By Jan Strout

Special Contributor

Acclaimed performer, philosopher and former monk Will Tuttle is scheduled to appear at Unity Church of Greater Portland, 54 River Road, Windham on Sunday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m..

Tuttle, a pianist, composer, educator and author based in northern California will be at Unity Church. A former Zen monk and philosophy professor, Tuttle has performed and lectured widely throughout North America and Europe.

He has taught college courses in creativity, humanities, mythology, and comparative religion. His doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, focused on educating intuition in adults. He has a broad background in meditation and is a Dharma Master in the Korean Zen tradition.

Tuttle has created six CDs of uplifting original piano music, SkyHigh (uptempo), OceanPrayer (meditative and relaxing), The Call (a musical journey), AnimalSongs (original piano interspersed with nature sounds), Islands of Light (an enhanced CD which is an entire course on developing spiritual intuition), and his most recent release, Ascension, an album of powerfully uplifting music. In addition to these, he has also created The Four Viharas Meditation to develop love, compassion, joy, and inner peace and Living In Harmony With All Life, a discourse on the main spiritual teachings that lead to inner and outer harmony. He is also the author of The World Peace Diet: Eating For Spiritual Health And Social Harmony, which has been described as “provocative” and has been recommended for all U.S. libraries by Library Journal.

The Sunday, Aug. 12 evening piano concert, “Concert For A New World,” will be an inspiring and uplifting instrumental prayer for world peace and for celebrating the beauty of the earth and the potential of the human spirit. Rooted in ancient sacred traditions that see music as a vehicle of consciousness, the concert generates a field of healing and insight. It includes visionary art by Will’s wife and partner, Madeleine.

He will also perform two solo piano pieces at Unity’s 10 a.m. service on Aug. 12, as well as presenting the meditation and the morning message, “Awakening Your Inner Genius.”

Tuttle’s Monday, Aug. 13, 7-9 p.m. workshop, “Opening The Intuitive Gate,” an exploration of the inner realms of intuitive imagery, opens doors into the art of meditative listening and transmits healing energy, peace, and joy into the world. Participants will learn to more fully understand their own unique way of accessing their inner intuitive wisdom, and will experience directly their creative potential and the way spiritual insights can help them live more authentically and abundantly.

He and his wife, Madeleine, a visionary artist from Switzerland, will take appointments early in the week for individuals or couples who would like to have their own personalized music and art portraits done. Using digital recording equipment and the piano in the sanctuary, the Tuttles tune in to the spirit and essence of people and create music and art that intuitively flows from this-music that is supportive, healing, and uplifting. Madeleine simultaneously creates a vibrant 9″ x 12″ watercolor painting.

The workshop and concert are free, though a free will Love Offering will be collected at each event.

Unity Church of Greater Portland, is affiliated with Unity School of Christianity, publisher of “Daily Word,” in Lees’ Summit, MO. For more information on Will Tuttle’s visit, call 893-1233.