Manchester Zen Peacemaker Circle, Sat 4th July

There was a day meeting of the Manchester Circle this saturday, 4th July, held once again in Howard`s house in Withington, South Manchester, and facilitated this time by Steve Suleyman Hart. In the morning they went together to a Bach recital performed in a local church by someone Howard knows. Then in the afternoon there was first a talk given by Steve on the Andalusian Sufi Ibn al-Arabi, in response to a book Steve read written about him by the orientalist scholar Henri Corbin. Steve explored overlaps with Buddhism, the the heart and with Western artistic imagination.

Following this, each person talked for a time about the roots of their personal and spiritual inspiration- what in their life has brought them to feeling there is a more creative and compassioante way of living and exploring life.

There was also a discussion of what the Manchester Circle can hope to achieve when it re-opens to new members and public events at the end of this year of practice together, looking at ideas for a culture of love and encouragement, social action and open-mindedness.

They ended with a Council Circle to reflect on the day, and hope to arrange the next day for sometime in August.

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