ONA News March 2006

 

Spirituality . . .
   for global survival
Education . . .
   for global community
Action . . .
   for global justice

Spirituality Near the South Pole

By Lilian L. Burlando

During the past twenty years I have frequently attended various Study Centers in USA and Europe, sometimes on scholarships, other times by invitation because of my profession as a clinical psychologist. At the same time, in all my journeys, my desire for spiritual nourishment has taken me to Ecumenical Institutes and Meditation Centers. As a result of this process, in the year 2000 I envisioned a project which grew out of my experiences at the many Centers I visited (e.g. Pendle Hill, Schumacher College in the UK, Shalem Institute in Maryland, and others). “Why not a Study and Meditation Center in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego?,” I thought.

So I had a space built, attached to my home, with its own entrance and with a view of the mountains : thus “Paz y Armonía: Centro de Estudio, Meditación y Acción” was born. This Center is an innovative place and offering in the region. It has a profound spiritual sense in tune with Universalists and Quakers. It's a place for people interested in Philosophy, Theology, Psychology, Ecology; and a place to reflect and share opinions while providing basic nurture for our souls through meditation. (The practice of meditation grounds us in the present - we use different techniques from various sources, such as Buddhism, Hassidism, Christianity, Quakerism, etc.) Thus people come not only to increase their intellectual knowledge, but also to strengthen their spiritual life.

We offer workshops focusing on topics such as “Grief and Loss,” “Love and Sexuality,” “Analyzing Our Values and Beliefs,” “Simple Living,” “World religions,” “Burnout” etc. We invite those who share our values to join us and bring new insights; so we have a variety of facilitators during the year- some local and some from afar. This is possible because Ushuaia is now a Mecca for tourists.

The Center has room for a class of about twenty, but sessions with a much larger attendance are held at universities, hotels or schools. Since we are aware that service is an integral part of spiritual development, our program includes the training of volunteers as community trauma resource people. These inspiring volunteers serve as companions for others in need, both as listeners and helpers. This has developed so well that we are now in the process of adding a Hospice program to our Center.

Although I began this project by myself, there are now other people actively involved in this mission. Doctors and professors may participate as resource people in discussion groups. Circles of fifteen or twenty people may gather for meditation on a regular basis. A dozen volunteers may meet to share their experiences as caregivers.

Besides, the Center has long offered One-day Spiritual Retreats and these have been very well received, so now we are feeling the need for longer term events. We are beginning Five Day-Retreats already and will take these to a new venue which is near lakes and woods. There is a beautiful Inn near our Center where a group of 20 people or so can spend said time together, with no other guests or interruptions. Till now, all our work has been in Spanish, but these longer projects will be held in both Spanish and English.

Most of our events are free of charge, in keeping with our purpose of building spiritual community, but when there are expenses, we so ask for anonymous contributions.

Note: The new, longer retreats, of course, will require attendees to pay for their food and lodging at the Inn, but even in that case, we will try to find hospitality for those who are called to take part but do not have all the resources.

Lilian L. Burlando was born in Buenos Aires, (1937) but after having lived in various parts of Argentina and abroad, she now lives at the southern tip of South America, at Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. From a Catholic background, Lilian's ”adult chosen faith” is liberal with special sympathy for Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, and Buddhist traditions. She is a clinical psychologist, university professor, spiritual nurturer, and founder of a Center for Study, Meditation and Service in Tierra del Fuego. Lilian keeps sensitive to divine spirit through meditation, contemplation, spiritual readings, companionship and service. She enjoys close contact with nature which is one reason she moved to Ushuaia. She enjoys her family of five children and nineteen grandchildren, as well as practicing her chosen profession.