Aspen Institute Conscious Leadership Event
Aspen Institute Conscious Leadership Event
Presented by Conscious Global Leadership Institute: 17-18 September 2010
This ground breaking 2-day Gathering at the prestigious Aspen Institute, Colorado, heralded the launch of the Conscious Global Leadership Institute (CGL), an organization that has come into being to facilitate global social harmony by strengthening the character and consciousness of leaders across all genres. The CGL’s mission is to create a paradigm shift in leaders to be motivated by personal awareness and growth. It is co-founded by Tara and Casey Sheahan together with Luann Robinson Hull.
The whole event was expertly moderated by Todd Breyfogle, Director of Seminars at The Aspen Institute, and was attended by around 100 people including business leaders, spiritual leaders, successful entrepreneurs, writers, musicians and community leaders from a variety of genres.
Senior Faculty member at OWA North America, Ananda Giri, was invited to participate as part of a panel of three renowned spiritual leaders in a conversation exploring what leadership is today and how this relates to spirituality in our lives.
Dr Negi, Father Keating, Ananda Giri and Todd Breyfogle, Paepcke Auditorium, Aspen Institute
Ananda Giri was joined by world famous Christian visionary Father Thomas Keating from the Contemplative Outreach Organization. Father Keating is renowned for his deep wisdom and delighted the audience for the entire 2 days with his great wit and sense of humor!
Also on the panel was Dr Geshe Lobsang Negi, Professor of Religious Studies at Emory University and a close associate of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Dr Negi is working to develop a balanced educational system that integrates heart and intellect, science and spirituality, which is a must for the survival of our future generations.
The event was blessed with an Indigenous Ceremony of Welcoming given to us by Phyllis Bald Eagle, Amos Black Horse and Floyd Little Crow from Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. The morning session was then taken up with a lively and interactive discussion by attendees about how they apply personal transformation to their business lives. Speakers included Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia; Donna Crawford, Education Director at Illinois Supreme Court; Scott Wilkerson, Entrepreneur and Paul Frantzich of Feed Them With Music.
The afternoon session was the first of a two part conversation with Father Keating, Dr Negi and Ananda Giri and was to prove a highlight of both days where all three shared deep insights and wisdom on the nature of conscious leadership today and the reality that we are all indeed One!
Day two began with a beautiful tree planting ceremony conducted by our Native American Friends and Marc Barasch, Founder of A Green World Campaign. This was in celebration of the United Nation’s designation of 2011 as the year of global reforestation.
The morning continued with a presentation by Dr Negi of his latest scientific research into the value of having a regular meditation and mindfulness practice. Following was a very moving talk and video presentation by acclaimed child rights activist Kimmy Weeks from Liberia. The day concluded with further conversations by our panel of three extraordinary spiritual leaders which was indeed a rare gift to all those present.
We are all very grateful to everyone who attended this first CGL Event and contributed in making it such a huge success.
Thank you everyone!
