THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED THEOLOGY AND MIRIAM’S WELL PRESENT A WEEKEND SEMINAR WITH ANDREW HARVEY, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED AUTHOR AND MYSTIC, JUNE 25–27

Harvey will speak about "Rumi and the Way of Passion"

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.—The Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College and Miriam’s Well present a weekend seminar with internationally renowned author and mystic Andrew Harvey, who will speak about "Rumi and the Way of Passion." This is the second of a four-part series, "The Mystical Revolution," that Harvey is presenting at Miriam’s Well in Saugerties, NY. Admission for a single seminar is $225, $125 for members of the Institute, or $50 for Bard students, faculty, and staff.

Rumi is the celebrated 13th-century Persian Sufi sage, poet, and mystic, beginning with a presentation of Rumi’s life and sacred initiation into divine love by Shams of Tabriz, Harvey will unfold his vision of the Sufi path of divine transformation and present major Christian and Sufi practices of the Sacred Heart. This will allow direct contact with what Rumi calls divine passion, and the ability to sustain its call in the heart of everyday life.

Rumi’s poetry and example are resurfacing at this critical time to help us, Harvey believes, "in order to reinspire ourselves with the wildness, clarity, vibrancy, and the electric intensity of sacred passion. It is this passion that is the clue not only to the birth of divine humanity, but to the saving of the planet."

"Andrew Harvey is the most prominent teacher of comparative mysticism in the United States, combining critical expertise with passionate commitment," says Bruce Chilton, executive director of the Institute of Advanced Theology, Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Philosophy and Religion, and chaplain of Bard College. "Harvey uniquely succeeds in preserving the individuality of different perspectives, while drawing their wisdom together to explore common spiritual and political agendas."

Harvey, a consultant to Bard's Institute of Advanced Theology, says the series focuses on "the mystical revolution destined to take place now . . . one of both profound mystical passion and radical social, political, and economic action."

"The work that Andrew is doing with us this year embodies our belief that transformation is not only possible, but necessary," says Susan Rosen, executive director of Miriam’s Well. "His passion and vision have inspired the groups we have brought together so far, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to spend this June weekend deepening our understanding with the knowledge he’ll be sharing on the work of Rumi."

At the age of 21, Andrew Harvey became the youngest person ever to be named a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He has written and edited more than 30 books, including The Direct Path: Creating a Journey to the Divine through the World’s Mystic Traditions; Son of Man; A Journey in Ladakh; Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (coauthored with Sogyal Rinpoche); Mary's Vineyard: Daily Readings, Meditations, and Revelations (photographs by Eryk Hanut); Dialogues with a Modern Mystic; The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi; Hidden Journey; and his most recent, Sun at Midnight, a memoir. His articles have appeared in the New York Times Book Review, Body Mind Spirit, Quest, and other publications. Harvey has taught at Oxford and Cornell Universities and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He was the subject of the 1993 BBC documentary The Making of a Mystic. He continues to study a variety of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

The Institute of Advanced Theology was established to foster critical understanding based on scholarship, which aims to make true religious pluralism possible. Since its inception in 1996, the Institute’s work has focused on how religions influence history, society, and other religions, and are in turn influenced by them. The Institute gratefully acknowledges support from members of the Institute, the Crohn Family Trust, and Tisch Family Foundation, as well as grants from The Levy Economics Institute and Bard College. For further information about the IAT, its programs, or membership, call 845-758-7279, e-mail [email protected], or visit the website www.bard.edu/iat.

Located in Saugerties, New York, the goal of Miriam’s Well is "to initiate and sustain conscious spiritual evolution toward peaceful coexistence through personal and collective transformation," according to cofounders Susan and Richard Rosen. During 2004, Miriam’s Well offers a wide variety of speakers and workshops with the theme, "Where Do We Go from Here: Evolving toward Unity and the Healing of America." For further information, visit www.miriamswell.org.

Harvey’s weekend series, "The Mystical Revolution," will continue on November 19–21 with "Jesus and the Way of Love in Action," and will conclude on February 4–6, 2005, with "Mystical Activism and the New Human Being." For further information or to register for the series, call Miriam's Well at 845-246-5805 or e-mail [email protected]. Miriam's Well is located at 13 Simmons Street in Saugerties, N.Y. 12477.

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(5.11.2004)

This event was last updated on 05-25-2004

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