Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 16

GLOBAL NEWS
RESPECT IS ENDURING
A
N ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP OF 36 INFLUENTIAL leaders in the field of serving young people of faith met at the Brahma Kumaris' Global Retreat Centre in Nuneham Courtenay, England, for a two-day retreat from 19-21 September 2003, entitled Respect: Contemplation, Communication and Co-operation.
The retreat was organised with the backing of 'Respect', a UK-wide campaign to get people of all faiths (or none) to spend
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Creative self-expression
more time with each other in order to foster greater understanding. It is an initiative inspired and led by Prince Charles, through the Prince's Trust and the volunteering charity Timebank. Among those present at the retreat were young people from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish and the Ba'hai faiths.
The panel have fun as they explore identity
Ravi Khanna, one of the organising team representing the Brahma Kumaris, said: "We wanted to provide an opportunity to share techniques and ideas on how to encourage young people to explore their own faith further and deepen their experience of it. Engaging with like minded young people from other faith communities on this basis then becomes a very powerful way of fostering greater respect and appreciation of what we have to offer each other."
The organising team consisted of representatives from seven faiths, making it a truly collaborative and inclusive planning process. A programme of varied activities, including small group conversations, quiet self-reflection, meditation, drama and creative workshops kicked off with an intriguing panel discussion on "Exploring Identity". The discussion focused on the role of faith in forming one's sense of identity. Samanera Amaranatho, a Buddhist, said: "Who am I? I am not the person I think I am, that is for sure. This is actually one of the beauties of what I have learnt from my faith really. I am not the separate identities I have had during my life." It was a sentiment shared by Ashik Shah, a Jain: "There is some positive residual left over once we have established who we are - which
14 Jain Spirit December 2003 February 2004
we call soul, spirit or atma. I am not Jain, Buddhist, Jewish or Christian....I am consciousness, awareness, beauty, bliss and truth." Reverend Marcus Braybrook, Vicar of the Baldons and Nuneham Courtenay and President of the World Congress of Faiths, was also present for the panel discussion session. "There are so many dimensions to interfaith work. I think the first is just trying to combat the prejudice, ignorance and misunderstanding that there is in
The Retreat participants
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the world...if religions can work together they can be a tremendous force for trying to heal some of the divisions in society," he said.
Other sessions during the retreat included a workshop on self-respect, using the 'appreciative inquiry' technique, which included interviews on personal values and selfexpression through art, mime, song, poetry and dance. Another session addressed the issue of living a life of faith and it evolved into a deep discussion about unconditional love and how to practically demonstrate it in one's life. This was balanced by a very focused presentation entitled 'Communicating Faith'- making faith seem relevant to the lives of young people. Mike Waldron, from the Prince's Trust, also attended the final session of the retreat: "I have spent the last 15 years in public policy, where double talk and dishonesty were prevalent. It was quite something to spend even a small amount of time with people where honesty is the norm. I go away richer for it," he said.
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