Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 185

PROGRAM DE
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Awakening Meditation
Ken Mellor
Room 215
Religious or Spiritual Observance
The aim of this observance is to integrate seven simple steps that promote awakening. The first step is Noticing: cultivating awareness of the inside and the outside. The next step is Accepting: accepting the presence of what we are aware of. The following step is Experiencing: opening to the impact of awareness, so we live our responses fully. Next follows Grounding: acknowledging and sensing the physical with every experience, giving our primary attention to physical sensations inside and physical things and events outside. The next step is Centring: aligning with the observer/witness in our systems. Combined with grounding, we are in the 1-Am-here-and-now. Then comes Cherishing: responding with tenderness, love, caring and gratitude to all experiences. The final step is Divining: repeating a mantra or sacred word of our own choice, for example, Om, Love, God, Freedom, Life or Liberation. The observance will involve a brief presentation, followed by a guided meditation. At the end of the meditation there will be ample opportunity for questions, clarification and discussion. Written material on this practice will be handed out at the end of the session.
Ken Mellor is a spiritual mentor and master and a trained psychotherapist. With his wife Elizabeth, he trained for 27 years with three Indian Masters. In 1984, he co-founded Biame Network, a spiritually oriented, non-profit, educational organisation with members and associates in more than 30 countries. He has introduced thousands of people to meditation and bases what he teaches on what he has learned from his own practice. He lives with his wife in Australia.
Meditation as a Therapy:
How Traditional Techniques Translate into Modern Healing
lan Gawler
Room 216
Interactive Workshop
Traditionally, meditation has been focused primarily on spiritual realisation. Only in the last few decades have great pioneers like Dr Ainslie Meares, Dr Herbert Benson and Jon Kabat-Zinn given new emphasis to meditation as a therapy. In recent years, strong, research-based evidence has emerged demonstrating the value of meditation for both physical and psychological healing. Meditation is widely accepted by Australian GPs as a complementary therapy; it has been taught to medical students at Monash Medical School in Melbourne for nearly ten years. While in Western culture meditation is often presented in a secular context, the great spiritual traditions offer the benefit of vast experience and extraordinary lineages in this field. It is on their shoulders that a whole new sphere of healing has opened up in the West. This workshop will present the latest research findings as well as instruction based upon years of experience with teaching meditation. Questions and discussion are encouraged. The session will also include the practice of group meditation.
8:00-9:00am MORNING OBSERVANCES
Dr lan Gawler, OAM, Founder of The Gawler Foundation, is a pioneer in the therapeutic application of mind/body medicine and meditation. A long-term cancer survivor, lan established Australia's first lifestyle-based cancer self-help group over 25 years ago. He works intensively with cancer and MS patients and conducts meditation retreats and wellness programs. He is an author and a student of Sogyal Rinpoche. Initially trained in Veterinary Science, Dr Gawler holds a Master's in Counselling.
Zoroastrian Daily Morning Prayers and Worship: Day 1
Ervad Kaivan Antia
Ervad Armin Dumasia Room 218
Religious or Spiritual Observance
Following a brief introductory narrative on Zoroastrianism, the Zarathushtis will perform the daily morning 'Kusti Padyab ritual. First, they will tie and untie the Kusti (hollow woollen cord) worn around their waists, while reciting the farajayat (requisite) prayers. Then they will recite Atash Nyaish (Hymn to the Light Divine) and demonstrate the Jashan ceremony (a commemoration for the Parliament). The worship will end with the group singing a Monajat [devotional song) and offering a short explanation of the worship service. Chasni (fruits and malido, a sweet dish made with flour, sugar and butter displayed during the Jashan to symbolise Ahura Mazda's creation) will be served to all participants, subject to receiving permission from the authorities.
Ervad Kaivan Antia is a Zoroastrian priest. He completed his studies and rituals at Athorvan Madressa in Mumbai.
Ervad Armin Dumasia is a Zoroastrian priest. He completed his studies and rituals at Vatcha Gandhi Fire Temple In Mumbai.
Observance in the Haudenosaunee
Prophecy and Spirituality
Jake Swamp, USA: Mohawk Room 219
Lecture
The Haudenosaunee are also known as the 'People of the Longhouse'. Six nations make up this confederacy: the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga and Tuscarora. They are the oldest living participatory democracy on earth. The Prophecy speaks of a peacemaker who will come and will help to bring the People to a time of peace and sustainability. This is following the wretched times of war, hatred, rape of the environment and attempts to destroy the People. Planting trees of Peace has been a part of rituals to work on returning the earth to a state of living sustainability. There is much to learn from the People who helped to form the laws of a young United States.
Jake Swamp is employed with the Men for Change Program, part of the lethini'sten:ha Family Violence Shelter. He is a former leader of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation and was directly involved in the creation of the Akwesasne Freedom School, an acclaimed Mohawk language immersion school that has been an inspiration to many First Nation peoples in the United States and Canada.
www.parliamentofreligions.org 181