About Our Center
Welcome to The Center for Spiritual Living
San Jose
The Center (CSLSJ) offers spiritual tools for anyone seeking a deeper connection with God, Spirit, a Higher Power, or Universal Truths. Regardless of your religious or spiritual background, at CSLSJ you’ll find the inspiration that will deepen your connection with the Divine, enhance your spiritual journey and recalibrate your life.
We are a diverse, inter-generational community that honors all paths to God. The Center provides a safe, uplifting place for those who consider themselves “spiritual, but not religious.” We offer practical spiritual applications for daily living based on ancient wisdom and spiritual traditions from around the world … In other words, a church “for the rest of us.”
We believe that we are co-creators with the Divine and that you can change your entire life by changing your mind! Together we enjoy a sense of caring, ease and fun. Join us – chances are you’ll find people just like you!
What We Believe:
- We believe in ONE God expressing through every living being.
- We believe that God is personal to everyone and makes itself known to all who recognize Its presence.
- We believe that God is love and creates only out of a desire to express love.
- We believe and trust that God (The Universe) supports the highest and greatest good for all.
- We believe that our thought is creative and that how we choose to think creates our personal experience.
- We believe that by changing the way we think, we can change our lives.
- We believe in the unity of all life and the immortality of the individual soul forever unfolding.
- We believe in the eternal goodness, the eternal loving-Kindness, and the Givingness of life.
Our Statement of Being:
We believe that life is good, that God is all there is, and that love is the only power. We are a welcoming and inclusive community of inspired individuals caring for and about each other and the entire planetary family, bringing the gifts of active compassion and kindness to the world. Our purpose is to transform lives, build dreams, and reveal God through education, music, prayer, service, generosity, and play.
Our Vision:
A World that Works for Everyone
Our Mission:
Igniting Transformation through Spiritual Living
Our Purpose:
Transforming LIVES, Building DREAMS, Revealing LOVE
Our Guiding Principles:
Our Guiding Principles call us to honor, notice and value all people. We are committed to respectful communication, and we strive to be honorable in word and deed.Our Community Defined Shared Values Are:
Spiritual Living, Accountability, Coaching & Mentoring, Community Collaboration, Community Service, Continuous Improvement, Education, Humor & Fun, Integrity, and Love
For more on how we define these values, and what it looks like when they are active in our community, click here.
About Our Strategic Plan
In 2017, the Board of Trustees ratified the Center’s first-ever Strategic Plan, the culmination of two years and nearly 2,000 hours of dedicated work among the Board of Trustees, Trustees emeriti, staff, ministers, team leaders and volunteers. Together they worked to envision, research and create our Strategic Plan 2017-2020.
The purpose of a strategic plan is to intentionally focus the precious energy and resources of an organization so that talent, time and money are most effectively and efficiently utilized for the greatest impact, in support of shared vision, mission, values and purpose.
Together, five goals form the strategy to move the Center closer to its Vision. The focus areas are:
- People
- Education
- Engagement
- Abundance
- Community Hub
For details, including our Strategic Planning Executive Summary and Report, click here. For additional information, contact boardchair [at] cslsj.org
We Offer a 5-Point Balanced Spiritual Practice For Your Life:
Affirmative Prayer, Meditation, Spiritual Education, Circulation (Giving Back from our treasure) and Sacred Service (Giving Back from our time and talent).
About Our Youth and Family Program
At CSLSJ, our youth are not just a program, they are the future. Though children are welcome at both of our services, because our Sunday services are designed for adults, we encourage parents to explore our youth programs for their children.
In our youth program, located in our “Youth Wing,” your child(ren) will enjoy curriculum specially designed to fit his or her age and needs. For infants and toddlers, we have a staffed nursery as well as a “family room” upstairs in the Sanctuary if you would prefer to remain with your child(ren).
For more information, visit our Youth & Family Page or contact Youth & Family Coordinator, Jennifer Bick: YouthandFamily[at]cslsj.org or 408-221-6236.
About Membership
Everyone is a welcome and honored guest to our services, most classes and workshops. Those who wish to be more directly affiliated may become members at the Center for Spiritual Living. Membership implies a deep affiliation with our teaching and a commitment to becoming a steward of this community, its assets, and its future. Membership has its benefits, not the least of which are belonging, connection and spiritual growth, being with others, having a voice in your community, and most importantly moving from “this is the place I go to” to “this is my spiritual home.”
There is a free New Member Orientation class offered three times per year (typically fall, winter and spring). This class is a requirement for membership and everyone is welcome, even if you’d taken the class previously.
To find out more about being a member of CSL visit our Membership page or email: NewMembers [at] CSLSJ.org
#Why CSLSJ?
(Center for Spiritual Living)
We recently began a campaign #WHYCSLSJ for our FaceBook page asking people to “tweet” why they choose CSLSJ. We soon realized that each of our tweets was a full, and often, untold story. We bring you some of the stories here of “WHY” we call CSLSJ home …
WHYCSLSJ …
“I first walked into the Center with my fiancé, Max, in 2001. Throughout our engagement, we actively sought a faith community because we both believed that marriages (relationships) continue to thrive when there is a shared faith and a community in which to belong; we even wrote a list. My co-worker at HP told me about her “spiritual center” and that first Sunday seemed to check all the boxes on our list: inclusive, friendly, good music, relevant message.
As we walked to the car, Max started reading all the things that were in the bulletin and I remember giving him the “death stare” while saying: “I went. It was fine. I’ll probably even go back again. But I am NOT getting involved.”
15 years later we are still here – my life sometimes amazes me, and our marriage continues to grow in love. The music is still awesome, as is the message, the leadership and the amazing community/family I’ve come to love. Most of all, I’ve developed a personal relationship with God and an unstoppable faith – both of which I’ve longed for my entire life. Thank you Center for Spiritual Living and the Science of Mind teaching!”
Rev. Susan Overland, Associate Minister, Center for Spiritual Living San Jose
WHYCSLSJ …
“My name is Maryn Eisenhart. I’m a licensed Prayer Practitioner here at Center for Spiritual Living in San Jose. My family (wife Jill and son McKinley) are a fixture here… almost always attending the 2nd service sitting right in front.
I found this beautiful community back in 2003 – We wanted to find a spiritual community that resonated for both of us. My brother and sister-in-law said, “Try ours! We love it.” So in we walked on a Sunday morning and never went anywhere else.
We loved that Center for Spiritual Living celebrates all paths to God and honors every person just for who they are. The teachings and Way of Life in this community resonated so much for me that I was called to become a licensed Prayer Practitioner in 2007.
Jill and I wanted to raise our family in a spiritual community that teaches Love and Connection at its core … and now, our almost 4 year old son, McKinley, loves going to YFM and has learned what a loving, supportive community is just by growing up in the heart of this community! We all are so grateful to call this our Home!
Maryn Eisenhart, RScP
WHYCSLSJ …
“I attended several churches over the years – they were all great communities, but I never felt compelled to join them. Then I found CSL San Jose. The first time I came I was impressed by how great the music was – and I came back again. As I continued to attend and get involved, I found everything I wanted in a community and spiritual center: A great minister that gives powerful talks every week and is a visionary leader of our community, great music that moves me, a community that cares about the center and gives of their time and talent, there is a loving community that cares about each other and everyone is welcome. It is like we say every week: “Welcome Home!” … And I do feel that I am home at the center!”
Rich, Website Volunteer
WHYCSLSJ …
“I first visited CSL San Jose at the suggestion of a friend in August 2013. I grew up in a Protestant church but drifted away in my twenties disillusioned with organized religion. After many years as an active member in twelve step programs I was curious to explore other complimentary spiritual practices. I was skeptical at first, but the inspiring music and inclusive message drew me back. Over many months I began to experience CSL San Jose not as an institution of dogma or static ritual, but as an evolving community of curious generous people enjoying abundant lives and inspired to serve each other and their community. My life continues to expand and amaze in unexpected ways. Each day I pause to thank my many friends at CSL who share this remarkable journey.
Tom Rimel
WHYCSLSJ …
“My family and I have been coming to CSLSJ for ten years now. We first arrived at the urging of a friend and stayed to raise our daughter in this beautiful community that quickly became our extended family. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect community in which to raise children – Our daughter has grown into a service-minded and compassionate young leader … and we know that her CSLSJ family had much to do with that!”
Debra Dake-Morrell, one of Megan’s moms