Tasmania: August 2019

Tasmania LogoGreetings of peace! For our gathering this month, Religions for Peace will join the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change at Declaration Day, 8 August 12.00 noon till 1.00pm at the Parliament House lawns, Salamanca Place, Hobart.  The event will be the first, peaceful, family-friendly action organised by the Tasmanian Branch of Extinction Rebellion.  Hope to see you there under the ARRCC banner.


Greetings of peace!
The recent visit of Emeritus Prof Des Cahill, Chair of Religions for Peace Australia, to Tasmania

As a result of escalating difficulties facing faith groups both locally and internationally, Religions for Peace Australia is seeking to support the formation of Faith Communities’ Councils, comprised of faith leaders or their representatives, around Australia, following the model of the Faith Communities’ Council of Victoria https://www.faithvictoria.org.au/  The Queensland Faith Communities’ Council was established last year and the Religions for Peace Executive Member for South Australia, the President of the Multifaith Association of South Australia, is in the process of forming a Council in that state. 

Prof Cahill convened a meeting with interested faith leaders/representatives at Parliament House on Thursday 25 July to propose that a Faith Communities’ Council of Tasmania (FCCT), or something similar, be established.  We were welcomed by the Speaker, The Hon Sue Hickey, who expressed her full support for the venture.  Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor also gave her support and stayed for the whole discussion.

We’d also like to express our immense gratitude to the Multicultural Council of Tasmania.  The Chair, Mr Waqas Durrani, and the CEO, Mr Ron Franks, have been very enthusiastic in their encouragement and Ron spoke of this in the gathering.

The aim of the proposed group is to provide a platform where faith leaders can come together in a mutually supportive way to foster positive relations between different faith communities and act as an example of unity and cohesion in a society that is becoming more polarised and where minority communities are feeling very vulnerable. Such a group would provide an opportunity for multifaith activities at the highest level, particularly at times of community upheaval or disaster, leading to greater understanding and harmony between faith groups and with the broader mainstream community.

The gathering decided that given the smaller faith communities in Tasmania, we should establish a network rather than a more formal Council and meet twice a year on or around a significant date, such as UN Interfaith Harmony Day / UN International Day of Peace.

Prof Cahill and I would like to thank everyone who attended the meeting; some participants made significant sacrifices to be there. Representatives from all major faiths participated. We are glad that everyone agreed to share contact details for ongoing communication.  This is a significant step forward.


Climate Emergency
On a different tack, our climate emergency requires our immediate attention as people of faith. At the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions, the leaders of world’s faiths produced a Declaration supporting immediate action: https://parliamentofreligions.org/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=4&reset=1

As Gus Speth, Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, said in 2013:

I used to think the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with thirty years of good science we could address those problems. But I was wrong.

The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy … … and to deal with those, we need a spiritual and cultural transformation. We scientists don’t know how to do that ….

https://ncipl.org/environmental-crisis-not-environmental-spiritual/
Who does?

For our gathering this month, Religions for Peace will join the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change at Declaration Day, 8 August 12.00 noon till 1.00pm at the Parliament House lawns, Salamanca Place, Hobart.  The event will be the first, peaceful, family-friendly action organised by the Tasmanian Branch of Extinction Rebellion.  Hope to see you there under the ARRCC banner.


 

Holy Days of August, 2019

11 August            Tisha B’av Judaism
12 August            Eid Al Adha Islam
15 August                           Assumption of the Virgin Mary Christianity - Catholic
15 August                   Raksha Bandhan Hinduism
23 August            Krishna Janmashtami Hinduism
31 August                        Hijra Islam
2 September     Ganesh Chaturthi Hinduism

 

Hindu Society of Tasmania
Acharya Ashish ji is visiting Hobart after 3 years. Aryasamaj in association with Hindu Society is organising lectures from 1st to 6th August.   Acharya ji is a scholar in Darshana Shastras.  The lectures will be in ENGLISH.   The indicative topics and venue  for the programs are as follows:

At Bharat Bhavan, 7 Lodge Street, Glenorchy:

Thu 1st Aug 6pm-8pm :  Golden Basics of Vedic Philosophy and Life
Fri 2nd Aug 6pm-8pm :  Vedic Karma Theory – The Law of Karma

[Note that there are parking restrictions in Lodge Sheet, so please park elsewhere such as in Northgate Carpark]  

At Sri Ganesa Cultural Center & worship place, 6 Letitia Grove, Bridgewater:
Sat 3rd Aug 3pm – 5pm :  Aum & Gayatri Mantra Meditation   
Sun 4th Aug 3pm-5pm :  Spiritual Aspects of Havan /Agnihotra

At UTAS Multifaith Centre, TUU Building, Churchill Ave., Sandy Bay:
Mon 5th Aug 6pm – 8pm :  Mastering Your Mind
Tue 6th Aug 6pm-8pm :  Any topic of Interest

Please come with an open mind.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions after each of these lectures.  It is a rare opportunity to meet and interact with a Scholar of Darshan Shastras, who is also a Graduate of Engineering.  There is opportunity for voluntary contribution towards the event.  Admission is free and all are welcome.  If you are interested please SMS or contact Mrs. Gloria Smith (0409 214 170) or Mr. Ajit Ramadas (0411 300 630).    

Download a Flyer for these events


 

Baha’i Community
Soul Food this Sunday 4th August 3pm Baha’i Centre of Learning, 1 Tasman Highway Hobart

The theme for this program is “The Spirit Within” is based on the premise that we are spiritual beings and for true felicity we need to attend to our inner life, not just our outer life.  The music will be  Lindisfarne Riverside Arts Choir

All welcome.  Refreshments Served. FMI for this free community event: www.soulfood.com/tas 


 

Brahma Kumaris
BK Sudha Gupta, the General Director of Brahma Kumaris Moscow, is visiting Hobart and will give a talk entitled The Relay Race of Positive Changes on Tuesday 6 August at the Multicultural Hub, 65 Hopkins St., Moonah. (See attached flier)

The world has lost its balance.  Is it possible to make it a happier place to live again? When we make our inner world into a wellspring of peace, joy and love, we pass this positive energy on to others.

Sr Sudha has received many awards for her peacemaking activities from countries that were previously part of the USSR, including the Commission of the Russian Federation of UNESCO.

This is a free program, but contributions are welcome to help cover costs.

Please book by phone on 6278 3788 or by email at hobart@au.brahmakumaris.org
Download a biopic of BK Sudha Gupta


 

Knowing your Specialities: Discovering your life’s purpose
Caroline Ward will lead this session at the Moonah Arts Centre, 23-27 Albert Rd., Moonah on Tuesday 27 August from 7.00-8.30pm. Originally from Sydney, Caroline is a business woman, a spiritual teacher and most of all a seeker of unfolding truth and beauty. 

Her gift is in revealing unseen solutions and pathways of transformation for individuals and groups.

As the Co-ordinator of the main Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centre in Chile, she has worked in Chile and around the world with women as agents of transformation. She is the author of the book and workshop entitled The Four faces of Woman

This is a free program, but contributions are welcome to help cover costs.
Please book by phone on 6278 3788 or by email at hobart@au.brahmakumaris.org


 

Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre
Tuesday evening meditation for August

August: Love, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity.
This month we will be looking at the four immeasurables. They are love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. With an understanding of these teachings, and through meditation practice, we can learn to continually increase these excellent qualities in our lives for the benefit of all beings.

The world needs compassionate committed people today more than ever. It’s all too easy sometimes to become overwhelmed and discouraged, due to the world situation, or issues in our own lives. We can sometimes feel like giving up, or we might feel angry or helpless.

These four qualities can be an antidote to some of these negative emotions. They have the capacity to increase immeasurably in our lives.

About Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre
Meditation and Discussion 7.30-9 pm, every Tuesday. Entry by $5 suggested donation.
73 Liverpool St [Goulds building, down the laneway to the right of the building, in the door between the bamboo pots and up the stairs to the 2nd floor]
email info@hobartbuddhistmeditationcentre.com
website: www.hobartbuddhistmeditationcentre.com


 

Quaker’s Retreat Day
We would like to let you know about our next Retreat Day, which is on Saturday 31 August 2019 from 10am for a 10.30am start, finishing at 3.30pm. It will be held at the Quaker Meeting House in North Hobart (enter either by Argyle Street through the carpark or from Boa Vista Road). BYO lunch; light refreshments provided. All welcome. 

Please contact Kerstin Reimers on (03) 6228 4890 or Maggi Storr on 0415 355 336 if you have any queries. You are welcome to pass this information on to anyone you know who may like to join us for a day of retreat. 

We look forward to opening ourselves to the gift of time with God, our inner selves and each other in the precious spaciousness of silence. We hope you can join us.


 

Sacred Conversations
Sacred Conversations warmly invites you to join us at 2pm on the last Saturday of every month at the Multifaith Centre on the UTAS campus. Sacred Conversations is a time and place for people of different faiths and cultures to come together in an environment of deep respect, understanding, peace, and love! Join us for respectful dialogue, prayer, meditation, music, food, friendship, and more.

Our next meeting is on Saturday 31st of August. All enquiries are welcome: Julian McGarry 0401673016 or julianmcgarry@gmail.com    


 

From Faith Communities’ Council of Victoria:
https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/audiotrack/guru-nanaks-free-kitchnette-helping-homeless

https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/audiotrack/melbourne-hindu-temple-provide-shelter-international-students-and-domestic-violence

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-26/bendigo-mosque-sod-turned-after-years-of-controversy/11347164

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6277099/family-plans-to-build-hindu-temple-in-honour-of-daughter/

https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/urdu/en/article/2019/07/10/how-intermarriages-between-pakistani-cameleers-and-aboriginal-women-australia

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/women-and-the-dhamma/11321506

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/jewish-communities-around-the-world-donate-1m-to-survivors-of-christchurch-attack


 

 
From Zenit:

Award Recognizes Interpreter of Aboriginal Communities

 

Mosul: Barely 40 Christians Home

 

In Letter Hand-Delivered to Assad, Pope Francis Expresses ‘Profound Concern’ for Humanitarian Crisis in Syria

 

FEATURE: Vatican & Diplomats Decry ‘Alarming Reality’ of Persecuted Christians

 

In peace,
Terry
Convenor RfP Tasmania Branch
Vice Chair, Religions for Peace Australia
Phone 6272 6521