Sounds of SAND Science and Nonduality

Monica Gagliano is a research associate professor in evolutionary ecology and former fellow of the Australian Research Council. She is currently based at Southern Cross University, where she directs the Biological Intelligence Lab funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. She has pioneered the brand-new research field of plant bioacoustics, for the first time experimentally demonstrating that plants emit their own “voices” and detect and respond to the sounds of their environments. Her work has extended the concept of cognition (including perception, learning processes, memory) in plants. Her latest book is Thus Spoke the Plant (North Atlantic Books, 2018). 

monicagagliano.com

Aware: Glimpses of Consciousness

“Can Plants Talk?” in The New York Times

In this episode we present excerpts from the recent conversation (June 2024) as part of SAND’s “Conversations on Palestine” around the premiere of the film Where Olive Trees Weep hosted by the directors of the film and co-founders of SAND, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo.

You can watch this full conversation and 22 others. SAND has created a program with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets and performers to complement the themes explored in the film and provide a larger historical, cultural and social context to the plight of the Palestinian people.

In this powerful interfaith gathering, renowned spiritual leaders from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist traditions came together to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for freedom, equality, and human dignity.

These esteemed visionaries modeled the powerful unity that can blossom when we recognize our shared humanity and inherent dignity. Their clarion call for peace with justice in Palestine stands as an inspiration for us all to embody the highest ethical and moral principles of our diverse spiritual traditions.

Guests:

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, one of the first women to become a rabbi in Jewish history, is a pioneer Jewish feminist, human rights activist, writer, visual artist, ceremonialist, community educator and master storyteller.  Lynn has been a congregational rabbi since the fall of 1973, and founded the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM, in 1980. She engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles.  Currently, Lynn sits on the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace and is board chair of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Rabbi Lynn is the author of several books, including Peace Primer II, She Who Dwells Within: A Feminist Vision of Renewed Judaism, World Beyond Borders Passover Haggadah and Trail Guide to the Torah of Nonviolence. Rabbi Lynn is a Shomeret Shalom, a practitioner of the Torah of nonviolence.

Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, founder of Ligmincha International, is a rare master of the Bön Dzogchen tradition in the West. After completing an 11-year course at Menri Monastery in India, where he earned his Geshe degree, he established Ligmincha in 1992 to preserve and introduce Tibetan Bön Buddhist teachings to the West.  Fluent in English, Rinpoche is beloved for his clear, insightful teaching style that makes Tibetan practices accessible. He's highly respected across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and Asia, with centers in the Americas, Europe, and India. Author of 10 books, including "Wonders of the Natural Mind" and "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep," Rinpoche shares the profound wisdom of Bön Dzogchen.

Rev. Deborah Lee, Executive Director of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity since 2018, brings over 30 years of experience in faith-based social justice. Her expertise spans popular education, community organizing, and advocacy, focusing on issues like race, gender, economic justice, LGBTQ inclusion, and immigrant rights.  Under her leadership, the organization has doubled in size and impact. They've closed detention centers, prevented deportations, supported immigrant youth, and established Sanctuary congregations. Notably, they're working to divest from carceral systems and invest in thriving communities. Rev. Lee envisions a world without harm, where every person is considered sacred across bars and borders.

Pir Zia Inayat Khan, Ph.D., is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice. He is author of Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Dream Flowers: The Collected Works of Noor Inayat Khan; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; and

In this episode we present excerpts from the recent conversation (June 2024) between Ashira Darwish & V as part of SAND’s “Conversations on Palestine” around the premiere of the film Where Olive Trees Weep hosted by the directors of the film and co-founders of SAND, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo.

https://whereolivetreesweep.com/

You can watch this full conversation and 22 others. SAND has created a program with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets and performers to complement the themes explored in the film and provide a larger historical, cultural and social context to the plight of the Palestinian people.

Purchase the Collection

In this conversation, prepare to be moved and inspired by the stories of Palestinian women's sumud (steadfast perseverance) against the violence of occupation, patriarchy and dehumanization. Their narratives expose how colonial occupation is a gender-based crime inextricable from the repression of female self-determination. This conversation promises to be a tribute to the unbreakable spirit of Palestinian mothers who nurture profound love, clandestine schoolhouses, and revolutionary consciousness — even when all they have is the sanctity of their wombs.Ashira Ali Darwish worked for 15 years as a TV & Radio journalist and researcher in Palestine for the BBC, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. She is the founder of Catharsis Holistic Healing, a trauma therapy project pioneering a type of Sufi active meditation which draws its roots from ancestral and Indigenous knowledge. Her personal healing journey from full body paralysis with a severed spinal cord in 2012 has given her a deep insight into the process of recovery and healing. In 2021, she received the “ISABS Honours” from the Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science for her contribution to positive societal transformation.V (formerly Eve Ensler) is the  Tony Award-winning playwright, activist, performer, and author of the Obie award-winning theatrical phenomenon The Vagina Monologues, published in over 48 languages, performed in over 140 countries, and heralded by The New York Times as one of the “best American plays” of the past 25 years and that “no recent hour of theater has had a greater impact worldwide.”

Topics:


00:00 - Introduction
04:53 - Ashira’s Story
11:42 - In an Israeli Dungeon
19:44 - Bodily Harm & Oppression
26:01 - Stigma for Palestinian Women
32:00 - Impact of Occupation on Masculinity
34:18 - Can the Trauma Be Healed?
40:40 - Onus of Resilience
47:43 - Healing in Community
53:20 - The Power of Music
58:34 - Vision for New Palestine

Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member: https://45ta.short.gy/join-sand-podcast

In this episode we present excerpts from the recent conversation (June 2024) between Dr. Gabor Maté  and Tara Brach as part of SAND’s “Conversations on Palestine” around the premiere of the film Where Olive Trees Weep hosted by the directors of the film and co-founders of SAND, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo.

You can watch this full conversation and 22 others. SAND has created a program with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets and performers to complement the themes explored in the film and provide a larger historical, cultural and social context to the plight of the Palestinian people.

Purchase Conversations on Palestine

In this conversation, Gabor Maté and Buddhist teacher Tara Brach explored the harrowing situation in Gaza through the Bodhisattva path. They discussed the meaning of spirituality in the face of injustice and suffering, questioning the silence of many spiritual leaders regarding the Gaza crisis. Drawing from the Bodhisattva commitment to alleviate all beings’ suffering, they emphasized the importance of compassion, solidarity, and engaged spirituality in addressing the oppression and trauma faced by the Palestinian people. Their conversation served as an invitation to reassess our spiritual practices and embody the Bodhisattva spirit today, encouraging active solidarity with the suffering.

We appologize for any audio distortions from this conversation. This episode was recorded live on Zoom with some bad connection sounds throughout. 

Gabor Maté, M.D. is a specialist on trauma, addiction, stress and childhood development. After 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, Dr. Maté worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. Gabor is also the creator of a psychotherapeutic approach, Compassionate Inquiry, now studied by thousands of therapists, physicians, counselors, and others in over 80 countries.

Tara Brach is a meditation teacher, psychologist and author of several books including international bestselling Radical Acceptance, Radical Compassion and Trusting the Gold. Her teaching blends Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. Tara is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington and, together with Jack Kornfield, has co-founded Banyan and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program, which serves participants from 74 countries around the world.

Resources from the Episode


The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi
“What is Love Asking from Us: Reflections on Gaza, the West Bank and Israel” (Dec, 2023) by Tara Brach

Topics


00:00 - Introduction
02:50 - Tara’s History with Israel
06:26 - The Jewish Buddhist Connection
07:10 - Silence on Palestine
15:42 - Truth and Boddhisvata Path
17:38 - History of Buddhism and Social Justice
25:10 - What Does Love Demand at this Time?
33:18 - Deepening Our History Understanding
40:59 - Noble Eight Fold Path
49:17 - Jewish Critique of Zionism
50:26 - Grief
52:38 - Closing Thoughts

Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Dr. Rupa Marya discusses her work at the intersection of medicine, health, land, and justice. She explains the concept of deep medicine, which looks at the health impacts of colonialism and colonial capitalism and emphasizes the need to address the root causes of illness.Dr. Rupa Marya is a physician, activist, writer, and composer at UC, San Francisco. Her work intersects climate, health, and racial justice. As founder of the Deep Medicine Circle and co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition, she's committed to healing colonialism's wounds and addressing disease through structural change. Recognized with the Women Leaders in Medicine Award, Dr. Marya was a reviewer for the AMA's plan to embed racial justice. Governor Newsom appointed her to the Healthy California for All Commission to advance universal healthcare. Also a musician, she's toured 29 countries with her band, creating what Gil Scott-Heron called "Liberation Music”. Together with Raj Patel, she co-authored the international bestseller, Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice.

Links and Resources:


RupaMarya.org
Deep Medicine Circle
Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice by Raj Patel & Rupa Marya
“Discourse on Colonialism” by Aimé Césaire
“The Deep Medicine of Rehumanizing Palestinians” by Dr. Rupa Marya & Ghassan Abu-Sitta 
Where Olive Trees Weep (film)
Where Olive Trees Weep - Conversations on Palestine
“Work for Peace” by GIl Scott Heron

 

Topics:


00:00 - Introduction
02:01 - Meeting Dr. Marya
06:31 - Shallow vs Deep Medicine
11:58 - Balancing Deep Medicine and Immediate Health Crises
15:28 - Essential & Integrative of Medicine
19:48 - Media Narratives Around Health
25:32 - Colonialism & Healthcare
30:51 - Dehumanization
36:16 - The Power Mind Virus
40:19 - Imagining What’s Possible
44:16 - Narratives Supporting Genocide
50:46 - Heaviness, Hopefulness & Listening
53:37 - Protest Music in the Era of Big Media
56:01 - Closing

Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member.

Muslim Spirituality Illuminating the Path to Freedom: An exploration of how the spiritual heart of the Islamic tradition can inspire and fuel contemporary struggles for liberation, justice and humanity.

Through their unique lens, this panel of visionaries modeled how spiritual life is not an escape from systemic injustice, but a revolutionary process which strengthens our collective capacity to transform unjust realities. They discuss Islam’s deepest essence and the spiritual fortitude to remain anchored in the commitment to truth, beauty and universal human flourishing.

Today’s episode is a live talk as part of the World People’s Premiere of 21 days of conversations on Palestine with the release of the film Where Olive Trees Weep by SAND. Today’s talk is entitled Dancing in the Fire: Muslim Spirituality Illuminating the Path to Freedom with Farah El-Sharif, Ayesha Kajee, Seemi Bushra Ghazi and hosted by Daniel Foor.

This talk is part of a package of talks that includes the 21 days of conversation with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets, artists, and more, plus extended interviews from the film, a live Q&A with Dr. Gabor Maté and Ashira Darwish from a live screening in Oakland, CA, a film discussion guide, and six community conversations on Palestine.

To find out more about purchasing this package and supporting the mission of SAND and the film, visit WhereOliveTreesWeep.com.

Dr. Farah El-Sharif is a writer, educator and research scholar. She received her PhD from Harvard University where she specialized in West African intellectual Islamic history. She earned degrees from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and served as Associate Director of the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford University, where she is currently a Visiting Scholar. Her writings have appeared in CNN, Newlines, and Muftah. Read more of her work on her Substack sermonsatcourt@substack.com

Ayesha Kajee is a human rights and governance consultant based in Johannesburg, Ayesha Kajee has conducted research across much of sub-Saharan Africa, and has observed elections and peace processes in several countries. Her published research and opinion-analyses appear in various academic and news media, and she is often called upon by media houses for comment on topical issues. She was previously the founding director of the International Human Rights Exchange program at Wits University in Johannesburg, where she also lectured in Politics and International Relations. Ayesha briefly directed South Africa’s Freedom of Expression Institute before leaving full-time work to care for an invalid parent. She now works on a freelance basis. Her focus areas include transitional justice, media and media rights, African political economy, gender justice, migration and environmental rights.

Seemi Bushra Ghazi is  lecturer in Classical Arabic at the University of British Columbia, specializes in Islamic literature, culture, and spirituality. A student in the Rifai Marufi lineage, she performs traditional Islamic arts, including Qur'anic recitation featured on BBC, CBC, NPR, and PBS. Her work appears in "Approaching Islam: the Early Revelations" and "A New Encyclopedia of Islam." Born in London and of South Asian origin, Ghazi studied at prestigious institutions in the U.S. and Middle East. Deeply involved in interfaith work, she hosts a monthly Unity Dhikr in Vancouver and is a founding board member of the Rumi Society and Vancouver Interspiritual Centre Society. Her expertise spans Islam, gender, and cross-cultural understanding

Daniel Foor is a doctor of psychology, experienced ritualist, and the author of Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing. He is a practicing Muslim and initiate in the Òrìṣà tradition of Yoruba-speaking West Africa who has also learned from Mahayan Buddhism and the older ways of his English and German ancesto