Greetings of Peace! We hope everyone is moving through the winter with a level of wellness, warmth and well-being.
We know that, while we are doing well with respect to COVID-19 at the moment in Tasmania, people in other places are not so lucky and many of us will have connections with those in other places who are sick or anxious. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and with them.
We hope you find attached the Annual Report provided to the Religions for Peace Australia national AGM, which was held on 15 June 2020.
It spotlights some of the remarkable activities of Religions for Peace around the country and around the world.
There will be an opportunity to explore some of these activities on Zoom on Saturday 18 July 2020 at 2.00-3.00pm. Please let me know if you are interested to join in.
We know that, while we are doing well with respect to COVID-19 at the moment in Tasmania, people in other places are not so lucky and many of us will have connections with those in other places who are sick or anxious.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and with them.
Religions for Peace International has announced the newly launched Multi-religious Humanitarian Fund, providing seed money for interreligious projects serving humanitarian needs during COVID-19.
We know that multi-religious collaboration and action during times of crisis guarantees peace at all times.
We welcome contributions to the fund by individuals, corporations and governments who seek to support grassroots and creative multi-religious initiatives that are directly addressing the challenges of COVID-19. More information at: https://rfp.org/support/
Holy Days in July 2020
| Date | Event | Faith/religion |
| 5 July | Guru Purnima | Hinduism |
| 5 July | Ashada Puja | Buddhism |
| 9 July | Martyrdom of the Bab | Baha’I |
| 30 July | Tisha B’av | Judaism |
| 30 July | Waqf al-Arafa | Season of Hajj; Saudi Arabia has closed its borders to Mecca and pilgrims doing Hajj. |
| 31 July | Eid al Adha | Islam |
The Hobart Synagogue
Many congratulations to the Hobart Hebrew Community as Australia’s oldest operating synagogue turned 175 on 4 July 2020.
Hobart Hebrew Congregation has run services in the heritage-listed synagogue in central Hobart since its consecration on July 4, 1845, and was set to mark the milestone with an array of projects and a program of public celebrations. The coronavirus forced the celebration to be cancelled, but the projects have been successfully completed.
The highlight of the anniversary year has been making the congregation’s meeting minutes from 1841 to 1958 easily accessible online. The State Library of Tasmania (which holds the synagogue’s archives), finished digitising the minutes early this year, but it was still challenging to make sense of the mostly handwritten documents.
2020 Backhouse Lecture – Quakers Australia
The Backhouse Lectures are public lectures on contemporary issues delivered annually at the national gathering of Quakers in Australia. They were initiated by Australia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) on its establishment in 1964. Friends from both Australia and overseas have presented lectures. The 2020 Backhouse Lecture, Seeking Union with Spirit: Experiences of Spiritual Journeys, will be presented by Fiona Gardner on Monday 6 July at 7.15pm via Zoom.
Read more here
Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre
Tuesday evening online meditation
Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre July program via Zoom: 8-fold Noble Path.
Last month we looked at the Four Noble Truths, which is the first teaching which the Buddha taught after his enlightenment, and which underlines all Buddhist philosophy.
The fourth of these Noble Truths is the 8-fold Noble Path. This Path, if followed, will result in the cessation of “dukkha” (roughly translated as suffering or dissatisfaction) and each of the steps are essential for a happy life which is beneficial to others. The 8-fold Noble Path is where the rubber hits the road.
This month Maria will look at two of these eight steps each week. The eight steps are:
- right view,
- right thought,
- right speech,
- right action,
- right livelihood,
- right effort,
- right mindfulness, and
- right concentration.
Zoom Meeting Time: Tuesday evenings in July, 7.30pm-9 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 937 472 284
Or, you can use this direct link
More information about our current online program. The prayers and further information for Tuesday evenings is also at this link.
Email:info@hobartbuddhistmeditationcentre.com
Website:www.hobartbuddhistmeditationcentre.com
From Launceston
Regather, Recentre, Replenish
One Light Interspiritual Community invites you to join us, as we gently regather, recentre and replenish, in our spiritually inclusive sacred centre, where the paths of all wisdom traditions are respected and celebrated for the rich beauty they gift to the world, and all people who yearn for peace, harmony among all, friendship, open-hearted spiritual connection and deep inner sustenance are welcomed.
We will gift each other space and time to share insights and experiences of the last few months, offer a guided World Peace Meditation for the healing well-being of our human family and planet, hold space and prayer for lives lost and those who struggled deeply during this time. As always, insightful teaching, rich wisdom, sacred kirtan and music, meditation, contemplation, ritual, friendship and fellow/sistership will guide our time together.
When: Sunday, July 12th 9.45 – 11.30am.
Where: Guides Hall, cnr Paterson + Margaret St (next to the treatment plant)
Cost: Free ($5 offering to assist costs is most welcomed)
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Retreat Days at Home .. Joining together for quiet time.
Next Retreat Days at Home will be held on Saturdays 18 July, 15 August, 19 September 2020.
Contact Kerstin Reimers 6228 4890 or kerstin7reimers@gmail.com for details and to register
Hindu Society of Tasmania: (more)
Sri Ganesha Mandir, 6 Letitia Rd., Bridgewater, will be open to the public from 7 June 2020. The new opening hours are 11.00am-1.00pm on Sundays.
Please note that we will adhere to the current government restrictions and will control the number of people on the premises. No form of prasadam will be allowed except fruits, owing to the current situation.
We look forward to your continuing support and patience as we get through these challenging times.
Hindu Society of Tasmania: (more)
In line with the Federal Government Directives, the University is now closing the Multifaith Centre on campus until further notice. As such, there will be no face-toface meetings (satsangs) until further notice. However, I will continue the monthly classes on the Vivekacudamani of Shankaracharyaji on WhatsApp to keep the momentum going. This will comprise of notes and voice recordings posted on ‘VC Cafe’ on the scheduled monthly Mondays. This can be followed by chats/discussions via WhatsApp on the verses as covered. Enquiries to Sree on 0413 936 936.
Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centre
Relaxing Deeply, Thinking Positively is a gentle program which supports the calming of anxiety and thinking positively.
The program is available by zoom and comprises three sessions on Mondays from 1.00pm-2.00pm, beginning 27 July and continuing on 3 and 10 August.
To obtain a zoom link, book with Terry on 6272 6521 or sussfam@bigpond.com
Download a Flyer for this event
Sacred Conversations
Sacred Conversations warmly invites you to join us at 2pm on Saturday 25th of July for an online Zoom session.
We hope to resume face to face meetings soon but will also include a Zoom link for anyone who lives remotely or prefers to meet online. Please stay tuned! Dacred Conversations is an opportunity for people of different faiths and cultures to come together in a spirit of deep respect, understanding, peace, and love!
Please join us for respectful dialogue, prayer, meditation, music, friendship, and more.
Our special guest on Saturday 25th July will be the Venerable Shih Jingang from the Buddha Heart Fellowship who will share insights from his book “A Sparrow Splashing” as well as details of his vision for spiritual community here in Hobart.
I hope you are able to join us! Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6401673016
All enquiries are welcome: contact Julian McGarry 0401673016 or julianmcgarry@gmail.com
Climate Watch
We recommend keeping an eye on the website of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change https://www.arrcc.org.au/
In particular, we support the action Let’s make recovery from this crisis green and Living the Change.
Baha’i Community
You may already be aware that the Baha’is of the Netherlands and Religions for Peace Netherlands co-hosted an online conference
on 28th May 2020, commemorating the centenary of a message written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the Central Organisation for a Durable Peace in the Hague, from which emerge the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the first international inter-governmental organisation and precursor to the United Nations. While we see there is still much work to be done, we also need to acknowledge steps taken towards the vision of a peaceful world. The background to the message and its importance, regarding the prerequisites for peace, can be viewed here and here.
From Zenit:
From Zenit:
Cardinal Parolin asserts the need for Israel and Palestine to live in peace.
Cardinal Parolin Asserts Need for Israel and Palestine to Live in Peace
Carona and the message of love.
Experiences of a Polish priest in the Ukraine with COVID-19 patients.
Caritas works to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Rohingya refugee camps
UK Catholic and Anglican bishops want a time limit put on immigration detention centres
On the Way for the Care of the Common Home, 5 years on from Laudato si
In peace,
Terry
Convenor RfP Tasmania Branch
Phone 6272 6521
