| Description: | What would Buddha Buy? What Would Gandhi Globalize? … and Why Should You Care?
Please join Metta Center for Nonviolence Education, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, CharityFocus, and Global Academy, as we welcome Sri Lankan nonviolent activist A.T. Ariyaratne to the East Bay. We are honored to host "Dr. Ari" this coming Tuesday, October 13, at 7:30PM, when he will join social-spiritual entrepreneur Walter Link and Gandhian scholar Michael Nagler for an evening of dialogue on economics, spirituality, and transformative social action.
Gautama Buddha and Gandhi were not economists, of course; but they were practical masters whose examples of skillful action can serve as great inspiration for those of us wanting to make smart choices -- and to maintain balance in our personal and social relationships. In this speaker-audience dialogue, the speakers will present their current work on the state of the modern economy, and articulate ways we can tap in to the wisdom of our inner selves, as did Buddha and Gandhi, to find answers to our most pressing economic and social problems.
Together, we will explore ways to draw upon Buddhist and Gandhian stories and wisdom, as we begin the return from our current economy of wants to an economy of human needs. This will be a spirited conversation of benefit to speakers and listeners alike, and audience participation is encouraged!
The Speakers
 Known as the "living Gandhi," recipient of many international awards and nominee for the Nobel Peace prize, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne has changed the course of Sri Lanka's history and shined light on a nonviolent future for his country. His Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is the largest people's organization in Sri Lanka. Yet if you asked him to describe himself, he would simply say, "Tell them I am no one in particular."
In the spirit of Martin Luther King, Dr. Ariyaratne has led peace marches and meditations with millions of followers. In the mold of Mahatma Gandhi, he has quieted angry masses through his personal example. Like Jimmy Carter, he has successfully mediated intense conflicts and helped build hundreds of homes. Like the Dalai Lama and the world's greatest spiritual leaders, he has an impressive ability to rally ordinary citizens to see the spiritual wisdom of looking beyond their own needs to serve others.
 Walter Link chairs the Global Academy and the Global Leadership Network. An experienced social and business entrepreneur, he has co-founded and co-led companies, civil society and educational organizations; helped to pioneer the movement for corporate social and environmental responsibility in Europe and the Americas; and co-created the first fully-accredited MBA in Sustainable Management in the US. He is the co-author of Leadership is Global – Co-creating a More Humane and Sustainable World and presently is writing a book about Buddhist Economics with Dr. Ariyaratne. Walter consults, coaches and facilitates leadership development programs internationally, integrating his hands-on leadership experience with his practice as a teacher of the Diamond Approach, of Buddhist and other psychospiritual practices.
 Michael Nagler is Professor emeritus of Classics and Comparative Literature at UC, Berkeley, where he co-founded the Peace and Conflict Studies Program. Among other awards, he received the Jamnalal Bajaj International Award for “Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India” in 2007, joining other distinguished contributors to nonviolence such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and peace scholar and activist Johan Galtung in receiving this honor. He is the author of The Search for a Nonviolent Future and Our Spiritual Crisis: Recovering Human Wisdom in a Time of Violence. He has consulted for the U.S. Institute of Peace and many other organizations, and is President of the Metta Center for Nonviolence Education. Michael has worked on nonviolent intervention since the 1970’s and served on the Interim Steering Committee of the Nonviolent Peaceforce.
Please RSVP with your email below and you'll be emailed the details to the Berkeley venue. There is no cost to attend, but due to limited space, we will only be able to accomodate RSVP'd guests. |
