InnerEyeMay 4, 2000
InnerEye
This year's graduates and guests at CIIS commencement ceremonies will be graced with not one keynote speaker, but two. Janice Mirikitani, a Sansei (third generation) Japanese American is recognized as a poet, editor, administrator and community activist. She is executive director of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, president of the Glide Foundation, and directs fifty programs that provide extensive outreach and service to the poor and homeless of San Francisco. She has also been instrumental in spearheading and developing services for women, children and youth. Her latest project is the opening of Janice Mirikitani-Glide Family, Youth and Childcare Building, which houses welfare-to-work programs. Working with a coalition of community organizations through California, she directs a core group of over 600 volunteers. She is the recipient of more than thirty-five awards and honors.
Poet laureate of San Francisco for the year 2000, Mirikitani's most recent collection of poetry, We the Dangerous, has received rave reviews in England and in the United States. Shedding Silence - Poetry and Prose is in its second printing and continues to receive critical acclaim.
As pastor of Glide Memorial Church for the past thirty-five years, Reverend Cecil Williams has been challenging the limits of spirituality, compassion and diversity. As minister, author, lecturer, community leader and spokesperson for the poor and marginalized, Reverend Williams is a national leader on the forefront of change who was honored in 1998 when President Clinton appointed him to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States. Reverend Williams' vision for the church of the twenty-first century is reflected in Glide's powerful blend of spirituality, compassion, and cutting-edge programs for those in need.
The church's Sunday services are spirited, inspirational and uplifting-if you don't show up early, you may not get a seat!
Williams' blueprint for recovery through spirituality, and his program for recovery in the nation's urban centers, is contained In his book, No Hiding Place. He has also published his autobiography, I'm Alive. Embracing liberation theology, he has transformed Glide Church into the most comprehensive nonprofit provider of human services in San Francisco. The network includes the only food program in the city to offer three meals a day, 365 days a year.
President Subbiondo was delighted with the announcement and said, "I cannot think of two people who more represent the liberating spirit of San Francisco than Janice Mirikatani and Cecil Williams. They embody the core values of the Institute, and they inspire us to live and work for social justice."
The students chose and faculty approved Reverend Williams and Ms. Mirikitani as recipients of honorary doctorates from CIIS. The couple will receive their degrees at commencement ceremonies, which will take place Saturday, May 6, 1:00 p.m., at the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.
John prefers the term Ôpsychological work' to 'psychotherapy', because, he says, "The term psychotherapy has been defined in a particular way by the psychotherapy profession, which places it in a medical or clinical or pathological context. Psychological work includes that, but it's much broader than that. It's a structured inquiry into conditioned patterns of mind, behavior and emotions. I understand spirituality as surrendering to our larger nature-God or Buddha nature-and learning to release the patterns of ego. What I'm interested in is psychological work in a spiritual context."
John explores not only how spiritual work can facilitate psychological work, but also how psychological work can help people on their spiritual path, which is less frequently examined. He says, "I see many people who do very sophisticated spiritual practices, but at the same time they are functioning at a very low level of personal development. They have compartmentalized spirituality rather than integrated it into their everyday lives. This kind of 'spiritual bypassing' can be used so that you don't have to deal with personal and interpersonal difficulties. I think this kind of work needs to be integrated into our lives if the planet is to survive."
For therapists who integrate spirituality into their work, he notes, "Bringing spirituality into the therapeutic context can easily become a mental or intellectual process. That's why it is essential that therapists have a genuine and serious practice. It has to come from an integrated knowledge and understanding and practice. That's a lot of what my book is about, trying to develop that kind of integrated understanding."
In Toward a Psychology of Awakening, readers will find selections of his writings from the past twenty years as well as new essays. The book includes sections on psychology and spirituality, on psychotherapy in a spiritual context, and on relationship as transformative work.
On Thursday, June 15, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., CIIS and the Learning Annex are sponsoring a lecture/book signing with John Welwood at the Institute. For tickets, call 415-788-5500 or register online at www.learningannex.com.
In describing his course, which will be offered in Spring 2001, Daniel says, "Consciousness is considered one of the last frontiers of science. It is not a taboo topic anymore: this is where the action is! On the other hand, the issues raised by the study of consciousness are at the center of the science and religion debates. Spiritual practices such as meditation are slowly emerging as bona fide "first person science."
This course is a bold attempt at integrating different discourses on
consciousness- scientific and religious, East and West, philosophical and experiential. I believe it is the first time that the Templeton Foundation is funding a course with a focus on consciousness. I
interpret this not only as a sign of the times but also as recognition of CIIS' leadership in this field. The course will draw on the expertise of our own faculty and I also hope to use the funds to attract prominent speakers and bolster our library holdings."
Dean Janis Phelps reacted to the announcement by saying, "For the East-West Psychology program this funded course will highlight the expertise within the program's faculty. It also enables the program to receive the honor it deserves."
Entries are judged on the criteria of strong scholarship, balanced treatment of the science and religion dialogue, and promotion of intellectual humility. CTNS, which promotes the creative interaction between theology and the natural sciences through research, teaching, and public service, is an affiliate of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
Dear Colleagues,
I believe that two student initiatives stand out in culminating the 1999-2000 academic year: the students' organizing the first week-long celebration of faculty and their selecting Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani as speakers for the commencement on May 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts.
The week of April 10 marked a highpoint not only in this academic year but also in the Institute's history. In a week filled with festive recognition, students honored faculty members with acknowledgement and gratitude for their dedication to teaching and scholarship. The celebration concluded with a luncheon in which students cited faculty members who exemplify the values of the Institute. This celebration was conceived and implemented by students - it is no wonder that CIIS faculty members credit their students as the most important reason for their choosing to teach at the Institute.
As much as anyone in San Francisco, Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani epitomize the liberating spirit of the City. Recently I participated in a service at Glide Memorial Church, and I could see how Reverend Williams continues to be an angel of social justice. He has not wavered in his commitment to the people of San Francisco-this commitment includes his courageous leadership in the civil rights movement with the Reverend Martin Luther King. Ms. Mirikitani effectively directs the broad reaching programs of Glide which address a myriad of human needs. Her spirituality, creativity, and conscience are expressed in her poetry, poetry that has earned her the title of the Poet Laureate of San Francisco.
I am grateful to the students for their work in defining this academic year.
Cordially,
Recently, Dean Leland Van den Daele appointed Padma Catell as half-time executive director of clinics. The position will help to insure visibility, reliable funding, and coordination efforts for the Institute's four psychological clinics. Padma, who has been teaching at CIIS since 1984, has served as dean of the healing arts school, director of pro- fessional training of the ICP program and assistant dean of the school of professional psychology. She brings expertise in clinic management, clinical requirements, and business to the position. Padma is licensed both as a psychologist and as an MFT.
The clinics, which have been the focus of a recent InnerEye series, support training of students in somatic psychology, integral counseling, and clinical psychology, offering low-cost therapy to the community. In the aggregate, they provide one of the largest centers associated with professional schools for low-cost treatment of psychological disorders in California, with an overall annual budget exceeding a half- million dollars.
In consultation with the program and clinic directors, the executive director will promote cooperation among clinics, evaluate and make recommendations about clinics' needs, insure short-term and long-term planning, coordinate budget and record-keeping policies and procedures, oversee development efforts, write grant applications, promote new initiatives by clinics, and develop a multi-modal clinic where all the students in the school of professional psychology can work and be trained together.
By Lionel Chan, Chief Information Officer
Can we use technology to expand our resource base? For example, can technology increase student enrollment at CIIS limited by the "bricks and mortar" constraints imposed by our location and number of classrooms? Can technology increase the revenue generated by Continuing Education courses and symposia? If so, then not only are the CIIS mission and reputation advanced, but the CIIS resource base is expanded, too.
For example, there is webcasting technology available that can broadcast CIIS lectures, workshops, and demonstrations over the Internet to anyone with a browser. Once this multimedia link is established, it can lead to new sources of both resident and distance- learning students. We can also enhance our website with digitized video clips promoting academic programs to increase the number of degree-seeking students. The profitability of successful CIIS events, such as the "Returning to the Mother of Us All" celebration and the Ayahuasca Conference, can be increased by making digitized conference video tapes available for Internet viewing on a "pay per view" basis.
The main obstacle to creating a large number of Internet multimedia offerings is the initial funding. Needed assets include multimedia recording and editing equipment, streaming servers and software with which to webcast, and a staff person to produce the webcast. Nevertheless, this technology strategy appears to be the best path to building a richer academic infrastructure and larger resource base.
Four spring time alumni gatherings are bringing together a number of the 78% of CIIS alumni living in the Bay Area. President Joseph Subbiondo, VP Donna Blakemore, her assistant Anne Teich (PAR '90) greet the alums, talk about Institute developments, and encourage alumni to keep in touch.
On April 5, we met at the home of Institute co-founder Bina Chaudhuri who welcomed us with her customary joyous spirit and delicious food and drink. As the new president, Joe answered many questions and heard about the school in its early days. As Yvonne Knebel (EWP '98) put it, "I really enjoyed coming to the alumni meeting. I wanted to meet Bina and the new president, and I am interested in getting more involved."
On Sunday, April 16, we were hosted by CIIS alumna Cathy Coleman and Professor Ralph Metzner. Joe was welcomed by alumni who had not been back to campus since its move to Mission Street. Sitting in Cathy and Ralph's living room, the graduates shared brief and colorful profiles, discussing why they chose to attend the Institute, and describing their current work. At the end of the afternoon Ralph showed the latest video on the Crop Circle phenomenon.
Our next gathering will be held on Wednesday, May 17, at the home of Peg Jordan and Stu Sovatsky. Call Anne Teich at 415-575-6113 for details.
Alumni Listserv
Library Campaign
The School of Consciousness & Transformation is the academic sponsor for an experiential wilderness journey in the Ecuadorian Amazon entitled, "Sentient Experientials-Nature as Teacher, Indigenous Wisdom, and Rainforest Conservation Strategies." The trip will take place from July 18-29. (Note change from previously listed dates.) Students may earn 1-2 CIIS units for this trip if it is taken as an Independent Study. Proceeds from the trip will benefit the Grupo Osanimi Ecuador's Rainforest Conservation and Cultural Heritage Projects.
Participants will travel through primary rainforest on the banks of the Aguarico River in the upper Ecuadorian rainforest with Secoya elders and youth-forest masters, traditional healers, visionaries, artists, and ethnobotanists. The Secoyas, living among 100,000 acres of lowland rainforest, are an ethnic minority of the Upper Napo Region of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest whose culture and homelands are now imperiled. Guest teacher and artist-in-residence will be Don Pablo Amaringo, a visionary painter from the Peruvian Amazon. The guide for the trip will be Jonathon Miller-Weisberger, director of Grupo Osanimi, an ethnobotanist, and a student of traditional Chinese and Indigenous Medicine.
Commenting on the work of Miller-Weisberger, Dr. Joanna Macy, deep ecologist and adjunct faculty at CIIS, says, "The rainforest conservation work of Jonathon and his Indigenous co-workers ranks among the most respectful, creative, and promising ventures underway on behalf of the Earth and ancient Earth ways. This is truly deep ecology in action-a privilege to behold."
For details about the trip, contact Dahlia Miller, 510-235-4313; e-mail sentient@experientials.org (or dahlia@igc.org); Website: http://www.experientials.org
On May 22, CIIS President Emeritus Robert McDermott will talk with Ram Dass about his new book, Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing and Dying (Riverhead Books, June 2000) at the Unitarian Universalist Church in San Francisco. When Ram Dass was finishing a draft of the manuscript, he had a massive cerebral hemorrhage, but he, along with his humor and warm heart, survived. Sharing stories from his own life and offering meditation practices to integrate the teachings into daily life, he talks about the sometimes tumultuous process of aging, changing, and dying. He writes, "I've been trying to find another way to look at the whole process of being born, growing old, changing, and dying... Understanding that we have something... that's unchangeable, beautiful, completely aware, and continues no matter what, really helps."
Robert McDermott notes that while most of us experience aging and illness, not all of us gain the kinds of insights Ram Dass has gained in the process. He says, "I'm particularly interested in talking with Ram Dass not just about what he has learned, but also about how he has learned-what the process has been and how others can explore this path."
In 1961, while at Harvard, Ram Dass worked with Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Aldous Huxley, Allen Ginsberg, and others in researching psilocybin, LSD-25, and other psychedelic chemicals. His books include The Psychedelic Experience (co-authored with Leary and Metzner), Journey of Awakening, Miracle of Love, How Can I Help, and Compassion in Action. Ram Dass works with environmental organizations, the socially conscious business community, and the dying.
"An Evening with Ram Dass," in association with a Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universal Church, 1187 Franklin (at Geary) in San Francisco on Monday, May 22. Tickets are $10 ($24 includes a copy of Still Here) and may be purchased through City Box Office (415-392-4400), or at A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books 415-441-6670.
In his 1991 book, Food of the Gods, Terence proclaimed that prehistoric humans developed language, religion, and advanced civilizations only after accidentally finding and ingesting psychedelic drugs while gathering food. An advocate of experimental drug use, he was the author of six books on psychedelia and a scholar-in-residence at Esalen Institute.
Ralph Metzner, CIIS faculty member, in remembering Terence, says, "He was a brilliant, provocative, visionary thinker, who used his rare gift for language to produce bardic-scientific incantations and abstruse mathematical prophecies, as well as paeans of praise to the unfolding mysteries and possibilities of interspecies and extraterrestrial communication. He was also a dear friend with an outrageous, mordant sense of humor. He will be sorely missed."
During the week of April 10, in a celebration of excellence in teaching at the Institute, faculty members were honored with festivities culminating in a Friday afternoon award ceremony and lunch. For the School of Consciousness and Transformation, the Year 2000 Excellence in Teaching Award went to Brian Swimme; School of Professional Psychology: Julie Gerhardt. Honorable mention was given to Steven Goodman and Sean Kelly in SCT, and to Lu Gray, Judye Hess and Mark Fromm in SPP.
David Weinstein, one of the students involved in facilitating the week's events, said, "Every teacher in the school received at least one vote, which points not only to the depth of the quality of education at CIIS, but its breadth as well. On behalf of the subcommittee of myself, Marty Cooper, Tenzin Lhadron, and Lucinda Bealle - with help from Jason McNally and David Nicoll-I think I can safely say that we were all surprised and honored by the warm reception of the professors and by the dignified, creative and heartfelt way students responded to this opportunity to celebrate and express gratitude to their teachers."
NOTE: The Alliance needs ideas on how to spend the $10,000 in our reserve account. Write your idea down and put it in the suggestion box.
Friday-Sunday, May 12-14
Wednesday, May 17, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Monday, May 22, 7:30 pm
Wednesday, May 24, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, June 6, 8:00 pm
June 8, 2000, 7:00 - 9:30 pm
Tuesday, July 18-Saturday July 29, and Tuesday, October 17-Friday October 27
Saturday-Sunday, August 26-27
Monday, October 23,
Office Hours
Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 PM
SCT Dean Janis Phelps 'walk-in' hours
PSY Dean Leland van den Daele
*RSVP and directions: call 415-575-6113 or e-mail annet@ciis.edu
The overall operating budget for 1998-1999 was $8.5 million compared with $9 million in the prior year. While the financial statements show a downward trend in revenues and expenses following its past episode of financial exigency, CIIS ended the 98-99 fiscal year in a strong short-term working capital position with current assets of $3.3 million exceeding liabilities of $1.2 million. The audited balance sheet (Statement of Financial Position) and income statements (Statement of Activities) are posted in the INNERnet at http://innernet.ciis.edu under Policies.
Summer 2000 books will be available in the store the week of May 15th.
Don't forget our astrological and tarot consultants on Fridays! $25 for
15 minutes and $40 for half an hour. Readings are jammed packed with interesting and useful information. Get details and reserve a spot at Bookstore counter.
The big news is the grand stellium of seven planets in Taurus on May 3. Financial stability is a strong theme; this energy is likely to benefit the Institute's current budget process. People will want to face the truth about money and resources and get their finances in order.
Jupiter and Saturn make an exact conjunction, a cycle which happens once every 20 years. Together they symbolize concerns with our social development and purpose and our search for success. This is a time ripe for clarifying and focusing ambitions, and launching new projects with purpose.
Simply, it's a time to work hard toward our goals and to create more wealth and abundance.
Brian Swimme, presented at Starshine's "Come to the Edge 2000" conference March 8-11, 2000 in Ontario. Brian also gave a lecture on "The Great Ultimate: Confucian Cosmology and the Universe Story" at the International Conference on Ethics and Religion for a Global Twenty-First Century, Loyola-Marymount University, Los Angeles, March 25, 2000.
Students & Alumni
Each issue of the Inner Eye features a photograph of staff or faculty from another time in their lives.
(Please submit photos to Candice Chase in Communications.)
Editor: Candice Chase
Articles may be submitted to candicec@ciis.edu via email or disks may be put in the Inner Eye mailbox. Articles are subject to editing for clarity, length, and appropriateness.
Sage Perspectives:
Toward a Psychology of Awakening
While the West has focused on personal and interpersonal dimensions of human experience, and the East on the transpersonal, there is no tradition that fully encompasses the entire spectrum of human experience in a complete body of teaching and practice. CIIS Council of Sages member John Welwood, who started teaching at the Institute in 1979, brings these dimensions together in his new book, Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation (Shambhala, May 2000). John's previous books include Journey of the Heart: The Path of Conscious Love; Awakening the Heart: East/West Approaches to Psychotherapy and the Healing Relationship; Love and Awakening: Discovering the Sacred Path of Intimate Relationship; and Ordinary Magic: Everyday Life As Spiritual Path.
Faculty Daniel Deslauriers Wins Templeton Award
The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) recently announced that Daniel Deslauriers, director and faculty in East-West Psychology, was selected as a winner of the 2000 Science and Religion Course Award Competition for a course he is developing entitled "Consciousness, Science and Religion." The $10,000 awards, funded by the Templeton Foundation, are given to university, college and seminary professors for designing new courses in science and religion. The competition is designed to support scientists and religious scholars from a range of disciplines as they address questions of science and religion through teaching.
ADVANCING THE INSTITUTE
Message from President Subbiondo
Joseph L. Subbiondo
Padma Catell Appointed New Executive Director of Clinics
Eye on Technology
An Internet Multimedia Strategy
In a July 1999 letter to CIIS, the accreditation commission, WASC, expressed its financial concerns by stating that the "resource base for [CIIS] needs to be greatly expanded if it is going to be able to meet its needs." While the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999 showed that CIIS ended the year with a modest surplus, it still needs to broaden its resource base to fund academic improvements in the future.
Alumni Activites Update
By Anne Teich, Development Coordinator
The Development Office is very grateful to Mike Vincenty of Information Services Technology for his help in creating the alumni listserv which is now active. There has been much positive response from alums in nearby and far away places: "I am very happy to see the listserv. Living in Ireland, it is easy to feel isolated from CIIS." (Ray Quackenbush, CLN PSY '98). We encourage all alums to join the listserve as a way to stay in touch and hear about upcoming events. Send your e-mail address to annet@ciis.edu and we will add you to the list!
Library Director Olive James has sent out a letter to all CIIS alumni asking for their financial support to update and expand computer access, add much needed reference materials, and improve the general collection and journal collection. We hope all alumni will be able to answer the call with a donation of any size!
NOTABLE DATES
SCT Sponsors Trip To Ecuadorian Rainforest
McDermott To Interview Ram Dass - May 22nd
Nearly thirty years ago, a generation was searching for a new way of life and a more peaceful way of being in the world. One individual who came to embody the role of spiritual seeker for the 'Woodstock generation' was Richard Alpert (aka Ram Dass). He left his teaching post at Harvard and wrote a spiritual classic which became a million-copy bestseller, Be Here Now. Today, people continue to look to Ram Dass for his insights and wisdom, as he scouts ahead and shares with us what he finds.
Remembering Terence McKenna
Terence McKenna, long-time friend of the Institute, Council of Sages member, and workshop presenter, lost a long-time battle with brain cancer on April 3 at age 53. Terence was an internationally known lecturer, author and counterculture figure.
KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE STUDENT ALLIANCE
by David Weinstein
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, May 6,1:00 pm
CIIS Commencement
Palace of Fine Arts, SF
Planetwork: Ecology & Technology Conference
Presidio, SF
415-436-0123, www.planetworkers.org
President Subbiondo Meets With Alumni
home of Peg Jordan '98 and Stu Sovatsky '84, Oakland*
An Evening with Ram Dass (see article)
President Subbiondo Meets With Alumni
home of Susan Christy '94, Mill Valley*
Marianne Williamson, "Healing the Self, Healing the World,"
Herbst Theater, San Francisco
www.ciis.edu
Public Lecture, Brian Weiss talks about his new book,
Messages from the Masters: Tapping into the Power of Love
First Unitarian Church
1187 Franklin (at Geary), San Francisco, www.ciis.edu
SCT-sponsored trip to Ecuadorian Amazon
510-235-4313; http://www.experientials.org
All-Class Alumni Reunion
Stuart Sovatsky, 510-336-0107, e-mail stuartcs@jps.net
CIIS Gala
Asian Art Museum, SF
Watch future issues for details
through June 29, President Subbiondo's 'walk-in hour'
No appointment needed (through 5/5)
Mondays, 3:00-4:00 PM, (Room 412)
other times by appointment by calling Michael Aho, 415-575-6257. (through 5/5)
Thursdays, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, and Friday
3:00-4:00 PM, office hours by appointment only (Room 408)
call Michael Korson, 415-575-6210.(through 5/5)
ON CAMPUS
CIIS in the Black!
The completed audit of the 1998-1999 fiscal year confirmed that CIIS finished that year with a positive surplus of $122,630 compared to $1,093,839 for the year 1997-1998. Larger contributions in the prior year accounted for most of the difference.
InnerLight Bookstore
Astrological Services & Software Now Available!
Reminders:
Comings & Goings
Farewell
Naomi Hoffer in the Expressive Arts Therapy Dept. who is leaving to take a new job as a coordinator of volunteers at the Volunteer Center.
CIIS Wins Marketing Award
Congratulations to Pam Chaloult and the staff in Communications as well as to the Admissions Office and the program directors of both schools for winning a bronze award for the Institute's Enrollment Marketing Kit from Admissions Marketing Report (the National Newspaper of Admissions Marketing). The Report received over 500 entries. President Joseph Subbiondo says, "This is an excellent example of how collaboration leads to success."
IT'S IN THE STARS
by Cathy Coleman
On the Page, On the Stage
Faculty
Jorge Ferrer, "Transpersonal Knowledge: A Participatory Approach to Transpersonal Phenomena," in T. Hart, P. Nelson, & K. Puhakka (eds.), Transpersonal Knowing: Exploring the Horizon of Consciousness. SUNY Press.
Susan Cannon, "Whose Story, What Future," YES! A Journal of Positive Futures, Spring 2000.
WHO IS IT?
HINT: This mom, student and staff member has walked miles and miles.
INNER EYE
Editorial Board: Donna Blakemore, Pamela Chaloult, Cathy Coleman, Anne Teich, Phaedra Valencia