Do we, as spiritually-oriented people, have a role to play in situations of conflict? Can the spiritual dimension of our humanity help move us closer toward peace? Join Ghassan Manasra, an ordained Sheikh in the Quadiri Sufi Order, as he shares his 38 years of interfaith peacemaking in the Holy Land and around the world. He is International Director of the Abrahamic Reunion whose mission it is to build sustainable peace with diverse communities in the Holy Land. As a mystic, Ghassan sees the unity of all things as manifestations of an absolute or ground of being. He recently led a Prayer Vigil for Peace during this calamitous time in the Middle East. On day 41 he said, “I think this is our path all the time, to shine, to be here, to be together. As the great 13th century philosopher Ibn Arabi said, “You must rise every moment as the sun because you are the real sun.”

About conflict, Sheikh Ghassan tells this story.  “A Sufi sheikh was walking in the desert with one of his disciples.  The disciple was talking at great length about a dispute he was having with a fellow disciple.”  The two were not at peace with each other at all.  The sheikh turned to his student with great love and asked, “‘My son, do you wish to hear the truth or that which is higher than the truth?’  The disciple was amazed that there could be anything loftier than the truth.”  The Sheikh answered, “People usually misunderstand.  Most… seek their own truth, and ignore the Supreme Truth.  Because the truth we seek is truth diluted with our own negative thoughts, which cultivate prejudices and various other distortions.  But the Supreme Truth is the one we don’t have to seek because it is already within us.  Truth is the God that is present in all places.  Yes, there is something higher than our own truth: reconciliation is higher.  Because reconciliation is Supreme Truth itself.”

Don't miss an opportunity to dialogue with this world-renowned peacemaker!

Sunday, January 14 at 2:00 PM EST