The Interfaith Experience

Food and Faith with Rev. Phil Waldrop

2010-03-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

Please join us in the Cafe at the Rubin Museum of Art as we continue our exploration of Food and Faith! On Wednesday March 24th at 7pm, Reverend Philip Waldrop will speak on "Food from an Interspiritual perspective."

While our previous events have touched on the perspectives of Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and spirituality, Rev. Phil will speak from his experience as an Interfaith Minister, an inclusive global spirituality that honors all faiths.

Drawing from many of the world's spiritual traditions, Rev. Phil will identify five spiritual themes and several sub-themes about food itself, its role in our lives, and our relationship to it.

Rev. Philip Waldrop is on staff at the Interfaith Temple of NYC, on the Board of A World Alliance of Interfaith Clergy, Chair of its Standing Committee on Communications, and Publisher of the on-line magazine INTERFAITH Today. He is also a dean of first year students at The New Seminary in New York City and on the leadership team of the NY-NJ-CT Tri-State Council of Men as Learners and Elders. In 2007, he was ordained an Interfaith Minister. The interfaith approach of honoring all spiritual paths and religions, finding commonalities in essence, and seeing the mystical and transcendent as something shared by humanity drew him to this path. In addition to conducting worship services, weddings, funerals, and other customized ceremonies, Rev. Phil is a speaker and facilitator on a variety of spiritual topics, and by appointment, does spiritual counseling and healing using Reiki and Pranic Healing techniques. Rev. Phil is also an amateur cook and likes to make dishes such as healthy soups, sautés, salads, coleslaw and cornbread.

Food and Faith with Imam Khalid Latif

2010-02-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Please join us on Wednesday, February 24th at the Rubin Museum of Art Cafe at 7pm, with Imam Khalid Latif, the first Muslim chaplain at NYU and youngest chaplain in the history of the NYPD. Continuing our "Food and Faith" series, Imam Latif will be discussing the Muslim perspective. What does the Muslim faith dictate to its practitioners in terms of food choice? If you walk into a New York eatery and see that a food is "halal," what exactly does it mean? During Ramadan, what is the role of fasting? These questions and many more will be addressed in this intriguing talk.

Imam Khalid Latif was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at NYU in 2005 where he began to initiate his vision for a pluralistic future on and off campus for American Muslims. He was also appointed the first Muslim chaplain at Princeton University in 2006. Spending a year commuting between these two excellent institutions, he finally decided to commit full-time to New York University’s Islamic Center where his position was officially institutionalized in the spring of 2007. Under his leadership, the Islamic Center at NYU became the first ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States. Imam Latif’s exceptional dedication and ability to cross interfaith and cultural lines on a daily basis brought him recognition throughout the city, so much so that in 2007 Mayor Michael Bloomberg nominated Imam Latif to become the youngest chaplain in history of the New York City Police Department at the age of 24.

Imam Latif has not only managed to solidify the basis of a strong Muslim community at NYU that seeks to emphasize inclusiveness and understanding of others without compromise, but has also worked tirelessly to foster dialogue with people of other faiths in order to clarify misconceptions and encourage mutual education. Through his work Imam Latif has demonstrated not only an exceptional dedication to gaining and disseminating religious knowledge and values, but has begun to carve out a much-needed space for young American Muslims to celebrate their unique identity and have their voices heard in the larger public sphere. He is a sought after speaker, having lectured throughout the United States and in various parts of the world and has been quoted, featured and appeared in numerous media outlets including BBC, NPR, CNN, the NY Times, Newsweek, Time Magazine, BET and GEO TV. Amongst many awards and distinctions for leadership and community service over the last few years, Imam Latif was most recently named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world in 2009 by Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talaal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.

Food, Inc and Dhrumil Purohit - January 28th at the Action Center to End World Hunger

2009-12-03T09:53:00.001-08:00

The Interfaith Experience, in partnership with Mercy Corps' Action Center to End World Hunger, is proud to bring its first film screening to the Big Apple. Currently on the Academy Award short list for best documentary of 2009, Food, Inc. is a must see for all New Yorkers. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says, "Don't take another bite till you see Food, Inc., an essential, indelible documentary."

The event will take place Thursday, January 28th at the Action Center to End World Hunger @ 6 River Terrace in Battery Park City. Prior to the screening, Dhrumil Purohit will discuss how food and faith interrelate from the Jain perspective. Dhurmil will speak at 6:30 -- please arrive early to get a seat and talk to Interfaith Experience committee members. The movie begins at 7:00. Tickets to the event are $10 plus $1.99 handling. All proceeds for this event will be shared between the Temple of Understanding and the Mercy Corps Action Center to End World Hunger. Tickets are available for purchase online from Brown Paper Tickets or call 800-838-3006.

About Dhrumil:
Dhrumil Purohit is a simple sherpa who enjoys guiding people and communities through the world of holistic healing and spiritual living.

During the day Dhrumil is a founding partner at the Clean Program, a health and wellness company that manufactures and sells detox and cleansing kits. He and his business partner Dr Alejandro Junger MD have a vision to revolutionize the world of cleansing by providing the most supportive detox program on the planet. Dhrumil is also the Chief Community Organizer behind We Like It Raw, the most popular online raw food community. And Lastly, Dhrumil serves as an advisor to a few non-profits including Donna Karan's Urban Zen Foundation.

Dhrumil is based in Delaware, loves his family dearly and strives to be as present as his role model Eckhart Tolle.

About Food, Inc.
In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising and often shocking truths about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

Important changes to note

2009-12-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for making 2009 a successful year for the Interfaith Experience. Beginning in 2010, please note a couple of significant issues. First, our January event will not be held at the Rubin Museum of Art, but will take place at the Action Center to End World Hunger. Secondly, when the Interfaith Experience returns to the Rubin Museum of Art in February, we will moving from Friday nights to Wednesday nights. Events will be held in the RMA Cafe and will still begin at 7pm. We look forward to the new year and bringing you more great speakers.

Thanks to Everyone!

2009-10-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Katherine Miller for making our first event of our Food and Faith series a successful one. We're excited for the season ahead and hope you can join us next month (November 20th) for Jess Root.

A practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, Jess' talk will address food justice as it relates to her faith’s meditation on interdependence and the aspiring Bodhisattva’s wish to benefit all beings. All based on what she knows best—her own, direct experience and meditations that she credits to her teachers His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa and Vivekan.

As an example, Jess will demonstrate the ocean of difference between sitting down to what can simply be viewed as an ordinary bowl of rice, and sitting down to an extraordinary bowl or rice that’s eaten under the lens of the Buddha’s teachings on ‘dependent arising.’

She’s learned and witnessed that Buddhist reflections such as these have trained her often lazy and scattered mind to slow down, reflect, and practice gratitude. This has influenced her consumer decisions for the better—motivating her to put her money, quite literally, where her mouth is, purchasing Fair Trade, local, organic, and responsibly harvested foods.

Jess Root is a freelance environmental journalist and yoga instructor. Her written contributions can be found in Discovery Communications’ TreeHugger.com and PlanetGreen.com. She’s been featured in Budget Travel, E, the Environmental Magazine, and she has lectured at The Tibet Center. As the manager and yoga instructor at Bodhisattva Yoga, she aspires to crystallize the connection between sustainability, spirituality and wellness.

Food and Faith: executive chef Katherine Miller

2009-09-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

On Friday October 23rd, please join us for our new series focusing on Food and Faith. Over the course of the next 8 months, we will delve into how faith interprets and addresses the many issues surrounding food and water: from nutrition and hunger, access to food, to food and water security. Our first speaker is executive chef Katherine Miller.

As the executive chef of EnlightenNext, Katherine Miller is pioneering new ways of understanding health and wellness in the context of conscious evolution and spiritual enlightenment. Her insights and experience have been influenced by spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen, founder of EnlightenNext, whom she has been a student of for 18 years. Her first insight into spiritual life began 28 years ago with the study of Aikido and then Iyengar yoga, which she still practices and teaches today. In the late 80's she discovered the Indian spiritual teacher, Amachi, with whom she spent four years. Her passion for gourmet vegetarian food and optimum health has led to a unique style of cooking that integrates various principles of raw food "cooking," macrobiotics, and the newest scientific research into nutrition. Katherine is currently collaborating with other health professionals on the “Health is Wealth” initiative, a program whose mission is to engender evolution in regards to food and our spiritual, moral and ethical values.

Katherine will be speaking about food and health from her experience as a practitioner of evolutionary enlightenment and the understanding that faith in our purpose in life influences every aspect of our existence, including how we eat. She’ll pose provocative questions, such as: How do our motivations and preferences change as our understanding of life evolves? When we view ourselves not only as part of, but actually responsible for, the evolutionary process, how do we respond? Is the way that we care for our physical being – our health and vitality – reflect the understanding that we are here for a higher purpose? If so, what do we eat?

Our experience of faith and purpose deeply influences our appreciation for the life forms we depend on to live and grow. Our faith is also where we find the gratitude and humility to begin to pose these critical questions. As we find the answers, our goal is to put them into action in order to create a fundamental shift in our shared values – and the foundation for a new culture. What we put on our plates is a big part this.

Thanks to everyone

2009-06-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Wesam Berjaoui for his engaging and enlightening talk on Islamic finance which closed out our winter/spring series on Faith and Finance. It was a great way to close out the season before we take a summer hiatus. Thanks again to all of our speakers, attendees and committee memebers for making the Interfaith Experience a success. We look forward to returning on September 25th for our new series on Faith and Food. Stay tuned for more details.

Spring Finale: Islamic finance, June 26th

2009-06-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the conclusion of our "Faith and Finance" series. Our guest speaker is Wesam Berjaoui who will be discussing the principles of Islamic finance. At a time when the conventional interest-based global financial system is in turmoil, it is a natural reaction to seek more prudent and ethical alternative systems of financial management. Islamic finance offers one unique alternative and is here to stay. Come learn why Islamic finance is the fastest growing phenomenon in global finance. How does Islamic finance differ from conventional finance? Why does Islamic law, Shariah, forbid Muslims from receiving interest on loans or savings? Please bring your questions, thoughts and enthusiasm to this highly anticipated gathering.

The event will take place at 7pm, June 26th at the Rubin Museum of Art. We look forward to seeing you there.

Wesam Berjaoui is Regional Manager at University Islamic Financial. He graduated from Pace University with a Bachelors degree in Finance. He started his career at Guidance Residential as a sales consultant and worked his way up to District Manager and then climbed steadily up to North East Regional Manager, managing a team of up to eight sales consultants. Wesam recently joined University Islamic Financial in October 2007 as their Regional Manager handling East Coast operations and expansion. His responsibilities extend to currently training and coaching the dynamic sales team as well as helping expand operational states.

Survey and May event

2009-05-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Please take a couple of minutes to take a very brief, anonymous survey to help us improve the Interfaith Experience.
Click Here to take survey

Many thanks.

==========================================

May 29th with Sheila Wall and Michael Pergola

We hope to see everyone on May 29th for our continuing series on "Faith and Finance." We look forward to welcoming Sheila Wall and Michael Pergola from Coalition for One Voice. Please join us...

"Faith and Finance: Can It Make a Difference"

In the past 30 years we have witnessed a series of disruptions to the financial system that have been publicly perceived as scandals that deviate from the norm. They have followed each other with a certain inevitability, and have led to the current freezing of the world economy and the disruption of countless lives.

We will explore this phenomenon, and what we can do individually and collectively to respond creatively to current circumstances. Questions that will be addressed include:
• What characteristics do the people involved in all of these situations have in common?
• How could some of the best trained and most gifted members of our society fail to see the long term implications of their actions
• What, if any, impact did the ethics courses added to the curriculum of MBA programs in the 80’s have on the behavior of financial leaders
• What role does the “ethic of unfettered individualism” and the “argument culture” play in creating our current distress
• How could a deeper experience of ethics, morality and spirituality help us see the opportunity in the current crisis
• How can we understand and utilize the notion of higher consciousness to inform our actions and respond creatively to the challenges we encounter in our personal and professional lives
• What should we expect from our leaders in finance, business and government, and
• How can we create the conditions, individually and socially, that will get us what we need in order for our children and our grandchildren to live meaningful lives in a just society that spans the globe

We will focus on how the consciousness of individuality has played itself out in our institutions, particularly our financial and educational institutions, and offer insights and practices from the great spiritual traditions that can increase our capacity to experience deep inner peace in the midst of turmoil, and to find creative responses and skillful actions in the face of the current challenges.

In Conversation with Robert Thurman and guests

2009-04-22T12:02:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
The Paley Center for Media
25 West 52 Street (between 5th & 6th Ave)
New York, NY

Religion, Media, and Culture
In Conversation with...

Robert A. F. Thurman, Professor, Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Columbia University, and President, Tibet House US

Laurie Goodstein, National Religion Correspondent for the New York Times

Steve Waldman, Co-Founder, President and Editor-in-Chief of Beliefnet

Ibrahim Abdil-Mu’id Ramey, Director of Human Rights Division, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation

For tickets: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/7164135 or call the box office 212-621-6600
Use the promotional code: temple

We're pleased to announce our very exciting upcoming program with Robert Thurman who is considered the foremost Western scholar on Tibetan Buddhism. This event will take place on May 5th at 630pm at the Paley Center for Media. See below for more information.

Robert Thurman was the first American to have been ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk and a personal friend of the Dalai Lama for over 40 years, Professor Thurman is a passionate advocate and spokesperson for the truth regarding the current Tibet-China situation and the human rights violations suffered by the Tibetan people under Chinese rule. His commitment to finding a peaceful, win-win solution for Tibet and China inspired him to write his latest book, Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet and the World, published in June of 2008. Popularizing the Buddha's teachings is just one of Thurman's creative talents.

He is a riveting speaker and an author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics and culture, including Circling the Sacred Mountain, Essential Tibetan Buddhism, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Infinite Life: Seven Virtues for Living Well, Inner Revolution, The Jewel Tree of Tibet and, most recently, Why the Dalai Lama Matters.

Religion, Media, and Culture

In Conversation with Robert Thurman

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
The Paley Center for Media
25 West 52 Street (between 5th & 6th Ave)
New York, NY

In 1959, coverage of the Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet catapulted his epic struggle with China onto the world stage. Fifty years later, despite highly sophisticated attacks on his reputation and threats of diplomatic sanctions against welcoming states, his celebrity is larger than ever. As the Dalai Lama visits New York in May to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his exile, join us for a discussion to explore different perspectives on the success of his use of media in advancing awareness of the plight of the Tibetan people.

This program is presented in conjunction with The Temple of Understanding, a New York–based organization dedicated to promoting cross cultural and inter-religious tolerance and understanding.

Advanced tickets are $15.
Purchases at the door are $20.

https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/7164135
Use the promotional code: temple

April event postponed

2009-04-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

We regret to inform you that April's Interfaith Experience has been canceled. Please note that this talk on Islamic finance will be rescheduled for June 26th. We're sorry for the inconvenience. The next Interfaith Experience talk will take place on May 29th with Sheila Wall and Michael Pergola from Coalition for One Voice.

Thanks to Kona and March program

2009-03-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

A very special thanks to Kona Goulet for her wonderful talk to kickoff our "Faith and Finance" series. It made us think about: does the way we spend our money reflect our higher values? I'd recommend tracking your spending (to the penny) for one week and you'll be surprised where the money goes. Give it a try.

We look forward to seeing everyone on March 27th at 7pm for the 2nd talk of our "Faith and Finance" series.

"Economic Turmoil and Financial Abundance"

Andrew Wang, Senior Vice President at Runnymede Capital Management, addresses the importance of financial health in one's pursuit of physical, mental and spiritual well being. Drawing from personal and professional experience, Andrew discusses the subject of money from a Christian perspective as it relates to materialism, giving, prosperity and success. Amidst the back drop of a contracting economy, global banking crisis, and corporate malfeasance, Andrew shares the foundation of his financial ministry and how Christian views on money apply to the current economic turmoil.

Andrew is a Senior Vice President and an Equity Portfolio Manager at Runnymede Capital Management, a registered investment adviser that serves individuals and institutional clients. Runnymede Capital Management was recently nominated as investment "Manager of the Year" for 2008 by the editors of Financial Investment News. In 1996, Runnymede coined the term "Financial Hurricanes." In the face of major downturns, Andrew believes that you must take defensive positioning which has benefits in terms of financial and emotional health. Andrew holds a B.A. in International Studies with honors from Trinity College.

2009 Kickoff event with Kona Goulet. Please join us February 27th.

2009-02-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

Next week, we look forward to our first event of 2009. Please join us Friday, February 27th at 7pm at the Rubin Museum of Art. Our first speaker of the season is Kona Goulet, Director of Development for EnlightenNext.

"Keeping the Faith: Pursuing Higher Values in Challenging Times"

You may have heard the refrain, “If you want to know what you value in life, just look in your check book.” In these challenging times, when we tend to become more conservative, the question is, what are we conserving? Do we conserve that which matters most? After we cut out the “excess” in our lives, is what’s left a reflection of our higher values? Or do we succumb to survival instincts and leave our higher aspirations to times less troubling? In this talk, Kona Goulet, Director of Development for EnlightenNext, will speak about how in challenging times we must ask ourselves even more deeply just how much our lives (and finances) are expressing our faith and our deepest values.

Kona Goulet is Director of Development for EnlightenNext, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen and dedicated to the evolution of consciousness and culture. She is one of Cohen’s senior students and has been practicing his teaching philosophy of Evolutionary Enlightenment for fourteen years. Goulet has worked for the past decade in the corporate and financial sectors in England, Australia and Holland. She first became the Managing Director for EnlightenNext in the UK in 2004 and two years later, became the Director of Development at the EnlightenNext World Center based in Lenox, Massachusetts. She is a passionate advocate for the potential of philanthropy to uplift and transform culture. Her work entails developing creative forums for philanthropists to come together as agents of transformation.

Faith and Finance

2009-02-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

We're just two weeks away from our 2009 kickoff event with Kona Goulet on February 27th!!! With the financial turmoil surrounding all our lives, the Interfaith Experience team thought "Faith and Finance" would be an interesting topic to expand upon for our winter/spring season.

The roots of finance have seemingly been corrupted by greed and poor risk controls. The foundations of the global financial system are broken. The global divide between the rich and poor is ever increasing. The need for sustainable business models grows everyday in the wake of global climate change. All these matters are of profound importance for all of us and one wonders what faith communities and traditions have to say about these challenges and possible solutions in the years to come.

We look forward to exploring these issues with our speakers and hope that you can join us for the journey. Please join us on February 27th with speaker Kona Goulet.

February kickoff

2009-01-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

The first Interfaith Experience event of 2009 will take place on February 27th. Please mark it down on your calendars. Stay tuned for more info.

If you are interested in volunteering and/or becoming an active member of the planning committee, please email Chris at cwang@runnymede.com.

November - Contemporary Paganism

2008-11-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that our November speaker is Wiccan High Priestess Judy Harrow. Published author and Chair of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Cherry Hill Seminary, Judy will give an overview of Paganism and the various beliefs and practices of its practitioners today. Her talk is entitled, "Contemporary Paganism: Living an Ancient Faith in the Modern World." Please join us on November 21st at 7pm at the Rubin Museum of Art. We look forward to seeing you at the event.

"Contemporary Paganism: Living an Ancient Faith in the Modern World."

Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft: these words carry a whiff of weirdness. Are we talking about harmless eccentrics, people in the grip of dangerous delusions, defiant social misfits, or maybe even worse? Actually, Pagans look just like anybody else in the supermarket or on the subway. They have ordinary jobs, homes, and families, and the normal range of other interests. But they base their spiritual practice on some different core assumptions. Modern Paganism is a new religious movement, small but growing fast, that seeks to revive the long-suppressed shamanic, nature-based, polytheistic spiritual traditions of Europe, to live in a modern, urban environment while honoring Mother Earth and Father Sky, and following the Sacred cycle of the Seasons and the phases of the Moon. And, yes, they practice magic.

The Greening of Faith & Why It Matters

2008-10-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

We are very pleased to announce that the Reverend Fletcher Harper will be leading our October 24th event. With global warming and climate change an ever increasing concern, Rev. Harper will discuss the role of religion in the environmental sustainability movement from an interfaith perspective.

Fletcher Harper, an Episcopal priest, is Executive Director of GreenFaith, an interfaith environmental coalition based in New Jersey. An award-winning spiritual writer and nationally-recognized preacher on the environment, he has developed a range of innovative programs to make GreenFaith one of the most respected religious-environmental groups in the US. A graduate of Princeton University and Union Theological Seminary, Harper served as a parish priest for ten years and in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church prior to joining GreenFaith.

Founded in 1992, GreenFaith is New Jersey’s interfaith coalition for the environment. GreenFaith inspires, educates and mobilizes people of diverse spiritual backgrounds to deepen their relationship with the sacred in nature and to restore the earth for future generations. At a time when religious conflicts dominate the headlines, GreenFaith unites people of diverse faiths toward the shared value of caring for the earth.

Through religious-environmental education programs, by greening the operation of religious institutions and the homes of their members, and through legislative advocacy and values-based environmental activism, GreenFaith helps religious institutions and people of all faiths put their belief into action for the earth and all its inhabitants.

Fall Kickoff - September 26th - Join Us!

2008-09-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

We hope that everyone had an amazing summer as we are very excited for the upcoming fall season of the Interfaith Experience. The first event of the season is this Friday, September 26th at 7pm. Please join Seton Hall professor Peter Savastano as he discusses the African-based religions in the diaspora. Our October event will be held on the 24th with the Reverend Fletcher Harper of GreenFaith, an interfaith coalition for the environment.

"African-Based Religions in the Diaspora: An Exploration of Fluidity, Ambiguity, Relationality and Transformation."

When most people are asked to define religion, their response is often "religion is a set of beliefs", especially in those cultures historically associated with the Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). While "belief" plays a role in the African based traditions in the Diaspora (i.e., Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria or Lucumi, Brazilian Candomble, and others), it is not dominant. Rather, in the African-based Diasporic traditions the focus is on the dynamics of healing ritual activity not creedal statements and/or doctrinal theological formulations.

In the African based traditions in the Diaspora, there is no Pope (to borrow from a Roman Catholic model), no cannon law, and no formal creed; they are African-based Diasporic traditions resisting institutionalization and centralization. They are dynamic and fluid, constantly expanding and contracting as the need arises. The African-based traditions in the Diaspora absorb and transform what is external to their ritual and symbol system, welcoming the "other" rather than building doctrinal walls to keep out that which is foreign. They are open-ended, rooted in the ritual action of the body, emotions, and intuition. They are innovative, improvisational and have a great capacity for ambiguity, while at the same time having a distinct world view, and a common set of symbols and ritual patterns on which practitioners draw in unique and different ways. These are traditions whose primary focus is on maintaining balanced relationships between the world of the living, the world of the ancestors, the world of the Deities (i.e., the Orisha, the Lwa or the Spirits) and when a practitioner's relationships is out of balance with any of these worlds, re-balancing is sought through divination, trance/possession, and various healing activities.

This lecture will explore the dynamic character of these traditions and the valuable contribution that they make to human spiritual life and to a richer understanding of religion.

Juliet Hollister Awards - September 18th

2008-07-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

We are currently planning our events for the fall season and will have some announcements on our speakers very soon. Trust me, we are going to have some amazing guests for the fall.

In the meantime you may be interested in the Temple of Understanding's Juliet Hollister Awards Gala. The event is going to be held at the UN Delegates Dining Room on Sept 18th at 7pm. It will be an incredible evening of music and memorable honorees. Linus Roache, who presented at the Interfaith Experience in May, will be Master of Ceremony. This years honorees are:

Majora Carter will be honored for her work to bring social and environmental justice to poor and disenfranchised communities around the world. She is a leading urban revitalization strategist, the founder of Sustainable South Bronx, and a 2005 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow.

Russell Simmons, music industry pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthroper, will be honored for his work to bridge the divide between people of different religions and cultures.

Bhai Sahib Dr. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia is the leader of the largest registered Sikh community in the United Kingdom. He will be honored for his work as an intra- and inter-faith educator and for his dedication to advancing interfaith issues at the United Nations.

In 1996 the Juliet Hollister Award was created to honor the Temple of Understanding's founder, Juliet Hollister, and to acknowledge the work of a religious leader whose work brings interfaith values into the place of worship and secular leaders who promote greater understanding of spiritual values in areas such as the arts, education, media, government, science, law and the environment.

Past awardees include Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, the Very Reverend James Parks Morton, His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda, President Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Maestro Ravi Shankar, Wangari Maathai, Fr. Thomas Berry, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, and Hans Kung.

A pre-purchased ticket to the event is required.

To order tickets or for more information: info@templeofunderstanding.org or call 212-573-9224, ext 22

A special thanks and a Survey

2008-06-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

A very special thanks to Linus and to all those that attended our final event of the spring/summer season. Thanks to Linus for his enlightening and entertaining talk, as well as for joining us for dinner and laughs after the event. It was a fabulous way to close out our first full year at the Rubin Museum of Art. We're looking forward to bringing you more great events in the fall and hope that you all have an amazing summer.

Please take a couple of minutes to take a very brief, anonymous survey to help us improve the Interfaith Experience.
Click Here to take survey
Many thanks...

Law and Order star Linus Roache joins us in May

2008-05-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Law and Order's newest star Linus Roache will present at the Interfaith Experience on May 30th at 7pm. Linus will share how his spiritual practice of Evolutionary Enlightenment has impacted his life and career.

"Being in the World but not of the World. "

In this talk the acclaimed British Actor Linus Roache, currently appearing as Law and Order's Chief Executive ADA Michael Cutter, will share how the perspective of Evolutionary Enlightenment is helping him navigate through the seductive world of success, celebrity and the intensity of the entertainment industry. As well as performing for over 24 years on stage, TV and screen, Linus has been a student of Evolutionary Enlightenment for the past 14 years and is now the Managing Director of the New York Center for EnlightenNext. EnlightenNext is a global network dedicated to creating a revolution in Consciousness and Culture and is founded on the vision of Spiritual Teacher Andrew Cohen and his teaching of Evolutionary Enlightenment.

Creation Spirituality: A Way Forward Together

2008-04-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

Please join us on April 25th at 7pm on the 6th floor of the Rubin Museum of Art for a fascinating discussion on "Creation Spirituality" presented by the Reverend Masud Ibn Syedullah, TSSF.

The events of 9/11 forced many of us to consider, and reconsider our attitudes and opinions about “the other” regarding race, ethnicity, culture, and religion. Many of us who previously felt secure within the realm of those “like us” are increasingly challenged to think about and even interact with those who differ from ourselves. Join the Reverend Masud Ibn Syedullah, TSSF, for a discussion of how we can break down barriers and find the common ground between us all. Drawing upon his life experiences from growing up in a Christian and Muslim family to his many years in the Franciscan movement, Reverend Syedullah will discuss universal principals that cut across all the faiths leading us forward together in our common humanity.

An Episcopal priest, musician, and educator, the Rev. Masud I. Syedullah, TSSF integrates resources of the Christian spiritual tradition, the arts, and liturgical worship to create experiences that facilitate spiritual growth. Born into an interfaith family (Christian and Islamic), and a professed member and pastoral officer of The Third Order, Society of Saint Francis (TSSF -- an international religious community in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion), Father Syedullah has acquired a profound appreciation for the many ways people experience and relate to God. His work invites persons to discover the everywhereness of God – the ways God can be experienced in persons and places beyond ones expectations.

Pastor of the Church of the Atonement, Bronx, New York, and member of the Liturgical Commission and the Episcopal-Muslim Relations Committee of The Episcopal Diocese of New York, his ministry encompasses the concerns and realities of both the local congregation and the broader faith community.

Friday and Interfaith Dialogue

2008-03-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to part 2 of Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly's talk this Friday night at 7pm. Please note that the event will take place on the 5th floor, not the usual 6th floor location which is temporarily closed for an installation at this time. Please arrive early to get a good seat as their January event was standing room only.

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In today's news, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, who visited Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in November, called on Muslims, Jews and Christians to engage in Interfaith Dialogue. He said, "The idea is to ask representatives of all monotheistic religions to sit together with their brothers in faith and sincerity to all religions as we all believe in the same God." Let's hope that leaders follow through on this call which can pave the road to peace in the Middle East. If you want to read the full article, please visit www.abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4518593.

Thanks to Alex Grey

2008-02-23T05:46:00.000-08:00

A very special thanks to Alex Grey for his visually stunning presentation on Friday night. It was an honor to have him as our guest and the event went above and beyond our expectations. Thanks to all those that braved the snowy winter day and were treated to such an entertaining and enlightening talk. If you haven't been to the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (542 27th street between 10th and 11th), you have to check it out before it moves north of the city.

We look forward to seeing everyone next month for part 2 of Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly's presentation on Spirituality, Science and Consciousness.

The show must go on...

2008-02-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

Despite the early snowfall, tonight's event with Alex Grey will still go on. Please note that our event will not take place at our usual 6th floor location, but we will be in the museum's theatre. Seating will begin at around 645pm and the presentation will start at 7pm. Hope to see you there.

Visionary artist Alex Grey joins us Februrary 22nd

2008-02-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

Visionary artist and co-founder of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NYC, Alex Grey's paintings “X-rays” multi-dimensional reality. His visual meditations on the nature of consciousness interweave biological anatomy with psychic/spiritual energy. From rock stars to scientists, Grey's art inspires, informs and illuminates the inexplicable. Join us for an evening, February 22nd at 7pm, of discussion with this icon and discover the next level of your own divinity. If you want a sneak peek of Alex, you can click on the YouTube links on the bottom right to a few videos featuring Alex.

This is event is part of "Brainwave" which takes place at six NY institutions and asks how art, music, and meditation affect the brain and offers countless answers in more than a hundred public events, ranging from an exhibition of contemporary art and a cinema series to cutting-edge concerts, performances, talks, and panels.

Here are a couple of reviews of Alex's work:

"Mr. Grey's paintings, as detailed and anatomically accurate as
medical illustrations, present man as an archetypal being struggling
toward cosmic unity...Grey's vision of a flawed but perfectible
mankind stands as an antidote to the cynicism and spiritual malaise
prevalent in much contemporary art."

--New York Times

" Alex Grey is making some of the most beautifully refined imagist
work in the country today."

--Walter Hopps, senior curator, Guggenheim Museum and Menil Collection

Theologue by Alex Grey

Thanks to everyone

2008-01-28T19:03:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone for making our first event of 2008 a great success! With over 100+ people in attendance, it was our biggest audience to date and it's safe to say that it was a tremendous evening on many levels. Thanks to Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly for their enlightening talk and we look forward to the second part of their talk on March 28th. Here are some links to some of the topics discussed: Red rain in Kerala, Ken Wilber, Don Beck/Spiral Dynamics, extremophilic microbes, "The Joy of Living" by Mingyur Rinpoche, Stephenville UFO sighting.

We hope to see you all on February 22nd for visionary artist Alex Grey!

Come kick off the 2008 season on Friday January 25th!!!

2008-01-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

We are very excited to announce a two-part series to kick off our 2008 season. Dr. Kurt Johnson and psychotherapist Loch Kelly will lead us in a discussion that will highlight key contemporary insights across the fields of consciousness studies, science and spirituality. Dr. Johnson and Mr. Kelly will join us in both January and March to share with us the most cutting edge research and frontier studies. Come join us at the Rubin Museum of Art at 7pm on January 25th (Part 1) and March 28th (Part 2).

Left: Dr. Kurt Johnson

Right: Loch Kelly, psychotherapist and Buddhist meditation teacher

January 25, 2008: Spirituality, Science and Consciousness: Wisdom from the Cutting Edge

At a tipping point in history, understanding the intricate but profound synchronicity of our subjective and objective experiences of reality could be the difference between humanities continued existence and extinction. Join biologist Dr. Kurt Johnson and psychotherapist Loch Kelly for a discussion that will highlight key contemporary insights across the fields of consciousness studies, science and spirituality. The first of a two-part presentation, January’s discussion will draw on the holistic views of Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision, Don Beck’s Spiral Dynamics, Bro. Wayne Teasdale’s Universal View of World Religions and recent research by the Mind and Life Institute in dialogue with the Dalai Lama and synthesized by Mingyur Rinpoche in his new book, The Joy of Living.

March 28, 2008 Spirituality, Science and Consciousness: Exploring the Deepest Meeting Place

The second of a two-part presentation, will explore current frontier studies in consciousness, science and spirituality. The speakers, Dr. Kurt Johnson and Loch Kelly, will highlight and explore pivotal points and their implications regarding humanity’s subjective and objective understanding and appreciation of a wider reality. Subjects to be discussed will include present day movements, including movements identified in Paul Hawken’s book, Blessed Unrest.

Finishing 2007 strong and looking ahead to 2008...

2007-12-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

A very special thanks to our speaker Ezgi Sorman for her enlightening and entertaining talk. It was a fantastic way to finish our 2007 season. I think it's safe to say that we were all drawn in by Ezgi's magical journey from Turkey to Gordon Gekko greed to Deepak Chopra's words of wisdom to island meditation to us. Thanks for sharing such a personal journey and then many words of enlightenment.

The Interfaith Experience will return in January of 2008. We look forward to bringing you more spiritual food for thought on Friday nights. While our January speaker hasn't been confirmed as of yet, I am pleased to announce that visionary artist Alex Grey will bring his incredible artistic vision to share with us on February 22nd (please note that this is the second to last Friday of the month as opposed to our usual last Friday schedule).

Have a great new year and we look forward to seeing everyone in January!

Our Next Event - Nov 30th

2007-11-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

Our final event in 2007 on November 30th will feature Ezgi Sorman. Ezgi is a Life Transition Expert and founder of My Bliss and Balance Wellness Programs for the Modern Soul. Ezgi brings to her work as a Transition Expert 10 years in financial advising, wellness consulting, and extensive experience in personal transition. Being a close student of Dr. Deepak Chopra and a Chopra Center Certified Meditation Instructor as well as a long-standing affiliate of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Ezgi knows what it takes to live a well and balanced life in today’s hectic, modern world. With her latest program “The 6 Steps to Trance.Mission Your Life,” Ezgi helps individuals to make their life transitions with fun and ease—and has it all happen effectively. Ms. Sorman is also the creator of the Members Only Guided Meditation Call Circle. Whether working with Ezgi one-on-one, taking part in one of her seminars, or joining her calls, each participant receives Ezgi’s gifts of deep knowledge, compassion, and open-heartedness. Ms. Sorman is dedicated to making the world a better place by promoting individual authenticity, silence of the mind, and the belief that we always have all the time in the world to start over again, to give our life another chance.

Columbia University Interfaith Event Nov 25th

2007-11-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

The Center for the Study of Science and Religion of Columbia University is hosting an interfaith event at Riverside Church on November 25th from 1pm-3pm. The program is called "Living in Peace with 'The Other' - Peaceful Co-existence among Christians, Muslims and Jews." It should be a great event and it is free of charge. For more info about Columbia's great events go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cssr/.

Friday Night Special

2007-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

We look forward to bringing you the Venerable Nicholas Vreeland this Friday night at the Rubin Museum of Art. Kick off your weekend with some Buddhist insight from Ven. Vreeland who just returned from Washington DC where His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Medal of Honor which is the highest award which can be accorded by Congress to a civilian.

If you want to read an interview with Ven. Vreeland, you can read this article from Beliefnet.com:
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/224/story_22489_1.html

Looking forward to Friday!

HH Dalai Lama and October 26th...

2007-10-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

We're all looking forward to our next event on October 26th with the Venerable Nicholas Vreeland, the Director of the Tibet Center. Right now the Venerable Nicholas Vreeland is busy with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to New York this weekend. The Dalai Lama will be speaking at Radio City Music Hall for 3 days (12th-14th). I'm sure that Ven. Vreeland will have many great insights from this event as well as from his life as a Buddhist monk. If you are interested in attending the Dalai Lama's talks, there are still tickets remaining - please check out www.dalailamany.org/index2.html for more information.

Thanks to everyone

2007-09-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for making our opening night a great success. Thanks to our speakers Revs Allan and Susanna who brought great knowledge, experience and artistic/poetic flavor to the evening.

One question that was brought up was where can you begin your interfaith "studies." One of my favorite books is a great place to start. It is called "Essential Spirituality: The Seven Spiritual Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind" by Roger Walsh. I've read it 4-5 times and love it every time. Roger looks to find the common threads through the world's major religions and takes some key practices to apply to your life today. Do you have any suggestions or favorites? Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section of this post.

Here's the review from Amazon.com:
Psychiatrist and philosopher Roger Walsh looks at seven common practices of the world's major religions to tease out a guidebook for contemporary spirituality. With gleanings from Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, Walsh offers seven chapters devoted to enlightenment. For example, "Practice 1" discusses how readers can reduce cravings and find the soul's desire (very relevant in an increasingly materialistic world). Once Walsh has laid out the goals and reasoning behind each practice, he offers an array of exercises, such as how to "Examine the Experience of Craving" or "Reflect on the Cost of Craving." Although this format is overtly self-help, Walsh has brought forth a wise and highly respectable book that integrates some of the best practices that the world's religions can offer. The introduction by the Dalai Lama gives Walsh great praise for helping readers become purer in motivation so that they can lead a more fulfilling life in service to love and compassion. --Gail Hudson

Opening Night....

2007-09-28T07:13:00.001-07:00

has arrived!!! We look forward to seeing everyone tonight at the Rubin Museum of Art. For those of you that arrive early, the Rubin's K2 Lounge starts at 6pm. Happy hour is from 6-7pm with Contemporary and Global Sounds spun by guest DJs.

Opening Night with Rev Allan Lokos and Rev Susanna Weiss

2007-09-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

We're extremely excited to have Reverends Allan Lokos and Susanna Weiss for our opening night speakers. They will be discussing universal themes that are found throughout the ancient traditions. Allan and Susanna are co-founders of the Community of Peace and Spirituality (www.interfaithhome.org) located on the Upper West Side. Both of them are interfaith ministers and Allan has studied meditation for ten years with numerous teachers including Sharon Salzberg of the Tibet House, Thich Nhat Hanh and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. They also have theatrical roots in NY as Allan was an opera and Broadway singer and Susanna was a professional dancer. We look forward to hearing about their own spiritual journey from artist to minister; and also their many thoughts on interfaith and universal themes of religions.

Come join us at the Rubin Museum of Art, Friday September 28th at 7pm on the 6th floor! Seating is limited so please email interfaithexp@templeofunderstanding.org to reserve your seat.

If you're interested in learning meditation, Allan teaches a free class (donations gratefully accepted) on Thursday nights at 2672 Broadway (102nd St). For more info please visit: http://www.interfaithhome.org/services.htm#meditation

Fall 2007 Schedule

2007-09-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

September 28 - Opening Night!

Revs. Alan Lokos and Susanna Weiss: husband/wife, interfaith ministers, Broadway singer/professional dancer

The Reverends will discuss universal themes amongst different faiths drawing upon their years of experience in ministry, meditation and the fine arts. Please join us for a lively presentation and discussion on the meaning of Interfaith and the universal themes amongst spiritual traditions as they affect us in our everyday lives.

October 26

Rev. Nicholas Vreeland: Monk, World Traveler, Buddhist

How does one go from life on the international fast lane to life in a Buddhist monastery and back? Ask October's guest speaker The Venerable Nicholas Freeland. Son of an American Ambassador, grandson of legendary Vogue editor, Diane Vreeland, and now Director of the Tibet Center, Rev. Vreeland knows the challenges of melding faith and work, all the while remaining true to something greater than himself. Join us for an entertaining, enlightening and hope-filled discussion.

November 30th

Ezgi Sorman: Spiritual Life Coach, Meditation Instructor, Metaphysician

"We always have all the time in the world to start over again, to give our life another chance" is a key concept that November's guest speaker, Ezgi Sorman wants you to know. The importance of reconnecting with everything (family, community, nature) is the other. Join this remarkable woman--former financial consultant and disciple of Dr. Deepak Chopra--in an expedition to reclaim, reconnect and reconstitute that which is most important.

Coming soon...

2007-09-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

The Interfaith Experience

What's faith got to do with it? Everything! 95% of the world's population associates with one or another spiritual or religious belief system. The influence is incalculable and awareness of its effect in the workplace, invaluable. Join The Interfaith Experience and meet contemporary artists, thinkers and leaders who will provide insights on the role of faith (the history, meaning and modern thought) in the creative and intellectual process.

Look for our Facebook page launch in the coming days.

The Interfaith Experience events will be held at the Rubin Museum of Art at 150 W. 17th Street in NYC.

The Temple of Understanding (co-sponsor of The Interfaith Experience) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit & NGO in Consultative Status with the UN Economic & Social Council. The organization's mission is to promote cross cultural and inter-religious cooperation through education and dialogue.