Community Engagement
Sacred Song Circle
Related to the “Chanting” in Personal Growth
Singing with others offers unique benefits beyond those of chanting alone, drawing on the deep cultural and historical significance of song across all human societies. Since 2024, Dr. Zirin has been hosting collaborative song gatherings at his home once or twice a month. These gatherings provide a welcoming space for participants to share and sing together in a variety of ways, including:
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Songs with traditional melodies.
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Traditional prayers set to improvised melodies.
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Original songs written by participants.
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Wordless melodies.
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Spontaneously created songs.
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Dr. Zirin sees himself not as a “sound healer” but as a “space holder,” creating an inclusive environment where participants can connect, express themselves, and share the joy of communal singing.
Wisdom Teachings
Regular gatherings provide an opportunity for engaging in collaborative philosophical discussions on topics related to psychology, spirituality, and the meaning of life. The focus is on exploring how these ideas can be applied to cultivate a meaningful and fulfilling way of living.
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These discussions are designed to be interactive, with members encouraged to take turns presenting topics of interest for group exploration. Examples of potential discussion topics include:
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Integrating dual and non-dual perspectives
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The nature and practice of forgiveness
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The value of hallucinogens to spiritual development
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Cultivating equanimity in daily life
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These meetings foster an open, respectful environment where participants can share insights, deepen their understanding, and connect with others on a shared journey of growth and discovery.
Public Conversations About Polarized Issues
Dr. Zirin's doctoral dissertation focused on developing innovative approaches to facilitating conversations between individuals engaged in deeply polarized and seemingly intractable conflicts—such as debates on issues like "pro-life vs. pro-choice," immigration policy, faith vs. secular perspectives, and environmental concerns. His research explores multiple structured dialogue models designed to foster empathy and understanding, encouraging participants to engage respectfully with, and have more empathy for, perspectives with which they may not agree.
These conversations will be structured based on different models of dialogue, to enhance persons with different points of view being more empathic to ideas they may not agree with.
Paddle Club
In 2008, Dr. Zirin founded Paddle Arizona, an outdoor adventure club, to kayak or paddle board in the variety of lakes and rivers in Arizona and beyond. This allows participants to enjoy the beauty of nature with others, which sometimes involves camping in scenic areas near various waterways.
The Paddle Arizona is free to join. Click the button below for more information.
Small Drum Circles
Drumming has been a deeply enriching and spiritual practice across human history—plus, it’s just plain fun! We’ll be hosting small drum circles with up to 8 participants, creating an intimate setting that encourages deeper connection and harmony. These cozy gatherings are all about finding your groove—literally—and tuning into the rhythms of the group in a way that feels personal and profound. Whether you’re a seasoned percussionist or just someone who likes to tap on tables, all are welcome to join in and let the rhythm bring us closer together!
Movie Nights
We will be holding regular “movie nights” that involve the spiritual dimensions of music, which will be followed by jamming together to the rhythms of the artists featured in the movie (via recordings of said artists. Examples of movies include: One Love about Bob Marley, and The Monkey Man, a modern day allegory for the story of Hanuman, featuring the late and greatest Zakir Hussein.
Chronic Pain Support Group
For those living with chronic pain, we offer support group meetings to share coping strategies that others have found successful. We also explore learning about a variety of chronic pain management strategies that were developed using extensive scientific research.
