Theme: 

Love yourself as your Neighbour: grateful for life and at peace with yourself.

Convener: Henk Bak

Venue: Evera, Centre for Renewal 

14 Forest Street Trentham

Weekends 6-7 and 13-14, 21st and 28th February

or weekdays in February by appointment phone (03) 5424 1702

The theme of this year’s World Interfaith Harmony project at Evera is a reflection on the 10 years escalating interreligious violence since the launch of the WIHW at the United
Nations as well as reflection on the ambivalent and often selfish and /or
careless responses to the current epidemic, encouraged in certain religious and
philosophical quarters, confusing an urgently needed  ethical individualism with variations of
individualistic legalism. The good news, dignity or joy that any religion or
philosophy brings to any person should be enough to prevent anyone  to go to war in the name of that good news…A one-sided emphasis at the ‘centre’ on aspects of teachings that in themselves are right may go horribly wrong somewhere in the ‘periphery’. The ‘love thyself’ implied in the law, i.e. the three commands of what is called the ‘golden rule’ can no longer be taken for granted. Its absence on the WIHW banner 10 years ago, may have been justified
as ‘taken for granted’ then, but no longer now…

“Here in Melbourne I breathe Christianity. I can’t help it.  …But there is one thing that we have given humanity, and  that is Hallelujah !” 

Rabbi Jack Engel. At the beginning of an Interfaith Conversation,  Monash University-Caulfield Campus 1994 

“I am deeply intrigued to hear the good news others  proclaim…Our daily prayer in the grace after meals asks God  to send us soon Elijah-Al Khidr with the good news of  redemption and consolation… When a Christian proclaims  what he or she knows a good news, I want to hear it… 

Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalome. Bases and Boundaries of Jewish, Christian, and Moslem Dialogue (around 2000) 

“There are Christians whose life seems like Lent without  Easter… Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even  as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty, that, when  everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. “ Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium 2013 p13 

“The Qur’an does not speak only to men. It speaks, quite  explicitly to women. I knew this at a young age, not because I  read the Qur’an, but because I talked to God all the time. I  knew with certainty that He responded… 

Hibba Abugideiri, George Washington University 

“Isn’t it a noble and enlightened way of spending our brief  time in the sun, to work at understanding the universe and  how we have come to wake up in it?” 

Richard Dawkins, Unweaving the Rainbow 1996 pp5-6M

Meditative Walk

On 5 acres of open parkland, bordering on the Wombat  Forest. A walk along 12 sites, clusters of trees and shrubs,  each dedicated to a religion, spiritual culture or world-view. Aboriginal cultures – Hinduism – Humanism 

Buddhism – Shinto – Dao 

Judaism – Christianity – Islam

Zoroastrianism – Way of the Sikh – Baha’i 

‘Ocean of Life’ 

Conversation 

Being at peace with yourself: a key to all world harmony.  Recognize yourself as your own closest neighbour.

Lack of self-confidence is a challenge, lack of self-worth a  mental health issue and a world-pathology.  

People are being programmed to become disposable objects on consumerist and labour markets or on ideological  battlefields.  

This year’s conversation will focus on discerning between  selfish and unselfish ‘self-love’ or ‘self-denial’, mature or  immature, healthy or pathological, carelessness masked as  ‘freedom’, or killing in name of religion as ‘heroism’. 

“if you can talk you can sing 

If you can walk you can dance” 

Zimbabwean saying 

Program 

As most events are attended by participants coming from far,  the program usually starts with morning tea: Arrival ca  10.30am. Introduction and walk: 11am -1 pm 

Lunch: 1-2pm Workshop/conversation: 2 – 4 pm Afternoon tea 4-4.30 pm Departing 4.30 -5 pm Closer to the date please check current regulations, contact us by  phone 54241702 

How to get to Evera: 

By public transport: 

For train & bus connections, please consult current timetables and  telephone about need for a lift from Kyneton or Woodend station.  By car: 

– From Bendigo: Calder Freeway, exit Kyneton, via Tylden to  Trentham, first street after the town sign turn left into Forest  Street, and then into the second street left, Beatties Road. The  Evera entrance in around the second corner, to the right. 

– From Melbourne via Woodend: Calder Freeway, exit Woodend/  Macedon, in Woodend turn left direction Daylesford; first street  left after the sign Trentham, then into the second street left,  Beatties Road, Evera is near the end, to the right. 

– From Melbourne via Greendale-Blackwood: at T-intersection turn  right, follow High Street, straight past traffic island, then first  street to the right and second street to the left near the end. The  gate is to the right  

– From Daylesford: follow High Street as indicated above.

Contribution towards expenses: by donation

Booking and information: 

Henk Bak 14 Forest Street Trentham Vic 3458 

54241702 [email protected] 

www.evera-ecosophy.com.au see under: activities

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