Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 360

PROGRAM DESU Wednesday, December 9, 2009
11:30am-1:00pm INTERRELIGIOUS SESSION
began teaching in 1961 and continued until appointed by the 14th Dalai Lama as one of the deputies of the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration. He was later unanimously elected as its chairman.
The Revival of the European Pagan Religions Rev Andras Corban-Arthen, Europe: Anamanta,
Moderator Jonas Trinkunas, Lithuania: Romuva Room 220 Panel Discussion The beliefs and practices of the Indigenous pagan religions of Europe were in many ways similar to those of Indigenous cultures from other continents. Some of the European traditions can still be found today, surviving mostly underground in remote rural locations, though a few are practised openly and have even achieved State recognition. They retain their original focus on experiencing the Great Mystery through spiritual communion with Nature, the veneration of ancestral beings, the honouring of sacred sites, and the observance of seasonal ceremonies and rites of passage. The panellists will discuss their experiences as keepers of traditional practices from Lithuania and from the Gaelic-speaking Highlands of Scotland and will also speak about the survival of other Indigenous spiritual traditions in both Eastern and Western Europe. Rev Andras Corban-Arthen is the spiritual director of the Earth Spirit Community, a religious and educational organisation dedicated to the preservation of Earth-centred spirituality, particularly the Indigenous European traditions. He has been a presenter at many interfaith events, including the 1993 and 2004 Parliaments, and the 2007 World Interreligious Encounter Of Hispanic descent, Rev Arthen teaches and lectures on the Indigenous European pagan religions throughout the US and abroad. Jonas Trinkunas is Krivis lhighest priest) of Romuva, the Indigenous
ligion of Lithuania, and teaches ethics at the Vilnius Pedagogical University in 1997, he was awarded the National Prize for his work and contributions in the field of Lithuanian culture. The main area of Trinkunas's activity is the revival and popularisation of the ancient Baltic faith of the Lithuanians.
the divine life force within each person, which can effect inner transformation. Through the latihan, individuals may discover their own human potential, inner nature, talent and unique guidance. The WSA encourages the expression of true talent in daily life, inspiring a variety of social, cultural, entrepreneurial, and educational activities. Subud members have established the GuerrandHermes Foundation for Peace, which is built on the view that teachers' spirituality is fundamental to the flowering and unfolding of children. Alexandra Asseily will speak about the Garden of Forgiveness, a place for gentleness and peace that she situated in the centre of Beirut. Sharifin Gardiner will share about supporting members work in the caring and social fields, in which the focus is on facilitating people to develop and take responsibility for their own lives. Through this presentation, the WSA hopes to expand its scope of interaction with like-minded associations and bring an all-encompassing spirituality into worldly initiatives and action for the benefit of the whole human community. Alexandra Asseily is a governor and founder of the Centre for Lebanese Studies, Oxford and is on the Board of the Guerrand Hermes Peace Foundation, Balamand University. She is a former member of the Advisory Board of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University. In 1978, she was co-ordinator of International Aid Organizations. She is a psychotherapist specialising in conflict resolution-whether in the individual, family, tribe or nation. Sharifin Gardiner is Chairman of the Board of Susila Dharma International (SDI), an affiliate organisation of the World Subud Association. The mission of Sol is to relieve human suffering and promote just and sustainable development through the following: partnerships and support for grassroots, participatory development and humanitarian initiatives: empowering individuals and communities to engage in positive human, social and economic change; and raising awareness of global is. sues and inter-dependence. Gardiner has been involved in Susila Dharma work for over thirty years
INTERRELIGIOUS 11:30am-1:00pm
Beyond the Dreamtime: Aboriginal Belief Systems and Their Deeper Philosophic Construct Dienen Karna Room 102 Lecture Australian Aboriginal religions are the oldest continuously practised beliefs in the world today. Unfortunately, most people--if they know anything about Aboriginal religion at all-know only about the dreamtime stories for children. During this session, Dienen karna will provide insight into the deep spiritual philosophies and complex, diverse traditional religious practices taught to her by her elders and passed on from the ancestors from time immemorial. Dienen karna is a Yai-idt midtung Elder from North Eastern Victoria
World Subud Association Alexandra Asseily Sharifin Gardiner Room 101 In this program, Subud members will speak about personal inspiration in the context of the World Subud Association IWSA). Subud is an association of people from various religions, beliefs, nationalities, and cultures, united by a spiritual practice called the latihan. The name Subud comes from the words Susila, Budhi, and Dharma, symbolising surrender to the experience of
356 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions Jain Education International