2nd Annual Interfaith Awards Satsang

September 10, 2011

Swamiji greeting people at the Interfaith Satsang

Satsang was an extra special event this week. It was the second annual Interfaith Awards Satsang held by the Shiva Ashram. It also coincided with the Shiva Ashram’s hosting of a youth multifaith retreat in conjunction with group Interaction, and with the launch of the ‘Circle of Faith’ Interfaith garden in the ashram grounds.

Swamiji initiated the Interfaith Awards last year, and part of his purpose in doing so was to reframe the anniversary of 9/11 as an invocation of compassion and understanding between religions and cultures. To celebrate these special events, there was a delicious feast provided by our friends at ISKON, and a palki to begin the evening program. The chant was ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’, sung with great enthusiasm and energy. Swamiji welcomed everyone in his traditional way, explaining that welcoming another is the essence of the religious attitude. Swamiji quoted John Donne who stated that “No man is an island,” and referred to the “hyperconnectedness” of the world in this age of technology.

Devi Ma led the candle-lighting ceremony for the Awards. She explained that the lighting of the candles symbolises the spark of the divine in every human heart, and the hope that that spark may spread everywhere. Candles were lit by Father John Dupuche, Abhay, Sandhi, Reverend Hans Christianson and wife Ruth, Reverend Helen Summers, Jill and Sulochana, Constant and Maryna Mews, Hari Guduru, Brian and Judith Ashen, Vani Hudson and Stephen Stanford, and Nur Shkembi and husband Zakariya Wilson. During the candle-lighting ceremony, we heard prayers sung by Cantor Bruce Levin.

Following this ceremony, Swamiji joked that he had been an insular yogi until Father John had awakened him to the great need for interfaith dialogue. Swamiji stated that communication is love; communication is “the highest expression of our humanity”; and communication is our hope for the future. He spoke of non-dual philosophy and that “there is no place that God is not”. With this perspective 9/11 can become a day to celebrate harmony and communication.

Swamiji then announced the winners of the Interfaith Awards. The winner of the Youth Award was Freeman Trebilcock who is a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition who does inspiring work with the youth multifaith group Interaction, among other achievements. Freeman spoke of the similarity of people everywhere, despite their religious traditions.

Freeman Trebilcock

The winner of the Baba Muktananda Award was Lilavati Crombie, the chair of the Shiva Yoga Centre, for her work in promoting Interfaith. Lila said how happy she was to receive the award especially as it was in Baba’s name and that Baba, like Swamiji, always welcomed people with love and respect. This welcome, she said, was also the true attitude of interfaith.

Lilavarti receiving her award from Devi Ma

The joint winners of the Bhagavan Nitayananda Award were Bhakta Dasa and Bhakti Dasi from the Hare Krishna community, for their tireless efforts in the arena of interfaith. Bhakta Dasa spoke of the need for understanding between religions, and of his conviction that “interfaith is the religion of the future”.

Bhakti Dasi and Bhakta Dasa

The winner of the Siddhartha Award for Meditation was Pauline McKinnon, for her achievements during decades of teaching meditation. She spoke of her love for meditation, and her gratitude for the award.

Pauline McKinnon

The joint winners of the Maharishi Patanjali Award for Hatha Yoga were Lucille Ward and Di Lucas. They spoke with great enthusiasm about hatha yoga and their history.

Lucille Ward and Di Lucas

The winners of the Sanatana Dharma Award were Dr Ian Gawler and Dr Ruth Gawler. Ian spoke very humorously of his life and work, and Ruth shared her gratitude to Ian for teaching her about meditation.

Ian and Ruth Gawler

Swamiji asserted that interfaith is a new phenomenon. He spoke of how all teachings are brought into being by a seer, sage, teacher or prophet. Therefore, the spiritual core is always available in every religion. Swamiji referred to the ‘Great Beings’, and he explained that his own awakening dated from when he found out that these Beings still existed today. Swamiji said that the ‘Age of Revelation’ is not over; God is always present and available if we have the eyes to perceive it. Religion is a method to experience God, and can involve many different practices. Swamiji declared that the practical means of spirituality belongs to and benefit everyone, and that the highest Dharma of religion is to help unfold the power that exists in all of us. He urged that we may embrace each other as brothers and sisters of the spirit. This was followed by a short meditation, and also a wonderful performance by David Roger-Smith of ‘Ave Maria’, and darshan.