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The Brahma Kumaris (BK) and The Pachamama Alliance collaboratively presented the Awakening the Dreamer Workshop at Anubhuti Meditation and Retreat Center in Novato, California in late July, the latest in our exciting global partnership.
This joint venture was delivered for the first time in the USA to engage members of the public in some of the urgent and necessary questions of this age: Where are we? How did we get here? What is possible now? Where do we go from here?
Collaborating to Create a New Offering
The Workshop is based on the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium developed by The Pachamama Alliance, and integrates Brahma Kumaris meditations, the BK Earth Care Workshop, and a BK video on awareness.
Factual and powerful documentaries are interwoven with inspiring images, group sharing, creative meditations, and thought-provoking exercises. Participants are encouraged to examine the environmental, social, and spiritual condition of humanity, explore the root causes of our modern malaise, and generate alternative solutions for a better future.
Workshop Participants Deeply Moved
Jon Symes, Alliances and International Program Director of The Pachamama Alliance; Gordan Lawrence, BK Green Team Representative, USA; and Sister Elizabeth Padilla, Program Director of Anubhuti Retreat Center, co-facilitated the workshop. Sister Chandru, USA West Coast Director of BKWSO, opened the event with words of blessings for the partnership and the workshop.
The event was well attended by sixty-seven participants of diverse backgrounds. They were deeply moved by the workshop and expressed real enthusiasm to play a role in creating a better world:
- “Rather than shutting out information because of feeling overwhelmed, I can process from a different place and be more empowered to act. This workshop is a sign of the shift that is happening.”
- “Incredibly informative, positively encouraging, and affirmative. One of the things that impacted me the most was the shift in the everyday attitude I felt – I did not feel the separateness after looking into the eyes of a stranger for over a minute.”
- “What a heartfelt experience, well presented, very meaningful, inspiring. Made me really want to get out there and do my part. You are the best ... I feel blessed and grateful! Thank you for being.”
- “Very good, very positive, making the emotion connection – good aha! The enthusiasm of the presenters and gazing into another’s eyes exercise were favorite and effective parts.”
Giving Birth to a New Global Awareness
BK Centers in nine countries have presented the Awakening the Dreamer Workshop thus far. The aim is to have as many BK Centers as possible do a workshop by 12/12/2012 as part of the effort to give birth to a new global awareness for a socially just, spiritually fulfilling and environmentally sustainable world.
Jon Symes and his wife, Sand, will be attending the Environmental Group retreat in Madhuban, India on October 1, 2012. Jon will meet with other environmentalists and Brahma Kumaris leaders from around the world.
Find a Center and Attend a Workshop
The Brahma Kumaris is committed to offering the Awakening the Dreamer Workshop in every BK Center worldwide. Visit their website to find a center near you.
