CyberGroup Discussion - Spiritual Innovators

Six Lives - Links to Pages

	20% of the Spiritual Innovators are characterized by their Global Village outlook. Their spirituality took them from the place they were born in and opened their view to the world. Their new perspectives changed their lives and ours. These 6 people then are a microcosm of this first aspect of spirit - that we become aware of our membership in and obligation to the human family.
	Chögyam Trungpa was born in Tibet and died in Halifax. His contribution was to most successfully introduce Buddhist concepts to the west. This he did by a combination of modern message and ancient meditation. His Shambala Centres now number 165 and are a source of learning for many.
	Desmond Tutu. Before 1990, Archbishop Tutu's vigorous advocacy of social justice made him a figure of controversy. Today he is seen more as an elder statesman with a major role to play in reconciliation, and as a leading moral voice.
	The Dalai Lama An inspiration of his from the 8th century Buddhist saint Shantideva: For as long as space endures, And for as long as living beings remain, Until then may I too abide, To dispel the misery of the world.
	Hans Küng, perhaps the world's best known living theologian, has translated controversy into an extraordinary biography of world engagement and positive contribution to human affairs. Küng has moved well beyond ... theology to apply his well trained analytical talents to reflect on vital arenas of human productivity including politics, economics, and international relations.
	Joseph Campbell was a scholar and author. His study of comparative mythology showed that wherever mankind has developed, the same basic ideas, the same search for answers to the beginnings of things - creation of the world and of people - appeared ... and these myths are a valuable gift to mankind and should be understood for what they are.
	Seyyed Hossein Nasr is one of the most important and foremost scholars of Islamic, Religious and Comparative Studies in the world today. Author of over fifty books and five hundred articles. Professor Nasr is a well known and highly respected intellectual figure both in the West and the Islamic world.

Discussion Highlights:

If we were a hundred years earlier, few of these things would likely have happened. There are many things that have made the soil fertile for these teachers to plant in.
There is a general disaffection in the west with Christianity: with a first wave from the Enlightenment and a second wave from World War II.
Christianity has an element of arrogance to it - a sense of being the only truth.
There is a sense that we "just don't get it". This era of inter-spirituality offers a sort of wake-up call.
An awareness is growing that Christianity like other religions has myth embedded in it also. There is a growing distinction between the "Jesus of History" and the "Jesus of Faith".
As each tradition reconnects to its truth, passion is reignited.
Those from the east are a kind of "missionary" bringing to the west the culture and perspective of the east in a manner not dissimilar to the earlier "missionary" movement of west to east.
Eastern Voices have had to translate their culture and religious message. This has resulted in it being distilled to a new essence and clarity.
is leading to a new tolerance and understanding.
One the one hand there seems a new chaos of spirituality. On the other hand, one becomes more aware of what is held in common.
People the world over have similar myths and morals and family systems.

Meeting closed with a reading by Nancy of the Golden Rule in 4 other traditions.

	Clicking the icon left will activate the e-mail on your machine and direct your comments to us. Comments are welcome and will be posted with usual editorial courtesies.
EMAIL