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Michael Bernard Beckwith
If it is so as stated by Emerson
that every institution is but the lengthened shadow of one person, then the
Agape International Spiritual Center, Agape University of Transformational
Studies and Leadership, Association for Global New Thought, and the Season for
Nonviolence are indeed extensions of Michael Bernard Beckwith and his vision of
a world joined together by humankind's highest development spiritually,
educationally, scientifically, governmentally, economically and socially.
Dr. Beckwith's life is a living
testament to building community. In the 1970's he began a journey that to this
day embraces the world's major wisdom teachings of East and West. "I greatly admire what you are doing to bring
about the Beloved Community," the late Coretta Scott King wrote to him, "which
is certainly what my dear husband worked for and ultimately gave his life."
In 1986 Dr. Beckwith founded the Agape International
Spiritual Center, located in the Los Angeles headquarters of the Agape Movement,
a non-sectarian community which today counts a membership of tens of thousands
locally, a world-wide community of live video streamers, and hundreds of
thousands of global friends.
Agape's local community outreach
programs feed the homeless, serve incarcerated individuals and their families,
partnership with community service organizations active in children's schools
and homes for youth at risk, support the arts, and advocate the preservation of
our planet's environmental resources.
Agape's global humanitarian programs provide food programs, retraining
programs, schools, libraries, orphanages, hospitals, clinics, homes for unwed
mothers, micro-loans, financial support during natural disasters, and human
advocacy. Locations range from 8 African
countries to Afghanistan, Bosnia, Columbia, Ecuador, India, Iraq, Kosovo, and
Sri Lanka.
An eminent representative within
diverse religious traditions, in February 2012, Dr. Beckwith addressed the
United Nations General Assembly as part of its annual World Interfaith Harmony
Week. As co-founder and president of the Association for Global New Thought,
Beckwith is chair of the Gandhi King Season for Nonviolence which was launched
at the United Nations in 1998 and is active in more than 100 U.S. cities in 40 states,
and in 10 countries. About its mission
the Dalai Lama has said: "Both Gandhi
and Martin Luther King are inspiring examples of the power and truth of
nonviolence and the actions that arise from them. The Season for Nonviolence is
a very good tool to remind us of their witness, and also the large unfinished
work we have together in transforming awareness on our planet." Dr. Beckwith
guides activities including AGNT's Awakened World Conference, as well its
forum, "Engaged Spirituality for the 21st Century" in partnership
with the International Interreligious Peace Council which addresses global
healing. AGNT has also been privileged
to be the convener of three Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
of Tibet.
Beckwith's renown as a harbinger
of the world's quest for peace has drawn into his visionary orbit other leading
catalysts of change including Dr. C.T. Vivian, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne of Sri
Lanka, Dr. Robert Thurman, professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at
Columbia University, and Dr. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary-General
of the United Nations.
Dr. Beckwith is a sought after
meditation teacher and facilitator of conferences and seminars on the Life
Visioning ProcessTM (LVP), which he originated. He is the author of Life Visioning~A Transformative Process for Activating Your Unique
Gifts and Highest Potential, Spiritual Liberation~Fulfilling Your Soul's
Potential, The Answer Is You, Inspirations of the
Heart, Forty Day Mind Fast-Soul Feast, and A Manifesto of Peace. He
has appeared on The Oprah Show, Larry King Live, Tavis Smiley, and in his own PBS Special, The Answer Is You. Every Friday at 1 pm PST, thousands tune into
his radio show on KPFK, Wake up - The
Sound of Transformation.
His humanitarian activities have
attracted to him accolades from many organizations, a few of which are:
2010 The Light of God Expressing in Society, Unity
International
2009 Ebony Magazine, Power 150 Award
2009 Celebrity Society Magazine, Power in
Spirituality Award
2009 Gamble Tree of Life Award
2009 BraveHeart Award for Inspiration
2009 Hollywood Note Foundation, Visionary
Spotlight Award
2008 The Maharishi Award
2007 Model Citizen Award
2006 Black Aids Institute Hero Award
2004 The Africa Achievement Peace Award
2003 Dr. Beckwith and Agape's works were read into
the 107th Congressional Record
2002 California Legislature Assembly Award for
Meritorious Service to Humanity
2002 World Festival of Sacred Music Local Hero
Award
2001 Gandhi-King-Ikeda Award from Morehouse College
2000 Induction into the Martin Luther King Board
of Preachers at Morehouse College
For more information visit www.agapelive.com
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