Conference/Workshop: Education to Globalize the Human Mind

<body> Conference/Workshop: Education to Globalize the Human Mind  <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="75%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <h1 align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <![if !vml]><img src="Details_files/image002.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="132" height="59"><![endif]></h1> <p class=MsoHeader style='word-spacing: 0; line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0' align="center">Education to Globalize the Human Mind</p> <p class=MsoHeader align="center" style="word-spacing: 0; line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Information Package for Participants</p> <h1 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0"><a name="_Toc257960210"><font size="3"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc257960227">When and Where?</span></font></a></h1> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt'>Start Time: <span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Friday, August 20, 2010 at 7:00pm</p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt'>End Time: <span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 2:00pm</p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt'>Venue:<span style='mso-tab-count:2'>       </span><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><span lang=PT-BR style='mso-ansi-language:PT-BR'><o:p></o:p>   </span>  Conference Centre (located in Ron Eydt Village)<o:p> </o:p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt">                       University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West<o:p> </o:p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt">                       Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4C1, Canada<span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:PT-BR; mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><o:p> </span></p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960211">Description</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. (SHEN) is an organization based in <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Waterloo</st1:city> , <st1:state w:st="on"> Ontario</st1:state> , <st1:country-region w:st="on"> Canada</st1:country-region> </st1:place> . It is dedicated to the promotion, development and delivery of education in the spiritual heritage of humanity with a view to engendering global unity.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Modern science and technology has turned the world into a global village, but the human mind is still out of sync with this development. To close this gap, SHEN is proposing that an all-inclusive universal spiritual education curriculum be incorporated in the global educational systems. SHEN hopes that such an initiative will help integrate fragmented humanity into one human family living in the wider world community.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">SHEN is of the opinion that the present educational systems whether secular or religion-based have not only failed to globalize the human mind but also contributed to an exacerbation of human fragmentation and it must be modified as follows to bring humanity within the global village metaphor:</p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Peak spiritual discoveries of all prophets, sages and seers testify to one ineffable spiritual reality underlying the universe and all its beings, animate or inanimate.<o:p> </o:p> </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">This reality defines the spirituality that lies at the core of every religion (core spirituality) and is inclusive and unifying, excluding none.<o:p> </o:p> </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Spirituality is the ability to perceive this underlying reality and celebrate our differences in its light.<o:p> </o:p> </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Understanding of this reality is didactic in nature and well within the scope of today’s humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and life sciences taught with spiritual meaning and purpose.<o:p> </o:p> </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Understanding and living of our core spirituality can address the grave human and environmental crises of global proportions that humanity faces today.<o:p> </o:p> </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Fragmentation of humanity results from the historical exclusive development in isolation of cultural and linguistic communities with their particular imagery and metaphors, social and legal organizations, and political and economic aspirations.<o:p> </o:p> </span></li> </ol> <p class="MsoNormal">Education to globalize the human mind involves integration of knowledge and understanding of all disciplines whether secular or religious to clearly highlight the principle that this universe comprised of the animate and the inanimate is one indivisible whole as a result of it being the manifestation of one unseen reality which pervades it through and through.<span>  </span>In addition to the conceptual understanding, the curriculum must include contemplative and meditative theory and practices for personal assimilation, insights and discovery in order to live our spiritual reality.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Towards</span> this end, SHEN plans a series of meetings to focus on the promotion, development and delivery of the curricula with unifying objectives. This first meeting is timed to mark SHEN’s 10th anniversary year.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960212">Nature of the Spiritual Education</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">Core spirituality of religion is totally unifying. It proclaims the underlying oneness of all beings. Disciplines such as natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and humanities also affirm our underlying oneness. The post-secondary curricula for teacher education therefore, are expected to integrate multi-religious and multi-disciplinary content. All forms of knowledge that affirm unity in diversity are relevant in this context.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Intellectual concepts can teach spirituality. They cannot transform people by making them spiritual. Being spiritual requires setting one’s narrow selfishness aside for the common good. Being spiritual requires overcoming our fears, our likes and wants, our dislikes and aversions, our sense of limited identities and our feelings of isolation. When we learn and practice contemplation and meditation, we assimilate spiritual wisdom deep into our consciousness and transcend our limitations. Thus, curricula for spiritual education are both theoretical and practical in nature.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960213">The Focus</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">The mission of SHEN is to promote the thinking and findings of those enlightened beings (prophets, sages and seers), who have spent their lives studying the nature of humankind and its relationships in the universe. They are called mystics in English, although their tireless search for spiritual secrets are no more mystical than scientific pursuits. SHEN considers them as spiritual scientists.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The peak spiritual experiences of these noble exemplars comprise the core spirituality of all religions and is totally unifying. By its very nature, it is inclusive of all beings and it is meaningful to all human beings, irrespective of faith or the lack of it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In keeping with the mission of SHEN, this workshop will focus on mystics from different traditions. Reflection on their insights will set the context for consideration of a spiritual education curriculum at the post-secondary level.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960214">Recommended </a><st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> <span>Reading</span></st1:city> </st1:place> </h1> <p class="MsoNormal">Shah<span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">-Kazemi, Reza, “Paths to Transcendence According to Shankara, Ibn-Arabi, and Meister Eckhart”, World Wisdom, Bloomingdale IN, 2006.</span><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></b></p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960215">Workshop Ethics</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.spiritualeducation.org//Events/Info/Meet2010/Details.htm#_Toc257960227">Appendix A</a> presents a set of ethics for spiritual education. They also apply to the conduct of this workshop. Participants of this workshop are requested to observe them in the spirit in which they are intended.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960216">The Purpose and the Process</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">The process for this workshop is designed to maximize focus, reflection and mindful sharing of individual insights, experiences, ideas, feelings, thoughts, and values without judgment and with respect in an atmosphere of cooperation and collegiality towards possible solutions of global problems facing humanity today. In the interest of uninterrupted group focus, it is suggested that the participants live, eat and be together at the venue of the workshop during the entirety of its duration.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The participants are requested to note and remember that this workshop is not meant to be a forum for mere intellectual discourse and scholarly debate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The program Outline for the workshop as presented in <a href="http://www.spiritualeducation.org//Events/Info/Meet2010/Details.htm#_Toc257960228">Appendix B</a> and the recommended living and eating arrangements are made to underline this process.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960217">The Goals</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">We hope to:</p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal">Explore together education to develop an over-arching global human identity,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Raise awareness of the need,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Build a network of interested parties,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Contribute to mutual spiritual development, and</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Foster cooperation in related research and curriculum development.</li> </ol> <h1><a name="_Toc257960218">Who should attend?</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">This event is meaningful to everyone interested in promoting global unity through education. Come and meet others interested in education to bridge wide chasms between our hearts and minds.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960220">Benefits to participants</a></h1> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal">Understand how religions are simultaneously unifying as well as divisive,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Build a better understanding of core spirituality,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Understand the commonality of core spirituality across religions,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Explore together how the unifying core spirituality can be harnessed for better education,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Build a network of like-minded people,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Grow spiritually,</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Be inspired, and</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Make a difference by cooperating in related research and curriculum development.</li> </ol> <h1><a name="_Toc257960221">Presenters and Discussion Leaders</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">Presenters and discussion leaders are expected to send one page abstracts and full texts of their articles for peer reviews prior to the meeting. Please e-mail your intentions to present an article at your earliest convenience. There will be <u>no</u> opportunities for last minute presentations from the floor of the workshop.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although we will continue to accept abstracts until July 1, 2010, preference will be given to those received before May 31, 2010. The deadline for the acceptance of full texts of the articles is August 1, 2010.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Selected articles may also be published on our website.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960222">Organizing Committee</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">The meeting will be organized by a committee who will outline the program to be followed and e-mail it to the pre-registered participants prior to the meeting. The decisions of the organizing committee will be final and respected as such.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Please e-mail your intention to volunteer for serving on the Organizing Committee.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960223">The Arrangements and the Costs</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">All participants are expected to pay for their own travel in connection with this workshop. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The venue for the workshop is <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri;">at the Conference Centre which is located in Ron Eydt</span> Village at the south campus of the University of <st1:placename w:st="on"> Waterloo; for maps and directions click <a href="http://www.uwaterloo.ca/map/index.php" target="_blank">here</a>. In the interest of the workshop process, convenience, camaraderie and networking, all activities, meals and accommodation are scheduled at the same venue. We highly recommend that you avoid living and eating elsewhere.</st1:placename> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The room rates for basic accommodation at the <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:placename w:st="on"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri;">Conference Centre </span>are $32 per person per night with double occupancy and $45.75 for single occupancy. Taxes are additional at 13%. A limited number of suites are also available at different prices. For terms and booking your accommodation, call 1-800-565-5410 or click <a href="http://www.conferences.uwaterloo.ca/registration.html" target="_blank">here</a>. A deposit is required at the time of booking and full payment is due upon check-in. You may use Visa, Master Card or AMEX. You can check in your room anytime after 2:00pm.</st1:placename> </st1:place> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The dining hall at the <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:placename w:st="on"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri;">Conference Centre </span>is normally closed in August. They have agreed to open it for us on a guarantee of a minimum number of meals to make it financially worthwhile for them. To satisfy the guarantee obligations in a timely fashion, we suggest a pre-registration system requiring the  defrayal of the cost of food and venue rental at the time of pre-registration. SHEN being a non-profit organization, this defrayal is estimated on cost recovery basis only.</st1:placename> </st1:place> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although the participants pay the costs of accommodation, meals and venue rental, SHEN would not like to exclude anyone for lack of funds and, within its own financial constraints, will consider waiving these expenses for those who apply for this waiver.</p> <ul> <li> <p class="MsoNormal">Campus Residents: For those who reside at the campus, we have requested breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night snack for Aug 21; breakfast and lunch on Aug 22. Their pre-registration cost is Can $105. Early birds pre-registering before June 15, 2010 pay Can $75.</p> </li> <li> <p class="MsoNormal">Day Visitors: For participants from the local communities and not residing on campus, we have requested lunch and dinner for Aug 21; and lunch on Aug 22. Their pre-registration cost is Can $70. Early birds pre-registering before June 15, 2010 pay Can $50.</p> </li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal">The dining hall staff at the <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri;">Conference Centre </span>are very well experienced in catering to food sensitivities within reason, but they must know. Please <a href="mailto:SHENMeet2010@spiritualeducation.org">tell them about your particular needs</a> well ahead of time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Please note that the meal arrangements and the payment thereof are subject to change in case we are unable to meet the guarantee requirement of the <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri;">Conference Centre</span>, howsoever slim the chances of that eventuality might currently appear to be especially in view of the encouraging initial response.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Parking on campus is free for overnight  guests staying at the Conference Centre. Day guest parking is available at the Conference Centre for a nominal fee of $3.00/day in Lots S & V.  Payment can be made through the Pay & Display machine located in Lot S (don’t forget to bring your change).<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <h1>P<a name="_Toc257960224">re-registr</a>ation</h1> <p class="MsoNormal">Participants are required to pre-register. Please note that the capacity of the venue is limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">To pre-register, visit <a href="http://guestlistapp.com/events/19191" target="_blank">http://guestlistapp.com/events/19191</a> and make your payment using Visa, Master Card, AMEX, Discover or PayPal.  Please hurry and be an early bird to save. Please note that the payment to pre-register is non-refundable after July 31, 2010 and refundable before that date with the exception of a $10.00 service charge.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960225">Free Will Donation</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">SHEN is a not for profit charity registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency (Business Number 86457 9925 RR0001). To promote and encourage its work, please make a free will donation. You can make a donation as follows:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> For <st1:personname w:st="on"> Facebook</st1:personname> Members: Become a member of the cause entitled Globalizing Human Mind at <a href="http://www.causes.com/GlobalizingHumanMind" target="_blank">http://www.causes.com/GlobalizingHumanMind</a><span>  </span>and donate; or</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> Donate at <a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s82548" target="_blank">http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s82548</a>; or</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> Click this button <span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d82548">  </a><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d82548" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.spiritualeducation.org//Events/Info/Meet2010/Details_files/image003.gif" alt="Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!" v:shapes="_x0000_i1026" width="152" border="0" height="67"></a><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d82548"> </a></span><span> </span>and donate; or</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> Mail a check to: Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc., <st1:place w:st="on"> 408 Tamarack Drive, <st1:city w:st="on"> Waterloo</st1:city> , <st1:state w:st="on"> Ontario</st1:state> , <st1:postalcode w:st="on"> N2L 4G6</st1:postalcode> , <st1:country-region w:st="on"> Canada</st1:country-region> </st1:place> </p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960226"><span>Address for </span>Correspondence</a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">Please address all correspondence in connection with this workshop to the following e-mail address:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:SHENMeet2010@spiritualeducation.org">SHENMeet2010@spiritualeducation.org</a> or to the following snail mail address:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"> 408 Tamarack Drive</st1:place> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"> Waterloo</st1:city> , <st1:state w:st="on"> Ontario</st1:state> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><st1:postalcode w:st="on"> N2L 4G6</st1:postalcode> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"> Canada<b><o:p> </o:p> </b></st1:country-region> </p> <h1><o:p>  <a name="_Toc257960227">Appendix A</a><span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> - </span>Ethics in </span>Spiritual<span> Education</span></o:p> </h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span lang="EN-CA">Spiritual Education must be delivered and pur<st1:personname w:st="on"> sue</st1:personname> d ethically. It must be remembered at all times that spirituality and religion are complimentary and not in competition with each other. Religion seeks to build communities of human beings while spirituality seeks to knit all beings into one family. Spirituality seeks to highlight the universality of the essence of religion. It regards all religions as different paths of perceiving one reality.<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">It must be remembered at all times that the over-arching spiritual ethic is the ethic of our underlying oneness through the oneness of our deepest essence. Good is what makes for this oneness, and evil is what makes for separation or division.<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">The goal of building one family with mutual respect, love, understanding and rich coexistence cannot be served by shaking a seeker’s faith in his or her particular religion. We need to work on the principle that one’s personal salvation or liberation lies in the single-minded pursuit of one’s chosen religion and everyone must have the freedom of pursuing their salvation or liberation in their chosen ways. The important conclusion of spiritual endeavour is that it is senseless to bring in the element of exclusivity in one’s religion while downgrading others. This conclusion needs further elaboration because what is advocated here is not merely tolerance of other religions but mutual respect and acceptance of other religions. This can be ensured only when there is no seed of intolerance at all in the pursuit of a religion.<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">It is true that civilized secular societies have ensured that there are constitutional mechanisms in place where there is no scope for religious intolerance to raise its ugly head. But our objectives go one step further. What is advocated is true spirituality that transcends all differences, including religious differences, and where there is no room for intolerance of any kind. According to Meister Eckhart, “Everything pertaining to the spiritual realm is inclusive and unitive by nature, whilst matter is by nature exclusive and implies separative particularity; the more spiritual a thing is, the more inclusive and thus universal it is, and the more material a thing is, the more it excludes other things by the very rigidity of its specific contours.”<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">It is our position that spirituality that lies at the core of every religion is “inclusive and unitive by nature” and we therefore present the following ethical criteria for teaching such spirituality:<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span lang="EN-CA">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> <span lang="EN-CA">The over-arching ethic is the ethic of underlying oneness of all. Good is what makes for this oneness, and evil is what makes for separation or division.<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> All educational material, lectures, seminars, practices, etc. will be equally applicable to the whole humanity, irrespective of religion, belief, faith, race, gender and culture, and without discrimination of any kind whatsoever.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> All educational material, lectures, seminars, practices, etc. will use extreme caution and sensitivity and refrain from <span lang="EN-GB">affirming, diminishing, or denying any </span>religion, belief, faith, race, gender and culture explicitly or implicitly</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> All educational material, lectures, seminars, practices, etc. will acknowledge due academic credits<span lang="EN-GB"> to ideas and concepts used from any </span>religion, belief, faith, race, gender and culture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> The approach used to research, develop and deliver the curricula shall be based strictly on academic considerations.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> There shall be absolutely n<span lang="EN-GB">o PREACHING and no PROSELYTISING.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> All educational material, lectures, seminars, practices, etc. will promote tolerance, understanding, love, and respect for all human beings without any discrimination.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> The educational material will be complementary to the existing educational systems.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>9.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">      </span></span> The educational material will incorporate totality of human experience with a multi-disciplinary approach.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>10.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">  </span></span> All educational material, lectures, seminars, practices, etc. will be mindful of the individual need and right to the exclusive practice of one’s chosen religion with undivided devotion and surrender in following the path of one’s personal salvation or liberation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>11.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">  </span></span> The educational material will promote the use of natural and environmental resources with respect and responsibility.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span>12.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">  </span></span> The educational material will promote positive personal involvement in improving human condition through oneness, education, nonviolence, understanding, respect, love and service.</p> <h1><a name="_Toc257960228">Appendix B -</a><span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span>Program Outline</span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Friday Aug 20, 2010</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">Please note that participants are responsible for their evening meal on Aug 20.  </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">However, coffee, tea and snacks will be made available at 5:30pm.</span><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">4:30pm – 6:30pm <span>                     </span>Registration, Meet and Greet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">6:30pm </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"> 7:00pm                     Group Meditation in Silence</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span>          </span><o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:00pm – 7:15m<span>                        </span>Welcome Address<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:15pm – 7:30m<span>                        </span>Introduction to People and Facilities<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:30m – 8:30pm<span>                        </span>SHEN: Its Story and its Post-Secondary Curriculum Proposal<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">8:30m – 9:00pm<span>                        </span>Q & A<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Saturday Aug 21, 2010<o:p> </o:p> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:00am </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"> 7:30am                     Group Meditation in Silence</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:30am </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">– 8:30am                      Breakfast</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Morning Session - Session #1 </span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">8:30am – 9:30am<span>                       </span>Keynote 1<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">9:30am – 10:00am<span>                     Networking </span>Break<span>                                                    </span><o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">10</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">:00am –10:45am<span>                    Concurrent Presentations in </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">S</span>mall Groups<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">10:45am – 10:55am<span>                   </span>Break<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">10:55am – 11:15am<span>                   </span>Small Group reflection, contemplation and meditation</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"> in Silence</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">11:15am – 12:15pm<span>                  </span>Interactive learning by mindful listening<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">12:15noon – 1:30pm<span>                </span>Lunch<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Afternoon Session - Session #2 </span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">1:30pm – 2:30pm<span>                       </span>Keynote 2<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">2</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">:30pm – 3:00pm<span>                       Networking </span>Break<span>                                                    </span><o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">3</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">:00pm –3:45pm<span>                        Concurrent Presentations in </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">S</span>mall Groups<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">3:45pm – 3:55pm<span>                       </span>Break<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">3:55pm – 4:15pm<span>                       </span>Small Group reflection, contemplation and meditation</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"> in Silence</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">4:15pm – 5:15pm<span>                       </span>Interactive learning by mindful listening</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">5:30pm – 7:00pm<span>                       </span>Dinner<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Evening Session – Plenary Session and Movie Presentations<o:p> </o:p> </span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:00pm – 7:30pm<span>                       </span>Plenary Session - Focus questions and inputs from the day sessions <o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:30pm – 8:10pm<span>                       </span>The Imam and the Pastor (40 Minutes)<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">8:10pm – 8:20pm<span>                       </span>Break<span>                                                    </span><o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">8:20pm – 9:15pm<span>                       </span>Doing Time, Doing Vipassana (52 Minutes)<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"><o:p>  </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sunday Aug 22, 20108</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:00am </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"> 7:30am                     Group Meditation in Silence</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">7:30am </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">– 8:30am                      Breakfast</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Morning Session - Session #3<o:p> </o:p> </span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">8:30am – 9:30am<span>                       </span>Keynote 3<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">9:30am – 10:00am<span>                     Networking </span>Break<span>                                                    </span><o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">10</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">:00am –10:45am<span>                    Concurrent Presentations in </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">S</span>mall Groups<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">10:45am – 10:55am<span>                   </span>Break<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">10:55am – 11:15am<span>                   </span>Small Group reflection, contemplation and meditation</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt"> in Silence</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">11:15am – 12:15pm<span>                  </span>Interactive learning by mindful listening</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Plenary Session<o:p> </o:p> </span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">12:15pm – 12:40pm<span>                  </span>Focus questions and inputs from the morning session<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">12:40pm – 1:00pm<span>                     </span>Concluding Address<o:p> </o:p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="Style11pt">1:00pm – 2:00pm<span>                       </span>Evaluation, Lunch and </span><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Au Revoirs<o:p> </o:p> </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>  </o:p> </p> <div class=Section1> <div align=center> <table class=MsoTableGrid border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=576 style='width:6.0in;border-collapse:collapse;mso-yfti-tbllook:480;mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <h1 align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <![if !vml]><img src="Details_files/image002.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="132" height="59"><![endif]></h1> <p class=MsoHeader style='word-spacing: 0; line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0' align="center">Education to Globalize the Human Mind</p> <p class=MsoHeader align="center" style="word-spacing: 0; line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Information Package for Participants</p> <h1 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0"><a name="_Toc257960210"><font size="3"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc257960227">When and Where?</span></font></a></h1> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt'>Start Time: <span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Friday, August 20, 2010 at 7:00pm</p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt'>End Time: <span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 2:00pm</p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt'>Venue:<span style='mso-tab-count:2'>       </span><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><span lang=PT-BR style='mso-ansi-language:PT-BR'><o:p></o:p>   </span>  Conference Centre (located in Ron Eydt Village)<o:p> </o:p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt">                       University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West<o:p> </o:p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: -0.0000pt">                       Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4C1, Canada<span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:PT-BR; mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><o:p> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri">I</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>n addition to the opening session on Friday Aug 20, the event contains three working sessions each beginning with a keynote address to all participants to be followed by a number of concurrent presentations to small groups. This will conclude with a period of reflection and </span><span style='font-family:Calibri'>mindful sharing of individual ideas, insights, experiences, feelings, and values. Doing so without judgment and with mutual respect, we can work collectively towards possible solutions of global problems facing humanity today.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:Calibri'>Following is a detail of the three keynote addresses:</span><span style='font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri; background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua'><o:p></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri; background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua'></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri; background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua'>Keynote #1: Shankara’s Non-Duality, Saturday Aug 21 at 8:30am</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family: Calibri'><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:2'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Satya Syngal</span></b></st1:PersonName><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>Satya Syngal</span></st1:PersonName><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'> is a professional engineer. His working career was primarily in industrial management. His professional career required him to delve into all aspects of business.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Despite his full time involvement in the secular world, Satya felt a deep dissatisfaction and was always in search of something beyond the material domain. He found that ethics were generally overlooked in the corporate pursuits of wealth and pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><![if !vml]><img width=155 height=198 src="Keynotes_files/image004.gif" align=right v:shapes="_x0000_s1041 _x0000_s1042 _x0000_s1043"><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>After retiring from industry, he got fully focused on the higher goals of life in general and on <i>Advaita</i> (non-duality) in particular of which he pur<st1:PersonName w:st="on">sue</st1:PersonName>d an extensive and deep study extending over a ten year period. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Although the concept of non-duality, being <i>vedic</i> in origin, is thousands of years old, it was presented systematically by Shankara in the 8<sup>th</sup> century. Satya will present to us a summary of his study. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>According</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> to Shankara’s non-duality, each and every one of us is none other than Brahman, the Absolute ultimate reality and we humans can realize this non-duality in practice in our lives with the help of the scripture, reason, experience and spiritual practices. Human search for a meaning in life is reviewed in the light of this philosophy. This search, though initially intellectual, becomes a part of one’s nature. “Brahman is all there is” is a far reaching<i> vedantic</i> conclusion, extremely meaningful in the emergence of one global family that the world needs today.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:3'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri; background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua'>Keynote #2: Henri Nouwen & the Mysticism of the Everyday, Saturday Aug 21 at 1:30pm</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:4'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><![if !vml]><img width=162 height=259 src="Keynotes_files/image006.gif" align=right hspace=12 alt="Text Box: 
Dr. Michael Higgins
" v:shapes="_x0000_s1044"><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-language:HI;mso-no-proof: yes'>Dr.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'> Michael Higgins<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Michael Higgins is currently Senior Executive in Residence at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Sacred</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Heart</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:State></st1:place>. He is past president of <st1:City w:st="on">St. Jerome</st1:City>’s University in the <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:PlaceName> in <st1:State w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State> and of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">St. Thomas</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New Brunswick</st1:State></st1:place>.  With effect from July 1 of this year, Dr. Higgins will assume the title of Vice-President, University Mission and Catholic Identity at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Sacred</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Heart</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>A prolific and distinguished writer, Professor Higgins is the author of several books, including the award-winning <i>Heretic Blood: The Spiritual Geography of Thomas Merton</i>;<i> Stalking the Holy: The Pursuit of Saint-Making; </i>and co-author of<i> The Jesuit Mystique</i> and<i> Power and Peril: The Catholic Church at the Crossroads.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Higgins has also been a columnist, a radio documentary maker, and a television commentator.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The recipient of many awards and honors, he is currently preparing a radio documentary series on Henri Nouwen and teaching a course on Nouwen at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Sacred</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Heart</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. His next major project will be the biography of Henri J.M. Nouwen, the only biographical account of Nouwen’s life and works to be authorized by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Higgins will present to us Henri Nouwen and the Mysticism of the Everyday in which he will examine Nouwen’s key spiritual notions of woundedeness, compassion, and life signs. According to Dr. Higgins, “Henri Nouwen offers all of us a route to meaningful integration in a world of conflicting visions, ideologies, and philosophies.”</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:5'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri; background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua'>Keynote #3: The <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Summit</st1:place></st1:City> of Spiritual Realization in Islam, Sunday Aug 22 at 8:30am</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:6;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'> <td width=576 valign=top style='width:6.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'> <p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Muhammad H. Faghfoory<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><![if !vml]><img width=163 height=256 src="Keynotes_files/image008.gif" align=right hspace=12 alt="Text Box: 
Dr. Muhammad Faghfoory
" v:shapes="_x0000_s1046"><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Muhammad H. Faghfoory is professorial lecturer of religion in Islamic Studies at the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">George</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Washington</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place> He has taught at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Tehran</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. He has been a visiting scholar at the <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">California</st1:PlaceName> at <st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City>, Islamic Manuscripts Specialist at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Princeton</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>, and at the Library of Congress, and an adjunct professor of Middle East History at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Mary-Washington</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Fredericksburg</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Virginia</st1:State></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Faghfoory has written, translated, and edited nine books, numerous book chapters, articles, and book reviews. His works have been published by the State University of New York Press, University Press of America, Oxford Encyclopedia of the Muslim World, International Journal of Middle East Studies, the Middle East Journal, and the International Journal of Shi‘ite Studies. He has lectured extensively and participated in interfaith dialogue organized by American media. Currently, he is writing a monograph on “War and Peace in Shi‘ite Islam,” sponsored by Peace Research Institute of Norway to be published by Oxford University Press in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style='margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;page-break-before:always'><span style='font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style='margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;page-break-before:always'><span style='font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>Dr. Faghfoory will present a talk on the summit of spiritual realization in Islam. In the domain of form in Islam, the <st1:place w:st="on"><i>Shari</i></st1:place><i>‘ah</i> (Islamic law) regulates human behavior, defines human relations with God, provides a framework for duties of a Muslim and teaches him rituals and prayers. As in other religions, majority of people are content with this type of relationship with God.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style='margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>There are however, some whose soul seeks more. They are overtaken by divine love and seek a special kind of relation with the divine. In Islam such quest finds expression in Sufism. It seeks direct perception of the Truth and knowledge of God leading to a realization that we are nothing before Him. He is all there is.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style='margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri'>The purpose of this lecture is to examine some aspects this journey towards God that removes all veils that separate us from Him and bring us into union with Him, for “<i>We come from God and to Him we shall return</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div> <p> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div>  </body>