Gibran Chair 2011-2012 Annual Report

The George and Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace The Department of Anthropology and The Center for Heritage Resource Studies

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012

1117B CHINCOTEAGUE HALL * UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND * COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND 20742 TEL: 301 405 3711 * FAX: 301 314 8581 * BUSHRUI@.UMD.EDU 1Â

Annual Report on the Activities of The George and Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Prepared by the Gibran Chair Staff The Department of Anthropology The Center for International Development and Conflict Management The University of Maryland 2011-2012

Contents Second International Conference on Kahlil Gibran

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12th Biennial Juliet Hollister Awards Ceremony

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Cultural Understanding and the Abrahamic Traditions Project

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A Crisis of Perception: Food For Thought—A Lecture by Professor David Cadman

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Elizabeth II, the Jubilee and the Heir to the Throne

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Annual Rihani Lecture: Ameen Rihani’s Concept of the Unity of Being

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The World’s Favorite Love Poems

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William Butler Yeats’s Search for a Spiritual Philosophy

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Retrieving Our Spiritual Heritage

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The Prophet: A New Annotated Edition

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Abbas Effendi

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The Literary Heritage of the Arabs: An Anthology

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The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race

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Major Awards and Honors

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Major Lectures, International Interviews

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Religion and Ethics Newsweekly: PBS Interview on Kahlil Gibran

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Baltimore Sun Interview

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“Heart and Soul: The Man Behind the Prophet” – BBC Interview on Kahlil Gibran

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Voice of America Interview

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Al-Hewar Center Interviews

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Second International Conference on Kahlil Gibran “Reading Gibran In an Age of Globalization and Conflict” 3 – 6 May 2012 The Second International Conference on Kahlil Gibran, entitled “Reading Gibran In an Age of Globalization and Conflict,” was organized by The George and Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace in association with a group of distinguished organizations. The conference focused on Gibran’s life and work and also explored Gibran’s art and artistic contributions.

The conference was attended by Gibran scholars from twenty different countries, representing the many languages into which Gibran has been translated. During the conference sessions, particular emphasis was placed on recent research and translations into new languages. As a direct result of the conference, Gibran’s work has been translated into at least two new languages. Mrs. Hilda de Windt Ayoubi has nearly completed her translation of Gibran’s The Prophet into Papiamentu, one of the main languages of the island of Curacao. Gibran’s Collected Works have also been translated into Hindi.

In addition to assessing Gibran’s contribution to twentieth-century literature, the conference examined the works of his contemporaries, Ameen Rihani and Mikhail Naimy, and the issues they addressed connected with the theme of globalization and conflict, such as the unique role of Lebanon in the Middle East and the world.

The highlight of the conference was a paper on Abdul Baha, presented by Mrs. Susan Halstead. Inspired by Mrs. Halstead’s paper, we have developed a project for this year, entitled “Kahlil Gibran and Abdul Baha”, to define and understand the circumstances and effects of their meeting, ultimately resulting in the publication of a new book.

12th Biennial Juliet Hollister Awards Ceremony 16 October 2012 In recognition of her distinguished services to the education and empowerment of women throughout the world, May Rihani was awarded by the Temple of Understanding, the Juliet Hollister Award. The Temple of Understanding, one of the most prestigious international interfaith organizations, invited Professor Suheil Bushrui to be the honorary chair of the event. Professor Bushrui serves as a member of the Council of Trustees and has been very active in the Temple of Understanding’s cultural and educational programs.

Cultural Understanding and the Abrahamic Traditions Project The event also launched the Temple of Understanding’s new project: “Cultural Understanding and the Abrahamic Traditions Project”. The purpose of this new multi-part video series is to “introduce an innovative model for understanding the cultural diversity of the Abrahamic traditions and their influences on Western civilization.” Serving on the Development Committee, Professor Bushrui will be responsible with the other members for the development and review of the cultural material pertaining to this project.

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A Crisis of Perception: Food for Thought—A Lecture by Professor David Cadman 24 October 2012 Professor David Cadman delivered a lecture on His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’s work Harmony to a gathering of over 40 students, faculty, and supporters of the Gibran Chair. His lecture, entitled “A Crisis of Perception: Food for Thought” explored The Prince’s ideas on food security and the role of farmers in today’s world. Professor Cadman was the Chairman of The Prince of Wales’s Foundation from 1999-2001, and he represents His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on the Executive Committee of the Friends of Mount Athos and is a Trustee of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts.

Elizabeth II, The Jubilee, and the Heir to the Throne (Published in al Hayat International Newspaper, 2012) Following the four day celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, Professor Bushrui published an article, entitled “Elizabeth II, The Jubilee, and the Heir to the Throne”, in the foremost international daily newspaper in the Arabic-speaking world, al Hayat International Newspaper. His article, which commented on the Queen’s 60-year reign and the role of Prince Charles in leading Britain’s future, was widely circulated in the Arab world and was also translated into English. Professor Bushrui received several responses from a variety of people world-wide. One response read: “I wish [Professor Bushrui] were the spiritual advisor of our Arab heads of state. We could have avoided lots of violence and misery”.

Annual Rihani Lecture: Ameen Rihani’s Concept of the Unity of Being A Lecture by Mr. Mahmoud Chreih 2 December 2011 The 2011 Ameen Rihani Annual Lecture, “Ameen Rihani’s Concept of the Unity of Being”, was given by the distinguished Arab poet, critic, translator, and media personality, Mr. Mahmoud Chreih. His lecture on the concept of “Unity of Being” was well received by an audience of 40 friends of the Gibran Chair.

The Ameen Rihani Annual Lecture Series is designed to address the thought and achievement of Ameen Rihani (1876-1940), as reflected in his English and Arabic writings. It concentrates on his published and unpublished works in both languages, and explores other relevant and important material in international archives. This lecture series addresses, in general terms, the major issues discussed by Ameen Rihani such as East West relations, the future of the Arab world, and inter-religious and inter-faith understanding.

The 2011 Ameen Rihani Annual Lecture, “Ameen Rihani’s Concept of the Unity of Being”, was given by the distinguished Arab poet, critic, translator, and media personality, Mr. Mahmoud Chreih. His lecture on the concept of “Unity of Being” was well received by an audience of 40 friends of the Gibran Chair.

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The World’s Favorite Love Poems (To be published by Oneworld, London, January 2013) Love and poetry have been intimately entwined since the dawn of language itself. In this charming anthology, Professor Suheil Bushrui presents a varied collection of the world’s favorite love poetry from around the globe and down through the ages. The first compilation with a truly international coverage, this inimitable volume contains nearly two hundred works from some of the foremost writers in history, including Goethe, Shakespeare, Ibn Arabi, and Rumi, as well as poetry from the indigenous peoples of Africa, Australasia, and the Americas.

Oneworld Publications contacted Professor Bushrui and announced that they will be printing a new edition of this book in January, 2013. A special book launch has been planned to take place at a prestigious restaurant in Washington D.C. in February, 2013.

William Butler Yeats’s Search for a Spiritual Philosophy (To be published by The Temenos Academy, December 2012) When Yeats wrote “most of us who are writing books in Ireland today have some kind of a spiritual philosophy” he was, of course, making a remark particularly relevant to himself. For Yeats, that personal philosophy underwent continuous formulation and reformulation throughout his life. In the process, he drew not only on the culture and philosophies of his native Ireland - although Ireland always remained a focal point on which other influences converged - but ranged widely through the cultural heritage of other nations for inspiration and ideas.

Organized as a tribute to Her Majesty's recent visit to Ireland and the reconciliation between Ireland and Great Britain, this publication by The Temenos Academy, entitled William Butler Yeats and His Search for a Spiritual Philosophy, was originally delivered by Professor Suheil Bushrui on July 7, 2011. In this paper, Professor Bushrui traces the development of the great Irish poet’s spiritual philosophy and described how it drew upon influences from India, Japan, and Arabia.

Retrieving Our Spiritual Heritage (To be published by Bah{’í Publishing Trust, 2012) In Retrieving Our Spiritual Heritage, Professor Suheil Bushrui calls for interfaith dialogue and focuses on some of the timeless shared values of many of the world’s religions - such as love, selflessness, and generosity - but also delves into how these values can be applied to the many conflicts and crises facing the world today. Covering such topics as education, globalization, peace, and the environment, these collected essays evoke the timeless wisdom of the world’s religions as well as the voices of the poets and scholars of the past, addressing the subject matter at the level of high principle and universal values. The result is a deeply moving and thought provoking call to humanity to place the human spirit at the heart of discourse concerning the vital issues of our time.

With a foreword by Dean John Townshend of the College of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Maryland, and an introduction written by Dr. John Grayzel, this important collection of speeches is expected to be published before the end of this year.

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The Prophet: A New Annotated Edition (Published by Oneworld, London, 2012) Kahlil Gibran described The Prophet, his greatest work, as "the only thought in me that will make me worthy to stand in the light of the sun." Infused with insight, hope, inspiration and a remarkable compassion for the human condition, this little book of teachings explores the inner journey, the yearning of the soul for reunion with the Infinite. In language evocative of the English Romantics and the Sufis of Islam, Gibran interwove Islamic and Christian influences to capture a glimpse of "the many things yearning for expression in the silent hearts of men and in their souls." The clarity, universality and timelessness of its themes and the power of its poetry have assured its place as one of the great classics of our time. The Prophet, first published in 1923, is regarded as Gibran’s greatest work. This publication is a new annotated edition, with an extensive and informative introduction by Professor Suheil Bushrui.

Abbas Effendi (Published by Al-Kamel, Beirut, 2010) and its Farsi translation, entitled `Abdu'l-Bahá (To be published in 2012) One of Professor Bushrui’s most recent publications, Abbas Effendi, has received much international attention in conjunction with recent events in the Arab World. In his book, Professor Bushrui explores in particular the contribution made by 'Abdu'l-Baha Abbas Effendi, eldest son of Baha'u'llah.

During His stay in Alexandria, between September 1910 and August 1911, 'Abdu'l-Baha conversed with Egyptians from all walks of life about the fundamental principles required for the building of a peaceful and prosperous society. “I thought it was important to present 'Abdu'l-Baha, not necessarily as a religious leader," says Professor Bushrui, "but more as a great mind who was able to convey an understanding of the importance of religion at a time when materialistic civilization was prevailing in Europe and America, and the Muslim world was overcome with political and other ambitions.” “I have to say – even for me as a lifelong Baha'i – through the writing of this book I have come to be far more aware of the unique personality of 'Abdu'l-Baha and His immense achievement in promoting cultural and religious dialogue between the worlds of the East and the West," says Professor Bushrui.

At the request of the Universal House of Justice, Professor Bushrui has been working with a Persian translator to publish a Farsi translation of the book. The translation is now in the final stages of editing, and is expected to be published by the end of this year.

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The Literary Heritage of the Arabs: An Anthology (Published by Saqi Books, Beirut, 2012) This recent publication samples some of the finest literature produced by Arab writers in the last 1,500 years. The selection of poetry and prose spans many genres and styles, conveying the full range of Arab experiences and perspectives - from the tragic to the comic, the wistful to the mystical, the courtly to the lowly, and the Arab East to Andalusia. The reader of this anthology will become aware of the extent to which this vibrant and distinctive literary heritage has always been both receptive to the currents from neighboring cultures, and influential in the evolution of other literary traditions, in South Asia, Western Europe, and beyond. Thus, the reader will discover, behind local colors and different literary conventions, our common humanity.

Authors included are Al-Mutanabbi, Al-Ghazzali, Ibn Arabi, Ibn Battuta, Ibn Khaldun, Ameen Rihani, Kahlil Gibran, Taha Hussein, Naguib Mahfouz, Mahmoud Darwish, Adonis, Salma Khadra Al-Jayyusi, Fudwa Tuqan and Nizar Qabbani.

The book, edited by Professor Bushrui and Professor James Malarkey has been nominated by the publishers for the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the foremost literary prize in the Arab world for outstanding work done for Arab literary and social life. To be nominated, even without winning the award, is a great honor and recognition of the work done.

The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race: An Introduction to the World’s Religions (Published by Oneworld, Oxford, 2010)

and its Arabic translation entitled,

Tourathuna al-Rouhy (Published by Saqi Books, Beirut, 2011)

Recipient of the first Temple of Understanding Interfaith Education Award, The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race, published into English and Arabic, draws on Professor Suheil Bushrui’s two decades of work in interfaith reconciliation and was authored in collaboration with Mehrdad Massoudi, Michael Dravis, James Madaio, and Michael Russo. The book offers a methodological foundation for the field of interfaith studies and interreligious dialogue and includes chapters on the religious and spiritual traditions of the past and the present. The spiritual and religious traditions covered in the text include tribal religious traditions (such as the Native American and indigenous African religions), the ancient Egyptian religions, the ancient Greek religions, the ancient MesoAmerican religions, the Hindu religion, the Buddhist spiritual tradition, the Jain spiritual tradition, the Sikh faith, the Taoist tradition, the Confucian tradition, the Shinto religion, the Zoroastrian faith, the Jewish faith, the Christian faith, the Muslim faith, and the Bahá’í faith.

Its recent translation into Arabic, under the title Tourath unah-al Ruhi, has been met with astounding success in the Arab world. For the first time, Islam is presented with 16 other major religious traditions in one volume. The Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland has decided to send a copy of this book to every Arab head of state, a tremendous achievement both for the Kahlil Gibran Chair, and the University of Maryland.

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Major Awards and Honors The Tipperary Peace Convention, an organization promoting the concept of peace through music, song, discussion and debate, recently appointed Professor Bushrui as “Ambassador of Good-Will” and invited him to attend a very important ceremony on July 5, 2012 in Ireland, where the most recent President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and her husband Martin McAleese officially received the Peace award

Major Lectures, International Interviews Professor Suheil Bushrui continues to lecture on a myriad of topics to a variety of different audiences across the United States and Western Europe.

Religion and Ethics Newsweekly: PBS Interview on Kahlil Gibran October 2012 Mr. David Tereshcuk, the Contributing Producer of Religion and Ethics Newsweekly for PBS Network, contacted Professor Bushrui in late August to schedule an interview for a new TV series entitled “Religion and Ethics Newsweekly”.

The piece will be about the lasting legacy of Kahlil Gibran as a poet and an international, interfaith spiritual influence. The interview will hopefully take place in October of this year.

Baltimore Sun Interview August 11, 2012 After the shooting at the Sikh temple and the burning of the mosque in Missouri, Professor Bushrui was interviewed by the Baltimore Sun in connection with a question they had about how isolated events at local religious communities can reverberate throughout the nation's broader interfaith community, and how dialogue about cultural understanding and conflict resolution can be started with police, as well as other members of the community. The article, written by Kevin Rector, was entitled “Sikh Killings Spur Concern Among Area’s Religious Minorities”.

“Heart and Soul: The Man Behind the Prophet” – BBC Interview on Kahlil Gibran May 4-7, 2012 In early 2012, Professor Suheil Bushrui was contacted by the BBC to be a part of a major documentary on The Prophet, the most famous work of the Lebanese-American poet and artist, Kahlil Gibran. But whilst his words have been quoted in countless weddings and funerals, and inspired world leaders like Indira Gandhi, Gibran the man, remains an enigma to many people. Who were the key influences on him? How much of his own life experiences are in the book? Why did he never marry, even though love was central to everything he wrote? And what is the secret of The Prophet's enduring and universal appeal?

Ian Skelly, BBC broadcaster and radio personality, visits Gibran's home village in the mountains of Lebanon, and retraces his steps to find out how a young boy, who was raised in poverty and received little formal education as a child, went on to

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become one of the most popular writers of the century.

Professor Bushrui commented on Gibran’s life and work, focusing on the various influences of his family, teachers, and friends on his famous book during an interview with Ian Skelly at the BBC Studios in Washington D.C. The documentary, which included a significant contribution from Professor Bushrui’s interview, aired from May 4-7, 2012.

Voice of America Interview April 25, 2012 Professor Bushrui was also contacted by the Voice of America to participate in a program entitled “Big Ideas Podcast with Susan Yackee: The Legacy of Kahlil Gibran”, which delved into the thinking and legacy of Kahlil Gibran, as well as the issuing of the Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards.

Al-Hewar Center Interviews April 14, 2012 & November 9, 2012 The Al-Hewar Center, an independent forum for dialogue among the various members of the Arab American community, focused on bringing about mutual understanding between the Arab community and the American society at large, invited Professor Suheil Bushrui.to give two presentations: one, in April of this year, focused on the new Arabic edition of his book, The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race, and the other, in November of 2011, focused on the publication of Professor Bushrui’s book Abbas Effendi.

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