Community Conversations
Joan Luzier, a member of the greater Golden Civilization community, shares a personal reflection about what she has learned through being a part of the movement. Citing her own personal transformations of thought, Joan’s story comes from a place of mindfulness and deep connection to her surrounding community.
Yesterday, George was joined by Hugh Byrne, whom you might recognize as a co-teacher of the Mindful Engagement monthly program he and George are leading along with Kaira Jewel Lingo.
Against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic, Hugh and George discuss the role of practitioners during this time, and how they feel called to help others to connect the inner and outer and transform these experiences and feelings into comfort, relief, peace, and ease, for example. Hugh speaks to the history of Buddhism and the connection between social action and mindfulness practice. They discuss Hugh’s work with habits and using mindfulness practice to identify triggers and social reactions, especially in relation to the political climate.
George was a guest on the Sidewalk Talk Podcast, where he was interviewed by Traci Ruble, therapist and founder of Sidewalk Talk, a global movement where community members volunteer to listen to strangers on the street. In his interview, George elaborates on the link between life planning, mindfulness, and a Golden Civilization.
On Tuesday, George was joined by Anne Carolyn Klein for a Golden Civilization Conversation.
Their deep and probing interview covers topics from Anne’s books, both translations and Buddhist scholarly works, and her inspiration to write them, Anne’s identification as a feminist, and her work at Rice University and Dawn Mountain. They speak in depth about Buddhism, covering themes of interdependence, great completeness, and freedom from bias. When it comes to their discussion of A Golden Civilization, they discuss similarities to the Golden Rule, and how this kind of change, though it can start from a small place, requires big systematic change. They close with the importance of imagination and belief that we can get there.
Mindful Engagement 2020 Instructor George Kinder is a Buddhist teacher and author. George Kinder has led multiple annual week and day-long Buddhist meditation retreats since 1988 and has small sanghas in London, Maui, and Boston. His six books each relate to mindfulness practice, including three on money, one on meditation (Transforming Suffering into Wisdom), and an illuminated manuscript of photography and poetry. This post provides resources to better understand George’s unique perspectives in advance of the first Mindful Engagement Call on February 24.
Meet Mindful Engagement 2020 Instructor, Kaira Jewel Lingo, a Dharma teacher and ordained nun of 15 years in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing. Kaira Jewel Lingo is now based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, though she will soon relocate back to the US. This post explores some of her notable works and provides resources to learn more about her background in advance of the first Mindful Engagement Webinar on February 26.
Meet Mindful Engagement 2020 Instructor Hugh Byrne, Aan expert and author in the field of mindfulness and positive habit change, Hugh Byrne’s mindfulness and meditation offerings are guided by the vision of helping people shift from autopilot toward behaviors that create greater happiness and freedom of the heart. Read more about his work in advance of the first Mindful Engagement webinar to be held February 26.
Yesterday, Shantum Seth joined George Kinder in an inspiring conversation on Facebook Live.
You can listen to their inspiring conversation at the link below. Shatum brings his background knowledge of the wisdom of the Buddha, Gandhi, and Thich Nhat Hanh to the conversation, along with a world of experience of modern culture and ancient, Western and Indian. He and George discuss the education necessary to create a Golden Civilization in a generation.
Shantum Seth is the foremost teacher and guide to the sites associated with the Buddha. A Buddhist practitioner, he is an ordained teacher (Dharmacharya) in the Zen tradition of the Vietnamese Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. He teaches in India and other countries and has been leading well acclaimed pilgrimages "In the Footsteps of the Buddha" since 1988. In the last few years he has been leading inter-faith, educational, cultural and spiritual journeys to diverse regions of India. At the same time, he has been deeply involved with social and ecological development issues for over 20 years.
You can read more about Shantum here: http://www.buddhapath.com/Shantum%20Seth.html
Rev. Wendy Bruner invited George Kinder to spend the day at her church, Peace UCC in St. Louis, which is known for being progressive and having members that are very engaged in the community. George attended the early and late morning services, where Rev. Bruner connected the concept of a Golden Civilization into her sermons. During the adult learning session that took place between the two services, George spoke about his latest book and led a brief mindfulness exercise. After the 11:00am service, members enjoyed refreshments and George facilitated a Golden Civilization Conversation with the help of his good friend Lesley Wellman. See the pictures below for the results of their conversation. George will be returning to Peace UCC on Sunday, October 20 to lead a follow-up Golden Civilization Conversation.
