In April the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck hosted its fifth annual Being Fearless conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. More than 900 attendees came to hear talks and attend workshops by noted faculty members.
Keynote speakers included ex-CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson, actress Mia Farrow, Holocaust survivor Zev Kedem and environmental activist Robert Kennedy Jr. Each spoke about the importance of acting with courage and passion, especially in challenging times.
“We started this conference after 9/11 – when the issue of fear was so significant,” said Stephan Rechtschaffen, one of Omega’s co-founders. “Courage is the ability to sit in our fear a little longer.”
The first keynote speaker was Valerie Plame Wilson. In 2003, the former CIA covert operations officer found her life turned upside-down when senior White House and State Department officials revealed her secret status to several journalists.
“Overnight I went from being a very private person to being this extremely public person,” said Plame Wilson, who spoke about the emotional fallout of these events and her decision to write her book, Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House. “It is absolutely frightening, but truly liberating, to speak the truth,” she said.
Actress and activist Mia Farrow spoke about the genocide in Darfur and the need to pressure China to end its support of Sudan’s government. Farrow has traveled to the region numerous times and has created a Web site with ways to help at www.dreamfordarfur.org.
“With knowledge comes responsibility,” said Farrow, who displayed photos of the traumatized victims in refugee camps as she spoke. “Contact your legislators and ask them to make Darfur a top issue – your voice really does make a difference.”
‘Conscious kindness’
Another keynote speaker was Holocaust survivor Zev Kedem. Kedem is now a documentary filmmaker who consulted for and appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film, Schindler’s List. “My life experience has taught me to develop a habit of conscious kindness to other individuals on a daily basis,” said Kedem.
The last keynote speaker was Robert Kennedy Jr., who spoke about the problems of mainstream media and the economic, social and spiritual importance of caring for the environment.
“The American people today are the best entertained and least informed than ever before,” he said with trademark Kennedy passion. “God talks to us most forcefully – with detail, clarity, texture and grace – through nature. We must listen.”
The Being Fearless conference kicked off the beginning of Omega’s new season in Rhinebeck, which includes such wide-ranging programs as evolving your brain with neurology expert Dr. Joe Dispenza, floral art as spiritual practice with Anthony Ward, and hundreds of other workshops on arts, cooking, yoga and much more.
Two special events this season include an annual “service week” for nonprofit organizations from May 26-30. Omega awards grants to 24 local and global nonprofits so they can come use the campus in whatever ways they need.
“Now more than ever, service-based organizations are in desperate need of support, to strengthen and nurture their ability to thrive in the future,” said Carla Goldstein, Omega’s director of external affairs. “We are deeply honored to reward dedicated nonprofits.”
Another special event to be held in mid-August is a conference on autism. Renowned doctors and researchers will discuss the latest approaches to treating and living with autism spectrum disorders. Anyone who works with or has been touched by autism is welcome.
“All of Omega’s programs help to push society forward,” said Kedem after his keynote address. “It’s a fearless place because it makes people aware of their capacity to love and heal. My hope is that everybody will one day go to Omega.”
For information on Omega’s programs, call 1-800-944-1001 or go to www.eomega.org.