You are the World
“YOU ARE THE WORLD”
A public talk and weekend retreat*
with Dr. Peter Carter and Julie Johnston
September 20-22, 2019 (Fri. 7 pm – Sun. 4:30 pm)
“YOU ARE THE WORLD AND THE WORLD IS YOU.”
J. Krishnamurti
This retreat is intended to provide an opportunity to inquire into the current state of our human predicament. Beginning with an examination of the climate change emergency and the environmental crisis, we then proceed to consider the responsibility we bear through our highly materialistic and affluent consumer culture.
We also face annihilation due to the nuclear arms race, runaway global heating, climate chaos and the mass extinction of species on Earth.
Since this crisis is the result of our way of life, we have to look to ourselves to find the cause and the cure. While people are busy everywhere trying to find technical solutions, which are obviously necessary, there appears to be much less emphasis on the psychological and cultural factors that have brought this crisis about and that continue to perpetuate it. We will turn our attention to some of these factors, including our deep sense of personal, spiritual and cultural separation from Mother Earth.
Krishnamurti’s unique way of seeing and living in the world offers hope in this time of existential threats to humanity. We will be attempting to raise the level of our awareness so that the relation between the inner and the outer is clearly perceived. We will see that awareness, intelligence and insight are critical factors in generating the creative and compassionate ground of a new culture based on essential and holistic values.
This is how we can begin to undo the damage and establish a sustainable and even regenerative way of life in harmony with the natural world, with each other and with ourselves.
The retreat will be quite interactive and will include presentations, music, video, dialogue, and time outside to reconnect with the rest of Nature.
PUBLIC TALK
On Friday, September 20 (7:30 – 9:00 pm)
Join us for an introductory talk by the retreat leaders that is also open to the public. It will present the theme to be explored in the weekend retreat. Suggested donation (for KECC): $15 for non-registrants.
The Presenters/Facilitators:
Peter Carter is a retired physician. As a founding director of CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment) and, more recently, as founder of the Climate Emergency Institute, Peter has presented on sustainable development, environmental health policy, biodiversity, and climate change and ocean issues at international science and climate change conferences in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.
Peter was an expert reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fifth climate change assessment (AR5, 2014) and the IPCC’s 2018 Special Report on 1.5ºC. His mission now is to spread the full truth about the extreme risks and magnitude of the global climate and ocean disruption emergency.
Julie Johnston is a climate change activist and sustainability education teacher and consultant, with a master’s degree focused on environmental adult education. She works with international students at Royal Roads University and with educators around the world through GreenHeart Education, an organization dedicated to promoting transformative education for sustainability and greening the heart of education systems at all levels.
Julie wants to continue believing that a happy, healthy and sustainable future for today’s children and all future generations – of all species – is possible, if we rekindle our inherent love for the Earth and Mother Nature, FAST. She believes that compassionate action (with a few miracles thrown in) will be what saves us.
For their more complete biographical sketch, click here .
*PLEASE NOTE: THIS RETREAT IS AN UPDATE OF OUR INITIALLY SCHEDULED SEPTEMBER RETREAT AND REPLACES IT!
“When you realize that you are the world, and it is really an extraordinary thing to realize that, not verbally, not as an ideation, idea or a mental concept but as an actuality, it is a tremendous thing. It breaks all limits of thought. It breaks down all barriers. It breaks down the very centre of your being, which is the ‘me’. When you say, I am the world and the world is me, there is no me. You understand? So it is a tremendous thing to realize that. Then you will know what compassion is.”
J.Krishnamurti
Cost for the weekend (in Canadian dollars):
Shared accommodation (double occupancy) with meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $250 Early bird rate*: $220
Private accommodation with meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $300 Early bird rate*: $270
Day Commuter – with meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $190 Early bird rate*: $170
* valid up to 30 days before the event.
There is no ‘commuter without meals’ option for this retreat.
Extend your stay for up to 3 nights at the reduced rate of only CAD$40/night.
Persons with financial constraints may qualify for a special discount. Please contact the program manager, Ralph Tiller.
