Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 274

PROGRAM Monday, December 7, 2009
9:30-11:00am INTRARELIGIOUS SESSION
Over 648 Buddhist centres and monasteries of the Karma Kagyu lineage in 51 countries follow HH the 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje. The co-presenters will be drawn from this pool and will include both monk and lay practitioners.
Jain Heritage and Education for Peace and Harmony Priyadarshana Rakhecha HH Amrender Muniji Samani Mangal Prajna Ji Room 213 Panel Discussion Jainism has always had a deep ecological awareness. This consciousness extends even to the microscopic creatures of the earth and water. Jains have always held that only if the ecological balance is protected will humanity continue to thrive. This presentation of Jain heritage has captivated young and old, Indians and foreigners, whose minds have been opened to this ancient eco-socio-spiritual philosophy. Priyadarshana Rakhecha holds a BA in Hindi Literature, History and Culture and an MA, MPhil, and PhD in Jainism. He is a lecturer in the Department of Jainology at the University of Madras. Rakhecha has translated two books on Jainism and authored two other books. He serves as the resource person for St Olaf Global College students who travel to India to study Indian religions. Amrender Muniji is one of the few Jain monks who travel outside of India to preach nonviolence. He was initiated at the age of fourteen and has a Master's degree in Philosophy and Sanskrit. He is a scholar of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist scriptures and is a learned practitioner and teacher of Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga Samani Mangal Prajna Ji is a Jain nun and a disciple of His Holiness Acharya Mahaprajna. She holds a PhD in Jain Religion and serves as vicechancellor of Jain Vishwa Bharati University in India. Initiated in 1984 at the age of 22, she became a member of the Saman order after six years. She knows many ancient languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali as well as the modern languages of English, Hindi and Gujarati
JCMA: A Working Model of Interfaith In Action Philip Newman Di Hirsh Mark Pedersen Paul Tonson Khaled Khalafalla Janette Witt Room 215 Interactive Workshop This program will introduce participants to the JewishChristian-Muslim Association of Australia. JCMA has developed into a multitaceted organisation since its first Melbourne conference in 2004. This was initiated by Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, based on the pattern of a wellestablished conference in Germany. Such conferences have since been run annually and now an annual Women's Conference is also held. JCMA conducts programs in primary and secondary schools to tackle prejudice and promote harmony through educating children about the Abrahamic Faiths. Other opportunities for interfaith dialoque occur through Sunday afternoon seminars and the recently launched group. Green Faith, which encourages members to actively address environmental problems. The JCMA Session is divided into two parts. The first part is an introduction to JCMA, its history, principles and practices, and activities. The second part will present the Schools programs, Primary and Secondary, which have proved enormously popular among thousands of students and their teachers across private and state schools in Victoria during the last four years. Archdeacon Philip Newman, OAM is Archdeacon for Christian Unity and Relations with the World's Religions, he is Chair of Shelford Girls Grammar Board, and Locum Priest, St Andrew's Corio, Melbourne Philip is Secretary of JCMA and has helped organise the last four Winter Conferences. He has been given responsibility by his Diocese for relations with other faiths, and is on the member of 2009 Parliament Board of Management. Di Hirsh is an Interfaith and Intercultural Chair of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia. In this capacity she has organised, among other activities, interfaith celebrations of the Jewish testivals, with traditional food served, the rituals explained and traditional songs and music included. Di has been involved in organising community dinners with the Catholic and Anglican communities, as well as helping to organise and encourage Jewish women to participate in Muslim women's interfaith dinners. She also convened the first two JCMA (Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia) Women's Conferences and is helping to organise the third conference in March 2010. Di is on the Community Relations Committee of the 2009 Parliament. Mark Pedersen is an Australian-born Muslim and has been active in interfaith dialogue over the past fifteen years. He represents the Islamic Council of Victoria in the Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia and works with the Islamic Centre of Education and Development on various community projects, including the annual Melbourne Muslim Music Festival and related arts projects. Rev Dr Paul Tonson of the Uniting Church was one of the first members of JCMA, following several years on the executive of the Council of Christians and Jews (Vic). He brings his scholarly work in Hebrew Bible studies to undergird cooperative endeavours between adherents of differ
Living Mindfully For A Peaceful And Sustainable Future Carey Rohrlach Various followers of H H the 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje Room 214 Lecture The session will describe the Three Ways to make our selves and the environment more peaceful, joyful and sustainable for all. Monk and lay practitioners will give their interpretations of how to play better with others in our playground. This session will discuss past, present and future issues like war, equality for women, sex and sexuality and developing-world issues such as accessible birth control. When we think of terms like 'me' or 'us', and you or them, it is easy to see enemies, and there is distance between 'us' and 'them. If we adopt the view that we are all friends with a shared goal, we have more friends than when we started and now we have work to do together. This presentation will seek to address where we are right now and what is useful to do in order to reach the goal of a harmonious and sustainable future. Carey Rohrlach is a yogic meditator
270 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions Jain Education International