Meaningful Conversations Rochester

We all have basic human, material needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. And many would add that we have basic emotional needs as well, such as love. But what about basic spiritual needs? Do our souls have needs? And if so, is having those needs met a spiritual right?

Many believe we are all born with an innate desire to learn and to seek truth, to know ourselves and to grow and achieve our full potential. But are there unintentional ways, or even fully intentional ways, society may be preventing us from doing these? How do we create a world in which our needs (material and beyond) are recognized and protected, where everyone has equal opportunity to meet these needs – regardless of background or belief – and to contribute to the betterment of the world around them?

Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the role of spirituality in recognizing our innate gifts and needs as individuals. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore how our development as spiritual beings shapes our own growth as well as that of our communities.

“The pathway of life is the road which leads to divine knowledge and attainment.” – Bahá’í Teachings

*** This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

Is death the end…or just the beginning?

Part of our common humanity is also our shared mortality. But what happens when we die? The world’s great religious traditions and spiritual paths offer us clues and, while differing to some extent in the details, nearly all seem to point to some form of continued existence.

If we are able to grasp some truth of the mystery of what happens to us after we die, could it shape the choices we make while we are alive on this earth? Would we live differently? What if death isn’t something to be feared? Could it just be the next step on a spiritual journey that will endure for eternity? What implications could such insights give us as to the purpose of our lives that could help us live a richer and more meaningful life?

Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on death, the afterlife… and life! Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the spiritual journey of our souls, in this physical world and beyond.

“The world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother. ” – Bahá’í Teachings

*** This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

Some people believe that as long as we’re not hurting anyone else, that we can do as we like. But is it enough to simply “do no harm”? Or do we need to actively seek to “do good”?

What about when it comes to our spiritual lives? Is our spirituality limited to our own personal growth and progress, or can we live in a way that our beliefs and actions make a positive impact on the world around us? When we think about ideas like sustainability and carbon footprints, we are thinking about the impact of our lives on our material environment. But what about our spiritual environment? Are we considering the spiritual footprints we are leaving behind? What would it look like to live conscious of the lasting impact of our choices and our spirituality on not just the world around us, but on future generations as well?

Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the lasting impact we each have on our communities. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore how we can each contribute to the spiritual growth of the world around us, now and for generations to come.

“Turn all your thoughts towards bringing joy to hearts. Beware! Beware! Lest ye offend any heart!” – Bahá’í Teachings

*** This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

Is there such a thing as a just, equitable and even moral economy?

Whatever our personal values or system of beliefs, many would agree that how we interact with our fellow human beings should reflect certain core values such as kindness, honesty, fairness and compassion. But if that is how we interact with each other individually, then should those same values also inspire our economic systems?

Typically economies are talked about in terms of theories, policies or statistics. But isn’t our economic system also a reflection of our values or, if not, shouldn’t it be? Do we create our economic systems or do they create us? Do the choices we’re currently making (or failing to make) truly reflect our values? More often than not, the determining question asks what is good for my bottom line – as an individual, as an organization, as a society. And the determining answer is usually whatever yields the highest dollar amount. But what if what is good for the collective also happens to be good for the individual? What if as a society, we judged ourselves not on the wealth of our richest, but by the comfort of our poorest? What if our decisions were made not based on principles of scarcity, but on spiritually founded principles of love, justice, and our essential oneness?

Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the deeper truths that unite us – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the need for an economy driven by morality. Please join us for a lively discussion as we explore how an economy based on spiritual principles can allow for the conditions needed for all of humanity to reach its full and true prosperity.

“The good pleasure of God consists in the welfare of all the individual members of mankind.” – Bahá’í Teachings

*** This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.