2nd Annual Interfaith Retreat in Naperville, Illinois
Early in the morning of Saturday, October 2nd, 2004, participants throughout Chicagoland arrived at the Science of Spirituality Center in Naperville for a day of reflection, renewal and interfaith understanding. Following a keynote address, presenters from five different faith traditions spoke on the theme, “The Experience of Divine Presence in Our Lives.” In the afternoon workshops were offered for participants to explore their own connection with the Divine.
Opening Session
“We will start with our minds and stay in our hearts,” declared Andrew Vidich, PhD, retreat facilitator and author of Love is a Secret: The Mystic Quest for Divine Love. In his opening address, Vidich related the story shared at many interfaith gatherings about Father Gregorios, an Eastern Orthodox priest who brought people together to dialogue about the crossroads where their faith traditions intersected. Unfortunately, the dialogue often focused on differences. The following year, Father Gregorios held a retreat of silent prayer and meditation, with sharing at the level of the heart, creating much more postive experience.
Keynote Address
In his keynote address, “Living in a Time of Cultural Evolution,” Jim Kenney, Executive Director of Common Ground,
asked, “How many people knew they were living through the Renaissance? How many people woke up in the morning
and asked themselves, ‘I wonder how the Renaissance is going today?’” In a similar way Kenney believes we are living
through a rare period of history of sweeping evolutionary and cultural change. “This has happened only three previous
times in human history,” remarked Kenney.
“We are now living in a time where the modern value of exclusivism, with its radical ignorance of the other, is giving way to inclusivism and pluralism,” said Kenney. The inter-religious movement, concerned with environment and universal human rights has propelled these morals to the forefront. This newfound interest in ‘intra-spirituality’ or in Kenney’s words, ‘mutual irradiation’ has begun because people understand that there is something in another’s religion that helps them comprehend some good, but unknown aspects of their own. “These incoming values thrill us and give us hope,” Kenney concluded.
Introduction to Science of Spirituality and Meditation
Following the keynote address, Kathryn Kruger PhD, introduced the mission and the host of the event, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. “Science of Spirituality is a multi-faith organization,” she said to the audience. “We are made up of individuals from every background, religious faith and tradition. We come from many different countries. What connects us is not our language, religious or social backgrounds. Instead, we are connected by the same passion and goal: through meditation on the inner Light and Sound of God, we come into the divine presence of the Creator and begin our journey back from whence we came.” Speaking about Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj's accomplishments and spiritual work, Kruger remarked, “What he shares with us is not a pretty metaphor or a dream but an actual science of inner discovery.” Following her introduction, Kruger read the Jyoti meditation instructions as given by Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj.
Panel Presentations
Following the meditation session and a break, Art Stein, PhD, panel moderator and Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island introduced the panel presentations.
Venerable Phramaha Boonshoo Sriburin, PhD, representative from the Wat Dhammaram /Vipassana Meditation
Center in Chicago, related the stages in the life story of Prince Siddhartha which culminated in his awakening
as Buddha, the Enlightened One. The prince, who had witnessed many forms of suffering in the world, failed
in his many attempts to find enlightenment. One day while fasting he heard music, and in that moment experienced
an epiphany. He realized that if the strings of an instrument are strung too loose, it is the equivalent of a ‘loose’ or sensual
lifestyle. If the strings are adjusted too tightly, it is comparable to a rigid life. If, however the instrument’s strings
are adjusted somewhere in the middle—neither too loose nor too tight—this middle way becomes
the way of spiritual wisdom and discovery. With this insight, Buddha practiced ‘divine abiding’
and radiated goodwill to all beings.
Christopher Richardson , representative from the Theosophical Society in Wheaton, Illinois, defined Theosophy as the study of divine wisdom and eternal truth that feeds all of the world’s philosophies and religions. “We are all a part of this one great truth,” said Richardson. “Theosophy asks each person to ‘live their religion’ not leave their religion. We must engage in dialogue together.”
Robert Cathey, PhD , ordained Presbyterian minister and professor at McCormick Theological Seminary, represented the Christian faith. Cathey spoke of John Calvin’s reformist teachings during the 1600s when Europe was gripped in violence. Calvin taught that the image of God, whom we honor and love, will be found in our neighbor, no matter how strange they may seem. We must repay evil with blessings, although this goes entirely against human nature, for it is in our otherness, in our rich differences—whether we be Hindu, Sikh, or Jew—that we experience the kingdom of heaven.
Hema Pokharna, PhD , Director of Journeys of Life and a Jain practitioner, defined the key Jain concept of
non-violence as visible in a person who had conquered the passions of life.
Jains engage in meditation, and the use of right mind, words and actions to achieve a peaceful life. The Jain saint,
Mahavira, was a contemporary of Buddha. He revered life, prescribed a vegetarian diet, practiced meditation
and forgiveness. Inviting the audience to take some deep breaths,
Pokharna asked retreat participants, “What have I done or said today that has made life a little less wonderful
for someone else? Take some deep breaths, radiate light to that person and let it go.”
Andrew Vidich , representing the teachings of Sant Mat, stated that all faith traditions addressed the need to overcome the ego. If we adopt a day-to-day practice of going within we will find an expression of the great mystery—that the whole world is Buddha nature. As soon as we change, what we see changes. Meditation allows us to attune from the small self to the big Self and we become the spiritual revolution we are seeking. “What religion does God belong to?” Vidich asked. He quoted Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj who said, ‘While there are different schools of thought, graduate and become a true human being.’
Following a delicious vegetarian lunch , participants chose to attend one of the following breakout sessions:
- Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero: Divine Presence & Absence in Light of Today’s World - Robert Cathey
- Study, Service and Meditation: Three Theosophical Keys to Experiencing the Divine - Christopher Richardson
- Vipassana Mediation - Venerable Phramaha Boonshoo Sriburin
- Jyoti Meditation: Gateway to the Divine - Andrew Vidich and Carlos Lozano
Following the retreat, many participants expressed their joy at participating in an event where the common goals of love, unity and peace are celebrated in the faith traditions of the world as well as in our individual lives.
For more information about Science of Spirituality interfaith activities, please email outreach@sos.org.