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Vision Cafe - June 2007
Living Luminaries
Review by Stephen Simon
Gotham Metro Studios' fascinating new documentary Living Luminaries (On The Serious Pursuit of Happiness) details a young man's journey as he seeks to discover true happiness from extraordinary luminaries. We are treated to Marianne Williamson's brilliant and compassionate insights, don Miguel Ruiz's mystical vision, and Eckhart Tolle's wisdom on the "power of now." Others in the film are less well-known but leave an indelible impression on our psyche and in our hearts.
One of the most charismatic of the luminaries that we meet is the extraordinary Dr. Michael Beckwith, who is the force behind the Agape Spiritual Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Beckwith leapt out of The Secret into the national consciousness and many of us remember his extraordinary recent appearances on Oprah. In Living Luminaries, Dr Beckwith shares his unique blend of insights, humanity, humor, and vision.
The great gift of Living Luminaries is that we feel so empowered at the end of the film because it shows us that we can truly find, embrace, and retain whatever definition we have for happiness. The film actually illuminates a pathway down which we can travel to discover the essence of our own personal joy. When a film accomplishes that, it transcends the art form itself.
If you enjoyed The Secret, I think that you will find that Living Luminaries is the next step in the discovery of who we can be when we open to the magic and beauty of our humanity.
Members of The Spiritual Cinema Circle are receiving Living Luminaries as part of the July 2007 DVD collection which also includes three outstanding short films. For a limited time, new subscribers to The Circle can receive a free trial membership (for a nominal shipping fee) by visiting: www.spiritualcinemacircle.com or by calling: 800/556-0129.
Stephen Simon has produced such films as Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May Come. He also produced and directed Conversations with God and Indigo and is the author of The Force is with You: Mystical Movie Messages that Inspire our Lives.
Simon is also the co-founder of The Spiritual Cinema Circle www.SpiritualCinemaCircle.com
Dougie MacLean -June 26 at the Birch North Park Theatre
by Debbie Siegleman
It's true that music has the power to soothe the soul and lift the spirit. In a best-case scenario, it can transport a listener to another place. Such is the case with the music of Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean. Now entering his third decade as a recording artist, MacLean's songs are steeped in the traditional sounds of his homeland. But he is no one-trick pony. Pastoral images and tales of rural life abound, but so do more modern worries and romantic themes. Over the years he has performed with a variety of different ensembles, including a six piece electric combo, full Celtic Bands and string sections. All the while, he has kept his Scottish roots at the forefront. Currently on tour in support of a new two-disc set, The Essential Dougie MacLean, Dougie MacLean will perform on June 26 at the Birch North Park Theatre in San Diego.
His latest album collects songs from throughout his career, making this CD the perfect introduction to the acclaimed songwriter's music. MacLean has been showcased on NPR, has had his music featured in such films as Jennifer Lopez Angel Eyes and Last of the Mohicans, and can be heard in several BBC-TV programs. He has earned six gold records and has had three documentaries made about him. The secret to his success and longevity is his mastery of song craft. MacLean knows his way around a melody like few others. He has the ability, not to mention the musical friends, to make his artistic vision happen.
Like many other songwriters, MacLean has had numerous songs covered by other artists. However, it's a true testament to the power of his music that unlike many songwriters, one of his songs has been taken to heart by an entire nation. His song "Calcedonia" has become the unofficial anthem of his own Scotland.
The Dougie MacLean Band performs Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 7:30 pm at the Birch North Park Theatre, 2891 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92104. Tickets are available at 619-239-8836 and www.birchnorthparktheatre.net
Something Happens Between the Notes
by Vasudha Deming
Sri Chinmoyisn't that the man who lifts those enormous weights (and the elephants and the airplanes)? Yes. He's the artist who created those vibrant abstract paintings, the author of more than 1,500 books, and the musician who has performed some 700 concertsall in the name of harmony, right? Yes, yes and yes.
The sheer multitude and dynamism of Sri Chinmoy's activities boggle the mind. That's why they're best appreciated by the heart. And it is to the heart that this lovely, meditative music seeks appeal. Sri Chinmoy in Concert will come to Copley Symphony Hall free of charge on Thursday, June 14th. During the concert, Sri Chinmoy will perform his own compositions on more than a dozen instruments from around the worldsome familiar (cello, flute, piano) and others more exotic to the Western ear (esraj, harmonium, erhu). Although most of the pieces are instrumental, Sri Chinmoy does occasionally sing in both English and his native Bengali. The sounds are a unique treat; some pieces are melodious while others are decidedly avant-garde. But it's what happens between the notes that make these concerts such an adventure. For the spiritually alert, this mystic musician offers an evening of profound serenity. As one reviewer said, "ŠHis sublime spiritual mastery reveals through music the infinite vastness of the universe as an Intimate sanctuary of the soulŠ" (Free Spirit Magazine). What heart wouldn't love to experience that?
Sri Chinmoy at Copley Symphony Hall on Thursday, June 14th with two free shows at 6:00 pm and at 8:30 pm. Tickets are required and can be ordered by calling 619/640-9100 or by visiting www.srichinmoyconcert.org/sandiego.