Others With Vision and Purpose

Terry Kinsey, the secretary for the Shem Center Board of Directors, founded the Mindful Reflection Community of Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation.  It is a lay-led organization. It is open to all members and friends of Unity Temple who are interested in exploring meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhist teachings. We do not follow one traditional Buddhist lineage but are interested in all lineages as well as Unitarian-Universalist/ secular/liberal/western/modern interpretations of Buddhism.

Tikkun uplifts Jewish, interfaith, and secular prophetic voices of hope that contribute to universal liberation. A catalyst for long-term social change we empower people and communities to heal the world by embracing revolutionary love, compassion, and empathy. We promote a caring society that protects the life support system of the planet and celebrates the Earth and the universe with awe and radical amazement.

Tikkun published “Palestinian-Jewish Solidarity Statement” on October 12, 2023. It begins…

Pope Francis has written a follow-up letter to an earlier one, “Laudato Si” regarding the environmental crisis. This one is titled, “Laudate Deum.” He addresses the people of the world, not just Catholics. Here is the opening paragraph and a link to the entire document.

“Praise God for all his creatures”. This was the message that Saint Francis of Assisi proclaimed by his life, his canticles and all his actions. In this way, he accepted the invitation of the biblical Psalms and reflected the sensitivity of Jesus before the creatures of his Father: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin…

On Wednesday, August 16th the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative and the Parliament of the World’s Religions hosted a critical discussion on Indigenous peoples, their spiritualities and the shared moral responsibility across faiths to protect the Amazon and the rights and cultures of Indigenous peoples and traditional communities at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. Moderated by Lewis Cardinal and Zaya Guarani, this assembly featured keynotes from some of the most prominent Indigenous leaders of the Amazon sharing the urgent call to protect the forest and the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples, as well as highlighting the vital role…

This historic event convened again in Chicago (1993), Cape Town (1999), Barcelona (2004), Melbourne (2009), Salt Lake City (2015), Toronto (2018) and virtually (2021). These Parliament convenings are the world’s oldest, largest, and most inclusive gatherings of the global interfaith movement. Nearly 60,000 people across the world have gathered in an enduring commitment to justice, peace, and sustainability through the lens of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. 

As a way of life grounded in taking nothing for granted, Grateful Living brings deeper peace, greater well-being, and an enhanced capacity for joy to people all around the globe. As a moment-to-moment practice, it wakes us up to the opportunities always available to us, even in the most uncertain and challenging times. Join us to explore trustworthy pathways and practices that will help you approach, frame, and learn from everything that unfolds in your life. Bring the gifts of gratitude to life, and in so doing become a force for healing in your life and in the world. 

The Breathing, Healing, Blessing Life of All: Eight Session, 12.5 hour Aramaic Prayer Audio/Video Program

Recorded in a live international webinar in the autumn of 2020, Neil teaches one line of the Aramaic Prayer (the “Lord’s Prayer”) each session, with chanting and meditation, adding new material from recent research as well as his book Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus (published 2022).

Shem Center recommends Religious News Service as an informative resource.

You can subscribe to RNS’ free email newsletters featuring the latest and best in religion coverage from around the Web, delivered directly to your email inbox.

Long-time Male Spirit member, John Brown, MD participated in a storytelling showcase co-sponsored by the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Public Library called “The Opera In You.” John’s story, “The Gift” tells of his encounter with a young boy and his mother on his second medical mission trip to Haiti. The story is one of a doctor’s encounter with his own heartfelt desire to heal in the best tradition of his profession and of a mother’s gratitude. Listen to John read his story at the San Francisco Public Library.