Interfaith





	Courses & Programmes

Interfaith and Shiva Symposia

Interfaith

Why Interfaith?

In 1965, the Catholic Church published the Papal Declaration, Nostra Aetate (Vatican II), which called for interfaith dialogue. The Shiva Ashram has over the past few years been an enthusiastic participant in these activities with the Church and other religious groups.

Swamiji attending the 40^th anniversary of, “The Declaration of the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”, 2005. Photo by Peter Cassamento

The Interfaith initiative involves dialogues between various religions. Religion and religious belief is an area of the most intense passion. This passion has inspired great actions, but also acts of great violence. As Consciousness evolves through technological development and other factors, the impulse for Interfaith dialogue arises. Putting a human face on people of other faiths, hearing their ideas and emphasizing values and understandings that are held in common overcomes enmity. Through isolation arrogance, xenophobia and prejudice are fostered and through interfaith love, communion and communication are encouraged.

Speakers at the Great Women Saints program at the National Gallery of Victoria: June 2006.

Since the goal of Shiva Yoga is to merge in Universal Consciousness, the Shiva nature of all things, all movements towards oneness are appropriate. Shiva Yoga encourages loving and energetic interaction with others at every level of life. The nature of God is relationship, since in Him there is no Other. You cannot merge in Divine Consciousness while holding in contempt a part of that Consciousness. Thus, on the level of social institutions, the urge to participate in Interfaith parallels the spiritual urge for oneness within an individual seeker.

Interfaith Conference: Faith in Troubled Times
April 25th, 2004

Shiva Symposia: The Interfaith Program of Shiva Yoga

The Shiva Ashram has been offering its Interfaith programme, The Shiva Symposia: the History and Ideas of Spirituality, for the last eight years. Topics have included historical and spiritual themes from many religious and spiritual paths:

Christianity: The disciples of Jesus, The Philokalia, St. Seraphim, Plotinus, St. Augustine, Council of Nicea, The Cathars, Gnosticism, Origen, The historical Jesus, The East West Schism, Martin Luther and the Reformation, Calvinism, The Devil.

Judaism: Moses Maimonedes, Sabbatia Zevi, The Baal Shem Tov, The Maggid of Mezeritch, Rabbi Nachman, Kaballah.

Buddhism: Milarepa, Life of the Buddha.

Islam: Rabi’ya, Sufism, Kabir.

Hinduism: Malas, Spanda Karikas, Kashmir Shaivism and Vedanta, Prakasha and Vimarsha, Shiva Lingam, Ramnuja, Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, Karma, Dharma, The Pashupatas, Avatars, Ragas, Anandamayi Ma, History of Sanskrit, Agayananda Bharati, Sri Ramakrishna, The Arayan Invasion

Western Thought: Heidegger, Gurdjieff, Plato, Pythagoras, The New Thought Movement, The Cloud of Unknowing.

While it is painfully evident that Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists often clash, it is certain that Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, the Hindu sages and the Buddha would understand and enjoy each other’s company. To come closer to their level of love and mutuality we have to penetrate the outer layers of religious dogma to arrive at the inner kernel of spiritual truth.

To celebrate the deepest and most profound expressions of mystic insight which lie at the core of the major religions, the Shiva Symposia will offer its new series, Great Beings. Subtitled “Yogis, Saints and Sages” this series will be human-centred, not doctrine-centred. It will tell the stories of the struggles, the doubts, the journeys of discovery and the ultimate mastery and triumphs of spiritual seekers who grow into spiritual masters. These narratives are found in every tradition and are unfailingly illuminating and inspiring. The real history of human spirituality is told by the stories of the great beings.

Interfaith programmes

18th November Swamiji and Ma Devi speak at ‘Great Beings Series: Spiritual Lovers’ at the National Gallery of Victoria.
CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

September 2007 Appointed Hindu Consulter for the Asia Pacific
Centre for Interreligious Dialogue

21st August 2007 Swamiji is invited to speak at the launch of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne's launch of its guidleines, 'Promoting Interfaith Relations' CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

29th July 2007 Swamiji presented a paper on Saints of Maharashtra at the seminar 'Celebrating Rumi and mystics of east and west', Monash University. CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

2007 Swami Shankarananda conducts Easter service at Woodleigh School, Mornington

2007 Official Opening of Kailas Nivas and Interfaith event, Shiva Ashram. Talks by Rev. Dirk Ficca (Executive Director of the Parliament of World’s Religions); Rabbi Fred Morgan (Temple Beth Israel); Fr John Dupuche (Parish Priest Black Rock & Beaumaris); Swami Sannyasanand and Ven Lobsang Tendar. CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

2006 Swami Shankarananda and Ma Devi were speakers at the “Great Beings Series: Women Saints”, Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria. CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

2006 Hinduism Room, Athlete’s Village, Commonwealth Games. Attended by Swami Premananda; Sandhi Kouroupidis and Alan Buxton.

2005 Celebration of the 40^th anniversary of, “The Declaration of the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”, Thomas Carr Centre, Melbourne. Attended by Swami Shankarananda.

2005 (ongoing) Swami Shankarananda appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee of Asia-Pacific Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue (APCID).

2005 Celebration of the 40^th anniversary of, “The Declaration of the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”, Thomas Carr Centre, Melbourne. Attended by Swami Shankarananda.

2005 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at, "Shared Values Symposium", Melbourne Town Hall. Organised by Unity in Diversity Inc., Cosmic Harmony Foundation and Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.

2005 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at, The Third Catholic Interfaith Symposium: “Can we pray together?". Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne.

2004 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at, “Shiva Lingam Puja”, Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria. CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

2004 Swami Shankarananda and Ma Devi were speakers at, “Tantra, Consciousness and Reality: Exploring Kashmir Shaivism”, Monash Clayton Campus. Organised by Monash University Asia Institute Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology.

2004 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at the Symposium for Religious Leaders: “Faith in Troubled Times”, Park Hyatt Hotel, Melbourne. Organised by Venerable Master Sheng Yen, founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain and co-chair of the United Nation’s World Council of Religious Leaders.

2004 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at the Interfaith Service: “Creating Hope”, Melbourne Convention Centre. Organised by the Primary Education “Priority 1” organisation

2004 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at, “Spirituality in the Pub: What’s it all about?”, Mornington. Organised by Catalyst for Renewal, a Christian based organisation.

2003 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at the East-West Meditation Foundation, Parish House, St Anne's, Park Orchards.

2003 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at a Retreat at the Sancta Sophia Meditation Community: “Is a universal spirituality possible?” An inter-religious dialogue organised by Father Mifsud and Sister Kathleen.

2003 "From Sound to Silence: Universal Harmonies". Interfaith gathering organised by the East West Meditation Foundation and held at Stella Maris and St Joseph's Parish Church in Beaumaris. Attended by Ganesh Sharp and Sandhi Kouropidis.

2002 Shiva Ashram was asked by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission to organise and host its annual Interfaith Symposium, "Sacred Place: Peace and Understanding - Interfaith Gathering".

2002 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at, “Is a Universal Spirituality Possible?” Borders Bookstore Philosophy Café, Melbourne.

2002 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at, "Spirituality in the Pub: Spirituality in Different Faiths”, Melbourne.

2002 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at “The Spiritual Journey: Shaivism and Christianity Workshop”, Shiva Ashram.

2001 Swami Shankarananda was a speaker at “Interfaith Gathering: On the theme of Journey”, Sacre Coeur Secondary College.

2000 “Ceremony for Collaboration among Religions”, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Organised by Archbishop Pell. Swami Shankarananda was invited to attend as a leader of the Hindu community.

Hindu activities and visitors to the ashram

Visit from Stuart and Charlotta Sharlow from the Advisory Committee of Asia-Pacific Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue (APCID) – Saturday 29^th July 2006

Visit from Rev. Barry – Tuesday 1^st August 2006

Program at Australian College of Classical Yoga: Jani Baker – Sunday 10^th September

Visit from Fr. Russell Trickey, All Soul’s Anglican Church Bangalow, Tuesday 12^th September 2006

3 Gurus program, Portland USA, 18-24September 2006 CLICK FOR REPORT

Puja at Shiva Ashram conducted by Jayant Bapat, Honorary Consulate for India, Monday 2^nd October 2006

Visit and performance by musician Sri Yogarajah Kandasamy, Thursday 12^th October 2006

Shiva Process Course taught by Ma Devi at the Nityananda Institute, Portland, USA, November 2006

Swamiji and devotees attend Jai Mata Di Hindu chanting at Festival Hall, Sunday 12 November 2006

Visit from Tara and Shivan from the National Institute of Tantra, Saturday 9^th December 2006

Chanting at the Shiva Vishnu Temple Carrum Downs, New Year’s celebrations, 1^st January 2007

Yatra to Ganeshpuri, India with Swamiji and Mahant inauguration, Kankhal, India CLICK HERE FOR REPORTS

Visit from Ken Mellor from the Biame Network, Saturday 24^th March 2007 Visit from Howard Booster, Director, Nityananda Institute, Portland, USA, May 2007. Howard taught the tantric practice of Chod to the Shiva Ashram community. CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

Visit from Rev. Bob Faser, Mt Martha Uniting Church, Thursday 28 June 2007

Visit from Swami Nityananda, June 2007 CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

For dates on upcoming courses and programmes Click Here