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Friday April 23, 1999

Conference to meditate on interfaith spiritual odysseys

JOSHUA SCHUSTER
Bulletin Staff

Bringing together a variety of religious traditions that have borrowed and learned from one another, an upcoming conference at the Marin Jewish Community Center will explore interfaith meditation.

"The Journey," a one-day conference, will be held on Sunday, May 2. Along with Jews, participants will include Native Americans, Christians, Sufis, Buddhists and Hindus. They plan to compare and contrast the spiritual journeys developed by each faith.

"It's fascinating to recognize what we do have in common," said Matt Biers-Ariel, the MJCC's educational services director. "It's important to hear from other traditions so one can make a proper choice of where to go."

Biers-Ariel said the Jewish tradition is in a position to both give and take from the other religions.

"Judaism has never been a stand-alone religion; it has always interacted with other traditions. For example, Maimonides is mostly Islamic philosophy and our Passover seders follow meals that Romans used to have. We've also had a large impact on Christianity, and today many Jews are also Buddhists."

Featured speakers at the conference include Rabbi Lavey Derby, spiritual leader of Kol Shofar in Tiburon. At the synagogue, Derby launched the Neshama Minyan, which uses prayer, meditation and chant to deepen one's relationship with the Divine.

Boston-based Lama Surya Das, affectionately called the "Deli Lama" by his Jewish mother, is a highly ranked Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader. He'll deliver the keynote address.

The Rev. Cecil Williams of San Francisco's Glide Memorial United Methodist Church plans to speak on the role community service plays in one's spiritual journey.

Biers-Ariel agreed with the need for community service. "I'd like to see more Jews get on the front lines and do more mitzvah days and look at that as a spiritual expression."

For those who rush to help the less fortunate and don't want to take time to sit still and meditate, Biers-Ariel said the conference "will help them see that meditational dancing or sacred music can also be part of their spiritual path."

Conference workshop leaders include humorist David Roche, co-director of Chochmat HaLev Avram Davis, and musician Steve Halpern. Also leading workshops are Sufi teacher Mariam Baker, Buddhist Nancy Schroeder, dancer Vishnu Tattva Das, dancer Barbara Framm and Lanny Pinola, who will talk about the Miwok and Pomo Native American cultures.

Biers-Ariel said the conference will be "hands-on," mixing lectures with practice.

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