Parliament of Worlds Religion 2004 Barcelona

Author(s): Parliament of the World’s Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

Page 101

Program Descriptions Thursday, July 8, 2004
INTRARELIGIOUS SESSION 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
INTRARELIGIOUS 9:30 AM 11:00 AM
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Teaching of Sincerity: A Shinto Pathway to Peace
Rev. Munemichi Kurozumi
Room 111, Spanish/English/Catalan
Shinto is the indigenous religious tradition of Japan, and thus the original form has no founder, no doctrine, and no sacred scripture, yet its tradition remains deeply rooted in Japanese society today. Rituals and ceremonies are regarded as the most important, centering around deep sense of gratitude towards all kinds of blessings from the nature that sustains our existence. This lecture explains one of the main and essential aspects of Shinto and interprets the universality and openness of Shinto, which may be reflected in the contemporary societies that have to face the challenge of living together in diversity.
Rev. Kurazumi was born as the first son of the present 6th Chief Patriarch of Kurozumikyo Shinto in 1962. In his capacity as the Vice Chief Patriarch, he has devoted himself in providing spiritual guidance to people within and outside his group, and being one of the youngest religious representatives in Japan, he has been energetically involved with various local, national and international initiatives. Especially, in the sphere of inter-religious gatherings he has positively taken part in the programs of inter-faith dialogue and cooperation, starting from "Global Forum" in 1988 held at Oxford University when he was studying at SOAS of London University. Participant in the 1993 and 1999 Parliaments, and coordinator of the Japanese delegation to the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders that was held at the United Nations in 2000.
Interfaith Cooperation for the Common Good: Serving Langar at the Ram Katha Event
Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh
Bhai Sukhbir Singh
Dr. Arvind Pal Mandair
Bhima Bhai Godania
Room 112, Spanish/English/Catalan
The Ram Katha story is the legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose father gave him money to start a business. He spent all the money by offering food to holy people, much to the consternation of his Father. This act is the foundation of the institution of 'Langar' - the offering of free food in all Sikh Gurdwaras. In 2001 in Birmingham, Sikhs and Hindus forged a deep friendship as the Sikhs provided langar a the Hindu Ram Katha. This seminar explores the trials and tribulations that both communities endured, and provides an example of an interfaith transformative act. Part of the seminar will include a video presentation of the actual event.
Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh is the Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He is both
100 Parliament of the World's Religions 2004
a patron and member of several interfaith organizations, and serves as an advisor to the Sikh Heritage Trust.
Bhai Sukhbir Singh has previously been a school teacher in London. He is currently a businessman and volunteer of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha.
Dr. Arvind Pal Singh Mandair is Assistant Professor in the Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies at Hofstra University.
Bhima Bhai Godania is Executive Director of the Ram Vedic Festival.
The Art of War/ The Tao of Peace: The Yin/Yang Dance of Being Human Chungliang Al Huang
Room 113, Spanish/English/Catalan
If Tolstoy had titled his novel Peace and Peace, few would be interested in reading it. Crystallizing knowledge into wisdom and rhetoric into practice, Chungliang Al Huang will address the essence of Oswald Spengler's The Decline of the West, Sun Tzu's The Art of War, and the Tao Te Ching to explore possible resolutions for our world conflicts in personal practice, balancing our yin/yang polarity as human beings, and finding hopeful ways in the realization for a reciprocal, more peaceful world.
Chungliang Al Huang is an internationally respected Tai Ji master, Chinese calligrapher and authority of East-West cultural synthesis. He is the author and co-author of numerous books on Tai Ji (including the best-selling classic Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain: The Essence of Tai Ji), and Taoism as it relates to business, performance and daily life. He is a recipient of the Republic of China's Gold Medal of Education. He and Joseph Campbell were friends for many years and he has been an advisor to the Campbell Foundation since its inception.
A Gathering of the Community: Symposium on Interfaith Education
Dame Meher Master Moos, Ph.D.
Dr. Betty Reardon
Dr. Heidi Hadsell
Room 114, Spanish/English/Catalan
Within the broad scope of interfaith education lie the methods of the classroom, the academy, and the seminary, alongside the restorative practices of dialogue and community building among people of diverse religious backgrounds. In each of these contexts, interfaith education has distinctive characteristics and challenges that will be explored here. This program begins the three day Symposium on Interfaith Education.
Dame Master-Moos, Ph.D., D.Sc., is the Founder and President of the only Zoroastrian College in the world, Mazdayasnie Monasterie