Dear Reader,
How do you experience or describe the deep collective impulse toward unity and compassionate action arising in the world today? Some of us have a contemplative practice, or attend inspiring festivals and gatherings, some work through communities and groups, others in intimate relationship, or through activism, artistic expression, or all the above. The form of awakening does not matter; its keynote is love. Kosmos vibrates to that string, or better yet, that chord: awareness, sharing, harmony.
We resonate to the urgent and emergent concerns of our time and recognize that an interspiritual revolution is growing globally. More and more people consider themselves deeply spiritual, even as they turn away from organized religion and dogma. Many young people especially are looking for authentic, meaningful experiences and ways to help the Earth and her beings.
The great religious institutions of the world have important resources, infrastructure, and roles to play in the new spirituality. This transformation is also beginning to occur. That is why we offer spiritual and secular wisdom from numerous traditions. To meet the needs of our time, we need all people of good will working together.
In this edition of the newsletter, explore brand new articles from the Quarterly reflecting three spiritual paths: Buddhist, Sufi and Christian. May they brighten your way.
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The team at Kosmos hopes you have been enjoying the Fall Quarterly. To those who have subscribed, thank you!
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Several stories from Kosmos Quarterly are available for non-subscribers to enjoy. You can find three here, and more by visiting our homepage – www.kosmosjournal.org Only subscribers have access to the complete Quarterly.
Kosmos Fall Quarterly Editorial | The Four Nutriments
(image) There are four kinds of nutriments which enable living beings to grow and maintain life. What are these four nutriments? The first is edible food, the second is the food of sense impressions, the third is the food of volition, and the fourth is the food of consciousness. – The Buddha
We begin our lives as voracious consumers. If we are fortunate, we receive sustenance at the breast of our mother, who is aware that what she ingests ‘passes through’ to her baby. She tries to eat healthy food and avoid substances that might cause her baby harm. Mothers understand that what they consume impacts Life beyond their own body. This is a deep insight.
One way to think about our fall theme, All Consuming!, is to remember that all living beings consume. Plants consume water, sunlight, and nutrients in the soil and convert these into food energy that other beings require to live. Ponder that last sentence. We think of photosynthesis as a vocabulary word on a science test, rather than a true miracle. We, and all our ancestors, are the products of water, sunlight, and soil.
When the Buddha spoke of ‘edible foods’ as the first nutriment, he likely would include today all the substances we take into our bodies—alcohol, drugs, and even the air we breathe. In some places, children wear air filtration masks simply to breathe. It’s not some dystopian future; it’s happening now. We also now have genetically modified foods and synthetic foods; the very nature of food is changing, and so are its implications. Food, water, and air are entangled with politics, economy, and justice. In her keynote, un-pick-apart-able: An Ecology of Food, Nora Bateson says:
We are going to have to pull back from all forms of exploitation to protect the possibility of breakfast for the babies. In that statement is the imperative for clean oceans, for gender equality, for protection of the forests, for human rights, and to end both poverty and wealth.
READ MORE
In the Light | The 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions
Toronto, ON • November 1 – 7, 2018
We call upon peoples of faith and conscience to stand for a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world and join thousands of interfaith activists from around the world at the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions.
(image) The 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions is being hosted by the city of Toronto from November 1st through November 7th, 2018. Canada – in its distinction as home of the world’s most diverse city, will showcase its unique values, achievements, and aspirations as the 7th host of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
For its 2018 theme, the Parliament draws from movements of goodwill and cross-cultural respect that are embodied in the spirit of the interfaith movement: The Promise of Inclusion, the Power of Love: Pursuing Global Understanding, Reconciliation, and Change.
The 7th Parliament of the World’s Religions that will feature more than 500 programs and events across six major tracks:
The Women’s Track: The Dignity of Women Across the World’s Wisdom Traditions
Countering War, Hate & Violence Track: Peace and Love: Not War, Hate & Violence
Climate Action Track: Care for Our Earth, Responsibility for Our Future
The Indigenous Peoples’ Track: The Spiritual Evolution of Humanity & Healing Our Mother Earth
The Next Generations Track: Interfaith Has No Age, Youth Voices for Change
Justice: Advancing Concrete Change Toward a Just, Peaceful, and Sustainable World
Who’s Coming to the Parliament?
Expected attendance will exceed 10,000 persons of faith and conscience from 80 nations and more than 200 unique spiritual backgrounds. The Parliament offers programming for all, from scholars and activists to families and children – lectures to interactive cultural experiences. Participants can be individuals whose profession or personal interests lead them to the Parliament or delegations from the guiding institutions like states, universities, or religious organizations. Parliament presenters include students, clergy, interfaith leaders, scholars, Nobel Laureates, city mayors, spiritual luminaries, best-selling authors, globally-recognized entertainers, thought leaders, state actors, and more. LEARN MORE