Situated in the Sierra Foothills, the Fellowship of Friends began in the early 1970s with a group of spiritual seekers of various ages, all of whom shared a commitment to being in present moment. This Fourth Way esoteric school has grown beyond its California roots over the years and currently encompasses centers in major cities across the globe. From cultural gatherings to physical work, Fellowship of Friends encourages the development of a shared sense of purpose and meaning of life.

Fellowship of Friends grew out of Peter Ouspensky’s Fourth Way writings of the 1940s to 1950s, which drew intellectual and spiritual sustenance from a wide range of cultural traditions spanning East and West. A practical emphasis was on achieving increased consciousness and a sustained sense of being present within a specific life moment.

Founder Robert Earl Burton’s credentials as a conscious teacher are predicated on a worldview that embraces always returning to the present moment. This is achieved through work on seeing that one's sense of “I” is actually an illusion. In its place, Fellowship of Friends community members embrace an ethos of acceptance, humility, and conscious love.