Second Annual Compassion Conference
April 18, 2024
The Center for Compassion and Creativity in partnership with
The Albert Schweitzer Institute
Exploring compassionate responses to war, polarization, and climate change.
Keynote Speaker
Scarlett Lewis from the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT
Mt Carmel Auditorium (CCE101)
Live stream: https://quinnipiac.zoom.us/j/98885530059
Conference Schedule
(Music Lyrics Below)
9:00 - 9:30 — WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
David Fryson, Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
9:30- 10:45 — POLITICAL POLARIZATION
Opening Music, O virtus Sapientie - Susan Altabet and Eileen Clark
Setting a Compassionate Mindstate - Megan Mook
Panel Discussion Moderated by Mohammad Elahee - Daniele Botti, Andri Smith, Candice Travis, Kim O'Neill, Venerable Shimbo.
Compassion Phrases - Megan Mook
Closing Music, Xin jin (Heart Sutra) - Stephen Dydo on Qin
11:00 - 12:15 — CLIMATE CHANGE: Preparing for the Future
Opening Music, Whose Garden Was This? - Susan Altabet and Eileen Clark
Setting a Compassionate Mindstate - Megan Mook
Panel Discussion Moderated By Sean Duffy - Sarah Lawson, Rena Judd, Ari Perez, Rebekah Stein, Lee Barstow
Compassion Phrases - Megan Mook
Closing Music, Dakota Hymn - Susan Altabet and Eileen Clark
12:30 - 1:00 — KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation
1:00 - 1:45 — Lunch, Music and Conversation
Musical performances by George Sprengelmeyer, Gary Pandolfi and Tim Dansdill
2:00 - 3:15 — ARMED CONFLICT
Opening Music, Kongzi du yi (Confucius Reads the Book of Changes) - Stephen Dydo on Qin
Setting a Compassionate Mindstate - Megan Mook
Panel Discussion Moderated by Anat Biletzki - Jen Sacco, David Valone, Fodei Batty, Venerable Lobsang Tendrol
Compassion Phrases - Megan Mook
Closing Music, Dona Nobis Pacem - Susan Altabet and Eileen Clark
3:30 - 4:45 — ACTIVISM: Making a Positive Change
Opening Music, Beatus Vir - Susan Altabet and Eileen Clark
Setting a Compassionate Mindstate - Megan Mook
Panel Discussion Moderated by Scarlette Lewis - JT Torres, Joanne Wilcox, Melissa Kaplan, Megan Mook
Compassion Phrases - Megan Mook
Closing Music, Now I Walk In Beauty - Susan Altabet and Eileen Clark
4:45 - 5:00 — CLOSING REMARKS
Many thanks to….
Our Keynote: Scarlett Lewis
Our participants: Mohammad Elahee, Daniele Botti, Andri Smith, Candice Travis, Kim O'Neill, Venerable Shimbo, Sean Duffy, Sarah Lawson, Rena Judd, Ari Perez, Rebekah Stein, Lee Barstow, Anat Biletzki, Jen Sacco, David Valone, Fodei Batty, Venerable Lobsang Tendrol, Scarlette Lewis, JT Torres, Joanne Wilcox, Melissa Kaplan, Megan Mook
Our musicians: Eileen Clark (soprano); Susan Altabet (alto); Stephen Dydo (qin; guitar); Gary Pandolfi, Tim Dansdill, George Sprenglemeyer
Our meditation guide: Megan Mook
Quinnipiac University: David Fryson
Albert Schweitzer Institute: Sean Duffy, Anat Biletzki
Center for Compassion and Creativity: Susan Altabet, Stephen Dydo, Megan Mook
Song Texts and Contemplations
By Panel Topic
Political Polarization Panel
O virtus Sapientie
By Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
O virtus Sapientie
que circuiens circuisti
comprehendendo omina
in una via que habet vitam
tres alas habens
quarum una in altum volat
et altera de terra sudat
et tercia undique volat.
Laus tibi sit sicut tedecet,
o Sapientia
O power of Wisdom
which circles circling,
uniting all
in one journey that holds life,
you wield three wings,
one soars into heaven,
and another draws moisture from the earth,
and the third flies everywhere.
Praise be to you, as is your due,
O Wisdom.
Pozzi Escot translation
Compassion Phrases
May I be kind to myself. May I be kind to others.
Climate Change Panel
Whose Garden Was This?
By Tom Paxton (b. 1937)
Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely
Did it have flowers? I've seen pictures of flowers
And I'd love to have smelled one.
Whose river was this? You say it ran freely
Blue was its color, I've seen blue in some pictures
And I'd love to have been there.
Chorus
Tell me again, I need to know
The forests had trees, the meadows were green
The oceans were blue, and birds really flew
Can you swear that was true?
Whose gray sky was this? Or was it a blue one?
At night there were breezes, I've heard records of breeze
And I'd love to have felt one
Whose forest was this? And why is it empty?
You say there were bird songs And squirrels in the branches
But why is it silent?
Dakota Hymn, LAQUIPARLE
By Joseph Renville (1779-1846)
Wakantanka taku nitawa tankaya qa ota;
mahpiya kin eyahnake ça,
maka kin he duowanca;
mniowanca śbeya wanke cin, hena oyakihi.
Many and great, O God, are your works, maker of earth and sky.
Your hands have set the heavens with stars;
Your fingers spread the mountains and plains.
Lo, at your word the waters were formed; deep seas obey your voice.
Translation by Philip Frazier
Compassion Phrases
May I be kind to myself. May I be kind to others
Armed Conflict Panel
Dona Nobis Pacem - Traditional Round
Give us peace.
Compassion Phrases
May I be of true benefit to others — with the recognition that self and others aren't as separate as they seem.
Activism Panel
Beatus Vir
By Orlando di Lasso (1530?-1594)
Beatus vir qui in sapientia morabitur,
et qui in justitia sua meditabitur,
et in sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei.
Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom,
and that shall meditate in his justice,
and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.
Sirach 14:22, Douay-Rheims translation
Now I Walk In Beauty, Navajo Prayer
By Gregg Smith (1931-2016)
Now I walk in beauty,
Beauty is before me,
Beauty is behind me,
Above and below me.
Compassion Phrases
May I be of true benefit to others — with the recognition that self and others aren't as separate as they seem.