Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 189

PROGRAM DE
Saturday, December 5, 2009
9:30-11:00am INTRARELIGIOUS SESSION
Krishna Consciousness and the Environment Dr Yadunandana Swami Taraka Sticha Bhakata Dasa Room 111 Panel Discussion Since its founding in 1966 by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna Movement, has developed both an environmental ethic and effective environmental programs. In this panel, senior international leaders of ISKCON will discuss the principles of sustainability and the ecological worldview of the Hare Krishna movement, based on the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita and Vaishnava tradition. Hungarian ISKCON members will describe the practical application of these principles of sustainability in their sixteen-yearold 'eco-village' where they live as a religious community seeking to establish self-sufficiency. The session will also discuss other rural communities and environmental programs of ISKCON, including those in Krishna's birthplace in India. It will also highlight the importance of vegetarianism and its benefits for the environment. Dr Yadunandana Swami is a Brahminical Priest and renunciate in the Vaisnava Hindu tradition. He is also a senior leader in ISKCON and a Minister of Educational Development. He is principal of Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium and has dedicated much of his teaching efforts to environmental issues including global warming Her Grace Taraka devi dasi has a BA in Education and the Visual Arts and is also a Brahminical Priest within the movement. She is ISKCON Australia's main presenter on environmental issues. Bhakata Dasa, or Albert Lange, is a meditation teacher and Brahminical Priest within the Hare Krishna Movement with 30 years of experience. He is a director of the Hare Krishna Food for Life program in Australia, which on a weekly basis provides thousands of free or low cost nutritious vegetarian meals to those in need. He also established Gopals Vegetarian restaurant in Melbourne. He is an enthusiastic advocate for vegetarianism and animal rights.
never before into a contemporary musical style and idiom. Sheikh Kabir was able to draw upon his many years of experience translating and interpreting Rumi, conveying Rumi's voice, images, and metaphors into English lyrics. Erika's virtuoso guitar, and the melodic skills of Lisa and Erika together create a soulful resonance culminating in a sonic experience that stretches across cultures and time, singing to our universal heart. Erika Luckett is an internationally acclaimed artist who has collaborated with environmental organisations as well as those striving to expand human consciousness and open the heart. From her performance at the 20th Anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, to being honoured as One of the 100 Most Outstanding Women of the Year' by both The Jewish Post and Modern Woman Today Magazine, Erika Luckett shows the power of music to transform and unite people across the planet. Lisa Ferraro's voice has graced diverse venues from jazz con and festivals, to conferences on spirituality and sacred houses of worship A prolific recording artist and performer, she has released seven albums to date and continues to deepen and expand her artistic expression, Dynamic in her performances and gifted in her ability to touch hearts and move audiences, Lisa Ferraro delivers her music with authenticity. passion and a generosity of spirit,
Om Shanthi Om Shobha Sekhar Kalakruthi Senior Students Room 201 Artistic Performance This devotional music performance is arranged and presented by Mrs Shobha Sekhar who is an Indian Classical Vocal and Veena artist of international repute. The Veena is one of the world's most ancient stringed instruments and is mentioned in the Vedas. Om Shanthi Om is the musical offering at the Parliament of the World's Religions by Shobha. OM reverberates with the first sound that emanated from the Earth. Shanthi means Peace in Sanskrit. The program content is steeped in Yoga techniques and includes spiritual and meditative elements drawn from Hindu chants and also inspired by other faiths such as Buddhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism. Shobha will be accompanied by her students, both Vocal and Veena, as well as the Indian Drums that will embellish the soulful music with rhythmic structures. Although Classical Indian Karnatic Music has its roots in Hinduism, it has branched out to neighbouring countries and beyond. Harmony and social cohesiveness through music is this presentation's theme. Shobha Sekhar is a journalist and the Artistic Director of Kalakruthi School of Music, Melbourne She is the recipient of the 'Award of Excellence in Multicultural Affairs from the Victorian Multicultural Commission. She has been honoured with several grants from the Commonwealth Government of Australia and Monash Council for her re search into innovative methods of teaching and mentoring young talents in Australia. She is also a session lecturer teaching undergraduate music students at NMIT, Melbourne. The Kalakruthi students have been mentored by Mrs Shobha Sekhar for several years. Their performances during Kalakruthi Annual Events have received accolades from discerning audiences. They have also won prizes in music competitions held in Australia in almost all categories.
On the Way of Love: Ruby Performs Music Inspired by Rumi Erika Luckett Lisa Ferraro Room 201 Artistic Performance The qualities that have made Rumi the best-selling poet in the world during recent decades, the earthy intimacy combined with a sublime heart are now finding their consummate musical expression through Ruby, an ensemble comprised of Sheikh Kabir Helminski lauthor, translator, musician and representative of the Mevlevi order of Sufism), Erika Luckett (vocalist/guitarist) and Lisa Ferraro (vocalist). Perhaps the greatest spiritual poet of all time, a troubadour of universal love, Rumi has been brought as
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