Foxhollow, EnlightenNext to Host Spiritual and Cultural Celebration02:30PM / Thursday, July 01, 2010
LENOX, Mass. — The 220-acre property at Foxhollow will be the venue for a day-long spiritual and cultural celebration hosted by EnlightenNext, featuring a dialogue on spiritual activism with Swami Chidanand Saraswati from Rishikesh, India and EnlightenNext founder Andrew Cohen, a three-course gourmet vegetarian buffet, and a free evening world-class jazz concert on the lawn on Friday, July 30.
Saraswati, who will be in the United States as part of a global tour, will be a special guest at the event and participate with Cohen in the talk "Spiritually Enlightened Activism: Changing the World from the Inside Out." Saraswati is the founder of the Indian Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF), an international nonprofit organization that supports schools, women’s vocational training, medical clinics, and orphanages, as well as the president of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, one of India's largest spiritual institutions. He is also a recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian Award.
Designed with an "open house" format, the event allows guests to visit Foxhollow at any point during the day. The event will include a gourmet vegetarian buffet for purchase, prepared by executive chef and owner of Kosmic Cooking catering Katherine Miller, and an outdoor concert featuring Israeli jazz-rock guitarist Oz Noy, five-time Gibson Female Jazz Artist of the Year Award-winner Leni Stern, and the Berkshire based jazz-funk-rock band Unfulfilled Desires, who will appear upon return from two performances in Paris.
Bob Voss, EnlightenNext’s chief executive officer, said the diverse event is reflective of the different ways people can contribute to creating the culture of higher values.
"Our annual July 30th celebration, which we are now calling ‘Evolutionary Enlightenment Day,’ marks an important milestone in the development and unfolding of our work at EnlightenNext," said Voss, noting that multimedia presentations and displays at the event will better explain these principles. "This is a day when we reflect on our work and the impact we want to have in addressing with others the many concerns and issues we are facing in today’s world."
"Although we have held five events open to the community in the past, this year we want to really throw our doors open to share and celebrate with our friends, neighbors, and associates far and wide. That positive, creative spirit that is the fuel for all the work we are doing," Voss continued. "The day of activities ranging from a dialogue on spiritually enlightened activism to a delicious vegetarian buffet and lots of fantastic music and good company is our offering back to the local community and beyond."
The event will kick off at noon on Friday, July 30 and continue with musical performances ongoing into the evening, beginning at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone, but EnlightenNext requests that guests RSVP to attend the public talk or gourmet meal by emailing eeday@enlightennext.org. For more information, visit www.enlightennext.org/eeday or call 413-637-6000.
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