Archive of Events

2014
Below are the list of WIHW events that took place globally for the year of 2014.

YOGA & MEDITATION FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY

Start: Wednesday 12th of February 2014 12:00:06 AM
End: Wednesday 12th of February 2014 12:00:08 AM
Location: 4 W 43rd St. New York City, New York, US
6:30pm - Open discussion on yogic teachings 7:00pm - Yoga Asanas, sun salution and joint movements 8:00pm - Relaxation, Meditation, Mantras, Kirtan etc. Please bring your own yoga mat, towel etc along with smiley face, loving heart and dakshina for your instructor. Make sure that your phone is off during the class time and not to have heavy meal 2 hours before the class. Led by Grand Master Yogi Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan Website: www.GuruDileepji.com Bio: Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan Guruji is a world renowned Yogi from Tripunithura, Kerala, India also known as the capitol of Cochin kingdom. His family is ancient and well respected for its Vedic knowledge of Yoga, Vedanta, Universal Spirituality, Kalaripayattu(origin of martial arts), Ayurveda & other natural self healing systems, Sanskrit, literature, art, social & cultural activities and interfaith teachings for peace. In his yogic life journeys, he met and learned from self-realized masters, saints, honored yogis, and alternative medical doctors. Having experienced yogic life style for over forty years, Guruji lived in Himalayan caves, ashrams, and palaces as well as living under Gurukula (guru-sishya-sambradaya), and modern educational systems. He is a scholar in modern and ancient techniques of yoga, meditation and related subjects. Guruji is an honorable guest speaker and judge in many international conferences, events, competitions, festivals and a recipient of several peace awards and titles for his yogic services to humanity. He is considered to be a new age celebrity yogi and humanitarian having multifaceted talents and a wide range of friends from homeless people he serves to diplomats. He often gives discourses and is interviewed by media around the world. His mission is to cultivate global peace and harmony through yogic life teachings.

YOGA & MEDITATION FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY

Start: Wednesday 19th of February 2014 12:00:06 AM
End: Wednesday 19th of February 2014 12:00:08 AM
Location: 4 W 43rd St., New York City, New York, US
6:30pm - Open discussion on yogic teachings 7:00pm - Yoga Asanas, sun salution and joint movements 8:00pm - Relaxation, Meditation, Mantras, Kirtan etc. Please bring your own yoga mat, towel etc along with smiley face, loving heart and dakshina for your instructor. Make sure that your phone is off during the class time and not to have heavy meal 2 hours before the class. Led by Grand Master Yogi Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan Website: www.GuruDileepji.com Bio: Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan Guruji is a world renowned Yogi from Tripunithura, Kerala, India also known as the capitol of Cochin kingdom. His family is ancient and well respected for its Vedic knowledge of Yoga, Vedanta, Universal Spirituality, Kalaripayattu(origin of martial arts), Ayurveda & other natural self healing systems, Sanskrit, literature, art, social & cultural activities and interfaith teachings for peace. In his yogic life journeys, he met and learned from self-realized masters, saints, honored yogis, and alternative medical doctors. Having experienced yogic life style for over forty years, Guruji lived in Himalayan caves, ashrams, and palaces as well as living under Gurukula (guru-sishya-sambradaya), and modern educational systems. He is a scholar in modern and ancient techniques of yoga, meditation and related subjects. Guruji is an honorable guest speaker and judge in many international conferences, events, competitions, festivals and a recipient of several peace awards and titles for his yogic services to humanity. He is considered to be a new age celebrity yogi and humanitarian having multifaceted talents and a wide range of friends from homeless people he serves to diplomats. He often gives discourses and is interviewed by media around the world. His mission is to cultivate global peace and harmony through yogic life teachings.

YOGA & MEDITATION FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY

Start: Wednesday 26th of February 2014 12:00:06 AM
End: Wednesday 26th of February 2014 12:00:08 AM
Location: 4 W 43rd St.,New York City, New York, US
6:30pm - Open discussion on yogic teachings 7:00pm - Yoga Asanas, sun salution and joint movements 8:00pm - Relaxation, Meditation, Mantras, Kirtan etc. Please bring your own yoga mat, towel etc along with smiley face, loving heart and dakshina for your instructor. Make sure that your phone is off during the class time and not to have heavy meal 2 hours before the class. Led by Grand Master Yogi Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan Website: www.GuruDileepji.com Bio: Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan Guruji is a world renowned Yogi from Tripunithura, Kerala, India also known as the capitol of Cochin kingdom. His family is ancient and well respected for its Vedic knowledge of Yoga, Vedanta, Universal Spirituality, Kalaripayattu(origin of martial arts), Ayurveda & other natural self healing systems, Sanskrit, literature, art, social & cultural activities and interfaith teachings for peace. In his yogic life journeys, he met and learned from self-realized masters, saints, honored yogis, and alternative medical doctors. Having experienced yogic life style for over forty years, Guruji lived in Himalayan caves, ashrams, and palaces as well as living under Gurukula (guru-sishya-sambradaya), and modern educational systems. He is a scholar in modern and ancient techniques of yoga, meditation and related subjects. Guruji is an honorable guest speaker and judge in many international conferences, events, competitions, festivals and a recipient of several peace awards and titles for his yogic services to humanity. He is considered to be a new age celebrity yogi and humanitarian having multifaceted talents and a wide range of friends from homeless people he serves to diplomats. He often gives discourses and is interviewed by media around the world. His mission is to cultivate global peace and harmony through yogic life teachings.

MLK Day of Service

Start: Monday 20th of January 2014 12:00:00 AM
End: Monday 20th of January 2014 12:00:00 AM
Location: The International Cultural Center in Montgomery Village, Montgomery Village, US
On January 20, 2014, the International Cultural Center (ICC) was a host site for the county-wide MLK Day of Service, bringing together 12 service projects in the spirit of interfaith harmony and community service. The event brought in 325 participants for two hours of non-stop service! Volunteers of all ages packed 1,000 sandwiches and cleaned and sliced 150 pounds of vegetables at the ICC's Youth Against Hunger event. The food was taken to 12 shelters around Montgomery County, MD. Other projects included packing bags for the needy, decorating cards for seniors, packing cereal into snack bags to distribute through a weekend meal program, and collecting canned food, sleeping bags and blankets. The event honored the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr and his commitment to pluralism, harmony and service.

The Students' Dialogue of A Common Word Between Us and You

Start: Saturday 1st of February 2014 12:00:09 AM
End: Sunday 2nd of February 2014 12:00:17 AM
Location: Universitas Sumatera Utara, Padang Bulan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia, ID
Salam peace shalom, We are the community of peacemakers' students who come from varied campuses, organizations, backgrounds, ethnics and religions in Indonesia (Muslims and Christians), and at present we are at 4 cities in Indonesia; Yogyakarta, Medan, Surabaya, and Bandung. We see the need of dialogue among us, the students, to have more mutual understanding about relating one another in interfaith context, especially in our city, Medan, which is very multicultural. Dialogue is seen as a proactive and preventive way to conflict potentials, thus, this dialogue interfaith movement is a significant thing in creating the peace culture. We were very eager to hear about this World Interfaith Harmony Week, where during this special week, the world's people, in their own places of worship, could express the teachings of their own faith about tolerance, respect for the other and peace. So, to celebrate the WIHW 2014, we chose to hold these events: 1. The Students' Dialogue of A Common Word Between Us and You, held in Medan on 01 February 2014 This was attended by totally 36 students from several universities of different Muslim and Christian organizations background. We discussed what the background of the A Common Word document was, what Loving God and Loving people meant in Qur'an and Biblical perspectives, and how to apply them. We also discussed how we could work together hand by hand to create peace even though we had different basics of theological background, since the Qur'an and the Bible taught us to love God and love our neighbor. We also learned how to see the differences as the grace of Our Almighty God. We planned to arrange the follow up meetings for this dialogue to learn further more one another and find practical ways to face our social problems among our community. 2. Visitation to the mosque and church, held in Medan on 02 February 2014 In the morning of the second day, we visited one mosque among our campus, and we did the cleaning to the mosque. We worked together and after cleaning, we had a talk with one of the elders of the mosque, and he said he really appreciated what we had tried to do in creating the interfaith harmony between Muslims and Christians After finished cleaning the mosque, we visited one of the traditional/Batak church, named HKI (Huria Kristen Indonesia) in our city and we had a dialogue of A Common Word with the youths of the church. We discussed what the background of the document was, what loving God and Loving Others meant, and what concrete applications we could do together to create peace between Muslims and Christians. They were very opened and eager to meet us, they also thanked us for sharing the A Common Word document, and it helped them to see the Muslims as brothers and sisters, and to love them as God told them to do so. This WIHW 2014 celebration taught us so many things about relating with 'The Others'. Though we, ourselves, had learned a lot about being peacemakers, and about how to live the basics values of peace from deep inside us, we still had to keep learning and praying for this peace, e.g. practical ways in promoting peace and interfaith dialogue, so that many more people will understand what Loving God and Loving Others meant. Hopefully, these WIHW 2014 celebrations among the world will bring much impact to the peace of the world, that we can live together in love one another. With love and peace, Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community Medan, Apni Tondang

Report from the THE SECOND SARAJEVO UN WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK

Start: Friday 7th of February 2014 12:00:00 AM
End: Saturday 8th of February 2014 12:00:00 AM
Location: Hotel Europe, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, BA
Draft Report on THE SECOND SARAJEVO UN WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK Sarajevo, February 7th and 8th, 2014 International Forum Bosnia's Centre for Interfaith Dialogue is pleased to report the completion of its programme to mark the Second Sarajevo UN World Interfaith Harmony Week in February 2014. Following the successful completion of the inaugural Sarajevo UN World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2013, the organisers and participants decided to prepare a similar programme for 2014, again under the patronage of the United Nations Development Programme. The programme included a musical evening and public concert on February 7, entitled Musica Sacra Bosnae, showcasing the sacred music of Bosnia’s four main religious traditions, to be performed by the Pontanima Choir, a choir recruited for the four main religious communities, to be followed by an exhibition on Bosnia’s Endangered Sacred Heritage, three book launches, and a roundtable on Intellectual Approaches to Interfaith Harmony, all the next day, February 8. Unfortunately, it proved impossible to go ahead with the programme as planned because serious civil unrest and protests broke out in most of the main towns and cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina precisely on Friday, February the 7th. One of the most disruptive of these protests took place in the centre of Sarajevo itself, close to the venue where the concert was supposed to take place. The protests continued from about midday until 19:00 in the evening, resulting in conflict with the police, the burning down of the cantonal government building and of the presidency building, as well as of the National archives of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and restricted access to the centre of the town for the public. As a result, performances at the National Theatre and other similar venues were cancelled and it proved impossible to continue with our own plans for the musical evening. It is particularly disappointing that the musical evening had to be cancelled, because as well as marking the beginning of our own activities for UN Interfaith Harmony Week, it had been incorporated as its inaugural event into the programme of the annual Sarajevo Winter festival, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special Peace and Freedom Festival. Unfortunately, because of the events of the day, both the opening ceremony for the Sarajevo Winter festival and the inaugural event, our concert, had to be cancelled. The activities envisaged for February 8th went ahead as planned, however, with all events taking place at the Hotel Europa in central Sarajevo. The first event, starting at 10 o’clock in the morning, was an exhibition presenting some 50 sacred buildings and monuments from the religious traditions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which together make up an important cross-section of the country’s cultural and sacred heritage. The monuments presented were drawn from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian Orthodox, and Catholic traditions and represented varying states of disrepair, preservation, and reconstruction. The aim of the exhibition was not merely to draw attention to the wealth and variety of Bosnia’s sacred heritage, but also to raise awareness of the challenges involved in ensuring its preservation and continued development. The exhibition was opened by the chair of the National Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Amra Hadzimuhamedovic. The opening of the exhibition was followed by a roundtable discussion on Intellectual Approaches to Interfaith Relations in the World, which lasted from 10:30 to 15:00, with an hour’s break from 12:00 to 13:00, during which period refreshments were taken and three books on relevant themes were presented to the assembled public. The roundtable discussion was opened, as in 2013, by Mr. Yuri Afanasiev, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme and the Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who spoke about the significance of this initiative, particularly for a country of such marked religious plurality and diversity. The panel discussion was chaired by Asim Zubcevic, the Chair of the International Forum Bosnia Centre for Interfaith Dialogue. The principal speakers at the discussion were Dr. Ibrahim Spahic,, director of the Sarajevo Winter festival and of the Sarajevo-based International Centre for Peace, Prof. Marica Petrovi?, Professor of Croat Studies at Tuzla University, Dr. Žarko Papi?, the Director of the Institute for Better and Humane Inclusion, Prof. Krsto Mijanovi?, the Vice-President of International Forum Bosnia, Desmond Maurer, the Chair of the IFB Centre for Historical Studies, Brother Ivo Markovi?, the outgoing director of the Pontanima Choir and of the Face to Face Institute, Prof. Rusmir Mahmut?ehaji?, the President of International Forum Bosnia, ……., the current head of the Jewish Community in Sarajevo and its representative on the Interfaith Council, Prof. Mehmedalija Hadži? of the Sarajevo University School of Islamic Studies, Nerin Dizdar, Assistant Professor of English at Dzemal Bijedic University in Mostar and President of the Stolac Youth Forum, Dejan ……, Assistant Professor of Theology at…, Dr. Samir Beglerovi?, Assistant Professor at the Sarajevo University School of Islamic Studies, and Brother Mile Babi?, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Franciscan Theological Seminary in Sarajevo. Topics raised and discussed ranged from concrete experiences with and analysis of interfaith relations and cooperation in Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina more generally through political and economic factors affecting interfaith relations in the country in the region, particularly in the context of current social and civil unrest, to suggestions for how to use interfaith fora to promote harmony, not merely between religious groups, but more generally in social and political life. During the pause between the two halves of the discussion, Brother Mile Babic presented a publication of great significance for the religious and cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely a new facsimile edition by the Franciscan Order’s publishing house of the first and most important original work of Catholic theology written in the country, namely the Christian Doctrine of the Francisican Brother Matthew Divkovic, originally published in 1611 A.D. and considered perhaps the first work of original vernacular Bosnian literature. According to Father Babic, the particular significance of this work for interfaith relations and harmony is not merely that it was written and published during the period of Ottoman rule in the country, but also that its content focuses on the definition of the self and of virtue, not by means of contrast to the other and the vices of the other, but through the perfection of the self and the creation of relations of openness to others. Dr. Papic then presented the newest volume of the Forum Bosnae Journal, whose title in translation is The Bosnian Economic Paradox, by Prof. Fikret Causevic of the Sarajevo University School of Economics. In this book, Professor Causevic analyses not merely the economic history of Bosnia over the past 20 to 25 years, but also its relationship to the political and social conditions in the country and its regional context. Both Dr Papic and Professor Causevic preceded to present interesting comments as to the ways in which economic realities, political circumstances and interethnic and interfaith relations affect each other, both in general and with specific reference to the Bosnian case. Finally, Mr Zubcevic presented a monograph by Professor Kerima Filan of the Sarajevo University School of Islamic Studies on the annals of the 18th century Sarajevan chronicler, Mula Mustafa Baseksije. In this work, Professor Filan considers not merely the work and worldview of the Sarajevan author, but also the specific urban context of coexisting faith communities in which he lived and which he so faithfully described. The panel discussion was followed by a more general discussion between the participants and members of the public. Asim Zub?evi? Chair of the IFB Centre for Interreligious dialogue and Nermina Ahatovi? IFB Coordinator

Interfaith Talk

Start: Thursday 20th of February 2014 12:00:19 AM
End: Thursday 20th of February 2014 12:00:21 AM
Location: Longley Room, The Orchard, 1-2 Gleneagles Court, Brighton Road, , GB
The Crawley Interfaith Network will welcome Tim Firth, chairman of the Horsham Interfaith Forum, to give a talk on Thursday February 20. In his talk, Mr Firth will take extracts from his recently published book ‘God’s Favourite Colour is Tartan’.

Ethics of Religion

Start: Tuesday 11th of February 2014 12:00:10 AM
End: Tuesday 11th of February 2014 12:00:11 AM
Location: Nan Tien Temple 180 Berkeley Rd, Berkeley NSW 2506, Wollongong, AU
NSW Governor Marie Bashir was best of honour at Harmony Day at the Nan Tien Temple, Wollongong. Talented young singer Jamie Lftschitz from Emanuel School sang the hauntingly beautiful plea ‘Shema Yisroel’. Topic for the Interfaith Forum was on the Ethics of Religion with eight participants from different Faith groups . Speaking on behalf of the Jewish community was Josie Lacey who explained that the “Old Testament” is the Hebrew Bible after being asked if Jews had a Holy Book. http://www.jwire.com.au/gossip/interfaith-in-wollongong/40302

Interfaith art prize praise for Calderwood's pupils

Start: Friday 7th of February 2014 12:00:09 AM
End: Friday 7th of February 2014 12:00:09 AM
Location: Calderwood Lodge Primary School 28 Calderwood Road Newlands, , GB
CALDERWOOD Lodge Primary Seven pupils were the stars of a recent art competition. Interfaith Glasgow ran a competition for children to provide their depiction of 'What Interfaith Looks Like', to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week. Several Calderwood pupils took part in the nine-12 category, with Annie Scott the overall winner and Nikki Cowan joint third. Interfaith Glasgow project manager Michael Wilson attended last Friday's Kabbalat Shabbat assembly to present certificates and prizes to Annie and Nikki. There were also certificates for fellow entrants Zoya Dor, Wardah Aliz, Raedie Gaizely-Gardiner and Madeleine Nesbitt and one was presented to acting head teacher Dr Jim Duffy in recognition of the school's input to the competition. http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/glas_1.html

Building InterFaith Harmony in Columbus, Indiana through Sustained Community Dialogue

Start: Sunday 2nd of February 2014 12:00:00 AM
End: Friday 7th of February 2014 12:00:00 AM
Location: First Presbyterian Church/Laws Room 512 7th Street, Columbus IN 47201, Columbus, US
InterFaith Forum Columbus Indiana (IFFC) in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustained Dialogue (IISD), Washington, D.C. has been working to strengthen interfaith harmony in Columbus IN for nearly two years. The primary event for bringing this about is the Columbus Area Community Sustained Dialogue. *An essential preface for our proposal for "World InterFaith Harmony Week" project is based on the premise of the critical importance of the role of Dialogue Process in the 21st century. Evolution biologist Elisabet Sahtouris and other scientists strongley suggest that humans must learn dialogue process. It is said that the very survival of the human species depends upon it. Dialogue process is the key to harmony at any level. Our event proposal dramatically illustrates this. Full project activity is sent with support materials in .pdf format. In the this proprosal we outline positive ways in which we believe interfaith dialogue, through Sustained Community Dialogue builds Interfaith Harmony--World InterFaith Harmony. InterFaith Harmony directly relates to human harmony. Our proposal illustrates how sustained community dialogue in Columbus, IN. is impacting how the city as a whole thinks about and addresses the challenges of poverty-challenges that bridge differences of faith, race, ethnicities, background and of socio-economic status. Building World InterFaith Harmony begins with individuals in community working cooperatively and collaboratively through dialogue to affect mutual positive benefit. This proposal illustrates how dialogue builds relationships and understanding--resulting in harmony.