“Meeting of the Ways”

One of Lama Foundation’s outstanding characteristics is that Lama is a “Meeting of the Ways”. Lama welcomes all spiritual traditions. On a single summer day, the community might start with silent meditation, then have a Dance of Universal Peace for group practice, a Christian song for breakfast prayer, then gender lodges in the afternoon and a Sufi Zikr in the evening. There is an underlying unity in spiritual practice that transcends the form of the different traditions; this underlying unity is the “Meeting of the Ways”.

Each person is unique, and therefore their spirituality is also unique. Lama Foundation has always been fortunate in attracting a wide variety of people from around the world, and each summer’s community gets to work with new spiritual practices. For example, one summer, natural building interns introduced Gabriel Roth’s “5 Rhythms” dance practice. Another year natural builders shared African drumming and also African dancing. These examples created a greater variety of spiritual practices in the community. In this way, Lama renews itself, and its spiritual practices, each year.

Looking around the land, there are altars, statues, and prayer flags from a wide variety of traditions. Those who become residents get exposed to many different spiritual traditions and can learn something about each one if they are so inclined. This is religious freedom, and Lama is one of the few places on the planet that seeks to heal the suffering from religious conflict.

The resident circle has been working with a recent experiment during the winter months, a morning “Meeting of the Ways” practice period. Before breakfast, everyone gathered at the starting time for “Meetings of the Ways” and say a group prayer together. Then, people were free to go and do whatever practice they chose. Some went to meditate in the prayer room; others did yoga; others chanted sacred words. As each individual went into their space of personal practice, their unique note was added to the larger of symphony of practice energies generated. At the end of the “Meeting of the Ways” time, everyone gathered again and said a group closing prayer.