Videos

We hold conversations with spiritual teachers about the deeper causes of current events. Hosted by Dena Merriam and Lama Palden Drolma

In this episode Dena and Robert ask how can contemplatives respond to what is happening in the world when we are all continually bombarded by energies of anger, fear, and hatred? What is going on at this time? Is it a spiritual crisis we are facing and if so, what is the root cause? They talk about the shift in consciousness that is needed if we are to truly see systemic and lasting changes in our society.

This film shares the highlights of a gathering of young leaders.

A conversation with Judy Lief, Buddhist teacher on ways we can stand rooted and strong during times of challenge. Judy is interviewed by Juan Pablo Restrepo, a student of Buddhist philosophy and ecology and a teacher of acro yoga. This is part of a series of talks by contemplative leaders in the GPIW global community.

A Conversation with: Daniel Christian Wahl, Mirian Vilela, Daniel Abreu Mejia

This event is part of a year-long series of talks to explore new ideas and a regenerative approach to livelihoods that heal the heart, the community, and the planet. 

An Exploration with Charles Eisenstein, author and speaker and Shashank Kalra and Vibhuti Aggarwal of the India Youth Alliance. As a human society we have reached the limits of our current extractive economic model - where livelihoods are only going to further harm people and life on the planet.

In this enlightening conversation, Swamini Svatmavidyananda and Dena Merriam share their insight on how we can approach the last year and a half from a Vedic perspective.

GPIW continues our series of online discussions on the Spiritual Future of Humanity. In this conversation, we continue to deepen our exploration of where religion and spirituality fit into notions of scientific progress and advancement. We discuss the opportunities that exist for religious groups and spiritual communities to come together to guide this progress.

In this presentation (held in both English and Italian), viewers are introduced to the deeper meaning that the Divine Feminine evokes. We start with a brief historical synthesis of the “Ancestral Feminine”, followed by a synthesis of ancient symbols which can show us how our ancestors intuitively understood the importance of the Feminine qualities manifested in Nature.

In November, GPIW hosted a three-day Inner Dimensions of Climate Change meeting. The keynote speeches from Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Vandana Shiva, and Manish Jain are shared in this video.

In March of 2020, GPIW convened a small think tank of spiritual leaders at the Govardhan Eco Village in Maharashtra, India to discuss Hinduism and its relevance today - as Hinduism is being conflated with political ideologies, many are missing the deeper essence of the beautiful spiritual tradition - topics such as unity, overcoming duality, and living in harmony with Mother Earth.

In March, GPIW hosted a small think tank at the Govardhan Eco Village in Maharashtra, India, on Hindu Dharma, Identity and its role in Global awakening.

In this clip, Rachit Sharma, a delegate who works with the Indian Youth Alliance in Delhi, speaks at the on how he found his God by connecting deeply to his inner self and finding beauty in this inner connection. He speaks about how self-realisation is something many youth in India need, and how we can work together to achieve it.

GPIW recently had the pleasure of hosting a webinar which featured a Zen meditation led by Ricardo Toledo of Argentina. The event was introduced by young spiritual ecologist, Daniel Abreu of the Dominican Republic. The meditation event was hosted on Zoom and was entirely in Spanish! Enjoy!

Lama Palden Drolma, is the founder and Senior Lama of the Sukhasiddhi Foundation and author of Love on Every Breath.

In this 60 minute audio recording, Lama Palden gently guides listeners through a heart-centered meditation and visualization for loving-kindness. We invite you to partake in this powerful Tibetan meditation that traces its history back one thousand years.

During the last declining Treta Yuga, several thousand years b.c.e., Ram, Sita and Ram’s brother Lakshman traveled south from their kingdom in northern India through wild jungles, protecting the sages and hermitages, and ridding the area of the cannibal tribes that were creating havoc across the region.

There are subliminal messages we receive from society which we often don't question - such as the notion that we need to dominate, be the best, or get a certain type of education or certain job.

Young ecologists from the Middle East / MENA meet on the beautiful island of Cyprus to explore the ecological crisis from a spiritual perspective. How do we create lasting solutions based in a new relationship with love and reverence for the natural world. Ceremony, song, stories bring out deep feelings for the Earth.

A group of young farmers from the New York City and surrounding area re-convened in Manhattan for a follow-up conversation on food justice. Charles Eisenstein was visiting New York City and kindly dropped by to speak to the group about climate change and how the narrative needs to be changed to one of 'love'.

Lakota leader, Tiokasin Ghosthorse spoke to a group of spiritual teachers and young environmentalists in Bonn, Germany during COP23. He told a wonderful story of the wild raccoon and how native peoples learned from them economics, the deeper meaning of the gift economy. A 'wild' raccoon means one with spirit.

This film recounts a meeting of young ecologists who met in Bangkok, Thailand to explore the deeper dimensions of the ecological crisis and what are the inner resources needed by activists and those on the front lines of the environmental movement. It also looked to the deeper causes of the crisis humanity now finds itself in. Deep thinkers and people of wisdom offer their perspectives in this short and uplifting film.

A group of young ecologists and spiritual teachers meet in Bonn during the UN Climate Change Summit to look at the ethical, moral and spiritual dimensions of the climate and ecological crisis. What we are doing to the Earth is more than an external event, it is a reflection of a deeper spiritual crisis and must be addressed from this level as well.

If we knew the reality of interconnection and interdependence, we would not treat others as separate from ourselves, we would not treat the natural world as apart from ourselves. We would not have developed religious, social and economic systems that divide and polarize people into us and them. We would know that each of us is part of a universal whole, each is a microcosm containing the full beauty of the macrocosm - we are reflections of a grander totality.

Panel discussion with Rev. Diane Berke, Sensei Greg Snyder, Pastor Lawrence Jennings, Dr. Serene Jones and Jana Long on the theme of awakening compassion to restore wholeness to our society.

Young ecologists on the front lines of environmental work around the globe explore what it means to work for the Earth from a deeper place of understanding that Earth is alive and we are all interconnected.

Buddhist and Hindu masters gathering along the banks of the Holy Ganga River in India to talk about our responsibility in caring for the Earth, for each other. This moving film captures poignant statements from the heart on how we awaken to the true meaning of Dharma and how to embrace this way of living in each moment upon this Earth.

In 2016 The Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) launched a series of global dialogues with emerging young people working in the environmental field. We partnered with Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association (DDMBA) and the Earth Charter International to help young people look at the climate crisis from a different perspective, not just listen to statistics.

The Inner Dimensions of Climate Change is a series of global dialogues with young ecologists organized by Global Peace Initiative of Women http://www.gpiw.org/ and Earth Charter International with support from Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association.

Tiokasin Ghosthorse speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative of Women at COP21 in Paris.

Shifu Zarko Andricevic speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative of Women at COP21 in Paris.

Judith Lief speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative of Women at COP21 in Paris.

Michael Holleran speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative of Women at COP21 in Paris.

Sraddhalu Ranade speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative of Women at COP21 in Paris.

Angela Fischer speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative for Women at COP21 in Paris.

Angela Fischer speaking as part of the Global Peace Initiative for Women at COP21 in Paris.

‘TECHNOLOGY, CONSCIOUSNESS and the FUTURE’ brought together mystics, contemplatives and thought leaders with leaders in technology from Silicon Valley. The idea was to better understand how innovation, when conceived from a place aligned with love and the greater spiritual whole, could generate technologies that have positive, life-serving benefit to the human community and the Earth.

In November 2014, the Contemplative Alliance and the Sophia Institute of Charleston, SC partnered to organize a community roundtable on the theme Awakening the Wisdom of the Heart: Protecting and Caring for Earth’s Community of Life. Joined by faith and spiritual leaders, ecological advocates and others based in the Charleston area, the group convened for two days at the Lance Hall of the historic Circular Congregational Church in downtown Charleston.

This film was created by GPIW and the Contemplative Alliance at "Awakening the Wisdom of the Heart" dialogue in partnership with Naropa University in Boulder Colorado, April 2014.

Film by Kartikey Shiva

“Today GNH has come to mean so many things to so many people, but to me it signifies simply—development with values. Thus for my nation today GNH is the bridge between the fundamental values of kindness, equality and humanity, and the necessary pursuit of economic growth. GNH acts as our national Conscience guiding us towards making wise decisions for a better future.” – His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Through this slide show witness the many faces of men and women from around the world who have helped to weave the fabric of the Global Peace Initiative of Women since our first meeting at the United Nations in Geneva in 2002. Each of the individuals included here (and many we could not include) are powerful forces of love and transformation in this world and for our human family.

Gathering Spiritual Voices Of America - to Deepen our Knowing of Oneness and Our Compassion as a Nation. A National Reflection with America's Religious and Spiritual Leaders was held in Aspen, Colorado between Nov 7-9, 2008.

Making Way For the Feminine - A Global Reflection with Leaders from Religion, Government and Civil Society. The Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) organized a global reflection on working toward a new vision of leadership based on feminine principles. Is it perhaps not time to liberate the feminine qualities so that we can truly guide the world in a different direction? Thank you Gurumaa for the inspiring music.

Climate change poses an unprecedented challenge and opportunity for the human community. Much will depend on how we respond over the next few years. What is perhaps most greatly needed is the guidance of our spiritual traditions, the wisdom and the love that comes from deep prayer and contemplative practice.

The Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) organized a strong gathering of spiritual leaders from across the world in support of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change COP15 that took place in Copenhagen in December of 2009.

The Global Peace Initiative of Women brought together women religious and spiritual leaders to to explore how they could contribute to reconciliation and healing in areas of conflict and tension. Held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva between Oct 6-9 2002, this meeting brought together over 600 women from over 70 countries - thus was born the Global Peace Initiative of Women.