at Gaunts…” Paul & Miriam .E
“Coming to Gaunts changed me – I will be back for more!” – CJ
“This place is something special – and beyond words.” – DR
30 September 1989
GAUNTS HOUSE CHARTER
To provide an environment for personal development, education, information and training, refreshment, rejuvenation and joy; where like-minded people may come together to share their vision, knowledge, talents, skills and wisdom to evolve more perfect lives individually and together towards a more perfect universal community.
The environment will encourage an awareness of, and a striving towards, that personal and all-embracing, spiritual peace, light, love, energy and bliss in and from which all truth, meaning, creation and beauty exist and flow. In this essence of life and growth are found the understandings and freedom which all people seek; and from this essence springs fulfilment, harmony, balance, content and happiness, eternally and for all.
The environment will be so created as to encourage a tacit, social sensitivity, where each person is welcome free of prejudice; where individuals and families are conspicuously associated by a sense of awareness, caring and concern, rather than by any contemporary, social yardstick, wealth, creed, nationality or background. No single religion, philosophy, party-political cant nor dogma of any kind will be adopted by the community. English shall be the first language; communication, mutual understanding shall be the first endeavour.
The environment will enjoy an open, calm, joyful, healthy and secure atmosphere such that visitors may feel inspired to seek their inner self and their own path to follow; may come to realise soul in its unity and infinity and the shades of ego and its illusions; may gain an understanding of God universal and within; may seek to perceive the true self in their fellows and in all things, the better to evolve and communicate, to give and to receive, generally and particularly; where each may grow in certainty and confidence, better able to transcend the challenges and vicissitudes of life; to live and rejoice in that stream of brilliance, vital energy and bliss that we know as love.
The environment will be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. Buildings, gardens, grounds and facilities will be well maintained. New buildings and improvements will be light, unobtrusive and well designed and will blend with the existing buildings and surroundings.
There will be no single spiritual, nor academic authoritative figure; though people may volunteer or be selected to represent, from time to time, any aspect of life, philosophy, arts, creativity, academia or administration. The ever-evolving Gaunts House community will meet together, as like-minded people, to organise and to run the life of the community as they deem appropriate within these aims. The community meetings will ensure that the spirit of these aims is maintained in everyday life; that whatever facilities and opportunities are needed are provided, as they become possible.
A smaller, self-electing Management Group will meet to take decisions on any aspect of the community, management, staff, visitors and property, that it deems appropriate or that the community meeting requests. The Management Group will have the power of instruction and veto in all things concerning the administration, direction and evolution of the community and activities and business at Gaunts House.
Resident and local members and visitors to the community will be encouraged to contribute and share spiritually, creatively, physically, financially, domestically and in whatever other ways are deemed appropriate, necessary and possible.
A school and college for young adults will seek to guide them towards an awareness of spiritual, cerebral and physical well-being; towards an open relationship with nature, common-sense and wisdom; to encourage them to evolve their own living philosophies; to value cooperation and compassion; to perceive, understand and value goodness and sorrow in themselves and in others; and to empathise with love, beauty and truth on every plane. The school and college will be run alongside the adult courses and activities and will intermingle wherever possible.
The school and college will provide a curriculum for guidance and instruction which will develop the creative, cultural, intellectual and physical potential of everyone involved, student and teacher alike, individually and together, especially by inspiration, motivation and encouragement. The development of each person spiritually will be seen as fundamental.
The curriculum will touch on every aspect of the Universe; its origins, history, present and future providing a basis for understanding, communication and development. Every natural, creative, cultural, rural and social skill, understanding and interest will be recognised as being of particular importance to the basis of one’s life values. Suitable pragmatic, scientific and evolving technologies will be selected and taught to be employed in the enhancement of life for all mankind. Students and teachers will seek to increase their general awareness, their free adaptability to life’s opportunities and their skills for living successfully for the benefit of all.
The community meetings and the Management Group will ensure the proper and efficient running of the day-to-day life of the community, producing regular balanced accounts and maintaining a positive financial situation within the general spectrum. The community will ensure that the enlightenment content of its business is not outweighed by the lure of profitability. Valuable, individual loss-making projects may be allowed when covered by prior accumulations.
This charter may be altered by the Management Group only in agreement with the Trustees and the freehold owners.
Gaunts House will provide an environment where may be found the essential elements of creative and cooperative well-being for evolution, fulfilment, freedom and bliss; where the practical elements of life follow from a well-founded, spiritual basis; where an understanding of the essential oneness of life and existence at every level may be perceived and welcomed for the benefit of mankind.
