Tasmania – April 2015
Religions for Peace Tasmania Branch Interfaith Gathering for April will be held on Tuesday 7 April 2015 at 2.00pm at Little Frying Pan Island, Berriedale, a place very special to the Aboriginal people of Tasmania and one that continues to play a special part in the Reconciliation process. We will be led by Kris Schaffer.
Welcome
Religions for Peace Tasmania Branch Interfaith Gathering for April will be held on Tuesday 7 April 2015 at 2.00pm at Little Frying Pan Island, Berriedale, a place very special to the Aboriginal people of Tasmania and one that continues to play a special part in the Reconciliation process. We will be led by Kris Schaffer.
Further to our honouring of the elements during 2014, this time we will be honouring air, all the more significant since Australia and the Pacific region have experienced many severe cyclones this summer.
To get to the right place, turn on to the slip road that leads to the Hobart bound lane of the Brooker Highway, going past Strathaven Nursing Home and the Riverfront Hotel/Motel, turn to the left down Strathaven Drive and continue on past the buildings. There is plenty of parking space at the back near the river and it is an easy walk on to the peninsula.
This month is a time of great spiritual activity across many faith traditions, as you can see from the many events listed below. It is a beautiful time to add our personal thoughts of prayer and meditation for personal and world peace. Many blessings! For further details, contact Kris on 0421 042 135.
Parliament of the World’s Religions 2015
The Dalai Lama will be coming to Salt Lake City next fall. He’ll be the keynote speaker at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The 14th Dalai Lama is a symbol of Tibetan culture around the world, though he gave up his authority as head of the Tibetan government in exile in 2011. As a Buddhist monk and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, he’s also seen as an international spiritual leader.
You can find out more about the 2015 Parliament of Religions here
Easter at St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart
Mass Times
- Chrism Mass: 7:30 PM
- Holy Thursday: 7:30 PM
- Good Friday: 3:00 PM (Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion )
- Easter Vigil: 7:30 PM
- Easter Sunday: 10:30 AM (please note no evening Mass on Easter Sunday)
Easter at St Davids Cathedral, Hobart
For more information, go here
Jewish Festival of Passover
Jewish communities celebrate Passover 4-11 April 2015, beginning at sundown on 3 April.
Two online starting points for basic information about Passover:
You can also learn more at Aish.com … “Five powerful ideas at the heart of Passover and its message: memory, optimism, faith, family and responsibility.”
SOUL FOOD
A unique monthly event, hosted in the Bahá’í Centre of Learning, Hobart
This month’s program “A Gateway to Happiness” explores the principle that true happiness for the individual and humanity comes from the following paths of justice, kindness and concern for others as expressed in the divine teachings. The music for this program will be the talented Teresa Drozdz.
Soul Food is a unique, monthly event featuring live music, audio-visual pieces and readings from faiths and philosophers, authors, leaders and indigenous cultures from all around the world specially chosen to inspire us towards understanding and unity of nations, commencing in our homes, our Communities, States and Countries.
It is hosted in the tranquil ambience of the Bahá’í Centre of Learning, (Behind the A.B.C. building) 1 Tasman Highway, providing an opportunity to be inspired, uplifted and to celebrate our humanity and oneness in a spirit of friendship and unity.
This pleasant meditative afternoon is a free Community inspired event.
When:Sunday April 5th. 3pm. Great refreshments served.
For more information please call 6234 7654 http://www.soulfood.com.au/tas/
Easter Retreat, Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre
Easter Retreat 2015 at Dorje Ling Retreat Centre, Lorinna
Development of compassion and wisdom
with a pliable mind and body
Based on the Six Perfections, which are: Generosity, discipline, patience, energy, meditative concentration and wisdom.
- Family friendly 4-day Easter retreat at Dorje Ling focusing on bringing together Buddhist meditation and Yoga.
- The meditations will be led by senior students from Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre, with Roslyn Alexander leading yoga sessions.
- There will be some karma yoga included as part of this low cost retreat.
- Simple wholesome vegetarian meals provided.
- Cost: $240 waged, $200 concession. Youth scholarships are available at $120 (under-25s, please enquire). For non-members, there will be an additional membership cost of $45.
- Arriving Friday 3rd in afternoon, light supper provided. Departing Tuesday 7th after lunch.
- Enquiries to info@tashicholing.net or call Charles on 62235023.
About Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre
Meditation and Discussion 7.30-9 pm, every Tuesday. Entry by $5 suggested donation.
71-3 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
Books and teachings
Treasury of Dharma. We are planning on Rinpoche’s advice to start a series of teachings on Tuesday evenings on the subject of the Treasury of Dharma by Geshe Rabten. If you would like to buy a copy of this book please let us know as we may be able to put in a bulk order. Otherwise you could put in your own order at http://www.rabten.eu/xv301_en.htm
Rinpoche’s new book Tara in the Palm of your Hand. Please let
us know if you would like a copy as we are planning to get a second order from the publishers.
Recordings of January 2015 retreat with Zasep Tulku Rinpoche. MP3s are now available. Please let us know your order requirements. We have Hobart sessions for $10, 3 Principal Paths of Lam Rim sessions for $20, and Green Tara sessions (initiates only) for $15.
Khatchodling – Easter Retreat
Easter Retreat — ‘Mindfulness In Nature’<
Friday, 3rd April, 3pm to Monday 6th April 12 noon
Far South Wilderness Lodge, 247 Narrows Road, Strathblane (near Dover), Tasmania
This retreat takes place in a beautiful natural setting, away from the hustle and bustle of daily modern life. It is our intention to provide you with ancient teachings, stillness, meaningful activities, good food and right company which will assist you unfold into your natural alignment with wisdom and compassion. May you return home rested and with a renewed inspiration, wisdom and depth in your life that benefits yourself and others, near and far.
Each days sessions have been developed around specific themes. Vajrayana Buddhist teachings will be given by our precious Khandro Rinpoche while other sessions do include a Council of All Beings, an Exploration of Sacred Sound and Dances of Universal Peace.
Download brochure here (850kb pdf)
Download schedule for full programme (60kb pdf)
The Far South Wilderness Lodge, is nestled between the rugged mountains and wilderness of the South West National Park World Heritage Area and the beautiful D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
FSW is located some distance from Hobart city, so transport must be a consideration in your flight scheduling, sightseeing and accommodation extras. For this reason we have attached a downloadable Transport Arrangements document (460kb pdf)
There are nearby places to sightsee, like the Tahune Airwalk and the Hastings caves/thermal pools, which we have tried to provide you with the opportunity to visit respectively on Friday en route to FSW and Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning after the retreat concludes.
Download sightseeing document here (600kb pdf)
For registration and enquiries please contact Stuart Lord at tas.khachodling@gmail.com
Online Bookings available here
Dances of Universal Peace
The Dances of Universal Peace will be held on the 7th April.
However as some of you already know our usual venue at Sirens has been sold and will be renovated.
Doro has kindly organized for us to dance in a room at her work which is just around the corner, for the next 3 months.
The address is 181 Macquarie Street, the sandstone building with the tower, next to Myer homewares, opposite St. Helen’s private hospital and The Duke pub. There is plenty of parking outside the building.
- First Tuesday of each month
- 7.30 – 9.30pm
- Enquiries ph 62 393499 or 0400051963
Launceston News
Launceston Interfaith/spiritual Community meets the 3rd Monday of each month, 1.00 – 2.30 pm at Pilgrim’s, Ida Birchall Room, 36-38 Paterson St (opposite Birchalls Carpark).
Our inclusive community celebrates diverse sacred expression while honoring all paths that lead to Truth. Emphasizing ‘unity in diversity’, we learn from/through each other while finding enrichment from a range of faith and non-faith wisdoms and traditions.
We share insights about our diverse beliefs while learning about paths different from our own in openness, mutual respect and goodwill. Guest speakers, discussion topics, sacred literature, reflection and contemplation, music, meditation, prayer and inclusive sacred celebration services facilitate this process – those with no particular belief background are also welcome.
For more details PH: 0431909172 E: interfaithtasmania@gmail.com
Tasmanian Council of Churches:
There is still time to register for the Emergencies Ministry training and refresher course for Personal Support Workers.
- May 7 & 8, Hobart
The refresher course (for those who have already completed the 2-day course) starts at 10.15 am on the second day in each city.
There are forms and further details available at www.tcctas.org.au/?page=21.
From April 1, you will need a Working With Vulnerable People card in order to be deployed by the TCC.
Please contact Gus emprojects@tcctas.org.au, 0432 620 253 for more information.
Symphony of Peace Prayers
The Symphony of Peace Prayers will be held on Sunday 17 May 2015. Details will follow.
We are also happy to announce that the Fuji Declaration website is now LIVE on the internet: fujideclaration.org
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
May Peace Prevail On Earth
Coda
This month’s Coda comes from the night sky and Tasmanian Indigenous Cosmogony:
Parnuen (the Sun), Vena (the Moon), Moinee and Dromerdene, and the creator serpent …
WHEN THE WORLD was young, all things took their shape. Trowenna, the heart-shaped island we call Tasmania, was very small, just a tiny sandbank in the southern sea. So it remained in complete darkness, all throughout the early days, for countless ages. One morning, flashing fire, from out of the sea rose Parnuen, the Sun, and his wife, Vena. They traveled across the sky together and sank into the sea on the other side of Trowenna. Being a woman, Vena could not travel as fast as Parnuen, so he carried her in his arms, right in the center of his huge disk-like body. On the next day they rose again from the sea, and when they passed across the little island of Trowenna they dropped some seeds of the great gum tree, tar monadro.
The following day, Parnuen sprinkled them with rina dina, the raindrops. On the next day he dropped shellfish into the seas all around the island. On the day after that, their first little baby, Moinee, was born. He was a strong, shining boy. Parnuen and his wife, Vena, placed Moinee high in the sky above the icy lands to the south of Trowenna. Moinee became the great South Star. On the day following the birth of Moinee, their second son, gentle Dromerdene, was born, shining just like his brother. They also gave Dromerdene a home in the sky, midway between themselves and Moinee, the great South Star. Beegerer and Piminer, the twins, were born on the next
day. They became the great stars that we call Sirius and Betelgeuse. Then came a great and terrible storm. Wind, rain, and huge seas almost washed away the little island of Trowenna. Moinee, the great South Star, was showing his anger at his loneliness in the far south. So Parnuen, the Sun, sent his two spirits, Une, the Lightning, and Bura, the Thunder, to live with his son in the sky above the snow and ice of the Great South Land.
All through the ages of the Dreaming, icebergs from the Great South Land floated around Trowenna. Sometimes Pernuen would set his wife, Vena, down on one of these white islands. She would lie there watching him all day as he crossed the sky. Before he sank into the sea, Pernuen would return for Vena and they would slide together over the rim of the Earth. One day, as Vena followed her husband’s journey across the sky, the iceberg on which Vena lay melted and she sank beneath the ocean. Only in the night-time would she return, as the Moon. In his grief and fury, Pernuen melted all the icebergs and they disappeared. He gave the island of Trowenna to Moinee, the South Star, who has watched over it ever since. Throughout the Dreaming, the seeds Pernuen and Vena sowed sprouted and they became trees and other vegetation. The leaves fell down, mixing with sand, and became soil. The shellfish grew and became numerous. As the old ones died, they became the stones and rocks of the great mountains on Trowenna. And that is how Tasmania became, when the world was young.
(Retold with permission by Pauline E. McLeod)
(Dot Painting Image from Flickr’s Creative Commons by pikous)
In peace,
Terry
Convenor RfP Tasmania Branch
6272 6521
Religions for Peace Tasmania
