Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 226

PROC
Sunday, December 6, 2009
8:00-9:00am MORNING OBSERVANCES
Self-Inquiry: The Yoga of Thought and Feeling Swami Ma Devi Room 214 Interactive Workshop Self-inquiry, a classical Hindu practice of meditation on the Inner Sell, transcends doctrine. It is an investigation into the personal and divine aspects of Consciousness. By using simple and direct questions, we will inquire into the inner world of thought and feeling and explore four energy centres within the body. These centres touch directly upon inner and outer world issues. We will investigate them with the purpose of clearing away any tension or stresses that block the experience of peace. Swami Ma Devi is the co-director of the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga in Melbourne. An accomplished Hatha Yogi. Ma Devi established the Hatha Yoga courses and teacher training program at the Shiva School, and has taught hundreds of people to meditate. With a background in Gestalt Therapy, she helped Swami Shankarananda develop and refine the Shiva Process method of Selt-inquiry, a practical yogic technique for working with thought and feeling.
Middle Way Meditation Phrapalad Sudhammo Bhikkhu Room 217 Religious or Spiritual Observance Through meditation, we can achieve an inner peace and wisdom that enables us to have harmonious relationships with others across the world. This inner peace breaks down barriers among people of different nationalities and cultures so we become one family. Phrapalad Sudhammo Bhikkhu will conduct a one-hour guided meditation to demonstrate Middle Way Buddhist meditation techniques. At the end of the session, there will be a short question and answer session for participants relating to their meditation experience. Phrapalad Sudhammo Bhikkhu is the president of the Buddhist Federation of Australia, the general secretary of the Dhammachai Education Foundation of Australia and the president of Middle Way Meditation Centres in Oceania. He has been practising meditation for over thirty years and is an expert in his field Phrapalad Sudhammo Bhikkhu has established nine meditation centres in Australia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.
Guided Gathering of Mind through Seven Steps HH Swami Amarananda Room 216 Religious or Spiritual Observance During this session, Swami Amarananda will guide participants through a Seven Step meditative process. Beginning with the chanting of hymns and reflections on their meanings, he will continue with the observation of the mind as a witness; controlled breathing: prayer to various spiritual teachers of humanity: the imagination of oneself as emanating good wishes to all human beings, especially the marginalised, diseased, and handicapped: and repetition of a mystic syllable. He will then proceed to a series of visualisations based on the following fourteen images: a mountain peak, a placid lake, a waterfall, a candle flame, a flower, a sun, a cumulus cloud pouring forth rain, a forest, sand dunes, snow-clad terrain, star-studded sky in a village, a beam of light from in between one's eyebrows, a flying and singing skylark and vertebrate fish swimming in water. Participants will end the session with a prayer to their own beloved spiritual teacher. HH Swami Amarananda is the senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order and president of the Centre Vedantique in Geneva. He is a former residential school headmaster and expert on disaster management. He has participated in numerous multireligious programs, including the World Faiths Development Dialogue, meetings of the Community of Santo Egidio, the Interreligious Platform in Geneva and the World Council of Churches.
Zoroastrian Daily Morning Prayers and Worship: Day 2 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 woolen cord) worn around their waists, while reciting the farajayat Irequisitel prayers. Then they will recite Atash Nyaish (Hymn to the Light Divine) and demonstrate the Jashan ceremony la 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.
222 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions Jain Education International