1. How did the EICSP begin?    
 

The EICSP was founded in December 2007 to provide educational opportunities and an international forum for understanding, experiencing, and participating in the rich diversity of the world’s spiritual traditions.
 
The EICSP continues the spiritual work previously undertaken by the former Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities, EICWS, 2000-2008. See www.eicws.org for details of some of the past activities undertaken by the former EICWS. 
 
 
2. What is the aim of the EICSP? 
 
 
The EICSP is an events-led Scottish charity, SC038996, that works with the world's spiritual traditions, both in Scotland and internationally, seeking understandings of the nature of spirituality, and of interspirituality and intraspirituality, in its diversity. The EICSP advances education of the public in Scotland, and elsewhere, concerning spirituality, culture and peace. 
 
 
3. How does the EICSP achieve its aims and objectives? 
 
 
The activities of EICSP are educational in nature, ranging from international conferences, talks, dialogues, cultural and spiritual forums, retreats, workshops, spiritual practice events, deepening of spirituality events, open space events, networking and social gatherings, exhibitions and displays, book launches, education processes, school visits, visits to places of spiritual significance locally, training sessions, times for reflection, media engagements, hospitality events, service events, community and library hosted events, arts and cultural events - including film, theatre, music, dance and movement, storytelling, poetry, visual arts, photography, printmaking, calligraphy, crafts, among others, as well as participation in national and international events of a spiritual nature.
 
Particularly important in the work of the EICSP is the joint organisation of the annual Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, MESP, which has been held each year in Edinburgh since 2004. See www.mesp.org.uk  
 
 
4. What approach does the EICSP take to the subject of spirituality? 
 
 
The EICSP does not approach the subject of spirituality from a single definition of spirituality.
 
The EICSP recognises a great diversity of spiritual traditions, practices and beliefs, and we aspire to show equal respect to all spiritual traditions, practices, and beliefs.
 
Thus, the EICSP develops educational and practical opportunities to experience the spiritual traditions, practices and beliefs directly, supported by recognised spiritual teachers within these spiritual traditions, through sharing experiences and insights of practitioners of these spiritual traditions, and through the insights and teachings of recognised scholars of these spiritual traditions. This can lead to tentative definitions of a form of spirituality, among the rich diversity of spiritualities.
 
The EICSP is interested in both religious and non-religious forms of spirituality, as well as forms of spirituality associated with themes such peace, conflict, reconciliation and justice, education and learning, arts and culture, health, wellbeing and healing, equality, diversity and communities, environmental responsibility and climate change, science and medicine, the communication media, business and industry, Government, Parliament, NGOs and civic society, leadership and service, among others.
 
The EICSP is also interested in secular forms of spirituality. Indeed, the EICSP recognises that many people today have a spiritual practice independent of any religious faith belief, and we are particularly interested in practical and supportive forms of spiritual, artistic and cultural practice independent of any religious faith belief.
 
The EICSP is particularly interested in the emergence of interspirituality and intraspirituality, and in our work we create many opportunities to experience and reflect upon these increasingly important forms of spiritual practice. 
 
 
5. What relation is there between the EICSP and traditional inter-faith work? 
 
 
The EICSP is generally supportive of traditional inter-faith work. However, the emphasis of the EICSP is very much on the subject of spirituality, and interspirituality and intraspirituality, in all of its rich variety, including the rich experience of practical spiritual practice.
 
The EICSP is particularly concerned to celebrate the rich diversity of spiritualities in all of its forms, for the widest public benefit. 
 
 
6. Is the EICSP a representative faith organisation?  
 
 
No. 
 
 
7. Is the EICSP a membership organisation? 
 
 
No. 
 
 
8. Briefly, what is the ethos of the EICSP? 
 
 
The EICSP positively affirms the diversity contained within the spiritual and cultural traditions of Scotland, as well as those internationally. The EICSP takes no fixed position on any political, ethical, or cultural question. We intend to create a forum in which we can listen to one another deeply, and learn with an open mind and heart. See the EICSP Equal Opportunities policy and the EICSP Volunteer Policy. 
 
 
9. How does the EICSP work with principles of facilitation? 
 
 
The EICSP is more concerned to work according to principles of facilitation rather than creating representative, faith, membership, or organisational structures.
 
As a result, we are able to facilitate exceptional levels of diversity in our work, and participants are able to share from their own unique individual experiences and perspectives, and this is particularly important during workshops. 
 
 
10. What challenge and opportunity does the EICSP see in this kind of work? 
 
 
The EICSP acknowledges the challenge and the opportunity for the spiritual practices to step out of their envelopes of comfort and interact with, and influence, the wider culture and society. 
 
 
11. What does the EICSP offer in response to such a challenge and opportunity? 
 
 
An emphasis on spirituality, and interspirituality and intraspirituality, in all of the areas of our work.
 
Spirituality, and interspirituality and intraspirituality, have significant contributions to make to the critical issues in contemporary culture and society. These include peace, conflict, reconciliation and justice, education and learning, arts and culture, health, wellbeing and healing, equality, diversity and communities, environmental responsibility and climate change, science and medicine, the communication media, business and industry, Government, Parliament, NGOs and civic society, leadership and service.
 
Spirituality has a critical capacity to awaken qualities which are in critical demand, and to transform situations which are in critical distress. Spirituality can also help avoid such situations from arising. The discerning use of spirituality in such situations is of great interest to the EICSP in its work. 
 
 
12. How does the EICSP explore world spiritualities? 
 
 
There is increasing awareness of the potential contribution of the world’s spiritual traditions to wider society, and the need for dialogue, shared understanding, and cooperation between these traditions. Scotland has a distinctive role in meeting this global challenge.
 
In response to this challenge the EICSP has initiated a series of events which will illustrate the potential contribution of the world’s spiritual traditions to wider society and to the critical issues in contemporary culture and society. 
 
 
13. What does the EICSP offer by way of critique? 
 
 
Almost all inter-faith work today emphasizes talk and dialogue, and it is usually based upon a representative model of religious faith community members. While important, we need more to address many of the critical issues of contemporary culture and society.
 
Spirituality, and interspirituality and intraspirituality, can offer many significant contributions where talk, dialogue and representative models have proven inadequate in addressing such critical issues of contemporary culture and society.
 
Also, the EICSP draws heavily upon spiritual, artistic and cultural practice in order to gain an experiential view of the spiritual traditions that we discuss.
 
Also, the EICSP wants to engage with everyone in society who has an interest in spirituality, and in interspirituality and intraspirituality, and not just people of religious faith. We positively value the spiritual identities of everyone, and not just those of religious faith.
 
Also, the EICSP wants to celebrate diversity within spiritual traditions, as well as across spiritual traditions, and the representative model is quite simply not capable of reflecting the scale of spiritual diversity that we aspire to work with and facilitate.  
 
 
14. What kinds of identities do people use to participate in the events of the EICSP? 
 
 
Some participants identify themselves as having a spiritual identity linked to a specific religious faith.
 
Some participants identify themselves as having an inter-spiritual spiritual identity, drawing upon more than one spiritual tradition for inspiration.
 
Some participants identify themselves as having a spiritual identity based upon a spiritual practice outwith any faith or religious framework of belief.
 
Some participants identify themselves as having a secular identity, and some identify with a secular spiritual identity.
 
The EICSP welcomes a diverse range of modes of participation in an attempt to reflect and celebrate individual insights and experiences, to allow for hidden or marginalised voices, and to celebrate diversity and difference. We also seek to establish common ground where it exists.
 
Some participate in the EICSP at an educational level rather than from a faith or spiritual perspective. Some participate as scholars, academics, educators, students, education officers, lifelong learning students, or as interested members of the general public.
 
Some participate through artistic and cultural forms of expression, and there is a wide spectrum of artistic and cultural forms of expression in the events of the EICSP, including film, theatre, music, dance and movement, storytelling, poetry, visual arts, photography, printmaking, calligraphy, crafts, among others.
 
More generally, the EICSP explores a wide range of different access routes into events so that people can participate on the basis of a wide range of spiritual and non-spiritual identities.
 
There is also a wide range of nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures included among participants in the events of the EICSP. 
 
 
15. Can you briefly summarise the work of the EICSP associated with the Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, MESP? 
 
 
In February and March of each year we hold this annual event in Edinburgh. MESP was inaugurated in 2004, following a visit of Jewish and Muslim Peacemakers on 20 March 2003, and was jointly founded by, and is jointly directed by, Neill Walker and Neil Douglas-Klotz.
 
One of MESP’s overriding aims is to contribute to peace and mutual understanding through dialogue, spiritual and artistic practice, and improved mutual understanding among the spiritual, secular and cultural traditions that have arisen in what is now known as the Middle East, and more generally among those who have found a home in Scotland and the UK. Accordingly, the Festival seeks to engage a progressively wider and more diverse range of participants who have been active in spiritual, secular and artistic and cultural approaches to non-violent conflict resolution and world peace. No speaker represents, or can represent, the totality of any tradition, and indeed, experiential, evaluative and visionary perspectives are particularly welcome.
 
The Festival brings together at least three different kinds of presentations. First, we hope to learn from each other about our shared traditions, as well as those that form the unique voice of any one of us. Second, we will hear from those who have been active in peacemaking on a spiritual and secular basis on the ground in the Middle East. Third, we invite participants to share in the artistic, cultural and spiritual practice presented, in order to gain an experiential view of the traditions that we discuss. 
 
 
16. In what ways does the EICSP work with globally important spiritual leaders? 
 
 
The EICSP will continue to develop national-level visits to Scotland by globally important spiritual leaders. There is usually a strong education component to such visits. 
 
 
17. How can I become involved in the work and events of the EICSP? 
 
 
Everyone with an interest in spirituality, and in interspirituality and intraspirituality, is welcome to participate in our many spiritual events, while respecting certain basic practical guidelines. See the EICSP Equal Opportunities policy and the EICSP Volunteer Policy.
 
Please get in contact with us through the contact on this website to find out more about becoming involved in the work and events of the EICSP. 
 
 
18. How can I support the work of the EICSP? 
 
 
Please get in contact with us through the contact on this website to find out more about supporting the work of the EICSP. As a Scottish charity, SC038996, the EICSP welcomes donations and in-kind support. 
 
 
19. How can I propose events that the EICSP might organise and host?  
 
 
Please get in contact with us through the contact on this website to find out more about proposing an event for the EICSP to organise and host. 
 
 
20. How can I propose partnership with the EICSP?  
 
 
The EICSP is interested to explore partnerships which create new opportunities for quality and innovative spiritual work. Please get in contact with us through the contact on this website to find out more about proposing a partnership with the EICSP. 
 
 
21. How can I find out about EICSP events?  
 
 
Please join the EICSP email list, and you will receive regular invitations to our events. 
 
 
22. What have been some of the significant contributions of the EICSP (and the former EICWS)? 
 
 
Organisation of an ongoing conference series on the world’s spiritual traditions, including conferences on Baha’i Spirituality, Hindu Spirituality, Sikh Spirituality, two Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace conferences, Spirituality of the Heart, Sufi Spirituality, the Arts and Spirituality, Celtic Spirituality, Spirituality and Community, Shamanic Spirituality, Spirituality and the Sacredness of the Divine Feminine, a second Hindu Spirituality conference, among others.
 
Joint organisation of the Annual Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, from 2004 to the present.
 
Joint organisation of visits to Scotland by a wide range of Middle Eastern peacemakers.
 
One of the lead organisations involved in a bid from Scotland to attract the Parliament of the World’s Religions Meeting to Scotland. Out of 14 locations who expressed an interest, and after an elaborate bidding process, the bid from Scotland was one of the two finalists with Barcelona. Both bids were evaluated as excellent, satisfying all of the bid requirements. Much was learned from this bid process, and many contacts were established.
 
Co-hosted, with the International Association of Sufism and EIAL, the Sufism Symposium in Edinburgh in September 2006.
 
Joint participation in the planning of visits to Scotland of globally important spiritual leaders, including the Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, His Excellency Sayedna/Sayidna/Archbishop Dr. Elias Chacour, the current Sayedna/Sayidna/Bishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and All of Galilee and the President of Mar Elias Educational Institutions, His Holiness Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, Prof Tariq Ramadan, Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji, Jean Vanier, Chief Rabbi David Rosen, Sister Joan Chittister, Her Holiness Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi, Samani Prasanna Pragya, Mother Meera, His Holiness Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, founder of the System Yoga in Daily Life, Sri Swami Nirliptananda Maharaj, founder of the London Sevashram Sanga, Sri Swami Amarananda of the Geneva Ramakrishna Order, Sister Jayanti of the Mount Abu Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr, among others.  

Organisation of visits to Scotland by artists, including Krishna Das, Ty Burhoe, Arjun Bruggeman, Latif Bolat, Davod Azad, Yair Dalal, Avi Agababa, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Chloe Goodchild, Beth Bahia Cohen, Abdullah Chhadeh, Naghmeh Musical Ensemble, Adel Salameh and Naziha Azzouz, Nadhum Ali, Razia Sultanova, Lucineh Hovanissian, Hanna Yaffe, Tirtza Singer, Tina Malia, Sasha "butterfly" Rose, Zipang, Tara Jaff, Mohamed Nafee Mohammed, Rob MacKillop, Peter Vallance, and Khidmatul Khadim, the International Sufi School, David Newman (Durga Das) and Mira, among others.  

Organisation of the One World Peace Concert series.
 
Organisation of a year-long series of events on the Arts and Spirituality: Connecting to the Source.
 
Organisation of a very wide range of experiential workshop events.
 
Pioneering in the development of talk/forum events on a very wide range of issues in culture and society.
 
Organisation of a very wide range of events linking spirituality, and interspirituality and intraspirituality, to a wide range of issues in culture and society.
 
Creating opportunities for people from Scotland to attend and participate in important international spiritual and inter-spiritual events abroad. The EICSP (through the former EICWS) had representatives at the Millennium Peace Summit, August 28-31, 2000, at the United Nations, New York, at the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders, October 6-9, 2002, at the United Nations, Geneva, and at the Parliament of the World’s Religions Meeting, 4-13 July 2004, in Barcelona, and at the 100 Imams and Rabbis for Peace Gathering, 3-6 January 2005, Brussels.
 
Supporting the development of the St John’s Festival of Spirituality and Peace.


23. What have been some of the significant contributions of the Middle East Festival (MESP)? 


Middle East Festival Highlights, 2003-2009

2009: Event: 2009 Middle East Festival Scotland-Middle East Identity Lecture.
Speaker: Leena Nammari.
Title: A Space to Breathe.
Forum on Scotland-Middle East Identity: Experiences, Challenges and Achievements.
 

2009: Event: 2009 Middle East Festival Lecture on Global Affairs.
Speaker: John Rogers.
Title: Alternative Views to the Current Global Economy -
the Impact of Spirituality, Psychology and Group Process.
Forum on Global Values, Global Spirituality and Global Consciousness.
 

2009: Event: 2009 Middle East Festival Arts Lecture.
Speaker: Richard Holloway.
Title:  The Art of Resistance.
Forum on the Role of the Arts in Times of Conflict, and in Response to Conflict.
 

2009: Event: 2009 Middle East Festival Education Lecture.
Speaker: Ibrahim Issa.
Title: Peace and Democratic Education at the Hope Flowers School, Bethlehem.
Forum on Educational Approaches to Peace, Conflict, Reconciliation and Justice.
 

2009: Event: 2009 Middle East Festival Spirituality, Health, Wellbeing and Healing Lecture.
Speaker: Rev Prof Stephen G. Wright.
Title: The Waste Land - Spirituality, Health and Healing.
Forum on Spirituality, Health, Wellbeing and Healing.
 

2009: Event: 2009 Middle East Festival Environmental Responsibility and Climate Change Lecture.
Speaker: Prof Alastair McIntosh.
Title: Gilgamesh and Siduri's Wisdom: a Study of Climate Change and the Ancients.
Forum on Spiritual, Educational and Cultural Responses to Climate Change.
 

2008: Event: The 2008 Middle East Festival Lecture.
Speaker: Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Title: Spiritual Approaches to Peace and Ecology in the Islamic World.
 

2007: Event: The 2007 Middle East Festival Lecture.
Speaker: Jean Vanier.
Title: Spirituality and the Civilisation of Love.
 

2007: Event: Three day Retreat with Jean Vanier.
Speaker: Jean Vanier.
Title: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.
 

2007: Event: The 2007 Middle East Festival Conference Lecture.
Speaker: Chief Rabbi David Rosen.
Title: Religion and Peacemaking in the Middle East.
 

2007: Event: The 2007 Middle East Festival Education Lecture.
Speaker: Prof Bart McGettrick.
Title: Searching for Spirituality through Education in the Middle East.
 

2006: Event: The 2006 Middle East Festival Lecture.
Speaker: Professor Tariq Ramadan.
Title: Islam and the West in a Quest for a Just and Peaceful World.
 

2006: Event: The 2006 Middle East Festival Conference Lecture.
Speaker: His Excellency, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia.
Title: Acquire Inner Peace: Prayer of the Heart in Orthodox Spirituality.
 

2005: Event: The 2005 Middle East Festival Lecture.
Speaker: His Excellency Sayedna/Sayidna/Archbishop Dr. Elias Chacour is the current Sayedna/Sayidna/Bishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and All of Galilee and the President of Mar Elias Educational Institutions.
Title: Spiritual Approaches to Middle East Peace.
 

2004: Event: International Conference on Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace.
Speakers: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sufi, Ismaili, Baha’i, Zoroastrian, and Druze.
 

2003: Event: Visit of Jewish and Muslim Peacemakers from the Middle East.
Title: Conference of Jewish and Muslim Peacemakers from the Middle East.