Buddhism, art, and environmentalism—all honor the beauty and magic of the natural world. In a powerful autobiographical essay, the poet, sage, and Zen practitioner Gary Snyder traces his lifelong commitment to the environment and calls on all creative people to rise in its defense.
2018 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference
The Faith Communities Council of Victoria, in association with the Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network and the City of Brimbank, would like to invite you to the 2018 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference on Sunday, November 18th 2018 @ St. Albans Community Centre
Victoria: Address on Post-Soviet Jewish Life
The Council of Christians and Jews Victoria will host Asher Ostrin, World Expert on Post-Soviet Jewish Life at the Luncheon Club, on Tuesday, 23 October.
Victoria: Delegation visits Melbourne
A delegation from the Vatican Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue (PCID) is currently in Australia, visiting Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne to meet members from Australia’s interreligious communities. The delegation includes Bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot MCCJ, the Council Secretary and an expert in Islam; Monsignor Indunil Kodithuwakku, who follows relations with the Buddhists, Shinto and Confucianists; Monsignor Santiago Michael, who follows relations with the Hindus, Sikhs and Jains; and Fr Markus Solo SVD, who follows relations with Muslims in Asia and Pacific.
The Time to Act is Now: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change
Together, with over 5000 Buddhist practitioners, and significant leaders such as the Dalai Lama, the Karmarpa, and Thich Nhat Hanh, we are presenting The Time to Act is Now, A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change, co-authored by David Loy, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and John Stanley. The declaration, authored in 2009 and updated in 2015, represents a global Buddhist statement and will be presented under the name, “Global Buddhist Climate Change Collective” on November 28th in Paris when there will a ceremony of all faith based petitions. The total number of signatures may be in the millions.
UPDATE ON THIS DECLARATION
Fifteen of the world´s most senior Buddhists leaders have issued a landmark call to all nations to adopt an effective climate change agreement at the UN negotiations in Paris starting 30 November. This new statement serves as an endorsement of the Declaration below and is signed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. It is also signed by Supreme Heads of Buddhism in Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), President of the Buddhist Association of the USA, President of the UBF (l’Union Bouddhiste de France) and Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk of Bhutan. This is the first time so many Buddhist luminaries have come together on any global issue to speak with one voice.
2018 JCMA Friendship Walk
The Jewish Muslim Christian Association will conduct a Friendship Walk on Saturday 21 October commencing from the Albanian Australian Islamic Society Mosque in Carlton North.
Victoria: Pax Christi Film Night
Pax Christi will hold a film event at Nova Cinema, Carlton, on the afternoon of Sunday, 14 October. The film is Wajib – The Wedding Invitation, an Arabic comedy about a Palestinian family living within Israel’s borders and organising a wedding.
Victoria: Practising Mindfulness
The Awareness Centre in Ashburton will offer an day on mindfulness on Tuesday 16 October 2018.
Victoria: Meditation and Compassionate Social Action
A COLLOQUIUM on Meditation and Compassionate Social Action with presentations from Ayya Yeshe, Dr Roger Coles, Sister Brigid Arthur, Simon Moyle and Rhys Aconley-Jones will be presented by Confluence and The Contemplary at North Fitzroy Library Community Room on Sat. 27 October 2018.
Queensland: Alleged appointment as Grand Mufti: Sheik Hilaly
“In the presence of the president of the Logan Mosque, in the presence of Imam Sheikh Abdul Quoodos and in the presence of the Chairman of the Australian International Islamic College of Durack, and all the doctors we do hereby declare that as from now Sheikh Taj El-din Hilali is the Grand Mufti of Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific”
Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly could be back as Australia’s highest-ranking Muslim.
The controversial cleric was anointed Grand Mufti by Queensland’s long serving Imam Abdul Taub Raza at Logan Mosque in Brisbane yesterday in front of fellow Imams and a large crowd of community leaders and worshippers.
Forty years of Hinduism in Darwin celebrated
On 29 September 2018, the Hindu Society of the Northern Territory celebrated 40 years of Hinduism in Darwin with a book launch and cultural performances at Harmony Hall, Malak.
Buddhism: Pema Chödrön apologizes for dismissing allegation of sexual assault from young woman
On Saturday, famed Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön released a statement responding to an allegation that she once dismissed a woman’s report that she was raped by a Shambhala Center director.
Chödrön is a Buddhist nun, best-selling author, and senior teacher in the Shambhala community. She is a member of Shambhala’s “Transition Task Force,” the temporary committee appointed to appoint a new Shambhala board after the previous board resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct by leaders in the community.
