We practice simple joyous, meditative, circle dances that use sacred phases, music, and movements to touch the spiritual essence within ourselves and recognize it in others. We hold hands in a circle. There are live musicians in the center. We will chant mantras from various Buddhist lineages, including Zen, Pure Land, Lieu Quán (Thich Nhat Hanh), and Tibetan. We sing and do simple movements together. Each chant and dance is taught and explained.
This is a spiritual practice, and the Dances honor the ideals of all wisdom traditions. Afterwards, we can socialize with tea.
This gathering is co-sponsored by the Kansas Zen Center and the Lawrence Dances of Universal Peace.
It is free (donations welcome, not expected).
History:
The Dances of Universal Peace, using sacred phrases from different religious lineages, began over 50 years ago by founder Samuel Lewis. Born to Jewish parents in 1896, he became a Zen master and Sufi murshid. He studied and practiced Zen (with teacher Nyogen Senzaki) and Sufism (with Hazrat Inayat Khan), yoga (with Swami Ramdas) and spiritual dancing (with Ruth St. Denis), as well as psychology, Christianity, and horticulture. His purpose in teaching the dances was to provide direct experience of Unity, community, and joy.
The dances have spread around the world, as people from many countries offer dances from their own sacred traditions. While normally Dances of Universal Peace will have songs and dances from various traditions (Hindu, Pagan, etc.), this Buddhist Peace Dances will focus on Buddhist chants and growing peaceful connections amongst the Buddhists and meditators in our community.
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