Self-Study Courses
Learn to shift your thoughts, actions, and words in order to look within rather than without for wholeness.
The ten self-study courses offered by the Institute are based on the ten Universal Tributes. The Universal Tributes focus on ten essential aspects of our life journey: will, purpose, service, inner work, choice, giving and receiving, extension, double vision, attitude, and spiritual invitation.
As a universal and cohesive philosophical framework, the ten Universal Tributes provide a way to learn how to unify personal healing and service.
The word tribute describes the intentionality and quality of one person’s relationship with another person. Being in the presence of another human being and having an opportunity to serve them is a tribute, a gift. In giving a tribute, one holds all one gives, says, or does in a spirit of gratitude, respect, and honor.
The Tributes and their Tenets were first received by Susan Trout in 1990 as inspired teachings. They are an inherent aspect of the foundational teachings of Susan's The Soul and Service Trilogy.
Where Do I Begin?
The Tribute courses can be studied and practiced in any order. You may "enter" the Tributes courses at any point, or key aspect, on the Universal Tributes pyramid, choosing to study just one Tribute, to take all the courses in order from one to ten, to focus on any single course - whichever tribute "calls" to you at any given moment of your life, or to take a number of these courses over time.
You are invited to visit the Universal Tributes main page and the links within this page on this website.
- Meditate on the slide show on the main page as it moves through the ten Tributes on the pyramid. Spending a few minutes allowing the slideshow to cycle through the ten Tributes moves you into a meditative state. Meditating on the pyramid slide show may help you choose which course is right for you at any particular moment in your life.
- Each Tribute has eight Tenets that help you delve deeper into each Tribute. Take a look at the individual Tribute pages to read and contemplate on the eight Tenets that are unique to each Tribute.
Individual Tribute courses can also be repeated to go more deeply into the work. If studying the Universal Tributes calls to you, it is recommended that you choose to begin with the Tribute that resonates with you and what is occurring in your life (or perhaps missing in your life) at this particular moment in time.
The ten Tributes and their Tenets teach specifically how to manifest the Laws of Service in one's life.
Each course is designed to be studied for one month, though you may choose to work on the course(s) at your own pace. It is recommended that you spend at least one month with any of these courses, which will allow you time to work with the material and integrate its teaching in a gradual way.
Select the title below to learn more about and download any of the ten courses:
- Will ~ Awakening to Happiness
- Purpose ~ Discovering My Life's True Meaning
- Service ~ Be an Agent for Change in Humanity
- Inner Work ~ Accessing Compassion
- Choice ~ From Self-Responsibility to Inner Freedom
- Extension ~ Forgiveness: The Gift of Lilies
- Giving and Receiving ~ Bringing Comfort to Myself and Others
This website, designed by the Institute for the Advancement of Service and representing the psychological-spiritual books, courses, teachings, and practices it developed over its 45 years as a nonprofit organization (1980-2025), is not intended to provide medical or mental health care. The books, courses, teachings, and practices represented on this website do not provide psychotherapy, medical therapy, or a substitute for either one. Users of this website are expected to assume self-responsibility for their wellbeing by seeking, when appropriate, psychological and medical professional services.
Every good-faith effort has been made to document accurately any reference material and citations used throughout this website.
Copyright © 2025 by Susan S. Trout. You are free to share selections from this website for noncommercial purposes if you attribute what you share to the Institute for the Advancement of Service and Susan S. Trout. You may summarize the material on this website provided you accredit it to the Institute for the Advancement of Service and Susan S. Trout and do not alter its meaning.
