FROM THE PUBLISHER’S CORNER

TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK AND APPLYING THE RULE 

OF LOVING NEIGHBOUR AND ENEMY ALIKE

Outcome is never as important as what is felt internally when it comes to our reactions to the bumps, the annoyances and even the outrageous horrors that happen in our lives. 

As an addictions therapist I have spent over two decades talking to clients (and myself!) about choices. Re-enforcing the concept that "No person or group has the ability to make me feel any particular way." How I feel or act concerning any situation outside of me is a choice that I alone make! How I choose to feel or act is only influenced by others to the degree that I permit. 

In the midst of the aftermath of the cowardly and outrageous attacks in Norway , which killed so may precious youth, there is a rising voice of reason and love and a choice to support only reasonable power. As Martin Luther King says in the quotation at the end of this newsletter:  "Power at it's best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love." The overall voice in Norway seems to say: "We want justice, for our love of those we lost demands justice. But we don't want revenge or mass retribution. We don't want bloodshed because our blood has been shed. We want forgiveness and we want to pursue reconciliation and solidarity with our neighbours. In our pain we find we have a choice: the choice of hate and vengeance; or the choice of Love and reaffirmation of our will to live in a multi-cultural society in peace and harmony."

In short: "We want to turn the other cheek and choose to do unto others as we would have them do to ourselves. We choose this because we have the right of choice as to how we respond to outrage."

And so they did, and continue to do so. An amazing example of this choosing was the funeral for one of the young murder victims, 18-year-old Bano Rashid, an Iraqi-born Kurdish refugee. This became a moving affirmation of the values her killer sought to destroy. The service, held at a small rural wooden chapel built in the 19th century, was conducted jointly by an Imam and a Lutheran minister. Pictured at right the Christian Minister repeats the Christian Lord's Prayer over Bano’s casket just before it is taken to an Islamic cemetery for burial.

Countries, cities, communities of all kinds everywhere need to make choices concerning how they wish to live in our ever shrinking world. Do we choose the tools of fear: anger, mistrust, deprecation, attack, ostracizing, etc.? Or do we choose to reach out our hands, arms and hearts to embrace each other in solidarity and in respect.

Below you will find a new section  of I.U. called VOICES. I have chosen four different commentaries on the Norway tragedy. I hope you will take the time to read, digest and maybe share their words and their observations.

I have also enclosed a news story about a scholarship fund started in the honour of ex-police chief Armand La Barge. The Armand and Denise La Barge Graduate Scholarship in Multiculturalism will support a graduate student at York University whose work reflects Mr. La Barge’s life work. Mr. La Barge has a passion for unity in diversity. We invite you to donate to this Scholarship honouring this man who has done so much for the Interfaith movement in Toronto and area.

There are many such beacons of Multi-cultural/Multi-faith support shining In Canada. But we can always use more. So light your own light of human kindness. It is only light that can dispel the darkness.

Having just returned from the North American Interfaith Network’s Connect in Arizona I can also testify that there are plenty of lights right across our continent! The entire conference was on the theme of the GOLDEN RULE. That simple yet powerful rule which could serve as the key to having us all taking part in the miracle of SEEING DIFFERENTLY!

I will talk more about the NAIN CONNECT 2011 experience in my next bit of keyboard scribbling.

In the meantime please read one attendee’s comments (below) about the Arizona/NAIN CONNECT.

Enjoy our selections for this Newsletter:  There is Love, Compassion and Gentle Strength in the work of Unity!

NAMASTE

Terry Weller

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR  

LETTER TO EDITOR

Dear Interfaith Unity News Readers 

    “As summer rapidly winds down to merge into autumn, the beginning of 11 Days of Global Unity is now only six weeks away. If you haven't yet taken the opportunity to have your organization become a visible part of this global campaign, now is the time to do so. 

    The North America region of United Religions Initiative joined with We, the World earlier  this year to bring URI into this year's campaign, not only from  throughout the US and Canada, but around the world.   In this year which recognizes the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11/01, and the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Peace on 9/21, it only seems appropriate that in 2011 we collectively demonstrate the scope and breadth of the extensive work being done to make our world better for coming generations.

    Fifty-three partners have registered so far in the 11 Days Campaign from around the world with dozens of events added to the Global Unity Calendar honoring one or more of the following  11 themes of the campaign.      

    If your organization is planning a program or event between now and the end of September  related to any of these themes, whether or not it is officially a part of URI, please take a moment to register your organization on the 11 Days website and add your event to the Global Unity Calendar at the same time. Help us make URI a strong and visible part of this global movement to demonstrate the scope and breadth of initiatives working to improve our world for future generations. Now is the time to join in.”

 Thank you, and a blessed Ramadan to all!

Sandy Westin, Regional Coordinator

United Religions Initiative in North America

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Hi Interfaith Unity News,

“Let the United Nations and all governments appoint an envoy/minister/representative of inter-religious harmony to promote greater inter-religious knowledge and understanding of what Mohammad, Christ and Buddha preached and taught: to love one another and our enemies!”

Yang Changshi

393 TianAn Road, North Industrial Park,Jimei 

District,  Xiamen
Fujian 361021
People's Republic of China

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TORONTO AND AREA EVENTS

TORONTO

Mosaic Interfaith presents:

HOW TO BE A PERFECT STRANGER – FUNERAL CUSTOMS

Sunday, September 18 from 2:30-5:00 pm

at Gursikh Sabha Canada , Scarborough Gurdwara

905 Middlefield Road (between McCowan Road and Markham Road )

RSVP by Thursday, September 15 to your congregational MOSAIC representative or to

Fran Isaacs at: thisisfran@yahoo.com

Refreshments served. A tour of the Gurdwara available following the program.

Panel:

Reverend Bill Bruce - Christianity

PT Eshwar Maharaj-Doobay - Hinduism

Professor Hussein Khimjee - Islam

Rabbi Cory Weiss - Judaism

Mr. Ranjit Singh - Sikhism

Parvin Contractor – Zoroastrianism

“Many of us have attended a funeral for someone from another faith and have felt uncomfortable not knowing what was appropriate to say or do, or what the significance of some of the customs were. Our panel of experts from MOSAIC INTERFAITH will try to answer these and any other questions that you might have when we present the last in our series on “How to Be a Perfect Stranger,” inspired by the award winning book of the same name, edited by Stuart M. Matlins and Arthur J. Magida.”

“MOSAIC INTERFAITH is a gathering of communities for interfaith dialogue. It was founded in 1980 and is made up of congregations representing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.”

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TORONTO

Realize The Peace Within

RELIGION UNITES NEVER DIVIDES

Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj

Sant Nirankari Mission invites you to a convention on Love, Peace and Unity

In the divine presence of His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj and Pujya Mata Sawinder Ji

Sunday August 28th, 2011 between 10 am - 2 pm

Devotional Songs and Spiritual Discourses followed by a community meal.

Venue: Apollo Convention Centre

6591 Innovator Drive Mississauga ON

Contact: Davinder Dhanoa: davinder_dhanoa@yahoo.com 647-444-1565

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TORONTO

INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

FALL LINEUP OF EVENTS AND CLASSES

553 Queen St. W. 2nd Fl. Toronto   416-537-0928

www.instituteoftraditionalmedicine.com

We are excited about our Fall line-up of events and trainings, including...

·         Renowned Mindfulness teacher and subject of MTV’s hit show "If you really knew me":Vinny Ferraro (vinnyferraro.com)

·         Leading international authority on traditional Medicine: Dr. Bradford Keeney (www.thecreativetherapist.com & www.mojodoctors.com)

·         Training in Medical Qi Gong Therapy with Robert Youngs (www.medicalqigongcanada.org)

·         Japanese Acupuncture for Pediatrics (Shonishin) with Brenda Loew (www.stillpointhealth.net/brenda-loew.html)

·         Death Midwifery Training with Jerrigrace Lyons (www.finalpassages.org)

·         An evening of Healing Ceremony with The Drigung Kagyu Monks
(www.drigung.com)

And many more opportunities to learn, grow and celebrate and honour the Cycles of Life.

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CANADA WIDE EVENTS  

MONTREAL

SECOND GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON

WORLD’S RELIGIONS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11

The Dalai Lama returns to Montreal later this year on September 7, to address the Second Global Conference On World’s Religions after September 11, which will meet at the Palais des Congrčs, almost after a decade following the events of 9/11.

Other renowned speakers include Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, world-famous author Deepak Chopra, Professor Tariq Ramadan, and Professor Robert Thurman. Professor Gregory Baum, recipient of the Order of Canada and Swami Dayananda Saraswati will also participate in the conference.

Under the theme of “Peace Through Religion”, the one-day event will include the unveiling of the latest version of a proposed Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World’s Religions, which has been on the anvil since 1996 and which is designed as a complement to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

“The aim of the conference is to bring together the various religions of the world in an ecumenical spirit to address the many issues facing the world today, in the hope that this will help all of us become better human beings”, emphasized the convenor of the event, Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at the Faculty of Religious Studies of McGill University.
Panel discussions with the speakers will seek to generate consensus around two fundamental social and religious issues:

·         Should a course on world religions also be taught whenever the confessional study or religion is carried out?

·         Should violating the sanctity of the scripture of any religion be considered tantamount to violating the sanctity of the scriptures of all religions?

The Conference is co-sponsored by McGill University and Université de Montréal.”

Click here for more information

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 BRITISH COLUMBIA EVENTS LISTINGS

SURREY B.C.

SURREY NEIGHBOURING FAITHS PROGRAMS:  

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dear reader. I have detailed each of the planned programs below to demonstrate the degree of the gifts this one Interfaith group is offering its community! I am inspired! I hope to inspire you!

“August 29 – September 2 – Interfaith Camp for Kids

Northwood United Church is hosting an “Interfaith Camp for Kids” August 29 to September 2. The program will run three hours per day and will be geared towards children kindergarten to Grade 6. Children will do games, crafts and activities to learn about the people and practices of First Nations Spirituality, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism and Christianity. The registration form can be accessed via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Please let Christine know if you are interested or know someone who might be.

Community Sweat Lodges

The Cwenengitel Aboriginal Society hosts open community sweat lodges every second Saturday at 11:00am. People from all faith traditions are welcome to participate. There are separate lodges for men and women. Men must wear shorts, and women must wear a long skirt or gown to the ankles. For more information, please contact (778) 861-2206. The next one is tomorrow, July 16, 2011.

Upcoming Workshops – (September 10, 25, 26, November 15, 16, February 4)

The SNFP offers an educational outreach workshop titled “Honouring the Religious and Spiritual Identities of Children in Early Childhood Education.” It is 2 to 4 hours long, and is geared towards preschool and early elementary school teachers. The purpose of this workshop is to explore spirituality and religion as important components of the “whole child” in the education of young children. Please let David Dalley know if you are interested in observing this workshop or training to become a presenter.

September 17 – Interfaith Conference for International Peace Day

The Global Clergy Association of Canada will be hosting a one day interfaith conference in Surrey on September 17, 2011. The event will feature speakers from a range of religious traditions, as well as prominent interfaith speakers. For more information contact Acharya Dwivedi at: spdwivedi@shaw.ca or (604) 507-3099, or Dr. Jagessar Das at: dasj@shaw.ca or (604) 599-6876.

Mid-September –Multifaith Family Baking Day at Guru Nanak Gurdwara

On a weekend in mid-September members of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara will host a multifaith baking day for children and families. The event will be a chance to have fun, connect with people from different faith communities and eat cookies! Baked goods from the event will go to support local services for the homeless. Stay tuned for more information

August 29-30 - Awakening the Gifts of Character: A 2-Day Introduction to the Virtues Project

Join a worldwide community of families, schools & organizations dedicated to positive social change. The Five Strategies of The Virtues Project are used in 95 countries and are a recipe for living authentically, raising children of compassion and integrity, and creating communities that foster a culture of respect and dignity. See attached poster for more information or contact Kelly Monjazeb at: (778)-773-9994 kelly@betterfamilylife.ca

October 2011 – June 2012 – Interfaith Speakers Series

The South Fraser Unitarian Congregation in Surrey is hosting a “1^st Sunday Interfaith Speakers Series” that will run from October 2011 to June 2012. Speakers from a range of faith traditions will reflect on the following theme: “We live together in diverse communities.  As individuals, we draw on our belief systems to guide the ways we think and act. Our belief systems shape how we relate to one another and how we come together as a community. What are some of the core values and practices of your faith tradition? How do they shape and strengthen your faith community? How might the wisdom of your faith tradition help us to live and flourish in our diverse community?” For more information, please contact David Dalley at: davidanderin@dalley.ca.”

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:  http://snfp.ca/ 

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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS  

INTERNATIONAL

SANTA CLARA

“ENGAGING THE OTHER” CONFERENCE 
The Power of Compassion 
“WHEN: Friday-Sunday, December 2-4, 2011 
WHERE: Santa Clara University , Santa Clara .
At a time when polarization is the true culprit, a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary conference addressing fear-based belief systems, negative stereotypes, polarization, enemy images, scapegoating, and artificial barriers of distrust that divide us. Co-sponsored by: Common Bond Institute (CBI); International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA); Santa Clara University ; Pacifica Institute. Information at http://cbiworld.org/”

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NORTH AMERICAN INTERFAITH  NETWORK

REMEMBERING NAINCONNECT 2011

NAINConnect 2011 by Vanessa Gomez Brake, Director of Operations & Outreach at the Chaplaincy Institute for Arts & Interfaith Ministries (ChI) in Berkeley and member of the ICP Board.

 “Last weekend, I returned to my home town of Phoenix , Arizona to attend the 2011 Connect of the North American Interfaith Network (NAIN). Since 1988, such gatherings have taken place across the U.S. and Canada to ‘build bridges of interfaith understanding, cooperation and service.’ Each year, a different interfaith organization hosts the three-day event. This year, the Arizona InterFaith Movement (AIFM) invited participants from across the continent to explore the theme: ‘Many eople, Many Faiths, One Common Principle – The Golden Rule.’ …

…There are many experiences from this past week that I could reflect on. When it comes to workshops, I would point to Kent University ’s Jeffrey Wattles as a resource on the topic of the ‘Golden Rule & the Ethics of Reciprocity.’  I would also recommend Jason Smith, and his thorough review of challenges facing the interfaith movement today. But what stood out for me most during the Connect was the betwixt and between. The connections made in the hallway, over meals or on the bus in transit to a site visit. The opportunity to network with other interfaith activists is invaluable. NAIN intentionally chose a networking organizational structure, to offer these opportunities for building relationships with those doing similar work and facing similar challenges. …”

READ THE FULL BLOG

                                                                     VISIT:  NAIN SHOWCASES OF INTERFAITH PRACTICES

INTERN POSITION FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERFAITH NETWORK 2011–2012

Intern for an International Interfaith Organization 
from the convenience of your home

NAIN is an official non-profit agency that began in 1988.  NAIN is a network of local, regional, and national organizations in the United States , Canada , and Mexico that are committed to increasing understanding and mutual respect among people of various faith traditions.  NAIN is undergoing an overhaul of its online presence and services to members.  To support these changes, we have two Internship positions available.

Structure and Requirements of Internship:

·       The intern position is a 1-year commitment of 5-10/hours a week, following an academic calendar. Ideally, the position is to begin no later than October.  The internship will be considered complete upon attendance at the 2012 NAIN Connect.  A memorandum of understanding will be required as a commitment to the terms.

·       As NAIN does not have a central office, Interns will work from their own location under the guidance of the appropriate Committee Co-Chair.  A regular email/telephone contact will be established at the convenience of all parties.

·       Interns must reside in North America ( Canada , Mexico , or the United States ).

Two positions will be available:

Communications Intern

Membership Intern

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION

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UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE

URI RELEASES TOOLKIT FOR 9-11 ANNIVERSARY

Guide includes activities and resources to build tolerance and promote respect for diversity

http://www.uri.org/files/resource_files/Actions_for_Interfaith_Solidarity.pdf
San Francisco, CA—URI (United Religions Initiative), the world's largest grassroots interfaith organization, has issued a new tool kit to promote religious tolerance and respect for diversity in the United States around the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

"The time has come for us to really heal the wounds of 9-11," said URI Executive Director Charles Gibbs."We won't achieve that by marginalizing the Muslims in our midst; we'll achieve that by embracing them as valued members of our community, in the spirit of a nation founded on the principles of religious freedom and hospitality."

The tool kit, Actions for Interfaith Solidarity, offers ideas for individual and group activities to bridge religious divides and build relationships of trust. They include direct outreach, interfaith gatherings, community service projects and social networking. The tool kit also includes resources for learning about Islam and reaching out to legislators and the media. An abbreviated tool card is also available.

The ideas in the tool kit are culled from the work of URI's nearly 50 member organizations in the United States and Canada —from Los Angeles to Seattle to New York —who have been healing divided communities and promoting interfaith cooperation for more than ten years.

For more information about URI in North America , please visit www.urinorthamerica.org.

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VOICES – selections of published comment on Norway

THE SKY IS WEEPING

BY Robert Koehler, syndicated writer – appeared in the Huffington Post

When our lives are torn open, when the worst possible thing happens, what we have, finally, are our roses and our courage.

… Norway 's reaction to its tragedy transcends much of the media coverage about it, obsessed as the media are with big-headline drama, who did it, who will pay. But something the headlines can't capture seems to be going on in this small country, some determination among the people, above and beyond any political agenda, to stand -- though wounded, though shattered by grief -- for their highest values….

…The very first funeral for one of the young murder victims, 18-year-old Bano Rashid, an Iraqi-born Kurdish refugee, became a moving affirmation of the values her killer sought to destroy. The service, held at a small, rural wooden chapel built in the 19th century, was conducted jointly by an imam and a Lutheran minister.

"Inside, the ceremony was poignant for someone who spanned two countries, two cultures and two religions," wrote Richard Alleyne in the U.K. 's Telegraph. "It was the first ever in Norway -- and maybe the world -- to combine Christian and Muslim beliefs."

A young woman named Ayesha, clutching a single red rose, said as her friend was being laid to rest, "This will make us more tolerant, bring us together, make Norway a safer place for people to come to," Alleyne wrote….

"I chose to stay in Oslo the entire week. It has felt like the most natural thing to do. I have never experienced any place any time in my life with such a complete absence of aggression. It feels like the city itself has gone into a peaceful place."

READ THE FULL STORY

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SWAMI VIVEKANANDA SPEAKS TO NORWAY

by William Lesher:  PARLIAMENT BLOG

The hearts and prayers of people of goodwill everywhere go out to the people of Norway and to the families of those killed and wounded in the recent bombing and senseless slaying of young people.  It is especially painful when such tragic acts are in any way associated with misguided religious overtones.

The poignant words of Swami Vivekananda in his opening speech at the first Parliament of World Religions in 1893 come readily to mind:

“Sectarian bigotry and its horrible descendent fanaticism have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair.”

How relevant this 118 year old statement is to this current situation.  Vivekananda ends by declaring, “ But their time has come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolls this morning may be the death knell of all fanaticism…”

At the Barcelona Parliament in 2004, hundreds of participants attended workshops on “Religiously Motivated Violence” and made commitments to stand with people of other faiths whenever lives are threatened or property is defaced or destroyed.  Currently the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions encourages religious and spiritual communities everywhere to adopt a “Solidarity Pledge” as a minimal expression of their harmony, support and respect for people of other faiths. …

… Are we mobilized to act, as a powerful presence of solidarity and love when tragedy strikes?

It is our engagement in interreligious actions like these that keep Vivekananda’s  fervent hope alive.

READ THE COMPLETE BLOG

MANY CANADIANS DEDICATED TO BUILDING UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST IN OUR DIVERSE SOCIETY

by David Dalley, Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program British Columbia

“I have just returned from a great family vacation to visit family in Saskatchewan .

As we were leaving BC in late July, the airwaves were filled with the horrible news coming out of Oslo , Norway . It was a solemn reminder that intolerance is still alive and well in our world. Fortunately, in Canada , we do not need to look far to find people and communities dedicated to building understanding and trust in our diverse society. I had the pleasure of meeting just such a group on our trip home, in the small town of Craik , Saskatchewan .

Craik lies approximately 1 hour north of Regina heading towards Saskatoon . Craik is most known for its ground breaking initiatives around sustainable development. The site has been accredited by the United Nations University as a Regional Centre of Expertise, one of only a handful in Canada . In a unique partnership with Multi-Faith Saskatchewan, the project has now expanded to include a Designated Sacred Space , and I was honoured to be able to attend the opening ceremony. The Sacred Space overlooks the beautiful Arm River Valley and contains plaques that honour the diverse faith traditions in the area.

What motivated this project? I will let them explain: “It is a known fact that we all are connected and interdependent. To achieve sustainability for present and future generations, we need to be mindful of how we take care of our Mother Earth. Scriptures of all the world faiths have directions on how to take care of our planet. With increasing Canadian diversity, it was thought appropriate to have a sacred site where messages of unity in diversity, interdependence, and interconnectedness are highlighted and thereby providing a touchstone for all faiths.”

Projects like this give me hope for a more sustainable and enlightened future."

VOICES

AUGUST- TO HATE OR HEAL?

Interfaith Center at the Presidio Newsletter - Monday, August 1, 2011

“Who was not stunned by the recent events in Norway , as news of the bombing in Oslo and the subsequent massacre of some 69 young people at a camp on an island nearby broke on the world? As details followed, it appeared that the man responsible for the attacks believed he was fighting for a "Christian Europe" against Islam, Marxism, and multiculturalism.

In his odd manifesto running to over 1500 pages published before the attacks, Anders Breivik described his vision for the future. Although claiming to act on behalf of "European Christianity," he welcomed allies from other faiths: “All individuals of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish or otherwise ‘friendly faiths/ideologies will be regarded as friends/allies/brothers and sisters of all Europeans and may not be subject to the same assimilation demands now or in the future.”

The enemy, in his mind, is Islam, and he cites the prominent promoters of Islamophobia Pam Geller and Robert Spencer each over 50 times in his writings. While it is impossible to prove direct connections between hateful words and violent action, one cannot help but wonder. Sadly, we are reminded once again of the power of religion not only to heal and bring people together, but to divide us, setting one community against another. How can we respond?...

… We can make statements, sign petitions, condemn hateful speech, call for more civil discourse, and all these are good. But in the long run, it is by building personal relationships with each other that we weave the fabric of a community that can withstand the attacks of the like of Anders Brevik.

In a 2009 study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 58% of the respondents said they believed Mulims face more discrimination in the US than other groups. …”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

BOOK REVIEWS

MEDITATION CAN LEAD

TO GREATER COMPASSION: STUDY

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thursday Mar. 27, 2008 2:21 PM ET

“It seems that people can acquire the ability to feel emotions such as kindness and compassion, just as they learned skills like reading and writing, a new study says.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say that by monitoring subjects with a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine, they could see that the part of the brain that controls empathy is affected when a person is engaged in compassionate meditation.

Study director Richard Davidson, professor of psychiatry and psychology at UW-Madison, said in a statement: "Many contemplative traditions speak of loving-kindness as the wish for happiness for others and of compassion as the wish to relieve others' suffering.

"We wanted to see how this voluntary generation of compassion affects the brain systems involved in empathy."

The study, also co-authored by UW-Madison associate scientist Antoine Lutz, was published Wednesday in the journal Public Library of Science One.

For this research, Davidson and Lutz monitored 16 monks who had at least 10,000 hours of meditation practice, along with 16 other subjects who were given two weeks of training in basic elements of compassion meditation. The training included the ability to first think about loved ones and wish them happiness and well-being, and then to expand those thoughts to include others.”…

READ THE FULL STORY

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NEWS - Newport Beach U.S.A.

KEEPING THE INTERFAITH (to help the poor)

From the Newport Beach Independent

“Given the budget cuts by states and local governments, especially in programs to alleviate poverty, how might churches help to influence attitudes toward the poor and take action on their behalf?”

That question was the main issue addressed at the June Luncheon Meeting and Round Table Discussion of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council. Almost 40 members from different denominations, religions, and service providers for the needy shared lunch and lively discussions at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa , hosted by Rev. Karen Stoyanoff.

READ THE FULL STORY

NEWS - New York

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One of the great problems of history is that the concepts of love and power have usually been contrasted as opposites so that love is identified with the resignation of power, and power with the denial of love... What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at it's best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.

by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.