There are only two things absolutely certain in life: birth and death, with death as potentially one’s greatest teacher. This presentation will focus on the deaths of loved ones and one’s own looming death as great opportunities for spiritual learning. The presenter, Karen van Vuuren, has worked for 17 years in elder care, hospice, holistic […]

We are living in a time when wise elders are of critical importance. While the aging process involves losses and challenges, these can become a pathway to profound spiritual realization. Buddhist teachings offer us practical and liberating guidelines that enable us to free ourselves from the negative attitudes of modern western culture and to reframe

The Hero’s Journey described by Joseph Campbell requires individuals to accept the call to adventure, cross the threshold of the known, find one’s mentors and allies, face foes, go through a transformation, and ultimately confront their dragons. Using film, poetry, self-reflection, and discussion this presentation will give participants the opportunity to explore their lives through

Many people have magical/mystical experiences, and a strong curiosity for the unknown. However, the unknown is simply something outside our current, limited understanding. Because of deeply conditioned beliefs, we tend to discount or explain away with rational thought all that we don’t know. Yet with a little bit of knowledge and an open mind, belief

The Baha’i Faith was founded by Baha’u’llah in 1863 and has ~7 million members. Following a brief introduction to the history and organization of the Baha’i Faith, we will explore its key teachings regarding the spiritual growth of the individual. How do Baha’is view prayer, meditation, and regular reading of Sacred Scriptures? What about the

The universal or macro level of totality is ever-expansive and eternal, encompassing all, from the cosmos to all living beings to the tiniest particle. The reality in which we find ourselves tends to be relative or subjective, a micro view of totality. This presentation takes us on a mystical journey from the macro to the

Third Thursday Spiritual Forum. April 19, 2018; 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Meditation is a time-honored practice key to developing desirable inner qualities. Confusion can arise because many types of meditation have been developed. In this presentation we first provide a broad overview from eastern, western, religious and secular perspectives, discussing their disparate goals and

Some ancient texts provide the perspective that Silence has a three-fold quality of sound to it, both seen and unseen. Yet the connotation of silence in our modern world is a moving away from sound, which can leave us feeling uncertain and at times fearful of cultivating an inner resting into Silence. This presentation will

Third Thursday Spiritual Forum.  February 15, 2018; 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Spiritual Ecology has been defined as “A developing field that joins ecology and environmentalism with the awareness of the sacred within creation. Central to Spiritual Ecology is an understanding of the interdependence and living unity of the ecosystem.” In this Forum we will

Third Thursday Spiritual Forum January 18, 2018; 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm In this presentation, Safi Kaskas treats us to mystical visions of Divine Love and the meaning of our existence arising from the Islamic faith. At the origin of that faith is the Qur’an, revealed over a period of 23 years to Prophet Muhammad.