On Friday, July 23, GPIW will host the fourth online discussion in our series entitled 'The Spiritual Future of Humanity'. This event will include the thoughts of three thought leaders from different traditions exploring the spiritual future of the human community. What are some of the trends, what are some of the positive signs, and what are some of the challenges that lie ahead from a spiritual perspective?
The conversation will be moderated by Rabbi Rami Shapiro.
Discussants Include:
Dena Merriam, Author and Founder, The Global Peace Initiative of Women
Dena Merriam began working in the inter-faith movement in the late 1990s when she served as Vice Chair of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders held at the United Nation in New York in the year 2000. She subsequently convened a meeting of women religious and spiritual leaders at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and from that gathering founded the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW)in 2002. In 2008, Ms. Merriam was one of the founding members of the Contemplative Alliance, which later became a program of GPIW. For over 40 years, Dena Merriam has been a student of Paramahansa Yogananda and a practitioner of Kriya Yoga meditation. Ms. Merriam received her Master’s Degree from Columbia University. In 2014 she received the Niwano Peace Prize for her interfaith peace efforts. She is the author of the book My Journey Through Time - A Spiritual Memoir of Life, Death and Rebirth, The Untold Story of Sita, and When the Bright Moon Rises recently released.
Juan Pablo Restrepo, Yoga & Philosophy Teacher
Juan Pablo is a lover of body movement, contemplative practices, poetry and the geography of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, a place where he spends more and more of his time, interacting and becoming intimate with the mountains and lakes that decorate the landscape. He has been one of the main organizers in a small sangha that offers free activities for the community focused on ecology and contemplative practices. He currently has plans to collaborate with a local indigenous organization called las mujeres indigenas por el buen vivir, sharing his practice of yoga and meditation with them so that they can bring it back to their lives and communities. His passion to usher in the healing power of spiritual practice and bring it into a transformative relationship with and connection to nature shines through in his teachings, academic research and various community projects.
Sraddhalu Ranade, Sri Aurobindo Author & Scholar
Sraddhalu Ranade is a scientist, educationist and scholar at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram where he grew up in the care of late Sri M. P. Pandit. He is presently involved in production of video programs based on India's cultural roots, and conducts teacher-training programmes based on a soul-centered approach to education. A multi-faceted personality he speaks inspiringly on numerous themes including Integral Education, management, self-development, Indian culture, science and spirituality, and Integral Yoga. He has been involved in various research projects including artificial intelligence based on neural networks, multimedia search and retrieval, and educational tools. Apart from his responsibilities in editing the Service Letter, publication of books, and related activities, he also devotes time to teaching at SAICE. He has travelled widely meeting interested audiences to share his insights on varied themes.
Rabbi Rami Shapiro (moderator):
Rabbi Rami Shapiro PH.D. is an award–winning author of over thirty-six books on religion and spirituality. Rami co-directs the One River Foundation, is a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine, and hosts two podcasts: Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami and Conversations on the Edge .
When? TOMORROW, Friday, July 23rd, 2021
11:00AM - 12:15PM EDT
4:00PM - 5:15PM GMT
5:00PM -6:15PM CET
8:30PM - 9:45PM IST
