Wed, Oct 21, 2015
When tragedy, illness or loss feel overwhelming, and relief seems beyond our reach, many believers appeal to their faith for strength. First, Karen Cavanagh, a Catholic from Slingerlands, New York, is called to the Sufi path as a way of healing from a traumatic brain injury. Karen travels to Konya, Turkey, to combine her Catholic faith with the practice of becoming a whirling dervish, a member of a group that worships through meditative dance. Next, in Lima, Peru, a teenager by the name of Beto prays to the Lord of Miracles, a painting that depicts Christ on the cross and that is revered throughout the country. Beto has been selected to march in an annual procession honoring the icon, bringing pride to his family. Then, in Lebanon, 13-year-old Walid, a Syrian refugee whose family fled their home in war-torn Syria, still finds a way to participate in Ramadan, the Islamic faith's month of personal and spiritual reflection, observed with fasting and prayer. Finally, in Indonesia, 19-year-old Buddhist monk Bodhi Cahyno believes meditation can help him find a source of inner strength after enduring a challenging childhood. Guided by his mentor and teacher, Bodhi travels to the Indonesian holy site of Borobudur-the world's largest Buddhist temple-to celebrate Vesak, an annual ritual that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
Thu, Oct 22, 2015
For many people, committing to a spiritual life through study, practice and compassion reveals faith. First, Shi Yan Fei is a young Buddhist monk at the Shaolin Monastery in Dengfeng, China, who came to the monastery because of his passion for kung fu. While Shi Yan Fei has nearly mastered kung fu's physical movements, he has encountered difficulty mastering the spiritual element. Next, 65-year-old John Davie is hoping to reconnect with his Catholic faith as he embarks on the Way of Saint James, a 500-mile trek through the countryside of France and Spain. For a thousand years, Christian pilgrims have walked El Camino de Santiago, which culminates at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Then, Mohamed El Haskouri, a teenage boy in Morocco, studies diligently to perfect his recitation of the 80,000 words of the Quran in an ancient art called tajweed. Finally, two teenage girls in Israel, 18-year-old Jewish cellist Hagit and 17-year-old Muslim flautist Mais, find common ground and friendship in their shared love of performing classical music with the Polyphony Orchestra.
Fri, Oct 23, 2015
Explore how beliefs help us face the fear of death and the mystery of what happens after we die. In this episode, we witness how death can also be a powerful call to action, compelling us to embrace life and those we love. In the shadows of Mount Everest, Lekshey Choedhar, a young Buddhist monk at the Pema Ts'al Sakya Monastic Institute , learns a valuable lesson about the fleeting nature of life. There, Buddhist monks make devotional works of art called sand mandalas, which they then destroy in a ritual that symbolizes the impermanence of existence. Next, atheist Alex Honnold walks the edge between life and death as a world-renowned free solo climber. He faces his mortality and finds meaning in his life as he climbs-with no ropes or harnesses-up a towering cliff in the desert outside Moab, Utah. Then Donna Winzenreid, a military wife and mother of three in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, fights for her life by holding on to her Methodist faith. Next, India is home to more than a billion people and one of the world's largest religions, Hinduism. Once a year, on the first day of spring, Hindus from all walks of life unite to celebrate Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors. Gopesh Goswami, a Hindu priest, celebrates Holi as an opportunity to set aside daily responsibilities and experience joy, togetherness and the essence of a good life. Finally, from a space shuttle orbiting Earth, astronaut Jeff Hoffman stares out at a pale blue dot suspended in the vast expanse of the universe. He describes it as a transcendent experience, an overwhelming feeling that human beings are all truly connected.