Meditation Way of Peace encounter at CAF

(Caracas, February 18, 2008).- The Andean Development Corporation invites the public to the Meditation Way of Peace encounter to take place during the Icons of Christianity exhibition to be held in its headquarters in Avenida Luis Roche de Altamira en Caracas. The event will be led by Father Laurence Freeman OSB.

CAF President & CEO Enrique García emphasized the work of people like Freeman as an important promoter of peace through meditation.

"The purpose of his visit to the Corporation is to leave a lesson of spirituality in the context of seeking equilibrium in societies, respecting individual principles but always focusing on a common objective: co-existence among human beings and with their environment." CAF is promoting a Renewed Development Agenda which aims precisely for this balance between economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects, he added.

Laurence Freeman, who will visit Venezuela from February 19 to 21, says: "Meditation takes us out of our ego to live in the simplicity and poverty of the word with which we meditate, which inevitably takes us to self-transcendence." This type of prayer was originally practiced by the Desert Fathers (4th century), recommended by Master Eckhard and in The Cloud of the Unknowing (14th century), written as a poem by Juan de la Cruz and Teresa de Ávila, included in the Exercises of Ignacio de Loyola (16th century), and promoted by Thomas Merton, John Main and Laurence Freeman (20th and 21st centuries), who gave it a more humanist focus adapted to the new century.

Freeman is a Benedictine monk who was a disciple of John Main and pioneer of experimental meditation communities for lay people in London and Montreal. He became director of the world community on the death of Main. Born in England, he was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at Oxford University. He has worked in the United Nations, banking and journalism. Later, he entered the Benedictine monastery in Ealing, London, where he was under the spiritual direction of John Main, who he helped found the first Christian Meditation Center in the British capital. He studied theology at Montreal and McGill Universities and was ordained in 1980. In 1991 Father Lawrence established the International Center in London of the recently formed World Community for Christian Meditation. He is author of many books and articles and editor of the works of John Main. He has led dialogues and initiatives of peace, such as the historic Way of Peace with the Dalai Lama. He works intensely on the inter-religious dialogue, on promoting the teaching of Christian meditation to children and students, and on recovering the contemplative tradition of the Church and society in general.

Freemen’s agenda in Venezuela includes:

Tuesday February 19 – Caracas 6:30 pm / TALK “MEDITATION AS PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL TRADITION.” Institute of Theology and Religious Studies ITER. Practice of Meditation. 3a Avenida con 6a transversal H. Benaím Pinto, Altamira.

Wednesday February 20 – Valencia – Maracay 3 pm / COLLOQUIUM “MEDITATION AND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION” Seminary Mayor of Valencia Nuestra Señora del Socorro. Practice of Meditation. Urbanización San Antonio, former Hacienda Monteserino, Valencia. 6:30 pm / COLLOQUIUM “MEDITATION, SPIRITUALITY AND HUMANIZATION” Maracay Seminary. Practice of Meditation. Avenida Monseñor Feliciano González, prolongación Ave. Sucre, La Floresta, Maracay.

Thursday February 21– Caracas 12:30 pm / COLLOQUIUM “MEDITATION, ETHICS AND SOLIDARITY IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.” CEDICE, Introduction by Emeterio Gómez. Practice of Meditation. Ave. Andrés Eloy Blanco (Este 2), Edf. Cámara de Comercio de Caracas, Nivel Auditorio, Los Caobos. 6:30 pm / TALK “MEDITATION. WAY OF PEACE.” Practice of Meditation. CAF Auditorium, Antonio José de Sucre, Ave. Luis Roche, Torre CAF, nivel Avenida, Altamira.