Community Events Photo Gallery:

Some photos of community events, spiritual events, and other noteworthy events. Note that Reiki events, health and wellness fairs, and science-related events each have their own separate photo galleries. Click on the links (in red) to read more about each person or group.

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Jen and Whitney McMillan promote their course "The Authentic Practitioner" and chat up the crowds at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition (IHN)'s Winter Open House Nov 26, 2011. Guests heard lectures by IHN faculty, perused books on health and nutrition, toured the facilities, and were treated to food from Organic Lives.

Jen attends the launch of the new Education Centre at Organic Lives in Vancouver, Oct 22, 2011. Jen will be leading workshops on Authentic Living as well as on Intentions and Goal-setting [check the Education Centre calendar for ongoing dates]. The Peak radio was on hand throughout the afternoon, as was the tasty food flowing throughout the venue.

Jen and Whitney McMillan lead an Introductory Workshop for their 8-week course at the Vancouver Campus of the Institute of Holistic Nutrition (IHN), called "The Authentic Practitioner." This highly personal and experiential course is designed to help health practitioners of any modality "walk their talk" and "practice what they preach." [click here to download course flyer]

Max Cameron (left) introduces Sylvia Berryman (right), who spoke about "Aristotle’s Ethics and Obedience to Authority" as part of lecture Series titled "Between Rules and Practice: Why We Need Practical Widsom," at UBC's Peter Wall Centre, Sept 29, 2011. [click here to see flyer]

Jen attends Medicina 2011, the first Canadian national conference integrating the arts and the humanities in medicine, June 24-26, 2011. Jen presented her research on Early Chinese Medicine. Other topics included: Medical Ethics, Spirituality in Medicine, the Role of Culture and Community in Health, Medicine in a Historical Context, and the role of the fine arts in healing.

Jen at the Louise L. Hay "I Can Do It" Conference, Vancouver, BC, Mar 12-13, 2011. Speakers (L-R) included Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Brian Weiss, Caroline Myss, Cheryl Richardson, Marianne Williamson, Geneen Roth (shown with Jen at left), Louise L. Hay (shown with Jen at centre), and Dr. Robert Holdom (shown with Jen at right).

Jen attends The Great Salmon March finale event "Salmon at the Legislature" in Victoria, BC, May 8, 2010. MP Denise Savoie claimed the rally was "the biggest environmental protest in B.C. history." Biologist Alexandra Morton led a 500km march from Sointula to Victoria called "Get Out Migration", supported by many First Nations groups along the way. About 300 people marched with her for the last 30 km to the rally at the Legislature building, where over 3000 people gathered to hear speeches on salmon farming practices. On the steps of the Legislature building, MP Fin Donnelly explained his private member's bill, which calls for an amendment to the Fisheries Act that requires all commercial fish farming be carried out in closed containment pens within five years (see second photo). The bill was inspired by B.C. Grade 10 student Thea Block, who spoke after Donnelly.

Jen gives a presentation at the American Academy of Religion's Annual Pacific Northwest Division Conference in Victoria, BC, May 7, 2010. Her panel, "Asian and Comparative Studies: New Frontiers: Cognitive Science and Early Chinese Religion", was chaired by Nicholas F. Gier (University of Idaho) and responded to by Edward Slingerland (University of British Columbia). Other panel members were Clayton Ashton and Abraham deJesus (second row). After the panel, a group of us went out for Mexican food in Victoria.

Owen Flanagan speaks at UBC Mar 29, 2010 as part of of HECC's Green College Lecture Series. He gave a public lecture on "The Really Hard Problem" (how are consciousness and meaning possible in a purely material world?), and met with groups of graduate students to discuss how evolutionary cognitive science can be used to enrich our study of culture, religion, philosophy, and literature.

Ara Norenzayan gives a guest lecture on the scientific/evolutionary origins of religion called "Why We Believe" to second year students at UBC, Vancouver, March 23, 2010, as part of the UBC-Ritsumeikan joint exchange program.

Jen reads her chapter of Reiki Vibes: Heartwarming Stories at the official book launch held in North Vancouver, BC, February 6, 2010. In attendance are also contributing authors Ann Mayo, Bobbi Casey, and Tania Bakkas. In addition to the readings, the authors offered free mini-Reiki sessions, and spent time discussing Reiki with the public. (Buy Reiki Vibes at chapters.ca or reikivibes.com)

Mark Johnson speaks at UBC, Vancouver, Jan 18, 2010. During the day he met with groups of graduate and undergraduate students to discuss how humans perceive 'meaning' in life, including the role of our embodied experience in meaning-making. The evening public lecture was part of HECC's Green College Lecture Series, and focused on the Aesthetic Dimensions of Meaning.

Jen attends "Educating the Heart: Creativity and Well-Being and Heart-Mind Education" (part of the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education's Vancouver Peace Summit 2009) at the Orpheum Theatre, September 29, 2009. The two panels were on "Creativity and Well-being": The Dalai Lama, Sir Ken Robinson, Daniel Siegel, the Blue Man Group (for the Blue Man School), Eckhart Tolle and Murray Gell-Mann engaged in dialogue, Moderator Matthieu Ricard and "Heart-Mind Education": The Dalai Lama, Clyde Hertzman, Kim Schonert-Reichl, Stephen Covey, Mairead Maguire and Adele Diamond engaged in dialogue, Moderator Martha Piper.

Jennifer lectures on the concept of Wu Wei in early China to a class of 3rd year students at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Sept 16, 2009. To read an article about Wu Wei by Jennifer, [click here].

Don Miguel Ruiz and his son Don Jose Ruiz speak about mastering love and relationships - and creating your own life - at the Oak St. Unity Church, Vancouver, April 25, 2009.

Jen attends the APA Pacific Divisional Conference at the Westin Bayshore Hotel and Conference Centre in Vancouver, April 8-12, 2009. This meeting of the American Philosophical Association brought together brilliant minds from around the globe to talk about ethics, morality, psychology, and religious and philosophical traditions. A special "Mini-Conference on Neo-Confucian Moral Psychology" brought four generations of Jen's philosophical lineage together: David Nivison, PJ Ivanhoe, Ted Slingerland, and of course, yours truly, Jen Lundin Ritchie (all shown top left, along with Jen's peer Robban Toleno).

At the Institute of Asian Research March 19-21, Jennifer presents a paper on Alan Watts' translation of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), explaining why Westerners who were exposed to Taoism through Alan Watts may not have gotten the full story. Keynote Speaker Dr. David Ownby (Director of the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Montreal) spoke on 'Religion and State Religious Policy in Reform-Era China' (which helped explain the suprisingly recent development of Qi Gong and various religious sects) and also served as Chair/Disscussant for Jen's presentation.

Jen attends a "monumental" Peace Circle at Jericho Beach, Vancouver, BC, Feb 19, 2009. Holding the four directions were local Native Elder Leonard Howell (in green jacket, with Jen above), Sufi leader As-Sayed Nurjan Mirahmadi (in green turban above), Peace Troubadour James Twyman (in sunglasses, beside As-Sayed Nurjan Mirahmadi), and Minister of Agape Centre Michael Beckwith (with long hair). The WarriorSage Satyen Raja was also an invited speaker (speaking into the microphone above).

Jen helps organize the UBC Conference on Daoist Studies, Oct 23-27, 2008, sponsored by the UBC Dean of Arts Nancy Galini (top left in brown) and The Liu Foundation (Dr. JJ Liou, Chair, is top left with walker), and hosted by Edward Slingerland (top left, between the UBC Dean of Arts and Dr. JJ Liou). Several dozen world reknown scholars (including Michael Puett, Livia Kohn, Xing Wen, and Robert Campany, seen above, as well as other greats like Lee Yearley, Robin Yates, Liu Xiaogan, Harold Roth, and Scott Cook) came to highlight some of the newest research in the field, and focus on both Daoist philosophy and practice.

Jen and Neale Donald Walsch at his talk "Happier Than God" at the Canadian Memorial Church in Vancouver, Mar 19, 2008.

Jen and UBC's Dean of Arts Nancy Gallini at UBC, Jan 10, 2008. Jen (along with others) was recognized for "Outstanding Service and Leadership in our Community". Nominees were those deemed to have made a significant contribution to the community, either in: (1) their department, the Faculty of Arts, the UBC community at large, and/or (2) Local, provincial, national or international communities.

Jen doing Reiki at Efina Luks' Cut for the Cure held at Markus J Salon, Nov 11, 2007. The place was abuzz with celebrities like BC Lions' wide receiver Paris Jackson (seen above), who got a Reiki treatment and donated a signed jersey for the cause.

Jen and Dr. Carl Johan Calleman at his talk about the Mayan Calendar at the SPEC Hall, Nov 7, 2007. Dr. Calleman came from Sweden to give this very detailed and inspiring talk. Grounded in science, this internationally respected biomedical scientist explained how the Mayan Calendar works, and where we currently are in the process of cosmic evolution.

Jen and Jhadten Jewall at his lecture as part of the Friday Morning Breakfast Talks series sponsored by The Healing Journal (at the Vancouver Unitarian Church), July 6, 2007.

Victor Chan (left) introduces Dan Siegel (right) at the Ridge Theatre June 18, 2008, as part of the ongoing Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education lecture series initiative. Dr. Diegel's talk, "The Mindful Brain: Shaping Our Neural Circuits to Cultivate Well-Being", was about the newly discovered overlap in the fields of developmental psychology, neuro-biology, and mindfulness meditation. [read article]

Master Shou Yu Liang's 20th Anniversary Celebration titled "In the Blink of An Eye" at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom, Vancouver, May 20, 2007. Photos: Jen and Kelly McLean, Jen and Helen Liang, Master Shou Yu Liang waiting to perform, Helen and Maria Liang swordfight, Master Shou Yu Liang does Tai Chi, one guy fights off a group in a staff fight, Kelly McLean and Helen Liang.

Mathtieu Richard, "The World's Happiest Man" and French interpreter for the Dalai Lama, speaks about Neuroscience and Meditation at UBC Mar 9 2007. The third photo shows a monk hooked up to hundreds of brain-wave sensors. [related research paper]

International Artist Mr. John Chen does a Chinese painting demonstration at "The Four Sacred Chinese Arts" Event at UBC Feb 15, 2007. Through his zen-like painting methods, he revealed the secrets of living life like a Chinese sage: living as if there are no "mistakes", remembering that every existing thing is (and should be) unique, and practising wu wei or "spontaneous natural action" - somewhat akin to living "in the zone".

Merrie Bakker (right) introduces Carolina Markolin Ph.D (left), who gave a talk about German New Medicine as part of the Friday Morning Breakfast Talks series sponsored by The Healing Journal (at the Vancouver Unitarian Church, Jan 19, 2007).

Jen (second from right) and others learning from world reknown painter and calligrapher Yukman Lai (centre) in a course on Understanding Asia Through Chinese Characters at UBC Robson. Yukman Lai painting a calligraphy for Jen. Jen's Yukman Lai original: "le" meaning "Happiness". Nov 2006.

(Left) Harvard Professor and Chair of East Asian Languages & Civilizations Michael Puett and UBC Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Chinese Thought & Embodied Cognition Ted Slingerland at UBC's Second Annual Yip So Man Wat Lecture Nov 8, 2006. Puett's public talk was on "Freedom & Salvation in Chinese Thought". (Right) After the lecture, Ted and Michael invite Ian, Robban, Lang, and Jen to relax with a Guiness at Mahony’s Irish Pub.

Dalai Lama in Vancouver September 8-10, 2006 for The Inaugural Vancouver Dialogues launching the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education in Vancouver. [video]

(L) The Dalai Lama giving all the panel scientists Tibetan prayer scarfs at the conclusion of the dialogue on "Happiness and Stress as Determinants of Mental Health" at the Orpheum Theatre September 9, 2006. (R) The Dalai Lama (in maroon at centre of photo) leaves the Orpheum at the same time as Jen - both are rushing over to GM Place for his next public talk (see below).

The Dalai Lama's Public Talk about "Cultivating Happiness" at GM Place September 9, 2006. (L) The Dalai Lama speaking. (C) The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, presented The Dalai Lama with an honorary Canadian Citizenship - you can barely see it on the big screens (R) closeup of the presentation courtesy of The Province newspaper issued Sept 10, 2007. The only other two people who have received this honor are Nelson Mandela and Raoul Wallenberg (a Swedish diplomat and Holocaust hero).

David Suzuki signs his autobiography before his talk at Vancouver's St. Andrews Wesley Church May 14, 2006.

Sakyong Mipham Rimpoche speaks about his book "Ruling Your World" at UBC's Chan Centre April 21, 2006.

Jen and Ajahn Brahm at his Dhamma talk at Langara College November 16, 2005. His visit to Vancouver is a part of his 2005 North American Tour, and is one of only two Canadian cities included.

At UBC's First Annual Ip So Man Lecture, Dr. Roger Ames gives a public lecture at UBC on his research - a groundbreaking attempt to bridge Eastern and Western philosophies October 26, 2005 (photos 1-3). The last photo is from a small private lecture he gave to UBC faculty and a few select graduates and undergraduates (like yours truly) October 27, 2005.

Jen and Victor Chan. Mr. Chan gave a talk about the Dalai Lama's plans for Vancouver at Langara College Feb 8 2005. The plans (now no secret) were for the launch of the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education.

Barbara (left) and Jen (right) at Canadian Tai Chi Academy Demo April 18, 2004 (Photo Courtesy of the Sing Tao Daily - to read the full Sing Tao article click here)

Jennifer and Master Gu Ming Wei of Canadian Tai Chi Academy