 |
|
|
|
|
The shrine in the Interfaith Center
| |
A Reflection from the University Chaplaincy
| |
In various buildings across the Tufts Medford campus, there are set-apart places to pause, to meditate, and to pray. This week, we are celebrating an additional space for our community, further reflecting the diversity of practices important to our students. We now have a small shrine room with Buddhist statues and Hindu murtis at the Interfaith Center, located at 58 Winthrop Street. The shrine room is here for anyone who wishes to spend quiet time in meditation or reflection. I’d like to share the story behind the creation of this special space with you.
Throughout last semester, whenever I led a meditation session or program, I would set up a temporary Buddhist altar at the Interfaith Center. After one meditation, while everyone moved to enjoy tea and snacks, I saw two students quietly praying at the altar. In that moment, I thought to myself, “Thank the Buddha I set up the altar today.” It was clear that this small gesture had created a meaningful space for those students to worship.
That experience helped me to realize the importance of having a dedicated shrine space where students can come to meditate, pray, or simply be still. I shared this idea with the University Chaplain and with students from both the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha (TBMS) and the Graduate Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha (GBMS). Over the past few months, several students had also personally expressed a desire for a permanent Buddhist shrine and meditation space on campus.
Over the summer, we reorganized our offices in the Interfaith Center. That’s when I thought: why not share my new office with students as a meditation and prayer space? We ordered furniture, and student leaders from TBMS and GBMS voted to include a healing Buddha statue. That statue, along with a Green Tara figure, now forms a central altar in the room.
During one of our team meetings, one of our Graduate Interns shared that Hindu students had also been requesting a space for prayer and meditation. As a result, the shrine room will now be shared by both Buddhist and Hindu students, and an altar with various murthis is also set up in the space.
The room feels peaceful and spacious—an ideal environment for spiritual practice. We’ve also set up a tea station with a variety of teas available for anyone who wishes to enjoy a cup before or after meditating or praying. I hope this space will be a welcoming and safe place for all—whether you come from Buddhist, Hindu, or any other religious or non-religious tradition. Please come by - this room at the Interfaith Center is open Monday through Thursday from 4:00pm to 9:00pm, and Friday from 9:00am to 9:00pm.
The Venerable Vineetha Mahayaye
Buddhist Chaplain
| |
Fall Interfaith Field Trip Week
Sunday, October 19 - Saturday, October 25 (Registrations close on October 17)
Thanks to our Advancing Religious Pluralism Grant from Interfaith America, the University Chaplaincy invites you to Interfaith Field Trip Week this fall! Transportation is provided, and a meal will be a part of each event. All times below include travel time to/from the Medford campus.
- Museum of Science for the Hall of Human Life Exhibit (lunch provided) - Sunday, October 19, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Museum of Fine Arts (dinner provided) - Thursday, October 23, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Zen Therapeutics Academy (lunch provided) - Saturday, October 25, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Please contact the University Chaplaincy if you have any questions. Thank you to our Humanist Chaplaincy and Buddhist Chaplaincy for their program support!
| |
|
Religious and Philosophical Events and Gatherings
| |
Tea & Community Care: Teatime for the Soul
Wednesday, October 15, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Goddard Chapel
10-minute sitting meditation, 10 minute introduction, 30 minute teatime & discussion
- Connect with someone over the story of your favorite tea!
- Why its important to have time for sipping a tiny cup of tea?
- How tea brings community and the nature together
| |
Diwali Celebration
Sunday, October 19, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Interfaith Center
Get excited for our Diwali celebration! Join the Hindu Students Association (HSA), the Graduate Hindu Students Association (GHSA), and the Fletcher Office for Inclusive Excellence for puja, mehndi, rangoli making, diya decorating and food! Special thank you to the GHSA, University Chaplaincy, and Fletcher School for their partnership. Please contact Graduate Student Programming Intern Prakruthi Ramesh with any questions.
| |
|
Save the Date - Pluralism and Peace: A Qawwali Mehfil
Thursday, November 6, 6:30 p.m., Goddard Chapel
We are delighted to announce that the legendary Ustad Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad will be performing qawwali at Tufts on November 6--exactly a year after their sons (and grandson) electrified a packed Distler Hall. Qawwali is a Sufi devotional voice and instrumental musical form which this group has perfected. The brilliance of this group of qawwals lies in their rigorous classical training and the breadth of poetic repertoire. The qawwals move effortlessly between and among several languages and traditions across centuries, allowing for a fascinating inventiveness, rich in poetic and spiritual symbolism. This event is free and open to the public. We are not requiring, but strongly recommending, registering for the event. Save the Date, too, for a special Lunch and Learn on Sufi poetry with Associate Professor of History Modhumita Roy and Muslim Chaplain Khan Shairani on Wednesday, November 5 at Noon!
| |
First-Year Students Restorative Practices Check-In Dinner Circle
Monday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Milmore Room
HEaRD Life is new peer-to-peer program in AS&E Student Life empowering Tufts Students with the skills, tools, and knowledge to cultivate a campus of belonging and wellbeing. Join other first years to connect, share experiences, and reflect on the semester so far. Dinner will be served. You can find out more about Restorative Practices at Tufts on the Student Life website. Sign up today for the first year dinner.
| |
Intro to Mindfulness Class with Counseling and Mental Health Services
Classes begin Sunday, October 19
Introduction to Mindfulness® is a free four-week introduction to the practice of Mindfulness. Mindfulness is about developing the ability to be fully attentive to all of the moments of your life, reducing the amount of time you spend worrying about the future or the past. You will learn several tools, including meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery, the body scan and more. Each of these practices are designed to deepen self-reflection, help you manage stress and enrich your life. Past participants have reported less self-judgement, more mindfulness, less stress and better sleep. For more information contact Mental Health Promotion Specialist Erica Shonman.
| |
| Resources and Opportunities
| |
Fall Open House with Yale Divinity School
Monday, October 27, 409 Prospect St., New Haven, CT
The Yale Divinity School (YDS) Fall Open House for prospective students will be held on October 27. The process of finding our 2026-2027 cohort is fully underway. The 2026 application is live and can be accessed online. Our Priority Application deadline is January 8, and our Standard Application deadline will be in February. Please follow the link below for more information about the Fall Open House.
| |
To see more upcoming religious holidays and festivals, including information about seeking religious accommodations at Tufts, please follow the link to the Tufts Multifaith Calendar.
Ghambar Ayatherm
Sun., Oct. 12 – Thur., Oct. 16, 2025
Tradition: Zoroastrianism
Ghambar Ayatherm is the fourth of six seasonal, five-day festivals in the Zoroastrian religion. The term Ayatherm means "bringing home the herds," and the festival is a time to prepare for winter and appreciate the natural world and celebrate the creation of plants, the sowing of the winter crop, and the return of herds from pasture.
Shemini Atzeret
Mon., Oct. 13 – Wed., Oct. 15, 2025
Tradition : Judaism
Translates as "Eighth Day of the Assembly;" unclear purpose in the bible and has had many forms of celebration. Comes at the end of Sukkot and almost coincides with Simchat Torah.
Simchat Torah
Tue., Oct. 14 – Wed., Oct. 15, 2025
Tradition: Judaism
Translates as "Rejoicing of the Law." Joyous festival in which the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah in the synagogue is completed and its first book begun again. The celebration typically includes singing, dancing, and marching with Torah scrolls.
Diwali (Deepavali)
Mon., Oct. 20 - Tue., Oct. 21, 2025
Tradition: Hinduism
One of the most popular of all Hindu festivals, also known as the Festival of Lights, it is dedicated to the goddess Kali in Bengal and to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, in the rest of India. As with several other festivals, Diwali is associated with one of the stories about the destruction of evil by Vishnu in one of his many manifestations.
| |
Support the University Chaplaincy
Supporting programs at Tufts University in religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life is easy and vital to our work. To donate, please click on the button below. Thank you for your generosity.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The University Chaplaincy is a dynamic hub supporting religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community. We provide spiritual care, support religious and philosophical communities, educate about spiritual and ethical issues in society and the world, and promote multifaith engagement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
