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THE
LAKESHORE INTERFAITH INSTITUTE: message and information # (269)
543-3951
The
Lakeshore Interfaith Institute is an outreach program of Mother's
Trust/Mother's Place, a 501(c)3, religious order-organization
and interfaith community, dedicated to interfaith study and
dialogue as one of the many ways to promote understanding and
compassionate forgiveness between the" World's Great Wisdom
Traditions"
for the sustainability of the earth, compassionate service
and the healing of all living beings. Interfaith study and dialogue
honors the differences in World Faiths and the Common Ground
in Human Dignity and Spirit.
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MOTHERS
TRUST/MOTHERS PLACE: LAKESHORE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY
The
Founders of Mothers Trust/Mothers Place were nuns of Sri Sri
Saradeshwari Ashram established in 1895, by Sri Ramakrishna's
only woman monastic, Sannyasini Gaurima in Calcutta, India and
the Ramakrishna monks of Belur Math, established by Ramakrishna
monk, Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Calcutta, India. In both
the orders, Sri Sri Ma, the "Universal Mother" is
considered to be "Sangha Janani"- the saviour and
sustainer, the Mother of the Order- Organization.
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UNIVERSAL
TRUTH, PRINCIPLES AND TEACHINGS
Mother's
Trust/Mothers Place-Lakeshore Interfaith Community was founded
on the firm conviction that truth and holiness are not the exclusive
property of any race, culture, or faith tradition, and that
women and men of the most exalted character are to be found
in every spiritual tradition and culture. Impelled by this ideal,
the Founders were determined to create a welcoming forum, where
every spiritual tradition might share its treasures. Such sharing
we have learned, has the effect of enhancing and enriching one's
own belief's, rather than supplanting them. Interfaith study
and dialogue embraces differences and the common ground of human
dignity and spirit. Each one of us have a special responsibility.
It is not enough to believe in our own traditions. We must educate
ourselves of the beliefs of others, for the healing and nurturing
of ourselves, our families and our communities, as a way to
help build spiritual partnerships for a healthy, just, sustainable
and peaceable world.
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SUNDAY
INTERFAITH SERVICES: APR-DEC. 2008
Sundays11-
1:00pm: " Explore the Sacred Ways of the World's Great
Wisdom Traditions." Each Sunday a presenter from a particular
faith tradition comes to share with individuals of diverse faiths,
their deeply rooted practices and traditions to help each of
us to understand and deepen our own faiths, while finding common
ground for peace and compassion. From 11-12 presentations are
given on spirituality and practices of the World's Religions
and Faith Traditions. These presentations are then followed
from 12-1pm by an Interfaith Worship Service, interweaving the
prayers, songs, and meditations of the varied paths. The Coffee
House offers coffee and refreshments following each Sunday service,
when all are welcome, new and old friends to share good company
and often very good music. Most Sunday afternoons will have
quality programs from 2-4pm. Please view programs.
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REGISTER
TODAY!
9 MONTH CERTIFICATION COURSES: APR-DEC 2008 (269) 543-3951.
(To
register, click on the link above, print the form, fill out
and return to us)
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TESTIMONIALS
FROM PRESENTERS AND VISITORS:
Mother's
Trust/Mother's Place and the Lakeshore Interfaith Institute
is a remarkable and timely happending in present day American
culture. Who would expect to find, hidden amongst farm fields
and small towns of western Michigan, a vital group of people
spear heading a planetary imperative for deeper understanding
between the religions of the world. Their programs are open
and inclusive in many other ways with incisive considerations
of music, art, history and societal engagement.
These
high quality programs would give them important stature in
any of the great cities of the world and deserve to be multiplied
in as many locales as possible, especially in this time of
history. Beyond this, the residential monastics, clergy and
people sustaining this wonderful place give heart to its intellectual
and spiritual mission- through their direct, personal activities
helping people in the local area who are in distress or need.
When I think of this special place near Lake Michigan, I seem
always to get that old poetic expression, "Jewel of the
Eastern Shore." Dr. Eric Carlson, Adler Planetarium,
Chic. ILL.
As
Governor of State of Michigan, it gives me great pleasure
to congratulate the members of Mother's Trust/Mother's Place
as you gather together to celebrate the opening of your temple
to Holy Mother. I would especially like to extend a warm welcome
to each of the distinguished guests who have traveled from
afar to join in this celebration. Welcome to Michigan! This
is indeed a special occassion for your organization and for
the citizens of Allegan, as today you inaugurate the first
affiliate of the Sri Sri Saradeshwari Ashram in 1895, in the
United States. I especially would like to commend everyone
in attendance this weekend for your dedication to helping
women and children victims of abuse, alcohol and drugs. I
am certain this new temple will help countless numbers of
people lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Once again congratulations!
Please accept my best wishes and enjoyable celebration. August
8th, 1998, John Engler, Governor of the State of Michigan.
At
a time of crisis, Mother's Trust/Mother's Place and the Lakeshore
Interfaith Institute opens the door of understanding. Their
programming illuminates efforts by all religions to seek peace
and healing among themselves and the world at large. This
is a one of a kind Institute in West Michigan offering programming
to students and the public alike. Professor Russell Rhoades,
Grand Valley University.
Mother's
Trust and the Lakeshore Interfaith Institute, nestled in a
corner of Michigan, is not a likely spot for an interfaith
organization to flourish, and yet amazingly, people are drawn
to it, expressing their interest to know and learn about one
another, and there is none that promises to do a better job
than the Mother's Trust-Institute, with facilities, contacts,
and resources spread across all faiths. I look forward to
the time when the idea of the Lakeshore Institute spreads
to other neighboring states and keeps spreading.
Dr. Rohinton Rivetna, Trustee, Council of the World Parliament
of Religions.
I
am pleased to learn that Mother's Trust/Mother's Place are
engaged in the noble task of helping women and children in
despair. The opening of the temple to Holy Mother is a great
step forward in this direction and I would like to congratulate
Mother's Trust/Mother's Place on this occassion. I believe
that the Trust would expand and more and more people in other
states would be benefited by its services. May I take the
this opportunity to convey my gratitude for the invitation
and felicitate you on this occasion. July 14th, 1998,
J.C. Sharma, Consulate General of India.
The
Mother's Trust-Lakeshore Interfaith Institute provides a wealth
of programs. As Hans Kung wrote: there will be no peace in
World Religions without inter-religious dialogue. Thank God!
The Lakeshore Interfaith Institute in Ganges, Michigan is
part of such peacemaking. Father Patrick Collins.
Congratulations
and welcome to the new Interfaith Program at Mother's Trust!
I'm excited that the Ganges tradition of inter-relgious dialogue
and outreach will continue. You are joining a growing movement
of interfaith organizations around the world at a time of
significant need and opportunity!" Joel Beversluis
, North American Interfaith Network 1998.
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FACING
THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
 Although
we are moving toward the global community, we face what seems
to be insurmountable obstacles - ecological disaster, economic
injustice, on a worldwide scale and widespread violence and
warfare. To negate these forces, we must individually and collectively,
devote ourselves to building the earth as a spiritual expression,
using cooperate action, and combined resources, to awaken to
our deepest truths creating a coalition of nations. We must
recapture the unity of tribal consciousness, by seeing humanity
as a single tribe - and we must see the single tribe, as related
organically to the total cosmos. This means that the consciousness
of the 21st century will be global from two perspectives. First
from a horizontal perspective, in which cultures and religions
must meet each other on the surface of the globe, entering into
creative encounters that will produce complexified collective
consciousness. Secondly from a vertical perspective, they must
plunge their roots deep into the earth, in order to provide
a secure base for future development. We must develop a new
spirituality of the earth and of the material aspects of human
existence; for its precisely the earth that is being threatened
by ecological disaster and economic runaway destruction. This
new spirituality must be organically ecological, supported by
justice and peace. The voices of the oppressed must be heard
and heeded! The poor, women, children, racial groups and all
other minorities; these groups along with the earth itself,
can be looked upon as the prophets and teachers of the second
axial period. This emerging twofold global consciousness is
not only a creative possibility to enhance the 21st century,
it is an absolute necessity if we are to survive.
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WE THE PEOPLE OF THE GLOBAL INTERFAITH COMMUNITY
unite in responsible cooperative action to bring the wisdom
and values of our religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous
traditions to bear on the economic, environmental, and social
challenges facing our earth community today. We respect the
uniqueness of each culture and tradition, and differences of
practice and belief. We value voices that respect others, and
believe that sharing values and wisdom, can lead to act for
the good of all. We are dedicated to a higher education of spirituality
and religious pluralism, using interfaith education and dialogue,
as an expression of spiritual concern and love, to serve as
a bridge for peoples of all religions and spiritual teachings,
to reach out in understanding and communion. We practice equitable
participation of women and men, and listen and speak with respect
to deepen mutual understanding and trust. Interfaith affirms
and supports the underlying goodness of each person and supports
freedom of religion and spiritual expression, as the right of
all individuals and people, as set forth in international law.
Interfaith does not seek to blend or homogenize religions. Rather
Interfaith honors the sacredness and uniqueness of each faith
and then creates ways by which the many paths can meet on common
ground. Differences between various religions, cultures and
spiritual traditions need not divide and separate, but can instead
enrich our lives and deepen our capacity to love the spirit
in all.
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THE
INTERFAITH INSTITUTE, WHERE PEOPLE ACT FROM THEIR DEEPEST VALUES
 and
claim their right and responsibility to do extraordinary things
to serve interfaith cooperation on a local and global level.
Members and students of the Institute, working across continents,
from different religions and faith traditions are creating unprecedented
levels of global ethics rooted in spirituality, compassionate
service, education and dialogue. People all over the world are
taking many different kinds of actions to serve a common purpose;
to unite and combine resources, to awaken to our deepest truths,
to manifest love and justice among all life, in our local and
earth community. The Interfaith Institute maintains a strong
commitment to the integrity of each religion and faith tradition,
and believes that each can better remain true to itself by honoring
the truths inherent in all. We encourage individuals to deepen
their roots in their own tradition, while exploring and sharing
the wisdom and cultures of other faiths, to promote dialogue
and kinship among the diversity found in our local and earth
community today. In so doing, we nurture and develop the respect
for multicultural and interreligious understanding, educating
all people to live without fear, violence and attack on human
rights. In viewing our faiths in their deepest roots, we recapture
the unity consciousness of humanity. In this discovery, we have
formed a coalition of individuals, faith groups, organizations
and foundations, who work together to enhance enduring cooperation
and respect for global ethics and spirituality. This co-creative
work, of people of diverse religions, cultures, spiritual expressions
and indigenous traditions carry forward dreams and initiatives,
visions of collective actions for local and global service,
and give voice to collective hopes and aspirations. Inspired
by the World Parliament of Religions in 1893, followed by the
World Parliament of Religions in 1993, the dedicated members
of the Mother's Trust, Interfaith Institute launched their mission
and vision.
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MOTHER'S
TRUST WAS INSPIRED BY THE WORLD PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS 1893
"If
the Parliament of Religions has spoken of anything to the world
it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity
and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church
in the world, and that every system has produced men and women
of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence,
if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion
and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom
of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every
religion will soon be written, in spite of resistance: "Help
and not Fight", "Assimilation and not Destruction",
"Harmony and Peace and not Dissension"... ( Swami
Vivekananda). "No human life together without a world ethic
for the nations. No peace among the nations without peace among
the religions. No peace among religions without dialogue among
the religions"... ( Hans Kung)
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WORLD
PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS 1993 BEGAN THE LAKESHORE INTERFAITH
INSTITUTE
"The
Declaration of a Global Ethic" was intended to be the crowning
achievement of the Chicago, Parliament of Religions in 1993.
Such a declaration would have delighted Charles Bonney, whose
idea it was to unite all religions against irreligion; to make
the Golden Rule the basis of this union; and to present to the
world...the substantial unity of many religions in the good
deeds of the religious life. The hope was: that members
of different religions, while disagreeing on matters of belief,
might agree on moral values, has remained a conviction of those
active in various interfaith organizations. If the intention
of the Declaration is to stimulate awareness and transformation,
then attention needs to be given to the educational uses of
the document which calls out interfaith organizations to explore
the sacred wisdom of the world's great wisdom traditions. Mother's
Trust-Lakeshore Institute provides a platform and welcomes all
seekers to come to share their wealth of spirit and knowledge
to promote understanding between world faith traditions, compassion,
healing of all relations and sustainability of the earth. Interfaith
Study and Dialogue is a Bridge to Honor the Differences in World
Religions and the Common Ground in Human Dignity and Spirit
in All Faiths and in All Relations. The Trustees of Mother's
Trust have been together for 35 years.
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