Catholic University Holds Interfaith Meditation Event

Common Ground for People of All Faiths

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2009— The recent deaths of three people meditating for hours in an Arizona “sweat lodge” shined a spotlight on the extreme variety of methods people use in pursuit of well-being, wisdom, healing, or stress management.

An October 30 conference at Santa Clara University will explore the positive side of contemplative practices, including how various religions incorporate meditative contemplation into their faith: “Centering prayer” for Christians; the five daily prayers for Muslims; the Sabbath observance for Jews; the well-known meditative mindfulness of Zen Buddhism.

“Spirituality and contemplative practices from the various religious and spiritual traditions can be an excellent tool for stress management, but they are often overlooked by health care and mental health care professionals who have historically distrusted organized religion,” said Tom Plante, professor of psychology and director of the spirituality and health institute at Santa Clara University. Plante is also the editor of the book based on the conference, Contemplative Practices in Action: Diverse Paths for Well Being, Wisdom, and Healing. “This conference will educate practitioners and others on how to share or educate their clients about the healing tools they possess within their own faith traditions.”