Parliament of the World's Religions

2011-12-19T08:40:00.002+11:00

Public subsidy and exclusivity

2009-12-14T10:12:00.005+11:00

Well, its been and gone.

I was there as a volunteer and did my bit on the Information Desk on the two weekend afternoons.

The exhibitors certainly got a raw deal. A high sq metre charge, and yet no public access allowed for the first four days.

As the Parliament was subsidised by Australian taxpayers, rumoured to be 4.5 million dollars, it was sad to see people being turned away at the door by the Convention Centre staff.

I also believe that the newly opened convention centre was the wrong venue. Huge and vertical, but with little provision of seating in the areas on the ground floor where people were likely to informally meet.

2009-12-04T21:23:00.000+11:00

Black is the colour

2009-11-30T22:44:00.006+11:00

I've just read through the full 33 pages of the Parliament's Volunteer Handbook (fortunately I'm a fast reader), full of the usual stuff about respect for other people's cultures and religions.

But that doesnt stop them insisting on all volunteers wearing black trousers or skirts when on duty.

What happened to the cultural sensitivities guys?

Tuesday:
just received a note from the Volunteers Coordinator to say my intention to wear white trousers is fine with her.

Stairway to Heaven

2009-11-28T17:29:00.000+11:00

Be at peace with your own soul
then heaven & earth will be at peace with you.

Enter eagerly into the treasure house
that is within you,

And you will see the things that are in heaven,
for there is but one single entry to them both.

The ladder that leads to the Kingdom
is hidden within your soul...

Dive into yourself and in your soul
and you will discover the stairs by which to ascend.

Isaac the Syrian

Christian monk from Beth Abhe on the western shore of the Persian Gulf. A renowned teacher who briefly became Bishop of Nineveh, abdicated and then lived for many years as a desert ascetic. Seventh century CE.

more censorship

2009-11-28T13:10:00.009+11:00

The administrators of the Parliament's facebook page are getting trigger-happy.
Another critical comment has been deleted.
I remember reading that contribution and thinking, I wonder how long that stays up?
As it turns out, less than 24 hours...

The deleted post had an unfortunate typo, which the writer corrected in a comment.
So the revised deleted text was:

"I hope you will put the $2.5 million of mostly secular Australian taxpayers' money to good use. You can't all be right, you know."
Simon Miller (Brisbane, Australia)

Note: the federal Dept of Immigration and Citizenship's website records a grant of two million dollars to the Parliament.

Music: Yusuf Islam

2009-11-25T17:44:00.001+11:00

words that have stood the test of time...

The jihad to enhance oneself

2009-11-25T17:16:00.003+11:00

"The term jihad itself means "struggle", primarily the struggle to enhance oneself in God's eyes. This means my struggle to be a better son, friend and teacher, and includes my struggle to wake up for prayer at dawn every day and then stay awake for work.

The contested notion of lesser jihad – combat that is unavoidable, as in cases of self-defence against persecution or the denial of freedom to worship – will persist as long as there are opportunists, like Osama bin Laden or, on a lesser note, the radio personality Glenn Beck, who stand to benefit from it in some way – and as long as people listen to them.

These individuals go on to label terrorism committed by Muslims as jihad. This irresponsible labelling grants religious legitimacy to heinous acts. While this is expected of these particular men, mainstream society should not be complicit in heightening discord between Muslims and non-Muslims. Though these personalities are part of the problem, the rest of us can be part of the solution.

That solution comes largely from the understanding of jihad that originates from the man Muslims believe to be the embodiment of the Qur'an. The Prophet Muhammad fashioned the way in which Muslims should behave. He made clear that the greater jihad is the struggle to control one's inner demons. The beauty of this struggle exists on a deeply human level, one that each of us, Muslim or non-Muslim, endures daily.

In these tense times, it is this very human struggle that we must embrace–together–if we are to meet the challenges of our day."

extract from The jihad to enhance oneself

A religion? - II

2009-11-24T18:19:00.007+11:00

Here's some recent articles for those still undecided:

Scientology's Dark Secrets (Sydney Morning Herald)

Oscar winner reveals Scientology secrets (Daily Telegraph, Sydney)

Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology

News from the media 2009 Jan-Sept (religioustolerance.org)

The Secret Library of Scientology

It is in you

2009-11-19T08:31:00.000+11:00

Jesus said:

I say to you, as for what you seek after and you enquire about, look, it is in you!

Dialogue of the Savior 16

A religion?

2009-11-18T09:06:00.008+11:00

I see from the detailed program just released, that the Parliament will allow that so-called religion, Scientology, to make a presentation on the Sunday.

Scientology is increasingly being exposed for what it really is: Germany, France, , USA, and now Australia.

Footnote:
I posted this to the Parliament Facebook page - it got deleted; I queried it, and then received this private message from an unnamed member of the Parliament staff:

Dear John,
As Parliament policy, any Facebook posts that may be considered slanderous or otherwise negative in regard to religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or age are subject to the administrator's removal or reporting.
Thank you,
The 2009 Parliament

Before you speak

2009-11-17T11:51:00.001+11:00

Before you speak, ask yourself:
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?
Is it true?
Does it improve upon the silence?

Sai Nath of Shirdi (c1838 - 1918)

Attention on the Divine

2009-11-13T18:35:00.002+11:00

The name Ram has entered my heart,
placing a golden scale within.

A man makes a paper kite and flies it in the sky.
And though he keeps talking to his friends,
his mind is on the string.

The perfect princess balances a pot full of water on her head.
Laughing and joking she claps her hands.
[But] her mind is on the pitcher.

There is a house with ten doors [the subtle body]
from which the cows [the five senses] go to pasture.
Wandering, a cow grazes for ten miles, [but] her mind is on the calf.

The child lies in the cradle and the mother works in her room.
[But] her mind is on the child.
Listen to me Trilochan*,
Says Namdev.

*Trilochan was a contemporary of Namdev, originally from the Sholapur district of what is now Maharashtra. Little is known of him. Namdev (1270-1350), originally from the Pandhapur area of Maharashtra, moved north to the Punjab.

Source: The Hindi Padavali of Namdev: a critical edition of Namdev's Hindi songs with translation and annotation [by] Winand M.Callewaert and Mukund Lath (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1989)

Music: Nirmal Sangeet Sarita

2009-11-12T21:07:00.003+11:00

From Nagpur, India, the Nirmal Sangeet Sarita performing the bhajan Laharala Sahaja

Rumi

2009-11-12T08:36:00.001+11:00

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill.
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.

Jelaluddin Rumi

Music: Nicolas Buff

2009-11-11T16:14:00.000+11:00

Here's Melbourne musician and yogi, Nicolas Buff:

Tao

2009-11-11T15:49:00.001+11:00

There is one thing that is invariably complete.
Before Heaven and Earth were, it is already there: so still, so lonely.
Alone it stands and does not change.
It turns in a circle and does not endanger itself.
One may call it ‘the Mother of the World’.
I do not know its name.
I call it TAO. …

The world has a beginning:
that is the Mother of the World.
Whosoever finds the mother
in order to know the sons;
whosoever knows the sons
and returns to the mother:
he will not be in danger all his life long. …

Tao Te Ching

Music: Abjeez

2009-11-10T10:05:00.004+11:00

Just had a look at the line-up for music at the Parliament - a wide-ranging bunch of musos no doubt but, how can I phrase this, so worthy. I found myself thinking about all the musicians that wont be there. So lets remedy that by adding some videos on this blog. We'll start with the exceedingly funky Safavi sisters from Iran and their band Abjeez:

Abjeez

Mr. Sri Sri

2009-11-10T08:53:00.005+11:00

On December 8th, the Parliament is hosting a Convocation of Hindu Spiritual Leaders, a bunch of self-important types, most using the 'mix and match' approach to Indian spiritual names: H.H. (His Holiness), Swami, Satguru, Sri, Maharaj, Dada/Dadi, blah, blah.

As a householder yogi, I find this stuff hilarious.

The best of all has to be the former member of Transcendental Meditation who has branched out on his own, along the way taking the name of an eminent and much beloved Indian musician, adding an H.H. and TWO Sris, and heading up a transnational corporate empire teaching stressed out modern business types how to de-stress using his patented breathing technique.

Welcome to Melbourne Mr.Sri Sri!

Fantasy or Reality?

2009-11-09T07:39:00.002+11:00

Yesterday I went to a meeting of Melbourne volunteers for the Parliament of the World Religions. Its in Melbourne. I'm in Melbourne. Thought I'd do my bit for interfaith harmony, peace, love, and the rest. Wasnt sure what to expect, but was expecting to help in some way.
Turned out we had to take part in role-play fantasy games to 'get to know each other'. Like organising a fantasy conference. What the *#$! There's a real life conference about to happen! Why the need for fantasy?