The Wisdom of Authenticity: your self to discover (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780994089908)

Stephen K. Sims is the founding director of the IASIS Foundation - an awareness education project that has, since the early 80s, developed a far-reaching dialogue on themes related to the wisdom of personal transformation. The work of this foundation seeks to empower self-discovery, encourage the enlargement of consciousness and compassion, and foster physical wellness, emotional literacy, and spiritual potential. Over a span of more than three decades, Steve has led vision quests, support groups and small interactive learning circles to stimulate self-enquiry and authenticity. Wilderness adventure outings have been an integral part of the IASIS project - Steve himself is an ardent canoe enthusiast. After graduating from university in the late 60s, Steve taught in schools both in Canada and Australia, and travelled extensively through Asia. In the early 70s, he worked as a paramedic with the sick and destitute dying at Jesu Ashram in the Darjeeling region of northern India. Returning to his native Montreal, Steve assumed the role of a lay chaplain at Concordia University. This preceded his appointment as program director of the Spera Foundation, a drug rehabilitation centre - his work in addiction led to the establishment of the IASIS dialogues. At a later stage, he served as director of a hospitality house for the homeless. In the mid-90s, Steve went back to India where he initiated similar dialogues with educators and community development workers throughout the Eastern Himalayas. This cross-cultural experience was the catalyst for his first writing project, as well as for the establishment of the Padua Dialogue - an interdisciplinary wisdom forum exploring the healing arts, the transformational sciences, and the teachings of different spiritual traditions. His other community involvements have included youth outreach, prison support groups, visitation to the elderly, and palliative care for the terminally ill. The Wisdom of Authenticity, Steve's second book, gives us a glimpse into the interactive dialogue circles that he has been facilitating over the last 33 years. River of Awareness, his first book, was published in 2009 with a variety of thematic reflections that make reference to his wide range of life experience.