Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
~Angela Monet
Interspiritual Day of Prayer for Peace & Fulfillment
This full day workshop provided an opportunity to learn about and experience meditation and prayer practices from six different faith traditions. Whether you were curious and had a desire to explore different wisdom traditions, were looking to align with and support your personal spiritual practice, or wanted to begin the New Year with some additional spiritual sustenance, this gathering offered an opening to meet those longings. It was an incredible occasion to come together as individuals in our diversity, uniting in a community of the One.
A Day of Interspiritual Prayer for Peace and Fulfillment was hosted at the serene retreat center, Arcola Mills, on January 10, 2009.
Prayer and Meditation Practices Represented
Christian Tradition
Bob Delastrada MS, MA is a commissioned presenter of the Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop. He also serves as a certified Spiritual Director affiliated with Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. He attends the Twin City Friends Meeting and is a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. For more information visit Minnesota Contemplative Outreach.
Kabbalah, Judaic Mystic Tradition
Lisa Lillemoen, BS, IKH is an internationally known teacher, holistic healer and author. Lisa teaches Awakening Consciousness classes at Wellness Centers and public engagements locally and nationally. She is founder of Global Holistic Institute since 1999 and taught 7 years at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Lisa holds five years professional training in Integrated Kabbalistic Healing and non-dual states of consciousness. She has a BS degree in Psychology/Sociology and over 20 years experience in holistic health, spirituality, psychology, education and research. Her offices are in Apple Valley, MN and Berkeley, CA where she offers Kabbalah and Soul Healing, Holistic Psychotherapy, Spiritual Guidance and Classes. For more information visit Global Holistic Institute.
Hindu Tradition
Panditji Srihari Kadambi has a masters' degree specializing in Krishna Yajurveda (one of the knowledge of wisdom sacred texts), SriPancharaatra Agama (Specialisation in rituals), Divyaprabhandham (another sacred text) and in Sanskrit. Panditji has worked at world renowned Tirumala Temple (Balaji) in Andhrapradesh, India and participated in more than 100 temple consecrations. He has worked in the United States of America for the last ten years, serving in various Hindu temples of North America. He has worked at S.V. Temple of NC for three years and worked as the chief priest at Shiva-Vishnu Temple of San Diego for four years. The mission of Panditji is to explain and interpret our religious values to our community youth in America. Panditji is well versed in performing both House and Temple rituals. Panditji is Conversant in 8 Indian languages and experienced in performing poojas (rituals and Havans). For more information visit www.vedicpriest.org.
Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
Spiritual Director: Venerable Abong Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin
Monks: Venerable Gendun Kalsang, Venerable Lobsang Jungnes, Venerable Dakpa Gyaltsen, Venerable Dundup Tsering
Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery bears the distinction of being the first western branch of Tibet's Gyuto Monastery, an ancient institution whose monks hold a rare unbroken lineage of tantric Buddhist teachings. This pure Dharma wisdom has been handed down uninterrupted through the generations of great Tibetan and Indian masters, directly from the teachings of the historical Buddha himself.
The daily life of a Gyuto monk is one of continous Buddhist practice of awareness, compassion and lovingkindness cultivated for the benefit of all sentient beings. The monks achieve this through joyous effort, prayer, meditation, generosity, and through the skillful application of the tantric arts and tantric wisdom-view.
The Gyuto monks are well known in Tibet and admired in the exile Tibetan community for their living example of spiritual ideals. The transcendent beauty of their chants, combined with the dramatic power of traditional monastic dance, has inspired and transformed audiences all over the world.
In Minnesota, the monks of Gyuto Wheel of Dharma share their extraordinary heritage by serving the second largest community of Tibetan-Americans in the U.S., as well as western students of Buddhism and Tibetan culture. Their days at the Monastery are spent in prayer, solitude and service.
For more information visit Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastary.
Ojibwe Tradition
Maryellen Baker is a Nio-gishic goo Ikwe (pronounced knee-o-gishic goo e kwe Woman Of Four Skies in the Ojibwe language). She is an Elder, keeper of the Sacred Pipe, Grandmother in the Mide Lodge, Published Author, Ojibwe singer/songwriter, Artist and Director of the Abinooji-Aki (Children's Land) Cultural Healing Center. She was born, raised and resides on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation. She has extensive knowledge in the teachings of her tribe. She has worked in the health field for her tribe for over 40 years.
Sufism, Islamic Mystic Tradition
Abdullah Pat Aylward is a master teacher and healer in the Shadhiliyya Sufi Order. An 800 year old order currently under the guidance of Sufi Shaykh Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal of Jerusalem, the Shadhiliyya Sufis emphasize a universal teaching of peace, love mercy, justice and freedom for all people and make no separation between people because of religion, gender, race or nationality. Abdullah Pat is a graduate of the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism and holds the title of Muqaddam (community leader) in Minnesota. Having studied with teachers and masters of Vedanta, Buddhism, Christianity and other wisdom traditions before embracing Sufism and Islam, he approaches the teaching of Sufism as an invitation to experience from the heart the qualities of love and compassion and explore what connects us all as human beings. For more information visit te Sufi Center Minnesota.
What Others Had To Say:
"Wonderful: the setting in the woods, the lovely house, the information. It is so hopeful that the mystical branches of all religions get it. We just have to continue spreading the message of peace."
"I just had to tell you right away that today was one of the most beautiful, peaceful days of my life. What a gift and what a blessing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Everything was just magical about today, from the bubbling brook on the property, to the sun streaming beautifully in the room. All the presenters were just amazing and powerful and there was such a common thread; the whole day just seamed together so beautifully. I knew today was going to be special, but it was so much more than I could have ever imagined. I wish everyone could have such an empowering experience Leaving tonight with the candles lit and the full moon and there was a super bright star. I feel like I was in a dream."
"What a magical time we all had at the workshop! It has "STAYING POWER". I don't know how else to describe it."
"It was wonderful! It exposed me to many faiths I hadn't ever been exposed to. I felt welcomed and humbled to be in the presence of such awesome people."
Walking the Ojibwe Way 2009: A Weekend of Relational Experience
This weekend retreat, facilitated by Maryellen Baker, (Nio gishic goo Ikwe) and Karen De Main, (Ogamaa Ikwe), was held September 10 through 13, 2009. Participants engaged in a sensitivity gathering at the Abiinooji-Aki Cultural Healing Center on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation near Hayward, WI. It was an incredible learning opportunity open those interested in experiencing the age-old customs and spiritual enlightenment of the Ojibwe peoples Retreat members were taught about and experienced various elements of the traditional lifestyle of the Ojibwe peoples’ cultural and spiritual ways including language, storytelling, songs, drumming, dance, regalia, food and traditional healing ceremonies.
What Others Had To Say:
“I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to have this incredible adventure. It will literally change my life… I just can't stop talking about it. I will be eternally grateful to you for the experience… this was one of the highlights of my life!”
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