A Modern-Day Spiritual Path for Today’s Troubled World
In a world of increasing complexity and turmoil, many spiritual seekers search for a path that speaks to the modern mind and heart. A contemporary teaching called the Diamond Approach is emerging in response to this need. First pioneered by spiritual teacher Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas), this wisdom recognizes the underlying synthetic ground of ancient mystical truths with modern psychological insights. Blending esoteric knowledge from the world’s traditions with an appreciation for the individual, the Diamond Approach offers a spirituality grounded in our present-day realities. Through direct inquiry and the cultivation of presence, this path guides students to realize their essential nature beyond egoic conditioning. As an antidote to contemporary challenges and a compass pointing to our highest possibilities, the Diamond Approach represents the birth and evolution of a uniquely suited modern-day spiritual path.
The Jeweled Path: The Biography of the Diamond Approach to Inner Realization

How the Diamond Approach Evolved
The Jeweled Path invites you to enter into the story of how the modern spiritual path of the Diamond Approach emerged. With humor and intimacy, Karen Johnson, cofounder with A. H. Almaas, reveals the personal experiences that birthed the teaching and furthered its development. These profound awakenings—occurring amidst ordinary life—became the building blocks of a remarkable new approach to human nature and our understanding of reality.
“For anyone interested in the origins of the marvelous Diamond Approach, here it is. Karen offers an inside glimpse into the DA founders’ passion, truth-seeking, and wisdom—a journey that can inspire your own.” — Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart
“A humble, honest, intimate, lucid, and above all astonishing account of the rise of a remarkable teaching. It’s good to find confirmation here that even pure diamonds don’t fall ready-made from the sky; they must be ground and polished in the crucible of the human heart. Karen’s and Hameed’s four-decade journey of unflinchingly honest and deeply mutual discovery sets a new benchmark in our appreciation of the full potential of spiritual friendship.” — Cynthia Bourgeault, author of The Meaning of Mary Magdalene and The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three
“A rare, intimate dive into the development of a spiritual path. We don’t usually have the opportunity to witness the birth of a path from the perspective of one who is engaged with its development. Nor are we often invited into the lives of its founders as they awaken to the teaching that is emerging through them. Through Karen Johnson’s writing, her humor, her keen-eyed observations, her willingness to reveal her humanness, and her ever-cascading realization, we can hear the untold story of the Diamond Approach and experience its profound gifts in a new way. What a privilege. — Geneen Roth, author of Feeding the Hungry Heart and Women, Food, and God
The Jeweled Path and Personal Growth
- The Jeweled Path reflects Karen Johnson’s journey, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and learning from life’s painful experiences.
- The Diamond Approach is a response to the needs of our time, emphasizing the value of the individual and the importance of transcending cultural boundaries.
- The golden diamond vehicle represents a truth that evokes our own knowledge and wisdom, showing that presence itself is the truth of existence.
- The origin of happiness lies within our hearts, like a radiant sun, and we can feel its glow and palpable sense without anyone else’s validation.
- This modern-day spiritual path is about embracing unexpected twists and turns as they contribute to personal growth and a sense of wonder.
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Book Contents
1. The Journey Begins
2. Growing Up in Kuwait
3. Accidents and Opportunities
4. Fledging
5. Out of the Blue
6. In the Lap of Love
7. The Golden Cog
8. Cracking the Cosmic Head
9. When the Student Is Ready, Essence Delivers
10. And Now We Are Three
11. Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend
12. In the Heart of Paradise
13. Labor and Delivery
14. Westward . . . Whoa!
15. Diamond Buddies
16. Unsettled in California
17. My Guardian Angel Flies Away
18. The Proof Is in the Pleasure
19. Being in Boot Camp
20. Marching toward the Land of Truth
21. Love and Peas
22. A Star Is Born
23. The View from Beyond
24. Tapioca Supreme
25. What Did You Say the Name Was?
26. The Absolute End
27. Soul Dancing
28. Down We Go
29. Through the Jeweled Portal