Venerable Sumati Marut leads this unique series of three interfaith teachings which will occur April 28th-30th at The Essex Room from 7:30-9:30pm. These teachings will focus on the three primary components of these two authentic spiritual traditions: renunciation, compassion and wisdom. In Buddhism, these powerful ideas are known as the Three Principal Paths. In Christianity, they are intrinsically interwoven throughout all of Jesus' teachings. Renunciation refers to our ability to recognize our own suffering and to develop a desire for true and lasting happiness. Compassion arises when we realize that others are suffering and we want to help them. In order to truly help others, we must cultivate a wisdom that pierces through the mere appearances of things to understand the deeper truths of existence.
Venerable Marut's personal understanding of our modern Western lifestyle unites with his extensive scriptural knowledge of authentic South Asian traditions to create spiritual teachings relevant to all. A former surfer and child of the 60s, Venerable Marut pulls in cultural signposts, pop references, and humor to help remove cross-cultural hurdles and make even the most esoteric elements of eastern philosophy work as tools for immediate transformation.
VENERABLE MARUT
Entertaining and down-to-earth, American monk Venerable Marut is ordained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition but his roots are firmly planted in the Christian church. The son and grandson of Baptist ministers, Venerable Marut grew up immersed in the Christian faith. Throughout his spiritual career he has sought out opportunities to connect eastern and western spiritual traditions, most recently with two interfaith dialogues with Episcopal priest, Reverend Brian Baker. As a Ph.D. and Professor of Comparative Religions, Venerable Marut taught for over twenty years at Barnard College, Columbia University and at the University of California, Riverside, where he is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies.
Venerable Marut is the founder and Spiritual Director of the Asian Classics Institute of Cape Ann (ACI-Cape Ann Inc), which offers a full schedule of on-going classes in Tibetan Buddhism, guided meditation and yoga at its home, the Vajramudra Center. In addition to teaching all over the world, Venerable Marut also serves as a founding Board member of the Yoga Studies Institute and as the Spiritual Director of the Asian Classics Institutes of Los Angeles.
TWEET HAPPY
Stay mindful of how to be happy with Venerable Marut's free daily "Dharma Twitters": a little Dharma love sent straight to your cell phone every day via text message. Just create a profile at www.twitter.com (takes 10 minutes maximum) and then text "follow LamaMarut" to 40404 from your cell phone.
Download the flyer for the teachings on Buddha and Jesus, along with other offerings from the Vajramudra Dharma Center, here: http://www.aci-
For more information about Lama Marut, visit his website at: http://www/.lamamarut.org.
Listen to his podcasts on iTunes or at http://www.aci-
For information about ACI Cape Ann Inc, please visit http://www.aci-
For more information, images or to set up interviews with Venerable Marut, please contact Phil Salzman at (978-283-3543)
