02-13-2004, 07:43 PM
Here is some Self-Dabba <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was talking at the a local university about 2 weeks ago on Hinduism.. Today, the lady called me up and said that there is an article published on the talk. My name had been mis-spelt <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> but overall, would you say he did not deviate much from what I spoke of <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The article: http://www.thelasource.com/happy.html
The paper : http://www.thelasource.com/page.html
A Forum on Faith
Scott Neufeld
The course catalogue for SFU's Philosophers' Café program boasts "comfortable surroundings for vibrant street level discussions on burning issues of the day." With such an eye-catching opening line, my interest was more than piqued when I headed down to SFU's Harbour Centre to sit in on the Café's latest lecture series, presented in partnership with the Pacific Interfaith Citizenship Association of BC.
The burning issue of this lecture series - which will smoulder for nine Wednesdays from January 21st to March 17th - is religion. Each night features a different world religion including: Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Native Spirituality and Unitarianism, presented by a community leader of that respective faith. But students are not merely forced to sit and take notes. They are encouraged to interact with the presenters asking questions and discussing points of contention to gain a deeper understanding of the faith being presented.
A class on world religions has never been more timely. The past few years have seen rising insecurity and global unrest as violence flares in different parts of the globe. Increasingly, religions are pitted against one another as radical followers of all creeds seek to spread their marginal views. Misconceptions about other religions then arise, and suspicion and mistrust is the result. The importance of these lectures on religion is that, by getting a better understanding of religions other than our own, we will gain a greater respect and understanding for the people that hold those beliefs. Only through open dialogue between different faiths can we ever hope to achieve peace and justice.
The topic of the lecture this day was Hinduism. Knowing little of Hinduism beyond what I had learned on the Simpsons, I was interested to learn the theory behind well-known Hindu practices such as yoga and meditation as well as their view on other faiths. The lecture was given by Sundur Rajan, a software engineer with a magnetic speaking presence. People had a good laugh when Mr. Rajan admitted that "I have not been angry since 1986."
But once the laughter had ceased, Mr. Rajan explained that, through meditation, he began to understand that attachment to the outside world can lead to pleasure and pain. Rather than control his thoughts he sought to let his mind roam freely in order to achieve peace. Yoga and meditation were the rituals by which he brought himself to higher spiritual experiences, leading to a greater sense of peace. The withering away of attachment in the attainment of peace leads Hindus to a belief that knowledge is eternal, and that truth always exists and is never changing no matter what we believe.
This means that, in Hindu eyes, all religions are equal. This last point may be somewhat difficult to take for some religious people. Religious tolerance is something that we pride ourselves on; however, tolerance is not enough if we want to truly practice interfaith dialogue. It implies that you are allowing something that you do not necessarily approve of. We must show the same respect to people of other religions as we would wish to be shown.
The Hindu concept of religious equality is certainly something that we should strive for. Peace, both within and without, is a goal that is universal to mankind. Certainly all people, whether religious or non-religious, are seeking an end to world conflict.
Forums such as the Philosophers' Café allow us to discuss our religious differences and our commonalities. In order to truly be in peace with one another, we must explore these similarities and differences in an open, non-threatening environment. When people can speak in such an open environment, dynamic discussions ensue on the burning issue of religion and common understandings are reached. Oh, and of course, the chairs are quite comfortable, too.
For more information on this lecture series, please go to:
http://www.sfu.ca/philosopherscafe/courses.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was talking at the a local university about 2 weeks ago on Hinduism.. Today, the lady called me up and said that there is an article published on the talk. My name had been mis-spelt <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> but overall, would you say he did not deviate much from what I spoke of <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> The article: http://www.thelasource.com/happy.html
The paper : http://www.thelasource.com/page.html
A Forum on Faith
Scott Neufeld
The course catalogue for SFU's Philosophers' Café program boasts "comfortable surroundings for vibrant street level discussions on burning issues of the day." With such an eye-catching opening line, my interest was more than piqued when I headed down to SFU's Harbour Centre to sit in on the Café's latest lecture series, presented in partnership with the Pacific Interfaith Citizenship Association of BC.
The burning issue of this lecture series - which will smoulder for nine Wednesdays from January 21st to March 17th - is religion. Each night features a different world religion including: Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Native Spirituality and Unitarianism, presented by a community leader of that respective faith. But students are not merely forced to sit and take notes. They are encouraged to interact with the presenters asking questions and discussing points of contention to gain a deeper understanding of the faith being presented.
A class on world religions has never been more timely. The past few years have seen rising insecurity and global unrest as violence flares in different parts of the globe. Increasingly, religions are pitted against one another as radical followers of all creeds seek to spread their marginal views. Misconceptions about other religions then arise, and suspicion and mistrust is the result. The importance of these lectures on religion is that, by getting a better understanding of religions other than our own, we will gain a greater respect and understanding for the people that hold those beliefs. Only through open dialogue between different faiths can we ever hope to achieve peace and justice.
The topic of the lecture this day was Hinduism. Knowing little of Hinduism beyond what I had learned on the Simpsons, I was interested to learn the theory behind well-known Hindu practices such as yoga and meditation as well as their view on other faiths. The lecture was given by Sundur Rajan, a software engineer with a magnetic speaking presence. People had a good laugh when Mr. Rajan admitted that "I have not been angry since 1986."
But once the laughter had ceased, Mr. Rajan explained that, through meditation, he began to understand that attachment to the outside world can lead to pleasure and pain. Rather than control his thoughts he sought to let his mind roam freely in order to achieve peace. Yoga and meditation were the rituals by which he brought himself to higher spiritual experiences, leading to a greater sense of peace. The withering away of attachment in the attainment of peace leads Hindus to a belief that knowledge is eternal, and that truth always exists and is never changing no matter what we believe.
This means that, in Hindu eyes, all religions are equal. This last point may be somewhat difficult to take for some religious people. Religious tolerance is something that we pride ourselves on; however, tolerance is not enough if we want to truly practice interfaith dialogue. It implies that you are allowing something that you do not necessarily approve of. We must show the same respect to people of other religions as we would wish to be shown.
The Hindu concept of religious equality is certainly something that we should strive for. Peace, both within and without, is a goal that is universal to mankind. Certainly all people, whether religious or non-religious, are seeking an end to world conflict.
Forums such as the Philosophers' Café allow us to discuss our religious differences and our commonalities. In order to truly be in peace with one another, we must explore these similarities and differences in an open, non-threatening environment. When people can speak in such an open environment, dynamic discussions ensue on the burning issue of religion and common understandings are reached. Oh, and of course, the chairs are quite comfortable, too.
For more information on this lecture series, please go to:
http://www.sfu.ca/philosopherscafe/courses.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------