In this guided meditation using the spiritual practice of Ignatian Examen, we contemplate the most basic elements of Ubuntu.  We begin by recalling our personal identity (i.e. personal characteristics, racial and cultural identities and socio-economic abilities) in the presence of God. We then move toward recalling our interpersonal identity in the presence of God, how our personal characteristics and abilities depend negatively and positively upon particular communities and others. Lastly, we meditate on the difficult exercise of 1 John 4:20: “Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.”

This guided meditation session expands on The Very Rev. Michael Battle, PhD's keynote session on Oct. 30, titled, Ubuntu: I in You and You in Me.
Summit attendees are welcome to register for one or both of these sessions. 

The Very Rev. Michael Battle, Ph.D., founder of the Peace Battle Institute, was given one of the highest Anglican Church distinctions as “Six Preacher,” by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. A distinction given to only a few who demonstrate great dedication to the church that goes back to 16th century England and Thomas Cranmer. Battle has published eleven books, including his latest: Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor. Battle is a highly sought after speaker, teacher, theologian, Anglican/Episcopal priest and peacemaker.  In his Peace Battle Institute he works on subjects of diversity, spirituality, prayer, race and reconciliation. In addition, Battle has served as vice president to the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Arun Gandhi’s Institute for Nonviolence. Battle and his wife, Raquel, were married by Archbishop Tutu and are parents to two daughters, Sage and Bliss, and a son, Zion. All of whom were baptized by Archbishop Tutu as well.

CBD 2023: iPause Guided practice #9, Practicing Ubuntu with The Very Rev. Michael Battle, PhD is part of the FREE Contemplation by Design Summit, Oct. 24- Nov. 2, 2023.

The full Summit schedule is posted at: http://contemplation.stanford.edu/summit. All events are FREE and online.

Registration opens September 12, 2023