Sister Sharifa Vernice Meytung

Sr. Sharifa V. Meytung is a Catholic-Buddhist lay contemplative practitioner; teacher of young children; haijin (writer of haiku poetry) and an abstract painter. Her spiritual practice is also deeply informed by her ancestral animist indigeneity. She has studied in many community and academic settings, including Catholic Theology at the University of Erfurt, Germany. In the year 2000 she pilgrimed to the Jasna Gora Monastery in Poland, in homage to Our Lady of Czestochowa to whom she devoted her contemplative lay vows in the same year.

Sr. Sharifa has developed and contributed to a variety of multimedia projects. She currently hosts “Our Changing Times”, a community radio program on WPEB 88.1 FM in West Philadelphia, highlighting Black folk music artists and the writings of African American essayists platforming the Black experience in America. Past episodes can be found at soundcloud.com/ourchangingtimes. Her recent publication of “Said The Tiger To The Rabbit” , a book of haiku poetry and expressionistic painting is available here.

In addition to serving as Contemplative Traditions Advisor for the Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice, Sr. Sharifa is also a Senior Teacher for the Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia and is a Board member of the Philadelphia Buddhist Association. Her spiritual commitment is to the liberation of all beings as she shares her experiences from the Way of honoring the wisdom teachings of all of the traditions that she holds dear.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)