FoundationforPluralism

Mike Ghouse to Speak at Parliament of Worlds Religions

2009-11-29T21:25:00.000-08:00

MIKE GHOUSE TO SPEAK AT COUNCIL FOR A PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD RELIGIONS ON BEHALF OF MEMNOSYNE FOUNDATION

http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/mike-ghouse-to-speak-at-parliament-of.html

DALLAS – (November 28, 2009) – Mike Ghouse, board member of The Memnosyne Foundation, has been invited to speak at the Council for a Parliament of the World Religions in Melbourne, Australia. Co-Founder and President of The Memnosyne Foundation, Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, made the announcement recently. The international conference is held every five years and begins December 3 – 9. It is the largest international gathering of people involved in interfaith work and the Memnosyne Foundation is sponsoring his travel and speaking engagements via their Ambassador Program.

(Picture: Mike Ghouse has recently visited one of Memnosyne’s initiatives in the Yucatan where he shared Muslim prayers with the Mayan people alongside the Apache and Shinto representatives.)

The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions was created to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. Luminaries in attendance include, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, as well as Memnosyne Advisory Board Member, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. About 250 traditions and 10,000 people from around the world are expected to attend this event. The theme of the conference is: “Hearing each other, healing the earth.”

Ghouse serves as a Board member of The Memnosyne Foundation and also as co-chair, alongside The Very Reverend James Parks Morton, of The Memnosyne Center for Interfaith Inquiry as part of his many duties to the organization. Among the many issues discussed will be the struggles and spiritualities of indigenous peoples around the globe, particularly highlighting the Aboriginal communities of Australia . The Memnosyne Foundation is pleased with the Parliament’s interest in supporting indigenous cultures this year as indigenous issues have been a central focus of the foundation via Memnosyne’s Center for Indigenous Cultures.

“It has always been part of the value system of The Memnosyne Foundation to insure that indigenous cultures have a seat at the table regarding world issues such as the environment, inclusion in interfaith initiatives, the arts, health, medicine and economic concerns.” Mrs. Thompson-Frenk adds, “Mike Ghouse has recently visited one of Memnosyne’s initiatives in the Yucatan where he shared Muslim prayers with the Mayan people alongside the Apache and Shinto representatives. In doing so he demonstrated a deep respect for the ancient traditions of our planet and has since assured our organization that he will take the wonderful opportunity the World Parliament has presented him with to further extend the scope of his own interfaith work to become even more inclusive of those who often don’t have a voice.”

Mr. Ghouse will be speaking on the “Holy Scriptures and Questions of Intended Use.” He explains, “ I believe that the Creator wills for humanity to strive for a balance; social, spiritual, biological, physical, moral and environmental. When this elusive equilibrium is achieved, where no one is afraid of the other, oppression becomes a story, exploitation fades away, and goodwill becomes the norm of the society, then Religion has achieved its goal; indeed, God is all about peace and equilibrium”.

His second speaking engagement is about “Sharing wisdom in the search for inner peace: A New Conscience: Making a World of Difference.” Ghouse says, “If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the genetic, or God-given, uniqueness of each one of the 6.5 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. I believe knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to appreciation of different points of view. To be religious is to be a peace maker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill. That is all God wants, for his creation to live in harmony.”

Mike Ghouse has established himself for his work through the radio, journals, workshop and speaking the need for collaboration among the faiths to create a better world for all of us to live. He is an avid thinker, writer speaker and an activist of interfaith, co-existence, pluralism, peace, Islam and India. He is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering interfaith solutions to issues of the day. He is an active supporter of the Memnosyne Interfaith Service Network currently established in Dallas, TX and which will be duplicated in Japan and Mauritania (Africa) in 2010. It is also in large part due to Mike Ghouse that The Memnosyne Foundation received a blessing from His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for its work.

Mary Ann adds, “The Memnosyne Foundation wants the world to see that in spite of the various political, social, war, and economic interests, there is a strong voice from Texas that represents the hearts and minds of so many people within our state and country wanting peace, understanding, tolerance and who are working toward that vision everyday. It is our hope that Mike Ghouse’s presence, both as a Muslim & USA citizen, will be a demonstration among the world leaders in attendance, of that truth.”

ABOUT THE MEMNOSYNE FOUNATION:

The mission of the Memnosyne Foundation is to help the diverse people of the world consciously encourage an evolution for themselves and for future generations by providing mankind with the means to encourage positive, peaceful global collaboration in areas of knowledge. This is being achieved via “Campus Without Walls”( ongoing global programs), via a Virtual Campus and via the creation of The Memnosyne Campus For Humanity which will be built in Dallas, Texas.

The Foundation is organized around seven centers:

• Center for Interfaith Inquiry
• Center for Environment, Science and Economics
• Center for Indigenous Culture
• Center for Health and Medicine
• Center for Spirituality
• Center for Art
• Center for Global and Local Outreach

It is also in large part due to Mike Ghouse that The Memnosyne Foundation received a blessing from His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for its work.

(Pictured: Reverend Todd Collier – Director of Memnosyne Center for Interfaith Inquirey, Phillip E. Collins-Executive Director of Memnosyne Foundation, Joshua Frenk-Co-Chair/Vice-Presdident of Memnosyne Foundation, Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk-Co-Chair/President of Memnosyne Foundation, His Holiness Sri Sri Shankar, Mike Ghouse – Board Member of Memnosyne Foundation, Anthony Chisom – Assistant Director of Memnosyne Foundation, and Coke Buchanan – Director of Memnosyne Center for Local and Global Outreach, Center for Indigenous Cultures and Center for Spirituality.)

If you wish to comment, please click and comment:
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/mike-ghouse-to-speak-at-parliament-of.html#comments

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Muslim countries seek blasphemy ban

2009-11-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

A good debate is warranted on the issue. I am inclined to support the freedom of speech, hoping civility would ultimately prevail. Rules should be made for the general good of the population and not to address the exceptions, as the majority of the people in every group are moderate, law abiding, easy to get along and practice live and let live way of life. However, we cannot be blind to many a laws that have been the catalyst in bringing about a positive change.

One more article was posted here before with some thoughtful comments at the end of it.
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/dangerous-idea-of-protecting-religions.html

Mike Ghouse
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AP Exclusive: Muslim countries seek blasphemy ban

GENEVA – Four years after cartoons of the prophet Muhammad set off violent protests across the Muslim world, Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially a ban on blasphemy that would put them on a collision course with free speech laws in the West.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that Algeria and Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to eventually bring the proposal to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly.

If ratified in countries that enshrine freedom of expression as a fundamental right, such a treaty would require them to limit free speech if it risks seriously offending religious believers. The process, though, will take years and no showdown is imminent.

The proposal faces stiff resistance from Western countries, including the United States, which in the past has brushed aside other U.N. treaties, such as one on the protection of migrant workers.
Experts say the bid stands some chance of eventual success if Muslim countries persist. And whatever the outcome, the campaign risks reigniting tensions between Muslims and the West that President Barack Obama has pledged to heal, reviving fears of a "clash of civilizations."

Four years ago, a Danish newspaper published cartoons lampooning the prophet Muhammad, prompting angry mobs to attack Western embassies in Muslim countries, including Lebanon, Iran and Indonesia. In a countermovement, several European newspapers reprinted the images.
The countries that form the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference are now lobbying a little-known Geneva-based U.N. committee to agree that a treaty protecting religions is necessary.

The move would be a first step toward drafting an international protocol that would eventually be put before the General Assembly — a process that could take a decade or more.

The proposal may have some support in the General Assembly. For several years the Islamic Conference has successfully passed a nonbinding resolution at the General Assembly condemning "defamation of religions."

If the treaty was approved, any of the U.N.'s 192 member states that ratified it would be bound by its provisions. Other countries could face criticism for refusing to join.

Just last month, the Obama administration came out strongly against efforts by Islamic nations to bar the defamation of religions, saying the moves would restrict free speech.

"Some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said. "I strongly disagree."

But there are signs the U.S. is worried by the Islamic Conference campaign. Behind the scenes it has been lobbying hard to quash the proposal, dispatching a senior U.S. diplomat to Geneva last month for talks described as akin to trench warfare.

"The U.S. presence can be significant in determining the whole destiny of the process," said Lukas Machon, who represents the International Commission of Jurists at the U.N.

From a legal point of view, "the whole exercise is dangerous from A-Z because it's a departure from the practice and concept of human rights," Machon said. "It adds only restrictions."

In a letter obtained by the AP, Pakistan said insults against religion were on the increase.

The Islamic Conference "believes that the attack on sacredly held beliefs and the defamation of religions, religious symbols, personalities and dogmas impinge on the enjoyment of human rights of followers of those religions," the letter said. It was sent last month to members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Complementary Standards, a temporary committee created to consider a previous anti-racism treaty.

In a separate submission to the committee, Pakistan proposed extending the treaty against racism to require signatories to "prohibit by law the uttering of matters that are grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion."

It's not clear who would decide what is considered grossly abusive, but each country's criminal courts would likely have initial jurisdiction over that decision, according to Marghoob Saleem Butt, a Pakistani diplomat in Geneva who confirmed the campaign's existence and has lobbied for the ban.

"There has to be a balance between freedom of expression and respect for others," Butt said in a telephone interview.

"Taking the symbol of a whole religion and portraying him as a terrorist," said Butt, referring to the Muhammad cartoons, "that is where we draw the line."

One American expert with more than 20 years experience of the U.N. human rights system said the treaty could have far-reaching implications.

"It would, in essence, advance a global blasphemy law," said Felice Gaer, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The independent, congressionally mandated panel issued a report last week warning that existing laws against blasphemy, including in Pakistan, "often have resulted in gross human rights violations."

In Egypt, blasphemy laws have been used to suppress dissidents, said Moataz el-Fegiery, executive director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. Abdel Kareem Nabil, a blogger, was sentenced in February 2007 to four years in prison for insulting Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

He said reformists who reinterpret traditional Islamic texts have also become the target of blasphemy accusations.

More broadly, introducing laws to protect religions from criticism would weaken the whole notion of human rights, said Sweden's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Hans Dahlgren.

"Religions as such do not have rights — it's people who have rights," he said, adding that the European Union, whose presidency Sweden currently holds, would oppose attempts to limit freedom of speech.

The treaty goes against the grain of recent efforts by Western and Muslim countries to find common ground on human rights.

Only last month a joint U.S.-Egyptian resolution on freedom of expression won unanimous support in the U.N. Human Rights Council, much to the surprise of seasoned observers. "We will engage, and we're going to keep engaging," said Michael Parmly, spokesman for the U.S. Mission in Geneva.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, the Ad Hoc Committee's chairman, Algerian Ambassador Idriss Jazairy, said concerns the treaty could stifle free speech have been "whipped up into a bugaboo."

Failure to agree on a treaty would boost extremists in the Arab world, said Jazairy, a former envoy to Washington now considered a key player in the U.N.'s human rights forum.

"If we keep hitting this glass wall and say there's nothing you can do about Islamophobia — you can do something about anti-Semitism but Islamophobia is out of bounds — you give an ideal platform for recruitment of suicide bombers," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091119/ap_on_re_us/un_banning_blasphemy
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Fort Hood shooter attacked Muslims, too

2009-11-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

Fort Hood shooter attacked Muslims, too
By Muqtedar Khan
Director of Islamic Studies, University of Delaware

The American Muslim community is experiencing shock, disbelief and apprehension as it watches the unfolding details of the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist and practicing Muslim, born in Virginia of Jordanian parents, turned against his fellow citizens and military colleagues and murdered 13 and wounded 30.

What happened at Fort Hood follows a nightmare script that has been one of the biggest fears of the American Muslim community since the appalling events of September 11, 2001. One crazy Muslim, acting on his own, causing significant mayhem and murder and inviting anger and backlash against millions of peace loving and hardworking Americans who are Muslims. National and local Muslim organizations immediately issued strong condemnation of the event and called for calm.

It is important to understand that Major Hasan is an isolated, alienated and sad individual who was clearly not well adjusted to his life. In a community that values family life, he was single at 39 and still looking desperately for a wife, according to his former Imam. He was in an army that was at war with his co-religionists and he had difficulty dealing with that. He was frequently taunted and harassed for being a Muslim by his own colleagues. After years in the military and after years of caring for soldiers as a doctor, he did not feel as if he belonged and perhaps that was the key to why he could turn on his own.

This tragic episode presents serious dilemmas and challenges for both Muslim community organizations as well as for law enforcement and counter-terrorism agencies. Muslim organizations do not know how to explain this and the law enforcement agencies will be puzzling over how to understand it.

This was an unpredictable and isolated episode, impossible to anticipate and guard against. Hasan is an American-born, highly educated, long-term military man who simply snapped with devastating consequences. How do we anticipate this and prevent it? The Fort Hood shooting reminds me of the Columbine shooting; shocking and unexpected. On scrutiny after the fact one discovers warning signs but not enough to trigger action before it happened.

Since the election of President Obama, Islamophobic rhetoric was on the decline as people in key administrative positions abstained from using "Islamic" as a prefix when talking about issues related with the war on terror. But this episode will once again provide fodder for talk shows and websites, which exploit such isolated events to ratchet up Islamophobia.

Muslims across the country have been working hard to build bridges with mainstream America, to establish interfaith relations and carve out a place for the community on main street America. Hasan not only fired at unarmed soldiers at Fort Hood, but he also attacked the very foundations of all these bridges across the country. His actions will definitely weaken if not completely undermine the efforts of thousands of Americans to build bridges of peace and understanding.

According to some estimates there are over 10,000 Muslims in the U.S. military who serve loyally, with sincere and complete commitment. Many Muslims in the U.S. military have died fighting for America. General Colin Powell once spoke so eloquently about Cpl. Kareem Khan, a Purple Heart, who had died fighting for America. Let us hope that Major Hasan's dastardly actions do not hurt the careers of the thousands of Kareem Khans proudly serving in U.S. military.

There is nothing that American Muslims can do to prevent such events. But we must now allow them to weaken our resolve to combat extremism, prejudice and ignorance in our society. We must redouble our efforts to continue to share the message of peace, tolerance and pluralism that is fundamental to Islamic believes to our congregations and our communities.

The tragedy at Fort Hood is a major test for Muslims and Americans. They must face the challenge with determination. Muslims must not allow it to force them to recede from the public sphere and from their struggle for understanding, for civil rights and against religious profiling and Islamophobia. Americans must not allow this isolated event to fall back on stereotypes about Islam and resuscitate the prejudices that all of us have worked so hard to curb.

Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Director of Islamic Studies at the University of Delaware and a Fellow of the Institute for Social policy and Understanding.

Senseless shootings violate Islamic faith

2009-11-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

Senseless shootings violate Islamic faith
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/feisal_abdul_rauf/2009/11/senseless_shootings_violate_islamic_faith.html

I was so deeply saddened by the events at Fort Hood, Texas, yesterday. My prayers and sympathy are with the families of those brave American soldiers who were killed and wounded in this senseless act.

What this unfortunate Army major did was against the laws of Islam, even though news accounts said he was an observant Muslim. It is too early to understand his motivations and mental stability. He obviously was violating his faith when he undertook this act. Killing is as much a sin in Islam as it is in Christianity, Judaism and all the major religions. Taking the law into one's own hands is against Islamic teachings.

We do not know how our soldiers will react under the stresses of war. It is something that we as religious leaders should take seriously as we minister to our troops.

I am concerned that this incident will cause some Americans to react against the Islamic faith and Muslim Americans. Our fellow Americans should understand that every major American Muslim organization has condemned it in no uncertain terms. Thousands of American Muslims serve in the U.S. armed forces, and they are essential to the U.S. goal of bringing peace, stability and democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan. They are supported by millions of American Muslims.
This is a time for all Americans to draw together in our grief and sympathy for the victims of this senseless act, and to support the care and well-being of our troops with the hope that they will soon be able to return home.

By Feisal Abdul Rauf November 6, 2009; 3:18 PM ET
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The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions from “Defamation”

2009-11-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions from “Defamation”

http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/dangerous-idea-of-protecting-religions.html

A good debate is warranted on the issue. Reference is made to the stand taken by USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) listed below.

It is our duty to keep law and order and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen. Hate is one of the many sources of disrupting peace in a society and it is our responsibility to track down the source of such hate and work on mitigating it. We have an obligation to maintain a balance in the society.

The Civil rights in America did change one's attitude towards African Americans and other Minorities, over generations the apparently restrictive laws have become a norm of civility. In India the laws pulled the untouchables out of inhumanity onto a level playing field. The realizations are not complete but significant. I was just out with the Memnosyne Foundation to visit the indigenous people of the Maya and Toltec traditions, they are not even allowed to worship in their own temples as the dominant group looks down on the very tradition they robbed their living from.

The Zoroastrians consider Alexander the great as the Alexander the Barbarian, and in the film posters of the movie Alexander, he stood in front of the farohar (Zoroastrian symbol), and I was involved in the petition to have the poster modified. It was offensive to the Zoroastrians.

There are strong laws against speaking negatively about Holocaust; it has shut out the marginal voices leaving a few who continue to be vulgar about the tragedy. Should we not have laws to give freedom to the people of Amazon basin to speak their own language?

Should we let freedom of speech reign over the anti-Semitism in Europe that led to one of the shameful tragedies of humanity; the Holocaust?

Are we right in banning the pornography?
What are the justifications for that?

If the laws were to be instituted against defamation of religions, would that lead to shutting down of hate mongers? Would it prevent people from drawing cartoons of Muhammad, printing Shiva on sandals, or mimickers of Christ? Would it decimate hurling insults on others and pave the way for civility? Would that prevent hate sermons of killing the infidels? Would it prevent hurling insults against pagans? Would it prevent using derogatory terms against idol worshipping? Would it prevent idea of harvesting the poor souls?

Should we consider restricting speech in the above instances an impediment to freedom? Or shall we consider it as protecting the freedom of the people from recieving humiliation?

Should our laws be designed to prevent exceptions or for the sustenance of generalities?

Should our laws be designed for the general good of the societies that would lead to orderly societies?

I am more inclined to support the freedom of speech, hoping civility would ultimately prevail. As Mahatma Gandhi had Quoted the Bhagvad Gita "Satyameva Jayate", Truth ultimately prevails, in this case civility ultimately prevails. However, we cannot be blind to many a laws that have been the catalyst in bringing about a positive change.

Quraan on Freedom : http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2009/10/quraan-freedom-of-speech.html

Mike Ghouse is a thinker, writer speaker and an activist of pluralism, interfaith, co-existence, peace, Islam and India. He is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. His websites and Blogs are listed on http://www.mikeghouse.net/

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The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions from “Defamation”
A Threat to Universal Human Rights Standards

In advance of the upcoming vote on this issue in the UN General Assembly, USCIRF issued the following Policy Focus explaining the problems with the idea that religions should be protected from "defamation."

Executive Summary

Over the past decade, countries from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have been working through the United Nations system to advance the problematic idea that there should be laws against the so-called “defamation of religions.” Although touted as a solution to the very real problems of religious persecution and discrimination, the OIC-sponsored UN resolutions on this issue instead provide justification for governments to restrict religious freedom and free expression. They also provide international legitimacy for existing national laws that punish blasphemy or otherwise ban criticism of a religion, which often have resulted in gross human rights violations. These resolutions deviate sharply from universal human rights standards by seeking to protect religious institutions and interpretations, rather than individuals, and could help create a new international anti-blasphemy norm.

In addition to seeking a new norm through these resolutions, OIC countries have argued in various UN contexts that existing international standards prohibiting advocacy of hatred and incitement already outlaw “defamation of religions.” However, the provisions on which they rely—Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)—provide only limited exceptions to the fundamental freedoms of expression and religion. These provisions were intended to protect individuals from violence or discrimination, not to protect religious institutions or ideas from criticism, and they should not be expanded to cover allegedly religiously defamatory speech. Such an expansion, which unfortunately may have been lent support by new language on negative religious stereotyping and incitement in a recent UN Human Rights Council freedom of expression resolution, would undermine international human rights guarantees, including the freedom of religion. It also would undermine the institutions that protect universal human rights worldwide.

Please click here to download USCIRF Policy Focus - The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions from “Defamation”

http://www.uscirf.gov/images/stories/pdf/uscrif_policy_focus_final.pdf

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF’s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at tcarter@uscirf.gov or (202) 523-3257.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.

Visit our Web site at www.uscirf.gov

Leonard A. Leo, Chair • Michael Cromartie, Vice Chair • Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Vice Chair
Don Argue • Imam Talal Y. Eid • Felice D. Gaer • Richard D. Land
Nina Shea • Knox Thames, Acting Executive Director

800 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW SUITE 790 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 202-523-3240 202-523-5020 (FAX)

Please feel free to write your comments at: http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/dangerous-idea-of-protecting-religions.html#comments

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Mass Killings around the world

2009-11-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

Fort Hood shootings not another case of Mass Shootings that are on rise in America?

Dr Javed Jamil

The shootings at Fort Hood in Texas by Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a
psychiatrist and practicing Muslim, are shocking and condemnable; and the
perpetrator should be punished according to the law of the land. It has to be
investigated at length if the killings have anything to do with his being a
Muslim or simply reflects the case of a psychiatric patient who was feeling sad
about the prospects of being sent to a war which he like billions of others
regarded as a crime against humanity.

Even otherwise, the mass shootings in America are on the rise; and the case at
Ford Hood is receiving attention only because the killer happens to be an
American Muslim.

Killing sprees and incest cases are in international news at regular intervals.
High crime rates, rising levels of promiscuity, women and child abuse reflect
the maddening effect of modernity, which gives little importance to morality.
High-tension life with exposure to high doses of abnormal images in the media is
turning people into psychopaths. If society is to be saved from the ill effects
of new trends, steps will have to be taken not only at the legal front but also
at the social fronts.

On April 4, 2009, the shooting in Binghamton, New York ended with 14 people shot
to death, including the apparent suicide of the gunman.Â The killing sprees in
the US is on the rise and has killed more than 50 people in March alone.
A gunman barricaded the back door of a community center with his car and then
opened fire on a room full of immigrants taking a citizenship class Friday,
killing 13 people before apparently committing suicide, officials said.
Investigators said they had yet to establish a motive for the massacre, which
was at least the fifth deadly mass shooting in the U.S. in the past month alone.
In a news conference about the Binghamton shootings, New York Governor David
Patterson voiced despair when he said, â€œWhen are we going to be able to curb
the kind of violence that is so fraught and so rapid that we canâ€™t even keep
track of the incidents?

According to Wikipedia, A spree killer, also known as a rampage killer, is
someone who embarks on a murderous assault on his or her victims (2 or more) in
a short time in multiple locations. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics
defines a spree killing as "killings at two or more locations with almost no
time break between murders. According to the FBI the general definition of spree
murder is two or more murders committed by an offender or offenders, without a
cooling-off period; the lack of a cooling-off period marking the difference
between a spree murder and a serial murder.

MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE U.S. THIS YEAR

A gunman killed three police officers in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Another gunman
walked into an immigration services center in downtown Binghamton, N.Y., on
Friday, killing 13 people and wounding at least four before apparently
committing suicide.

Here is a look at some of the other U.S. mass shootings this year:
March 29: Robert Stewart, 45, shot and killed eight people at Pinelake
Health and Rehab in Carthage, N.C., before a police officer shot him and ended
the rampage.

March 29: Devan Kalathat, 42, shot and killed his two children and three
other relatives, then killed himself in an upscale neighborhood of Santa Clara,
Calif. Kalathat's wife was critically injured.

March 21: Lovelle Mixon, 26, shot and killed four Oakland, Calif., police
officers after a traffic stop. Mixon was killed in a shootout with SWAT
officers.

March 10: Michael McLendon, 28, killed 10 people ” including his mother,
four other relatives, and the wife and child of a local sheriffâ€™s deputy â€”
across two rural Alabama counties. He then killed himself.
Notably large spree killings

Notably large spree killings in history include:

Tsuyama massacre (Japan, 1938): Mutsuo Toi, using an old Japanese rifle and
swords, killed 30[4] and then himself in an hour and a half.

University of Texas massacre (United States, 1966): Charles Whitman, a
student at the University of Texas at Austin killed 14 people and wounded 31
others as part of a shooting rampage from the observation deck of the
University's 32-story administrative building. He did this shortly after
murdering his wife and mother. He was eventually shot and killed by an Austin
police officer.

Uireyeong massacre (South Korea, 1982): Woo Bum-kon killed 57 and then
himself in eight hours, using grenades and an M1 Carbine. 35 people were also
wounded.

Hungerford massacre (United Kingdom, 1987): Michael Robert Ryan, using two
semi-automatic rifles and a handgun, killed 16 people and wounded 15 others in a
space of 7 hours before shooting himself.

Gang Lu shootings (Iowa City, 1991): Gang Lu, a graduate student in physics
at the University of Iowa used a handgun to kill five people and seriously wound
a sixth, then killed himself.

Aramoana Massacre (New Zealand, 1990): David Gray, using a Norinco Type
56-1S .223 semi-automatic rifle killed 13 people on 13 November. He was shot and
killed by police the following day after a 22 hour stand off.

Tian Mingjian incident(China, 1994): Tian Mingjian, using a type 81 rifle
killed 23 people near Tiananmen Square on September 20, including an Iranian
diplomat and his son. He was finally shot dead by a police sniper.

Dunblane massacre (United Kingdom, 1996): Thomas Hamilton, using two 9 mm
Browning HP pistols and two Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolvers, fired 109
times killed 17 people and injured 15 people on 13 March, before shooting
himself.

Port Arthur massacre (Australia, 1996): Martin Bryant, using an AR-15 and
an L1A1 SLR, killed 35 and injured 19 in five hours before being arrested by the
Special Operations Group of the Tasmanian Police.

Red Lake High School massacre (United States, 2005): Jeff Weise. Shot and
killed his grandfather and his grandfather's girlfriend, both police officers.
He then proceeded to a local high school and shot and killed a security guard.
Once inside the school Weise shot and killed five students and a teacher before
committing suicide. Weise killed 9 and injured 15.

Virginia Tech massacre (United States, 2007): Seung-Hui Cho, using two
pistols, killed 32 in two separate events and then himself in the course of
about three hours.

Dnepropetrovsk maniacs (Ukraine, 2007): an unusual group murder spree.
Viktor Sayenko, Alexander Hanzha and Igor Suprunyuck, all 19, went on several
murder sprees, claiming 21 victims in one month and videotaping most murders.
Two victims were murdered within minutes of each other on June 25; two more on
July 1st, three on July 7th, and two each on the 14th, 15th and 16th July, 2007.

Akihabara massacre (Japan, 2008): Tomohiro Kato hit five pedestrians with a
truck, then stabbed twelve people. Kato killed 7 and injured 10.

2009 Alabama spree killing (United States, 2009): Michael McLendon using
SKS rifle, Bushmaster AR-15, and .38-caliber handgun killed 10 on 10 March and
before shooting himself.

Winnenden school shooting (Germany, 2009): 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer using
a handgun killed 15 on March 11 before shooting himself.

The latest case should be fully investigated before jumping to any conclusions.
It it is a another case of mass shootings, serious debate should begin on how to
create conditions in society that increase the peace level of the members of
society. If it has any religious/ethnic connections, serious efforts should be
made to tackle islamophobia that seems to be still on the rise despite the fact
that evidences are accumulating that point out to unnecessary, unwarranted and
more-than-required response by America that resulted in at least 100 times the
killing of innocent Muslims than the number of the Americans killed on 9/11.

The author isExeutive3 Chairman, International Centre for Applied Islamics,
and Chief Editor, Islam, Muslims & the World.
# # #

What Swirls Around Fort Hood

2009-11-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

What Swirls Around Fort Hood Can the Major Speak?

By VIJAY PRASHAD

Words have ensnarled the rampage at Fort Hood. Nothing more needs to be said. Thirteen dead, and thirty-one injured. What sets this massacre apart from the bombing at Oklahoma City (with 168 dead) and Columbine High (with 12 dead), is that the assailant here is a Muslim at a time when the United States is at war in two Muslim-majority countries (Iraq and Afghanistan). Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols as well as Eric Harris and Dylan Kiebold were all white. Their acts brought forth revulsion, but not condemnation of Christianity; that would have been ridiculous.

All these acts have indeed once more refreshed the necessary, but repetitive, debates over gun control and mental health care for war veterans. It is fitting to remember that the father of Columbine victim Daniel Mauser (age 15), Tom Mauser is a leading gun-control advocate.

Traction has not come his way, as it has not for many of those parents and loved ones of those who were killed by assault rifles that do not belong where they find themselves (such as in places like Guns Galore, in Killeen, Texas, home to Fort Hood, and where Major Nidal Malik Hasan bought his FN Herstal tactical pistol, a standard issue gun used by NATO troops in Afghanistan).
Fort Hood, like other bases that send young people to ghastly wars, has seen a spate of suicides (ten in 2009, and seventy-six since 2003) and cases of violence against women (up by 75% since 2001). Post-traumatic stress disorder has become a routine problem. Multiple deployments don't help. Nor does recalcitrance to admit to mental illness as a real injury, as much as a physical one.

All this is on the table. Including the failure by the military to identify serious problems in the well-being of Major Hasan. He was obviously not suited to the military, and should have been discharged rather than be shunted from Walter Reed to Ft. Hood. Large bureaucracies are like this: rather than take action, the envelope is pushed down the counter. This envelope contained a letter bomb.

Major Hasan's own reasons for action will probably never be known. He has acted. The action has provoked analysis. Some of the ideas are useful, and hopefully productive, others are toxic. The deployment of the idea of "political correctness" and the shifting of the burden of explanation to Hasan's religion is a convenient way to avoid all else. Muslim Americans anticipated the backlash immediately (one might remember CBS's Connie Chung right after the Oklahoma bombing in 1995, "According to a government source, it has Middle East terrorism written all over it." It turned out to be an Iraq War veteran and his friend; that's the closest the attack came to the Middle East).

All the requisite Muslim American organizations hastily put together press releases to condemn Major Hasan's attack, even before the smell of cordite left the processing center where he went on his rampage. This was mete. After all, it was important to make the point against the kind of assumptions that would float out of the slime of FOX and its various friends. As it turned out, it didn't stop anything. Nor could President Obama's plea to keep religion out of it. Nor could General George Casey, who told CNN, that the backlash against Muslims and Muslim American soldiers "would be a shame as great a tragedy as this was, it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well." The Army has been particular about diversity (for more on this see George Baca's forthcoming book from Rutgers, Conjuring Crisis: Racism and the struggle for civil rights in a southern military town).

This is why it joined the amicus brief against the end to affirmative action at the University of Michigan (Grutter v. Bollinger). The text is instructive: "[the case's] outcome could affect the diversity of our [N]ation's officer corps, and in turn, the military's ability to fulfill its missions." When asked about this support, Lt. General Becton told NPR, that diversity was a "combat multiplier. It brings about unit cohesiveness." The brief was signed by all the senior officers, each one battle-tested. Nothing pious here.

But here comes the easy bile. Published, no less, than by Forbes. The author, Tunku Vardarajan, is a professor at the well-named Stern School of Business, but also a luminary in the various financial pages (a contributing editor at the Financial Times and a regular at Forbes). His essay on the Fort Hood massacre is called "Going Muslim" (November 9). You can close your eyes and imagine what he argues. It does not require much sophistication.

Vardarajan thinks that Muslims are an entity apart. They cannot integrate. Indeed, theirs is a "fake integration." Fine, most of the "hundreds of thousands of Muslims in our midst," he writes, might not want to kill others, but "there are a few (perhaps many more than a few) who are so radicalized that they would kill their fellow Americans." The bulk of Muslims are not so radicalized, but, to Varadarajan, they are still irreducible ("Muslims are the most difficult 'incomers' in the ongoing integration challenge"). They are Muslims first and last.

Consider this: "Muslims may be more extreme because their religion is founded on bellicose conquest, a contempt for infidels and an obligation for piety that is more extensive than in other schemes." Any Muslim, then, is a danger. It is nonsense, plagiarized from the paranoid notebooks kept by Daniel Pipes. I bet Vardarajan has not read the Quran, or listened to the Taqwacore bands or had an intense discussion with The Muslim Guy (Arslan Iftikhar).

Vardarajan used to write for the Wall Street Journal. In 2005, its editorial page described American Muslims as "role models both as Americans and as Muslims" ("Stars, Stripes, Crescent," August 24, 2005). The impetus for that statement was the imputed danger of Muslims in Europe (the so-called idea of Eurabia, the Fifth Column of Muslims). The WSJ decided that on balance Muslim Americans were ideal citizens, well-educated, professionals, with a voting pattern balanced between the two major parties, and, importantly for the paper, with a plurality in favor of a lower tax rate. Nothing of this kind comes out in Vardarajan's essay, which is far closer to the kind of reaction from Rush Limbaugh and Joe Lieberman (Calling Joe Biden, whose best line so far was used against Guiliani, that he can't say a sentence without a noun, a verb and 9/11).

If Muslims can be reduced to their religion, and if their religion is indeed extremist, then the pabulum of political correctness, Vardarajan believes, should go. "President Obama," he writes, "was as craven as a community college diversity vice-president when he said that no one should jump to conclusions." It "flies in the face of common sense" to be considerate to Muslims, who might "go Muslim" at any moment. Racial profiling is therefore good; it is not far to the internment camps.

Fort Hood Three

Not far from the gates of Fort Hood sits the Under the Hood Café. Run by Codepink member Cynthia Thomas whose husband has been on three tours of Iraq, the Café provides a safe place for veterans to come talk frankly about the things that the culture of the military forbids, such as how to deal with trauma and the loneliness of the post-battlefield condition. The Café recalls an earlier time, when Fort Hood was home to a coffeehouse, Oleo Strut (named for an aircraft shock absorber), which was the base of anti-war activity. In those days of the draft for the Vietnam War, the soldiers had a much clearer sense of disgruntlement and did not labor under the immense ideological feint of the war on terror. Everyone was familiar with the notion that Vietnam was not threat to the United States, and that the conflict in South-East Asia was absurd. That is not so clear these days.

In 1966, three soldiers refused to go to Vietnam. Pfc. James Johnson, Pvt. Dennis Mora and Pvt. David Samas joined together to form the Fort Hood Three. They were court-martialed and sentenced to two and a half years in Leavenworth Penitentiary. When they came of out jail, all three went to work in the Du Bois' clubs, affiliated to the Communist Party. In their Statement (June 30, 1966), the three pointed out that they refused to fight in the "immoral, illegal and unjust" war, which was being fought against an enemy that "had the moral and physical support of most of the peasantry who were fighting for their independence." They rejected the imputation of racism ("We were told that you couldn't tell [the Vietnamese rebels] apart - that they looked like any other skinny peasant").

The war was aimless. "No one used the word 'winning' anymore," they wrote, "because in Vietnam it has no meaning. Our officers just talk about five and ten more years of war with at least one half million of our boys thrown into the grinder. We have been told that many times we may face a Vietnamese woman or child and that we will have to kill them. We will never go there - to do that."

Substitute Afghanistan for Vietnam, and things are updated.

Major Hasan was obviously strained in many ways. He needed counseling. But he also needed to be part of a public discussion about the futility of these wars. There is not much of that on offer. He rather fell into discussion with a cleric in Virginia who was equally bilious, the mirror image of the war planners. There is too much blood in these conversations. There is insufficient courage to talk about peace and justice.

Vijay Prashad is the George and Martha Kellner Chair of South Asian History and Director of International Studies at Trinity College, Hartford, CT His new book is The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World, New York: The New Press, 2007. He can be reached at: vijay.prashad@trincoll.edu

Inside the New Print Edition of Our Subscriber-Only Newsletter!
http://www.counterpunch.org/prashad11132009.html

Muslims at Fort Voice Outrage and Ask Questions

2009-11-13T21:48:00.000-08:00

Muslims at Fort Voice Outrage and Ask Questions

By MICHAEL MOSS
Published: November 6, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07muslim.html

KILLEEN, Tex. — Leaders of the vibrant Muslim community here expressed outrage on Friday at the shooting rampage being laid to one of their members, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who had become a regular attendee of prayers at the local mosque.

But some of the men who had befriended Major Hasan at the mosque said the military should examine the policies that might have caused him to snap.

“When a white guy shoots up a post office, they call that going postal,” said Victor Benjamin II, 30, a former member of the Army. “But when a Muslim does it, they call it jihad.

“Ultimately it was Brother Nidal’s doing, but the command should be held accountable,” Mr. Benjamin said. “G.I.’s are like any equipment in the Army. When it breaks, those who were in charge of keeping it fit should be held responsible for it.”

The mosque, the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, sits off Highway 195, near Fort Hood. Major Hasan began attending prayers about two months ago.

The mosque has about 75 families who have lived peacefully with their Christian neighbors.

“After 9/11, nothing happened here,” said Ajsaf Khan, who owns three convenience stores with his brother, Abdul Khan. “We are very cooperative.”

A mosque leader, Dr. Manzoor Farooqi, a pediatrician, when asked if he feared retribution for the shootings, said he hoped good relations would prevail.

Major Hasan was one of about 10 men from Fort Hood who attended prayers in their uniforms, Dr. Farooqi said, and he was shocked to see the major’s face on television identified as that of the gunman. “He is an educated man. A psychiatrist,” he said. “I can’t believe he would do such a stupid thing.”

“I have no words to explain what happened yesterday,” Dr. Farooqi said at Friday afternoon prayers, in which about 40 men were led by the mosque’s imam, Syed Ahmed Ali. “Let’s have a moment of silence to bless those who lost their life.”

“The Islamic community strongly condemns this cowardly attack, which was particularly heinous in that it was directed at the all-volunteer army that protects our nation,” Dr. Farooqi said.

Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, “We reiterate the American Muslim community’s condemnation of this cowardly attack. Right now, we call on all Americans to assist those who are responding to this atrocity. We must ensure that the wounded are treated and the families of those who were murdered have an opportunity to mourn.”

Among those attending Friday prayers at the Killeen mosque was Sgt. Fahad Kamal, 26, an Army medic who wore his Airborne uniform, and later he said he was angered on several levels. “I want to believe it was the individual, and not the religion, that made him do what he did,” said Sergeant Kamal, who returned to the United States last year after a 15-month tour in Afghanistan. “It’s an awful thing. I feel let down. We’re better than this.”

It was Major Hasan, though, who increasingly felt let down by the military, and deeply conflicted by his religion, said those who knew him through the mosque. Duane Reasoner Jr., an 18-year-old substitute teacher whose parents worked at Fort Hood, said Major Hassan was told he would be sent to Afghanistan on Nov. 28, and he did not like it.

“He said he should quit the Army,” Mr. Reasoner said. “In the Koran, you’re not supposed to have alliances with Jews or Christian or others, and if you are killed in the military fighting against Muslims, you will go to hell.”

Mr. Benjamin, who worked as a private contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan after leaving the Army in 2000, said the military should have let Major Hassan resign. “They should take more consideration of the human beings in the uniform,” he said, “rather than simply say, ‘We invested our money in you and need to get our money’s worth.’ ”

Still, Mr. Benjamin added, Major Hassan had overlooked an important, and peaceable, tenet of Islam. “We do have the right to retaliate,” he said, “but he who does not is twice blessed.”

~~~

Major Nidal, why did he do it?

2009-11-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood
We are jumping to conclusions.

Who Is He? and Why Did He Do It?

At this point, of course, we know very little, but that doesn't prevent many commentators from speculating, and some from jumping to conclusions.

Newsweek sees it as a harbinger of more violence from our soldiers, exposed to the violence in Iraq and Afganistan. It suggests that such post-traumatic acts increasingly will come back to haunt us. Along similar lines, colleagues of mine who have worked extensively with trauma victims point out that "treating PTSD is itself traumatic." Those who work with trauma victims are likely to suffer from the repeated exposure to the trauma of painfully damaged minds. (See Todd Essig's comments, "Vicarious traumatization: PTSD is contagious and deadly," on TrueSlant.) This perspective gains backing from information suggesting Hasan was inadequately trained and showed, indeed, some significant limitations as a psychiatrist.

Related Articles
Voting Your Personality
Fort Hood: A rush to judgment
Fort Hood Exit Strategy: The Cognitive Dissonance of a Military Psychiatrist
Fort Hood: Shrinks Are Not Crazier, But Less Treated
Fort Hood Tragedy: Making sense of it all without victimizing others

So, the liberal press and mental health professionals tend to see this as expressing a form of mental illness, albeit promoted by combat conditions. On the other hand, there is the hypothesis of a terrorist attack. The New York Times reported that officials are trying to investigate if Hasan worked with others. Some politicians are quick to speculate that it might be a plot, but some conservative commentators, not waiting for evidence, have concluded that Hasan is a "trained terrorist." An interview with Dave Gaubatz on Frontpagemag quotes him as saying: "Malik Nabal Hasan is a terrorist supporting the ideology of Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and yes, CAIR." (See "The Muslim Brotherhood and Ft. Hood.")

Struggling as we all are to make sense of this tragic incident, none of us can help bringing our own perspectives to bear on it. Interestingly, here, liberals tend to see this as an act of individual madness, which is how the right tends to think of liberals: always explaining away such actions, blinding themselves to the real dangers of conspiracy.

But in the liberal press, I have also seen little reflection on the fact that Hasan is Muslim, and how is being Muslim in America may have contributed to his alienation and pent-up frustration. Working in the army, moreover, handling veterans who themselves have been traumatized in the course of fighting Muslims in Iraq and Afganistan, must have been extraordinarily complex and difficult. And then, of course, he was preparing to be deployed there himself.

The right, on the other hand, usually committed to the rights on individuals, sees no individuals at all in this scenario. A Muslim is a Muslim and a likely terrorist. They know what they know.

There is much to find out about Hasan and his circumstances, and no doubt we will find out much from the trial that almost certainly will follow on his recovery. But, right now, it is fascinating to see what we already don't know we know about him.

Courtesy of Psychology today - http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hidden-motives/200911/maj-nidal-malik-hasan-fort-hood

Ken Eisold is a psychoanalyst and organizational consultant whose book about the unconscious is coming out in January, What You Don't Know You Know. See full bio - http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/bloggers/ken-eisold-phd

Blaming religion is dumb
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2009/11/blaming-nidals-religion-is-dumb.html

Why did he do it?
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/major-nidal-why-did-he-do-it.html

Muslims express outrage
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/muslims-at-fort-voice-outrage-and-ask.html

~~~~

Blaming Nidal's Religion is Dumb

2009-11-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

In the very same town Killeen a decade ago, some Looney like Major Nidal walked into Wyatt’s cafeteria and randomly killed 32 people dining in peace, a crazy opened the fire in McDonalds in San Diego and I believe he killed 17 people, an idiot opened the fire in the Holocaust Museum in DC... and there are umpteen incidences like that... why do they have to pick Islam in this case?

Continued:
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2009/11/blaming-nidals-religion-is-dumb.html

~~~

Reflection - A day with Maya and Toltec people

2009-11-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/reflection-day-with-maya-and-toltec.html

The members of the Memnosyne Foundation and a few friends of the foundation took a trip to the Mayan cultural center in the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico between Nov 7th and 12th led by Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk.

The trip included visitation to the places of the Mayan and Toltec people; a great civilization ruefully reduced to mythology. It is sad that we all claim to be civilized and yet, we let the most un-civil acts transpire in our presence. The minorities, whether they are political, social, cultural, religious or other invariably get the shaft. The amassers and grabbers of the world resources are so insecure that they seek their prosperity on the blood of the weak and perpetuate unjust practices. They constantly live on the edge in a survival mode and their “me, me and me” attitude is the killer of civilizations and cultures creating misery for every one of conscience.

I hope every human understands the beauty and wisdom of their own faith, and for the sake of sustainable co-existence they would value the principles of “we, we and us” that religions inculcate so beautifully and learn the co-existence aspect of their own tradtion. I was reflecting upon the level of caring for minorities in United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel, India, Pakistan, Mexico, the Amazon basin or elsewhere in the world.

The Memnosyne Foundation is a dream come true for Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk and Joshua Frenk, and through them my own vision of a world of co-existence. Memnosyne Foundation offers a ray of hope for mankind, it is an advocate for indigenous people who are the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in the Globalized world. Their cultures, languages, spirituality and the traditions of healing are at risk.The Foundation has established seven centers to address the issue of the world, and one of them is the Center for Indigenous Culture.

The major objective of the Center is to provide indigenous cultures with the means to preserve their heritage through Ceremonies, Astronomy; Medicine practices, Culture, Arts, Architecture, Songs, Dances, and Languages and lend them a voice to their human rights and environment concerns.

The trip was to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Cultural Center. It was a joy to see the happiness and hope in the faces of children, women and men. They see it as a blessing from the higher spirits to bring about a revival of their traditions. We also visited a 110 year old Mayan Man in his home and what a blessing it was to see the radiance on his face when we visited him.

The Center is located in Felipe Carillo Puerto in the Yucatan peninsula, the legend says that when the Spaniards conquered the land, they asked the name of the place, neither could understand each others language, one of the Mayans said “we don’t know” in the Mayan language which the Spaniards took it as the name and called it Yucatan.

We walked nearly three fourths of a mile in dirt, mud puddles and pathways through bushes to reach the center. It was an incredible sight, built on an old decimated pyramid surrounded by lush green forest. Most communities around the world, be it your neighborhood or mine, is constantly witnessing a change happening or a development taking place to keep us talking and giving the hope. They Mayans in the region perhaps had not witnessed any change in generations. The center offers them that hope, a place for them to gather, further their tradition, learn their medicine and improve the quality of their lives.

The lunch was served in large leaves of Omarxhe plant similar to Banyan tree (India) leaves and the drink in half cut coconut shells, and it was a memorable indelible experience sharing the food and fellowship with our indigenous brothers and sisters. It was an environment friendly meal, no garbage and no worries of decomposition; no garbage in and no garbage out. After the lunch we enjoyed playing the drum and watching the people dance with joy under the thatched roof atop the old pyramid. I enjoyed my share of playing the drum as well.

We took the tour of Medicine Garden that Dr. Marin Columba is cultivating to teach medicine to the next generation. A place where there is no hospital nearby traditional medicine is the only source of healing for the people. Dr. Columba is one of the few native medicine Doctors alive who continues with the centuries old tradition of the Mayan people. We also visited her clinic with shelves full of herbal medicine for healing from itching to diabetes and even cancer. We were amazed with the number of people visiting the clinic, perhaps the only clinic for miles. I was particularly excited with the tour and recognition of many a shrubs, one of them was a Tulsi shrub that adorns every Indian home. I have one in my backyard as well.

My mind was raging with questions like what is a fuller life, can we measure the level of contentment, the God difference, and conflicts emanating from possession craze, survival of the fittest and the obsession of humans to claim superiority. At times I was lost in reverie of my 6 months retreat as a farm boy in Sitarampur, near Irgampalli in Kolar district. I have lived the simplest of life like our indigenouse brothers and sisters and have seen the luxuries of life Dallas offers. Thank God for endowing me with the spectrum of experience.

Mr. Aniceto Calolm, the spiritual leader for the Mayan tradition started the celebrations with an offering of gratitude to mother earth and the spirits and honoring the corn and the food that is the main source of sustenance and nurturance, followed by dances of joy in traditional costumes and interfaith prayers. The center for interfaith inquiry is another one of the seven centers of the Memnosyne foundation.

Prayers were recited in the following traditions: Mayan tradition – Mr. Aniceto Cacolm; Toltec Traditions – Mr. Ricardo and Irma Cervantes with their son Tona; Apache Tradition – Mr. Gregory Gomez; Shinto Tradition – Rev. Tanaka, Muslim and Hindu traditions – Mike Ghouse; and the celebration was capped by an expression of Gratitude to Mrs. Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk.

Since Mayan traditions resemble closely with the Hindu traditions, I recited the Hindu prayers in Sanskrit and rendered its English translation. Then I had to quench the curiosity about Hindu Prayers by a Muslim. If we were to write the Hindu, Mayan, Muslim, Christian, Jewish or any prayer in Sanskrit, Maya, Arabic, Hebrew, Swahili or Latin by generalizing God's name - simply ‘God’ instead of Yahweh, Jesus, Allah or Brahma; then you do not see a whole lot of difference in each prayer. Try it, you may feel the serenity and the thin barriers may fall and you sync with humanity and feel the universality of your soul. If you put a noose around God, God gets constricted, but if you free God from your own imaginative clutches, God becomes free to be had and loved by every human. Let's disposses God.

The wisdom is same no matter what language or where it originates or what religion it appears. For nearly ten years I have been reciting the prayers of Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Hinduism, Bahai and Sikh Prayers when and where they are not represented. God willing, I will learn the traditions of the indigenous people as well. The indigenous people focus on harmony ‘Armonia’ and balance as the centrality of their traditions.

A few asked me if it wasn't a conflict to recite Hindu prayers, heavens no, all religions want an individual to be peaceful with one-self and what surrounds him or her; life and environment. If you aspire for the spirituality, which every religion finally lifts you up to, then you do not see the conflict, but see the harmony, as the Mayans say "Armonia". I hope and request each one of the person reading this to be in others shoes and experience the essence of each beautiful tradition. Learning about other faiths does not mean infidelity to your own, indeed, it enriches your own faith knowing that all faiths bring freedom to one's soul.

The world is changing, people have been stuck with affixing labels to prayers, names etc, the change is coming; this is the century of co-existence aka Pluralism. By the way Pluralism is not a religion; it is an attitude of respecting the otherness of other and accepting the genetic uniqueness of each one of the 7 billion of us. People will appreciate the essence and beauty of each faith. It is difficult for a few to cross the line, they find comfort in confining the religion to be an exclusive idea, it' ain't. If you see the wisdom and beauty of other faiths without prejudice, you have achieved the Mukti, Moksha, Nirvana, Nijaat, Salvation or freedom.

I would love to write my full experience, due to time limitations, I will stop at this experience of one day, God willing, each one of us (or I) will update on the other three days of spiritual enrichment and a sense of purpose in life.

If you want to feel the freedom and joy of serenity, you can do it. Give 2 hours a week to serve in a homless shelter, serve food, give a ride to a senior, help others who need with blinders.

Face book has 60 pictures and some the same are repeated at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157622672259367/show/

An Album and Pictures: http://cid-b1c95cfc3922fb65.skydrive.live.com/play.aspx/ENCUENTRO%20DE%20MEDITACION%20DE%20HERMANDAD?ref=1

More details and reports will be available within a few weeks at www.Memnosynefoundation.org
and the www.FoundationforPluralism.com, www.WorldMuslimCongress.com and http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Please feel free to comment: http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/reflection-day-with-maya-and-toltec.html#comments

Mike Ghouse
http://www.mikeghouse.net/

~~~

Happy Gurupurab - Guru Nanak's birthday

2009-11-01T22:37:00.000-08:00

541st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism

I selected this picture, as my Mother's great uncle looked just like him with the same Turban and we called him Sikh Nana. On this auspicious day of Guru Nanak Devji's birthday, on behalf of World Muslim Congress and the foundation for Pluralism, we wish peace and blessing to the world.

May his divine Noor (divine light) brighten the world,
Amen!

Jeff, Fern, Mina,
Yasmeen & Mike Ghouse
# # #
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-gurupurab-guru-nanaks-birthday.html

Resources: Several

Guru Nanak Jayanti is the birthday of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, and one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism.

The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus. These Gurus were responsible for shaping the beliefs of the Sikhs. Their birthdays, known as Gurpurabs, are occasions for celebration and prayer among the Sikhs.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the First Guru, the founder of Sikhism) was born on 14 April 1469 in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura District of Pakistan, now Nankana Sahib. The birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib falls on Kartik Poornima, i.e., the day of the full moon in the month of Kartik. In the Gregorian Calendar, the birthday of Guru Nanak usually falls in the month of November, but its date varies from year to year, based on the traditional dates of the Indian calendar.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated by the Sikh community all over the world and is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar. The celebrations are especially colourful in Punjab and Haryana.

Happy Gurpurab to all the Sikhs and to everyone who is a well-wisher of the ideals of Sikhism….
LET US ALL CELEBRATE JANAM DIVAS,
PRAKASH UTSAV DIVAS OF SHRI GURU NANAK DEV JI…
Happy GURPURAB..!!

Raj karega khalsa, aakee rehae naa koe,
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Happy Gurpurab….!

DASVEN PATSHAH SRI GURU NANAK DEV JEE DE JANAM DIHA SARIYAN NUN WADHAIYAN…!!Happy GURPURAB..!!

Nanak Nich kahe vichaar,Waria na jaava ek waar,
Jo tud bhave sai bhali kaar,
Tu sada salamat nirankaar

Gurpurb Dee Lakh Lakh Wadai..!!

Raj karega khalsa, aakee rehae naa koe,
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Happy Gurpurab….!

gurpurab sms, gurpurab greetings, gurpurab 2009, gurpurab scraps, gurpurab, gurpurab greetings, guru nanak gurpurab, guru purab, gurpurab scraps

this body is the Guru. He makes the five sounded word reverberate in man
~ Guru Nanak

“The True One was there from time immemorial.
He is there today and ever there you will find.
He never died nor will he ever die. …
Look within, you will see Him there enshrined.”
~ Guru Nanak (Raga Maru)

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Guru Nanak Dev was born on 15 April 1469,now celebrated as Prakash Divas of Guru Nanak, into the Bedi Kshatriya family (a prominent Hindu community of Punjab), in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talwandī, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, Pakistan. Today, his birthplace is marked by Gurdwara Janam Asthan. His father, Mehta Kalyan Das Bedi, popularly shortened to Mehta Kalu, was the patwari (accountant) of crop revenue for the village of Talwandi in the employment of a Muslim landlord of that area, Rai Bular Bhatti . Guru Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi and he had one elder sister, Bebe Nanaki.

Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, PakistanThe earliest biographical sources on the life of Guru Nanak recognized today are the Janamsākhīs (life accounts) and the vārs (expounding verses) of the scribe Bhai Gurdas. The most popular Janamsākhī are written by a close companion of the Guru, Bhai Bala.

Bhai Gurdas, a purported scribe of the Gurū Granth, also wrote about Guru Nanak's life in his vārs. Although these too were compiled some time after Guru Nanak's time, they are less detailed than the Janamsākhīs. The Janamsākhīs recount in minute detail the circumstances of the birth of the guru. The Janamsakhis state that at his birth an astrologer, who came to write his horoscope, insisted on seeing the child. On seeing the infant, he is said to have worshipped him with clasped hands and remarked that "I regret that I shall never live to see young Guru Nanak as an adult.”

At the age of five years Guru Nanak is said to have voiced interest in divine subjects. At age seven, his father, Mehta Kalu, enrolled him at the village school as was the custom.[8] Notable lore recounts that as a child Guru Nanak astonished his teacher by describing the implicit symbolism of the first letter of the alphabet, which is an almost straight stroke in Persian or Arabic, resembling the mathematical version of one, as denoting the unity or oneness of God[9]. Other childhood accounts refer to strange and miraculous events about Guru Nanak witnessed by Rai Bular such as a poisonous cobra being seen to shield the sleeping child's head from the harsh sunlight.

As the end approached Guru Nanak would frequently test the devotion of his sons and nearest followers and in doing so demonstrate their state of mind to one another. There were numerous such occasions and one particular devotee, Baba Lehna, rose to eminence because he never faltered in his faith in Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak appointed Baba Lehna as the successor Guru, renaming him as Guru Angad Dev, meaning 'one's very own' or 'part of you'. Shortly after proclaiming Baba Lehna as the next Guru, Nanak passed on from this world on 22 September 1539 in Kartarpur, Punjab (now Pakistan) at the age of 70.

Teachings
Guru Nanak's teachings can be found in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth, a vast collection of revelatory verses recorded in Gurmukhi.

From these some common principles seem discernible. Firstly a supreme Godhead who although incomprehensible, manifests in all major religions, the Singular 'Doer' and formless. It is described as the indestructible (without death) form.

Guru Nanak describes the dangers of the Egotism (haumai- 'I am') and calls upon devotees to engage in worship through the word of God (Naam - It implies God, the Reality, mystical word or formula to recite or meditate upon (shabad in Gurbani), divine order (hukam) and at places divine teacher (guru) and guru's instructions) and singing of God's qualities, discarding doubt in the process. However such worship must be selfless (sewa). The word of God, cleanses the individual to make such worship possible. This is related to the revelation that God is the Doer and without God there is no other. Guru Nanak warned against hypocrisy and falsehood saying that these are pervasive in humanity and that religious actions can also be in vain. It may also be said that ascetic practices are disfavoured by Guru Nanak who suggests remaining inwardly detached whilst living as a householder.

Through popular tradition, Guru Nanak's teaching is understood to be practiced in three ways:

Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)

Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud ( telling the truth)
Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need (sava)
Guru Nanak put the greatest emphasis on the worship of the Word of God (Naam Japna) . One should follow the direction of awakened individuals (Gurmukh or God willed) rather than the mind (state of Manmukh- being led by Self will)- the latter being perilous and leading only to frustration.

Reforms that occurred in the wake of Guru Nanak's teachings included: devotion being open to all castes; women not to be marginalized from its institutions; and both Godhead and Devotion transcending any religious consideration or divide; as God is not separate from any individual.

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Towards a kind and just society

2009-10-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

Towards a kind and just society

The Creator wills for humanity to strive for a balance; social, spiritual, biological, physical, moral and environmental. When this elusive equilibrium is achieved, where no one is afraid of the other, oppression becomes a story, exploitation fades away, and goodwill becomes the norm of the society, then Religion has achieved its goal; indeed, God is all about peace and equilibrium

If we can learn to respect the othernes of other and accept the genetic uniqueness (the word genetic is a replacement of the phrase God given) of each one of the 6.5 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. I believe knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to an appreciation of a different point of view.

To be religious is to be a peace maker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill. That is all God wants, for his creation to live in harmony.

Mike Ghouse
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This was published in a Thai newspaper.

Interfaith dialogue and understanding of the human spirit can serve as powerful tools to remedy social injustice

A woman was arrested on a charge of stealing baby powder milk from a supermarket. According to the law, she had to be sent to jail to serve for her petty crime.

Yet, justice has not been served, according to Fr Vichai Phoktavi, Jesuit priest and founder of Santiwana retreat centre in Bangkok. "Justice is not an issue of law. It is intrinsically a spiritual issue of human heart and living," said Vichai, who has been working with human rights issues for hill-tribe people in the north of Thailand.

"The key question we need to ask in this case, for instance, is why the woman has no milk to feed her baby whereas there is plenty of milk on the market shelves," he raised, "Is this fair and just?
"Touch the issue with your heart, you will find the answers. When we start doing something to really solve the problem, then it is the dawn of justice in society," he said in the recent seminar on "Religions and Restoring Social Justice", organised by the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).

The seminar was a prologue to the upcoming event "Engaged Buddhist Festival of Peace and Social Transformation", to be held in Chiang Mai (see sidebar). The event is deemed to promote social engagement among religious practitioners and the public.

"Religious practices are not about individual salvation. The spirit of loving kindness, compassion and non-harm is emphasized in all religions. These principles guide us towards creating a peaceful, loving and just society in this world and beyond," said Tianchai Wongchaisuwan, columnist and globalisation critic under the pseudonym Yook Sri Ariya.

Buddhist's precepts, for instance, are guidelines towards non-harming and harmonious co existing.

"Social justice is the core virtue of religions. All of us yearn for justice. It is one of our basic needs," he pointed out.

But the spirits that cherish a loving and just society have been robbed. Our world today evolves around money, Tianchai commented. Consumerism and materialism have taken over religious and spiritual virtues.

He mentioned reports of the assets of multibillionaires that exceed the total GDP of 40 third world countries combined; or cases of health-care services and medicines that are in the hands of profit-making multinational corporatists; and global underground networks of human trafficking, drugs and arms.

"Social injustice and violence have become more severe and subtle than what mankind has experienced in the past," commented Tianchai. "For money, we sold our spirit and sacrificed our environment and peaceful livelihood," he said.

There have been polls that show many urban middle class youngsters and adults think orruption and cheating are acceptable if you are efficient and work smart. Some respondents even confessed that they might be part of this corrupted circle as "anyone is in".

"Human consciousness is weakened and impoverished; as a result, injustice proliferates on a wider and deeper scale," said Vichai.

The antidote to social injustice, therefore, is not law or force, but work on the human spirit. "Every problem in society stems from the root cause, which is the human spirit. If we don't heal this - human consciousness - how can we hope for justice and a better society? Religious practices should be brought back to and in our life. We need to bring justice back into human hearts. Only a just mind can bring justice to society."

For years, if not centuries, religions and spiritual traditions have been separated from the profane world, commented historian Tianchai. The role of religions is restricted to temples and certain rituals.

Histories of religions, such as Buddhism, are interpreted to be the story of extraordinary individuals, who were born specifically for a noble cause, commented Tianchai.

Yet, religions are never about individuals. Nor can they be detached from society. "When we study religions, we cannot separate our Great Teachers and Prophets from the historical contexts they were born into and lived in."

Prince Siddhartha, for instance, was born in a Brahmanism-dominated society. His teachings challenged the strict social caste system of his time, and helped the untouchables and women attain not only spiritual but also social liberation.

Also, in his time, there were instances when the Buddha called for kingdoms to cease wars. "Who says that religion should not be involved in politics?" he raised. "Politics must be guided by dharma. Politics without dharma is disastrous."

The histories of Islam and Christianity are concerned with social justice and collective salvation, added Sarawuth Sriwanyot, chairman of the Council of Muslim Organisations of Thailand.

"In times of social chaos, messiahs would be sent into the world to save people's souls and spirits. Their messages influenced people for the betterment of this world and the world beyond," said Sarawuth.

For Islam, the Prophet Mohammed brought a revolution to the fate of the nomadic Arabs. Throughout his life, Jesus Christ stood up for deprived and oppressed people, said Vichai. "God is the embodiment of justice. God saves human beings from corrupt society and suggests ways towards a society of love, justice and joy."

In the Bible, those with authority and power have to serve powerless people, especially the impoverished, such as orphans and widows. "Jesus Christ denounced corrupt authorities who abused their power for personal gain or for the benefit of their cronies. These people are condemned to hell," said Vichai.

Given the aggravating social ills and injustice, he added that we need to have more people with ethical courage. "For example, when we see injured people after a road accident, will we stop to help? Some may say 'no' as they fear being accused as the culprit.

"But will anyone insist on helping the injured even if he or she may risk being wrongly accused?" He added that Jesus Christ chose to stand for what was right and just to the end. He was turned down by his own disciples and died a lonely death.

"A person may die but the virtue he or she dies for will be passed on to the next generations. And this - unconditional courage, is how we can help restore social justice."

Despite social and environmental crises and spiritual degradation, we can still be hopeful, believes Sarawuth, chairman of the Council of Muslim Organisations in Thailand.

Good people still outnumber the not-so-good ones, he said; however, they need to be more actively engaged in society. "Promoting good deeds in society is not enough. We also need to stop malicious deeds, such as corruption, and murder from happening. Evil deeds, with the aid of money and power, proliferate at a high speed these days.

"The way to impede social ills, according to Islamic guidelines, can be done through actions, words and prayers. Yet it is not through violence," said Sarawuth.

Christ and Mohammed showed us the way to tackle violence and injustice, he pointed out. They showed us the virtue of forgiveness. "To his enemies who killed his relatives, Mohammad said 'Forgive them for they do not know,' and Christ said the same thing too."

Sarawuth said that if we learn more about the religions of our friends, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, for instance, we will see more similarities than differences. Tianchai added that nterfaith dialogue and understanding can serve as a powerful tool to remedy social injustice.

"If all religions join forces and people of all spiritual traditions join hands to tackle social ills and environmental crisis, we will have great power to tackle injustice in society. And this powerful source can save us from the critical point of social and environmental crisis that threatens the survival of humanity," said Tianchai.

Above all, Vichai said, social injustice starts from each and every one of us. "Live a just and fair life. Engage in spiritual and religious teachings and practices in our daily living."

Link to this article - http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/10/towards-kind-and-just-society.html

If you wish to write your comments - http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/10/towards-kind-and-just-society.html#comments
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Hindu fanatics messing Hinduism

2009-10-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

Fanatics of the faith misrepresent their faith more than anyone else. They talk peace while pointing the gun at you. An article appeared on the face book about Hinduism, I could not post my comments on it, and the comment box was removed and now the article is gone too.

It was one of the most beautiful expressions of Hinduism, as I have shared the wisdom of religion, every beautiful religion on my radio shows, workshops and write ups, I really liked it. Indeed, that is the essence of everyfaith. It was such a joy to read it with one major exception.

In the midst of such a beautiful article, a sentence in parenthesis spoiled the beauty of that piece. It was an upload of hate, that which brings impurity in one's Dharma; the righteous conduct. It's like drinking the sewer without realizing what it does to one’s body health. Hate is binding, it does not bring Mukti (salvation, liberation, Nirvana, Moksha) and it messes up one's life.

We need to dis-own religion, it is the passionate owning of religion that makes us a base animal fighting for its posession. Religion is there to give us freedom and not bind us, it allows us to be like Krishna who asked us to surrender to him, like Allah who wants us to submit to his will and like Jesus who wants us to follow him - when we do that, we find that the whole world to be one family, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or all of us made into tribes and nations from the same source, one nation under God.

I found the following sentence loaded with ignorance, the item was removed before I could copy, however I copied the following statement to write my comments. Fanatics of the faith misrepresent their faith more than anyone else. They talk peace while pointing the gun at you.

The hateful statement is in parenthesis: (IMPORTANT COROLLARY: Since totalitarian dogmas like communism, islam, xianity do not conform to Hindu Dharma’s essence, they are adharmic creeds, undesirable for societal well being – not just in India, but any place where they operate).

It reaffirms the statement that individuals are bad, not the religion. You find bad dudes in every faith, but that does not make their faith a bad one. Bad Indians, bad Americans do not make our nations bad, it makes those individuals bad. We need to be pure in our hearts. 1/10th of 1% of any group of people are bad, no matter what religion they wear, you will find badness in that fraction in every major faith particularly Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

The Neocon* Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims continue to spew hate in the name of love, what a contradiction!

Don't blame the acts of Hitler on Christianity, of Osama on Islam. There is not a major religious group that does not have ugly men like these two (another sentence in that article).

Evil persists not necessarily because of evil statements above, but because we the good men and women remain silent about it. I am writing this note to let it be known, that Hindu religion should not be allowed to be tarnished with statements like the one quoted above. I will speak out against any evil notes ascribed to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism or any faith and I hope you feel the same if not now, some day.

* Neocons, who are they? - http://hatesermons.blogspot.com/2008/03/neocons.html

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
Foundation for Pluralism
World Muslim Congress

In search of Jesus, a poem

2009-10-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

The poem, In search of Jesus follows:

Mirza, I used to experiment with phrases on my radio shows, one of them comes to mind is "every place where justice is needed, a peace maker emerges". The sentence was deliberatly altered to not give away. Invariably the caller would say it is in Quraan, in Bhagvad Gita, in the Bible or the Bahais Book. That is the essence of goodness and am glad every one claimed it. Indeed, it is in all those scriptures.

All the scriptures from what I have known in the last 15 years of study, have the same bottom line; to bring peace and balance to an individual and balance with what surrounds one; life and matter.

Thanks for addressing the parodox in the following poem.

Mike Ghouse
http://www.mikeghouse.net/

In search of Jesus
Mirza A. Beg
Oct 15, 2009

This poem, allegorically laments the misuse of the name and the message of Jesus. With a few changed words and syntax it would be valid for any religion.

The age of Information is entwined with the age of misinformation. Thoughtful understanding requires hard work; propaganda only needs bumper stickers. Religious zealots from all sides symbiotically feed on propagandized fear. The internal struggle is between the heart of each religion serving with humility and the strong arm seeking supremacy through misconstrued words.

The paradox is – in all religions; those who claim universality of their brand of religion behave as exclusivist tribal supremacist and those who introspectively value personal responsibility enhance universal amity.

Son of Mary

Celebrated is your name
Your Hellenized name
Jesus!

You are a messenger
A pristine idea to a few
A God to some
And the Son of God

You are a friend to some
A seer of wisdom
A promise of justice
And salvation

A hope for tomorrow
A redeemer to fallen
A beacon to lost souls
A promise of peace

Some shout your name
From lavish pulpits
Peddling salvation
From fire and damnation

They amass power
To usher your kingdom
At the point of the sword
Or atom tipped bombs

While others
Walk a lonely road
Quietly, humbly
Serving the needy

They love their neighbors
Humbly serve the meek
The sick, the injured
And the bombed

Mirza A. Beg can be contacted at, mab64@yahoo.com, or http://mirzasmusings.blogspot.com/

The Imams from Jordan and Pluralism

2009-10-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Imams from Jordan and Pluralism

Carrollton, Texas – October 8, 2009-10-09 :- An exploratory meeting between the Imams of Jordan and the representatives of the Foundation for Pluralism took place in Carrollton. They were on a mission to understand how the interfaith works in the United States.

I am pleased to have been a part of the seminal initiative by the Saudis, one of their ministers had asked and I had arranged a meeting of 20 people at the Crescent court in 2004, reluctantly, as a first step, I had agreed to bring 5 Muslims, Jews and Christians each with a promise of including all other faiths later on. Thank God, the Saudis have taken intiatives and held an international interfaith meetings including many a faith traditions. The work goes on.

The most exciting thing to report is the concurrent emergence of Pluralism (Pluralism is an attitude of respecting the otherness of other - it is not a religion, ideology or a system) across the world. Due to lack of time on my part, I will write a few key points.

Interfaith is about faiths, whereas pluralism is about co-existence between, atheists, theists, monotheist and polytheists.

Invitation was sent to at least two individuals from every one of the 14 faiths I usually assemble.
About 15 people in all exchanged ideas including a Mormon, a Christian, a Universalist, myself and the Imams.

Genuine interfaith dialogue is about learning the uniqueness of each faith and seeing how we all can work in creating a society that respects and honors co-existence. Genuine interfaith dialogue is about respecting the other point of view and not have the eagerness to prove one has all the answers or superior. It is about humility and treating each one as an equal.

We have to accept the existence of fake ones too; whose sole agenda is ‘conversion’, to put it bluntly these meetings provide them customers or souls to harvest. The good ones set the standards at the front end - The Carrollton interfaith group is very clear about it – no proselytizing and on one will make an atttemp to prove that one is superior to the other.

I was thrilled to learn about some of the great things they are doing out there, the head Imam gets notes from all the Mosques about the sermons they deliver on Friday, and he was proudly reporting that their focus was on compassion and co-existence. He was telling the stories of Churches and Mosques lined up in Amman are treated as places of God. He also added that once a while an Imam feels the humiliation and anger and vents it out, he said it was the part of the freedom of speech and he shared that a few Rabbis on the other side of the border also spew out hate in their sermons. He made clear that it was never against Jews or Judaism but against the oppression as they see it.

When I mentioned about Prophet Muhammad being the initiator of interfaith dialogues which took place in his Mosque; the flood gates opened. Each one was eager and one of them was telling innumerable stories about the prophet Muhammad and how he respected others. In one story he said a few miscreants were passing by and one of them said death to the prophet by altering the greeting Salaam Alaikum, prophets’ wife Aisha had retorted back “same to you”, hearing that the Prophet told her, no we cannot do that, instead let’s pray that God give goodwill to all. Who knows prayers may change them.

In my blog Hate sermons, I have asked people of all faiths to speak out if some one is using the religious pulpit to spew hate towards others. The Wall Street Journal had falsely claimed around the beginning of 2009 that there are hate sermons delivered in the Mosques, I challenged them to prove it and they have not done it, and one Muslim doctor also had joined the Wall Street Journal, I demanded that he prove it too, instead he sent an email that it used to be the case several years ago.

Hate sermons are routinely delivered from the pulpits or cultural centers of many religions in the United States, and God bless so many individuals who speak out against them despite the pressure from some extremists to carry on the hate agenda. I know several Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Christian friends who have spoken up against hate sermons.

If all the religious and civic institutions on their own will, post the speeches and sermons on their websites, a self-monitoring system would evolve and hope the congregation will have common sense to question hate against any one, which is detrimental to safety and security of each one of the 6.5 billion of us.

Indeed, I will be writing an article about the stereotyping Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians and Sikhs, and the actual stories involving overcoming stereotyping.

Dinner buffet comprised of Chicken Biryani, Chicken Curry, Naan, Carrot desert and Salad.

Personal Notes:

I will write the finer points when I get a chance, I attended Karen Armstrong’s lecture on Tuesday and that was a heaven to listen to her wisdom. I’ve got to write about it. Then on Friday, I attended the release of Autobiography of Rev. Moon in Washington D.C and I have to write about it too. These two are my mentors along with Prophet Muhammad, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, Gandhi, MLK and the new of course, President Obama who has just won the Nobel Peace Prize. God bless him and hope and pray that more and more people listen to his message of co-existence.

If you would like to be included in the list, please send an email to: Ghousejournal@gmail.com

Mike Ghouse
http://www.mikeghouse.net/
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Obama wins Nobel Peace Award

2009-10-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

I believe this is the most deserving award ever given. This man is going to change the way people think and work together. He is a catalyst for creating a world of co-existence, Congratulations!

Obama believes in justice and justice is the only thing that will last and brings sustainable security and hope to the Israelis and the Palestinians. What is good for one has got to be good for the other, for it to continue, if not, it is not justice.

Mike Ghouse
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"The best way to congratulate President Obama is to show him that
his efforts matter. Let him know that you share the optimism of
the Nobel Prize Committee and the hope that he will go the full
nine yards for Mideast peace. Tell the President, Mazel Tov!

We look forward to the day when this prize is shared with
Israeli and Palestinian leadership against the backdrop of two
states living side-by-side in peace and security."

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom writes
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We know Obama cares about global public opinion -- indeed, we may be his best conscience. So let’s send him a flood of congratulations and urge him to fulfil his promise through real action -- take action now at this link, then spread the word, and we’ll deliver a global flood of signatures direct to the White House:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/obama_nobel_prize

Avaaz
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This Nobel peace prize is a down-payment on work yet to be done. It is an act of faith, based on the fact that Obama is making the right noises and seems to know what he is doing; and on the fact that, compared to his predecessor, he already looks like a master-craftsman.
Julian Borger, Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1
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By KARL RITTER and MATT MOORE, Associated Press Writers Karl Ritter And Matt Moore, Associated Press Writers – 13 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_nobel_peace

OSLO – President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

Many observers were shocked by the unexpected choice so early in the Obama presidency, which began less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline and has yet to yield concrete achievements in peacemaking.

Some around the world objected to the choice of Obama, who still oversees wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has launched deadly counter-terror strikes in Pakistan and Somalia.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee countered that it was trying "to promote what he stands for and the positive processes that have started now." It lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.

The peace prize was created partly to encourage ongoing peace efforts but Obama's efforts are at far earlier stages than past winners'. The Nobel committee acknowledged that they may not bear fruit at all.

"He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate," Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. "Some people say, and I understand it, isn't it premature? Too early? Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us."

The selection to some extent reflects a trans-Atlantic divergence on Obama. In Europe and much of the world he is lionized for bringing the United States closer to mainstream global thinking on issues like climate change and multilateralism. At home, the picture is more complicated. As president, Obama is often criticized as he attempts to carry out his agenda — drawing fire over a host of issues from government spending to health care to the conduct of the war in Afghanistan.

U.S. Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele contended that Obama won the prize as a result of his "star power" rather than meaningful accomplishments.

"The real question Americans are asking is, What has President Obama actually accomplished?" Steele said.

Obama's election and foreign policy moves caused a dramatic improvement in the image of the U.S. around the world. A 25-nation poll of 27,000 people released in July by the Pew Global Attitudes Project found double-digit boosts to the percentage of people viewing the U.S. favorably in countries around the world. That indicator had plunged across the world under President George W. Bush.

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," Jagland said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has made no secret of his admiration for Obama, called the decision the embodiment of the "return of America into the hearts of the people of the world."

But Obama's work is far from done, on numerous fronts.

He said he would end the Iraq war but has been slow to bring the troops home and the real end of the U.S. military presence there won't come until at least 2012.

He's running a second war in the Muslim world, in Afghanistan — and is seriously considering ramping up the number of U.S. troops on the ground and asking for help from others, too.

"I don't think Obama deserves this. I don't know who's making all these decisions. The prize should go to someone who has done something for peace and humanity," said Ahmad Shabir, 18-year-old student in Kabul. "Since he is the president, I don't see any change in U.S. strategy in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Obama has said that battling climate change is a priority. But the U.S. seems likely to head into crucial international negotiations set for Copenhagen in December with Obama-backed legislation still stalled in Congress.

Former Polish President Lech Walesa, who won the prize in 1983, questioned whether Obama deserved it now.

"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," Walesa said.

"This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act," Walesa said.

Last year's prize winner, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, saw the award as vindication that Obama "is ready to seriously seek a solution to the question of Israel and Palestine," he told Finnish broadcaster YLE.

"Of course, this puts pressure on Obama. The world expects that he will also achieve something," Ahtisaari said.

Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded by Swedish institutions, the peace prize is given out by a five-member committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Like the Parliament, the committee has a leftist slant, with three members elected by left-of-center parties. Jagland said the decision to honor Obama was unanimous.

The award appeared to be at least partly a slap at Bush from a committee that harshly criticized Obama's predecessor for his largely unilateral military action in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The Nobel committee praised Obama's creation of "a new climate in international politics" and said he had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the U.N. to the center of the world stage.

"You have to remember that the world has been in a pretty dangerous phase," Jagland said. "And anybody who can contribute to getting the world out of this situation deserves a Nobel Peace Prize."

Until seconds before the award, speculation had focused on a wide variety of candidates besides Obama: Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a Colombian senator, a Chinese dissident and an Afghan woman's rights activist, among others. The Nobel committee received a record 205 nominations for this year's prize, though it was not immediately apparent who nominated Obama.

"The exciting and important thing about this prize is that it's given to someone ... who has the power to contribute to peace," Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize in 1984, said Obama's award shows great things are expected from him in coming years.

"It's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all," Tutu said. "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."

Obama is the third sitting U.S. president to win the award: President Theodore Roosevelt won in 1906 and President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the prize in 1919.

Wilson received the prize for his role in founding the League of Nations, the hopeful but ultimately failed precursor to the contemporary United Nations.

The Nobel committee chairman said after awarding the 2002 prize to former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, for his mediation in international conflicts, that it should be seen as a "kick in the leg" to the Bush administration's hard line in the buildup to the Iraq war.

Five years later, the committee honored Bush's adversary in the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore, for his campaign to raise awareness about global warming.

In July talks in Moscow, Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed that their negotiators would work out a new limit on delivery vehicles for nuclear warheads of between 500 and 1,100. They also agreed that warhead limits would be reduced from the current range of 1,700-2,200 to as low as 1,500. The United States now has about 2,200 such warheads, compared to about 2,800 for the Russians.

But there has been no word on whether either side has started to act on the reductions.

Former Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said Obama has already provided outstanding leadership in the effort to prevent nuclear proliferation.

"In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself," ElBaradei said. "He has shown an unshakable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts."

Obama also has attempted to restart stalled talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, but just a day after Obama hosted the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in New York, Israeli officials boasted that they had fended off U.S. pressure to halt settlement construction. Moderate Palestinians said they felt undermined by Obama's failure to back up his demand for a freeze.

Obama was to meet with his top advisers on the Afghan war on Friday to consider a request by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to send as many as 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan as the U.S war there enters its ninth year.

Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan earlier this year and has continued the use of unmanned drones for attacks on militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a strategy devised by the Bush administration. The attacks often kill or injure civilians living in the area.

Nominators for the prize include former laureates; current and former members of the committee and their staff; members of national governments and legislatures; university professors of law, theology, social sciences, history and philosophy; leaders of peace research and foreign affairs institutes; and members of international courts of law.

In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses."

The committee has taken a wide interpretation of Nobel's guidelines, expanding the prize beyond peace mediation to include efforts to combat poverty, disease and climate change.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided not to inform Obama before the announcement because it didn't want to wake him up, committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said.

"Waking up a president in the middle of the night, this isn't really something you do," Jagland said.

___

Associated Press writers Ian MacDougall in Oslo, Rahim Faiez in Kabul, Celean Jacobson in Johannesburg, George Jahn in Vienna, Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, Matti Huuhtanen in Helsinki and Jennifer Loven in Washington contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

http://www.nobelpeaceprize.org

How Moses Shaped America

2009-10-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

This is a fascinating story, please learn about Moses in three faiths here in Dallas on Sunday. Details of the event listed at the bottom of the story.

There is a Moses in every community, find yours and write a note about him in the comments section below. Not the historic or geographical or religious Moses, but the essence of his work.

What is common between all the spiritual leaders? Where did Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Muhammad, Buddha, Mahavir, Zoroaster, Confucious, Nanak, Bahaullah, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and others got their power from? I believe it was their unselfishness. Everything they did was for the good of the mankind and were successful at changing the world. You cannot go wrong if you do things for others or live for the sake of others, as Rev. Sun Myung Moon puts it. Mike Ghouse
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How Moses Shaped America
By Bruce Feiler Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
The Ten Commandments teach that freedom depends on law.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1927303,00.html

"We are in the presence of a lot of Moseses," Barack Obama said on March 4, 2007, three weeks after announcing his candidacy for President. He was speaking in Selma, Ala., surrounded by civil rights pioneers. Obama cast his run for the White House as a fulfillment of the Moses tradition of leading people out of bondage into freedom. "I thank the Moses generation, but we've got to remember that Joshua still had a job to do. As great as Moses was ... he didn't cross over the river to see the promised land."

Eight months into his presidency, Obama might want to give Moses a second look. On issues from health care to Afghanistan, the President faces doubts and rebellions, from an entrenched pharaonic establishment on one hand and restless, stiff-necked followers on the other. There's good reason, then, for Obama to heed the leadership lessons of history's greatest leader. Like presidential predecessors from Washington to Reagan, Obama can use the Moses story to help guide Americans in troubled times. From the Pilgrims to the Founding Fathers, the Civil War to the civil rights movement, Americans have turned to Moses in periods of crisis because his narrative offers a road map of peril and promise. (See pictures of the Civil Rights movement from Emmett Till to Barack Obama.)

Plight of the Pilgrims
The Moses story opens in the 13th century B.C.E. with the Israelites enslaved in Egypt. After the pharaoh orders the slaughter of all Israelite male babies, Moses is floated down the Nile, picked up by the pharaoh's daughter and raised in the palace. An adult Moses murders an Egyptian for beating "one of his kinsmen," then flees to the desert, where, later, a voice in a burning bush recruits him to free the Israelites. This moment represents Moses' first leadership test: Will he cling to his unburdened life or attempt to free a people enslaved for centuries?

The plight of the Israelites resonated with the earliest American settlers. For centuries, the Catholic Church had banned the direct reading of Scripture. But the Protestant Reformation, combined with the printing press, brought vernacular Bibles to everyday readers. What Protestants discovered was a narrative that reminded them of their sense of subjugation by the church and appealed to their dreams of a Utopian New World. The Pilgrims stressed this aspect of Moses. When the band of Protestant breakaways left England in 1620, they described themselves as the chosen people fleeing their pharaoh, King James. On the Atlantic, they proclaimed their journey to be as vital as "Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt." And when they got to Cape Cod, they thanked God for letting them pass through their fiery Red Sea. (See 10 surprising facts about the world's oldest Bible.)

By the time of the Revolution, the theme of beleaguered people standing up to a superpower had become the go-to narrative of American identity. The two best-selling books of 1776 featured Moses. Thomas Paine, in Common Sense, called King George the "hardened, sullen tempered pharaoh." Samuel Sherwood, in The Church's Flight into the Wilderness, said God would deliver the colonies from Egyptian bondage. The Moses image was so pervasive that on July 4, after signing the Declaration of Independence, the Congress asked Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to propose a seal for the United States. Their recommendation: Moses, leading the Israelites through the Red Sea as the water overwhelms the pharaoh. In their eyes, Moses was America's true Founding Father.

But escaping bondage proved to be only half the story. After the Israelites arrive in the desert, they face a period of lawlessness, which prompts the Ten Commandments. Only by rallying around the new order can the people become a nation. Freedom depends on law.

See the top 10 religion stories of 2008.

See pictures of John 3:16 in pop culture.

Americans faced a similar moment of chaos after the Revolution. One Connecticut preacher noted that Moses took 40 years to quell the Israelites' grumbling: Now "we are acting the same stupid part." And so just as a reluctant Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, then handed down the Ten Commandments, a reluctant George Washington led the colonists to victory, then presided over the drafting of the Constitution. The parallel was not lost. Two-thirds of the eulogies at Washington's death compared the "leader and father of the American nation" to the "first conductor of the Jewish nation."

Let My People Go

While Moses was a unifying presence during the founding era, a generation later he got dragged into the issue that most divided the country. The Israelites' escape from slavery was the dominant motif of slave spirituals, including "Turn Back Pharaoh's Army," "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" and the most famous, "Go Down, Moses," which was called the national anthem of slaves: "When Israel was in Egypt Land,/ Let my people go;/ Oppressed so hard they could not stand,/ Let my people go." (See pictures of colorful religious festivals.)

Spirituals sent coded messages. As Frederick Douglass wrote, when he and his comrades sang, "O Canaan, sweet Canaan,/ I am bound for the land of Canaan," overseers believed they were worshipping the white god. But to them, it meant they were about to escape on the Underground Railroad. The movement's famous conductor, Harriet Tubman, was called the Moses of her people.

And yet even as abolitionists used the Exodus to attack slavery, Southerners used it to defend the institution. The War Between the States became the War Between the Moseses. Slaveholders cited a bevy of biblical passages — Abraham acquires slaves; Moses invites slaves to the first Passover; Jesus does nothing to free slaves — to claim the Bible endorsed slavery. The book that joined Americans together was torn asunder by slavery. (See the top 10 Jesus films.)

It took America's most Bible-quoting President to reunite the country. Called a pharaoh by his opponents, Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves after a "vow before God"; he invoked the Exodus at Gettysburg. When he died, Lincoln, like Washington before him, was compared to Moses. "There is no historic figure more noble than that of the Jewish lawgiver," Henry Ward Beecher eulogized. "There is scarcely another event in history more touching than his death." Until now. "Again a great leader of the people has passed through toil, sorrow, battle and war, and come near to the promised land of peace, into which he might not pass over."

Lincoln's assassination initiated an even more long-lasting tribute to Moses, the Statue of Liberty, given to America by the French to honor the slain President. The sculptor, Frédéric Bartholdi, chose the goddess of liberty as his model, but he enhanced her with two icons from Moses: the nimbus of light around her head and the tablet in her arms, both from the moment Moses descends Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. The message: Freedom comes with law.

Moses and Superman
With the rise of secularism and the declining influence of the Bible in the 20th century, Moses might have melted away as a role model. But something curious happened. He was so identified as a hero of the American Dream that he superseded Scripture and entered the realm of popular culture, from novels to television.

Superman was modeled partly on Moses. The comic-book hero's creators, two bookish Jews from Cleveland named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, drew their character's backstory from the superhero of the Torah. Just as baby Moses is floated down the Nile in a basket to escape annihilation, baby Superman is launched into space in a rocket ship to avoid extinction. Just as Moses is raised in an alien world before being summoned to liberate Israel, Superman is raised in an alien environment before being called to assist humanity.

But it was Cecil B. DeMille who turned Moses into a symbol of American power in the Cold War. The 1956 epic The Ten Commandments, which in its inflation-adjusted total ranks as the fifth highest grossing movie of all time, opened with DeMille appearing onscreen. "The theme of this picture is whether men ought to be ruled by God's law or whether they are to be ruled by the whims of a dictator," he said. "The same battle continues throughout the world today." To drive home his point, DeMille cast mostly Americans as Israelites and Europeans as Egyptians. And in the film's final shot, Charlton Heston adopts the pose of the Statue of Liberty and quotes the line from the third book of Moses — Leviticus — inscribed on the Liberty Bell: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." (See the 100 best movies of all time.)

To modern Americans, Moses' heartbreak, in many ways, ensures his ongoing appeal. Though a champion of freedom, he was also a prophet of disappointment. After leading the Israelites for 40 years, Moses is denied entry to the promised land for disobeying God. No one understood this aspect of the Moses story better than Martin Luther King Jr. In his first national speech, in 1956, he likened the U.S. Supreme Court to Moses for splitting the Red Sea of segregation. On the night before his death 12 years later, King predicted he would not fulfill his dream. "I've been to the mountaintop," he declared. "And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. And I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land." Both Moses and King are reminders that even the greatest leaders fall short. (See rare pictures of Martin Luther King Jr.)

So what lessons can the current occupant of the White House learn from a figure that nearly every one of his predecessors has invoked?

First, sell the milk and honey. Obama is the first President to hold a Passover seder in the White House, but he seems to be forgetting the main point of the service: the story of Moses is, above all, a story. It's a narrative of hope. Details are fine for negotiating policy, but it's the vision of milk and honey that gets people to plunge into the Red Sea.

Second, remember the Nile. As he wrestles with whether to tackle immigration, toughen regulations or insure all Americans, the President should recall that from the moment God hears his people moaning under slavery, the entire moral focus of the Moses story is to build a society that nurtures everyone. Thirty-six times, the Torah urges the Israelites to befriend the stranger, for they were strangers in Egypt.

Third, the one on Sinai takes the heat. The Bible outlines at least a dozen rebellions in which the people attempt to overthrow Moses. In a striking parallel to Obama, the Israelites even question Moses' birthright: "Who made you leader over us?" God offers to destroy the people, but Moses brokers a compromise. The strongest leaders face the harshest criticism and hold fast against their naysayers.

Finally, you may not enter the promised land. Forced to die across the Jordan on Mount Nebo, Moses confronts his final choice: Will he fight or prepare the Israelites for the future? He chooses the latter. "I have put before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity," he says. "Choose life."

These words capture what may be the most trying lesson of leadership: You may fail, but your legacy is to prepare your followers to succeed without you. So plunge into the waters, persevere through the dryness, and don't be surprised if you don't reach your goal. For the true destination is not this year at all, but next.

Feiler is the author of America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story, from which this article is adapted

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THE EVENT: MOSES
PLACE: TEMPLE SHALOM 6930 Alpha Rd, Dallas, TX 75240
PHONE: 972-661-1810
TIME: 5:00 - 7:00 PM ON SUNDAY

A few years ago, I attended a program called "Connecting our faiths" organized by Marzuk and Alexis Jaami in Dallas.

Rabbi Grisham spoke about Moses - it was one of the most fascinating talks about Moses I have ever heard. My mental schemas were capturing the essence of everything I was hearing, indeed, the way Rabbi was telling the story of Moses, it appeared to me that he was telling the story of Prophet Muhammad. At the beginning it was Baby Krishna's story which nearly coincides with the story of Baby Moses.

DALLAS, TX – Connecting Our Faiths continues its Abrahamic faith series with the Mormon Church at Temple Shalom exploring faith connections to Moses. In his inaugural address, President Obama reminded Americans that there are Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and other people of faith here. Why is this important? There are many Jews, Christians, Muslims and others in this country and around the world who don’t know Moses is a key connection with other faiths. Where can this common ground take us? A Jewish rabbi, Mormon President and Muslim Imam will explore their faith connections examining Moses’ Impact on Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Sunday, October 1, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Temple Shalom, 6930 Alpha Rd., Dallas 75240, 972-661-1810. The event is free and open to the public.

Islamic Center of Irving on Stereotypes

2009-09-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

Islamic Center of Irving on Stereotypes

1/10th of 1% of population, be it Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu or Russian, Chinese, Arab, English, Latin or otherwise tends to be extremist. In the USA 1% of our population is incarcerated for a variety of crimes. That does not make any group or nation a bad people.

Bad people are bad people, regardless of the religion they wear.

If we punish them as bad people, not as white, not as black, not as Christian, Muslim or otherwise, we will be doing the right thing.

Full story and the bigoted comments at the TV website:

http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/islamic-center-of-irving-on-stereotypes.html

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In Rome, Durga is not welcome

2009-09-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

To the Director of USCIRF,
communications@uscirf.gov

Evil persists, if we the good people stay silent. The bad incident is like a cancer which grows and swallows up communities and nations, it needs to be stopped. What action can you take? We the people of conscience request you to investigate this matter and bring a resolution to the exclusivism in Italy.

Nearly twelve years ago, a Hindu wedding took place in Lisbon in a catholic church, a simple wedding. The priest was ousted for giving the Hindu couple permission to place the Icon of Ganesha, I strongly protested it and took up with them. I had several intimidating calls from the Catholic members of the dioceses in California telling me shut up and back off, it was unChristian like for them to do it. Of course, that give me more challenge.

What we need to do it not to blame Christianity for the evils of a few fanatic men. We need to Isolate those reckless bigots and blame them for fascist attitudes, we will gain more support to support from the General public. Punish the individual bad guys, take them to court.

Let me know what I can do?

Mike Ghouse
http://www.mikeghouse.net/
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-rome-durga-is-not-welcome.html

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In Rome, Durga is not welcome

SUNDAY PIONEER, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
http://www.dailypioneer.com/205141/In-Rome-Durga-is-not-welcome.html

Kanchan Gupta

What does it mean to celebrate Durga Puja in Rome? It means to be humiliated, harassed and hounded by city officials who happen to be pious Christians. Alright, I could be utterly wrong in presuming they are pious since I have no independent confirmation of their piety or otherwise. But let’s get back to the question with which I began. Late Thursday night I was at the park near my house where the local Bengalis organise Durga Puja every year. It’s a raucous celebration of faith and culture. The food stalls are invariably hugely popular and there I was with my nine-year-old daughter, standing in a queue for kathi rolls. After what seemed like an interminable wait, it was our turn to be served. Just then my BlackBerry beeped. Balancing the piping hot rolls, dripping oil, tomato ketchup, green chilli sauce and lemon juice, in one hand, I tried to read the e-mail on my handset.

No luck. I got shoved around, nearly dropped both rolls and my phone, and decided to let the e-mail wait. Later, away from the crowd, I checked the e-mail and it was a fascinating story. Since the identity of the person who had sent the mail is not really relevant, let me reproduce the text: “The Municipal Police authorities of Rome have today withdrawn permission, granted three weeks ago, to celebrate Durga Puja in Rome. The cancellation came a few hours before the Ambassador of India was scheduled to inaugurate the Puja at 8 pm local time. No acceptable explanation has been given. This has caused the local Indian community the loss of thousands of Euros spent in preparatory arrangements. The same thing was done in the same manner in 2008 also. Please monitor developments.”

Now that’s awful, I told myself, here I am having kathi rolls and there they can’t even celebrate their own festival. On Friday, I called a friend in Rome who provided me with the latest details. Our Ambassador, Mr Arif Shahid Khan, a feisty man who has in the past taken up the issue of Sikhs being forced to take off their turbans at Italian airports, campaigned throughout the day, calling up officials, including the Mayor of Rome, and contacting members of the ‘Friends of India’ group in the Italian Parliament, arguing with them why permission for the Puja should be restored. By evening, the authorities had reversed their order and permission was granted to celebrate Durga Puja, which will now begin on Saturday, Ashtami — a full 48 hours behind schedule. Provided, of course, there is no last minute cancellation, as it happened on Thursday. Mr Khan will inaugurate the Puja, an honour he richly deserves.

The story behind the cancellation needs to be told, if only to point out that Christian countries in the West, whose Governments so blithely criticise the ‘lack’ of ‘religious freedom’ in India, have no compunctions about trampling on Hindu sentiments at home. After last year’s experience, when permission for celebrating Durga Puja in Rome was abruptly withdrawn by officials who cited specious reasons to justify their grossly unfair decision, the organisers, led by Mr Rajesh Sahani, a Sindhi from Kolkata who speaks flawless Bengali, took ample precautions this year. They were given permission to organise the Puja at Parko Centocelle, a public park on Via Cailina, Torpignattara. Three weeks ago, permission was granted for the Puja at the park and necessary formalities were completed.

Early this past week, the Puja organisers were told they could not use the park as a crime had been committed there and the location posed security-related problems. The organisers agreed to change the venue. Another park was selected, permission was given to celebrate Durga Puja there, and the preparations began all over again in right earnest. Then, like a bolt from the blue, at 4 pm on Thursday came the withdrawal of permission by the Municipal Police. The organisers were bluntly told to pack up and leave hours before Durga Puja was scheduled to begin with Akal Bodhon in the evening. Why? No reason was proffered.

Some officials are believed to have told the organisers that the cancellation of permission at the eleventh hour, both last year and this year, was meant to be “retaliatory action against the persecution of Christians in India”. It may be recalled that the President of Italy, Mr Giorgio Napoletano, has been vociferous in demanding that Europe should do more in support of Christians in India and to help them ‘affirm their right to religious freedom’. The Government of Italy has in the past summoned the Ambassador of India to convey to him that it has “deep concern and sensitivity for the ongoing inter-religious violence... that has caused the death of many Christians.” The Pope has been no less harsh in denouncing India.

There could be another reason, apart from its “deep concern” about the welfare of Christians in India, for Italy’s callous disregard of the sentiments of Hindus in that country. Although the Italian Constitution guarantees religious freedom, under the Lateran Treaty with the Vatican, Italy recognises only the three religions of Semitic origin — Christianity, Judaism and Islam. All other religions are no more than paganism and are to be shamed and shunned. The Vatican would not countenance any open breach of the Lateran Treaty; Italy would not want to be seen as recognising Hinduism.

“It’s only natural that Italy should have a surfeit of churches. But it’s the rejection of any other faith than Christianity, Judaism and Islam that explains why there are so many mosques but virtually no temples in Italy although this country has a large Hindu expatriate population,” my friend told me while regretting the attitude of the Government and the local authorities. According to him, there are only three temples in Italy: One in a garage in Venice; another at Frescolo and the third at Reggio Emilia. These survive at the mercy of local zoning officials.

But for Mr Arif Shahid Khan’s pro-active involvement — most Ambassadors tend to stay aloof from community affairs — this year too there would have been no Durga Puja in Rome. Indians in Italy owe him a debt of gratitude. So do Bangladeshis who are equal participants in this annual celebration of dharma’s victory over adharma, of the triumph of good over evil. Cultural and linguistic affinities unite Bengalis, irrespective of whether they are from the west or east of Padma, during this autumnal festival celebrated around the world.

Meanwhile, let’s not get carried away by the West’s bilious and bogus criticism of 'lackof' religious freedom in India and indulge in self-flagellation. Let the West look at its own ugly, septic warts. If Christians can celebrate Christmas in New Delhi, Hindus have the right to celebrate Durga Puja in Rome. This is non-negotiable.

-- Follow the writer on: http://twitter.com/KanchanGupta. Blog on this and other issues at http://kanchangupta.blogspot.com. Write to him at kanchangupta@rocketmail.com

3000 Muslims pray at Capitol Hill

2009-09-26T00:12:00.001-07:00

3000 Muslims pray at Capitol Hill
The following note was posted at Washington Post.

As a Muslim, I am pleased with the demonstration of Unity and solidarity with America; however, I found some of the comments to be gratuitous.

One of the Imams in the video wearing the Arab traditional dress invites people to prayers,( links in the article below) it was indeed beautiful, but when he suggests to "lay your idols down and come to pray" was offensive to those who worship the creator in the form of Icons, which he called Idols. The act of denigrating Idol worship reduces Islam to be a faith based on absence of Idols. He knows Islam's existence is not dependent on vilifying other faiths and the call was un-neccessary, most likely the Imam did not realize that it was inflammatory to others who share the city, state, nation and the world with him.

Thank God, the majority of preachers respect and honor divinity of other faiths as they honor their own. A few, just a few preachers among Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and others simply have no regard, how the statements they make don't create goodwill.

You find bigots in your faith as well, they are right there and you know them. The Christians standing and shouting 'repent' and asking people to convert to Christianity also cheapens the teachings of Jesus. Jesus would not have approved their act; you win people by showing your goodness, if they had served the Muslims with Halal refreshments, water and helping with parking, they would have earned the good will for future harvesting of the souls.

Religion is not about reciting Mantras and doing rituals, ultimately it is about becoming a good human being. When Jesus said follow me, Krishna says surrender to me, Allah says submit to my will, they are are asking one to be a good human being like the good God who loves and cares about every one of his creation.

Some of these unspiritual religious men are brainwashed with the idea of conversion. It is time we do our individual and group renaissance - and evaluate the value of conversion. Are we open to investigate if Jesus or Mohammad really wanted people to become Christians or Muslims politically numberwise or they wanted the world to be a better place with better humans. Which route is easire to achieve and sustainable with least conflcits?

We scream at the extremists that they cannot think, are we?

Mike Ghouse

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At Capitol, a Day of Muslim Prayer and Unity

3,000 Gather to Combat Fear and 'Do the Work of Allah' Amid Christian Protests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/25/AR2009092502183.html

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At Capitol, a Day of Muslim Prayer and Unity

3,000 Gather to Combat Fear and 'Do the Work of Allah' Amid Christian Protests

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 26, 2009

Nearly 3,000 people gathered on the west lawn of the Capitol on Friday for a mass Muslim prayer service that was part religion and part pep rally for the beleaguered U.S. Muslim community.

As faint shouts of "Repent!" from Christian protesters floated across the gathering, dozens of long rows of men in robes and white knit caps and women in head coverings prostrated themselves to God, gave praise and listened to sermons as part of the congregational prayer that occurs about noon Fridays.

"Stop being so scared!" thundered Imam Abdul Malik of New York. "You ain't done nothing wrong. Just do the work of Allah, and believe."

The service comes as the Muslim community has been rocked by verbal attacks from conservative Christians that have grown stronger since the election of President Obama and by the recent arrests in a terrorism investigation involving several Muslim men, including an imam.
"We wanted to bring people out to show you don't need to fear America," said Imam Ali Jaaber of Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth N.J., the service's main organizer. At the same time, he said, he wanted to remind non-Muslims that "we are decent Muslims. We work; we pay taxes. We are Muslims who truly love this country."

Across the street from the service, Christian protesters gathered with banners, crosses and anti-Islamic messages. One group, which stood next to a 10-foot-tall wooden cross and two giant wooden tablets depicting the Ten Commandments, was led by the Rev. Flip Benham of Concord, N.C.

"I would suggest you convert to Christ!" Benham shouted over a megaphone. Islam "forces its dogma down your throat." A few Christian protesters gathered at the rear of the Muslim crowd, holding Bibles and praying.

At one point, organizers asked them to tone it down.

"We would never come to a prayer meeting that you have to make a disturbance," Hamad Chebli, imam of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, said from the lectern. "Please show us some respect. This is a sacred moment. Just as your Sunday is sacred, our Friday is sacred."

The noise from protesters faded somewhat during the final portion of the service, which lasted nearly two hours.

Organizers said this month that they hoped to draw about 50,000 people from mosques across the country for the gathering, billed as a day of unity for the nation's Muslims. But it failed to attract the support of national Islamic organizations and drew only a fraction of that number. Some people were frightened off by the conservative Christian attacks, said Hassen Abdellah, president of Dar-ul-Islam.

Nonetheless, organizers said they were happy with the turnout.

Abdellah had become the focus of criticism in recent days because he was part of the legal team that represented one of the men convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Kia Campbell, a homemaker from Durham, N.C., who came with several members of her family, said they were concerned about their safety.

"It wasn't going to keep us from coming," she said. "But it wasn't that we didn't feel cautious."

Takoma Park engineer Mohammed-Amin AbaBiya said he was happy to be at a "historical" event.

"This shows that America is one, that religion is one," he said, beaming, after the gathering ended and people began to stream off the lawn. "It shows solidarity and brotherhood. In the future, we are going to come more often, I hope."

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Blasphemy laws have got to go

2009-09-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

Blasphemy Laws Today By Rev. Swing

I am please to append the piece written by Dr. Swing below, as a Muslim, I am fully endorsing his opinion.

Rev. William E. Swing is speaking the truth and I agree with him on this one. As Muslims we have to stand up for Islam, he is doing the right thing and is indeed standing up to protect the essence of Islam, to protect the name of Islam.

Prophet Muhammad has set several examples;

This story is narrated by Muslims literally every day to teach about treating others when they are not nice to you. When the Prophet took a walk to go Kaaba, the place of worship in Mecca, a lady invariably threw trash on him right when he passed in front of her house. One day, he did not get the trash thrown on him, he was concerned about her well being, so he goes to see her to find out if she was alright, she was indeed ill, the prophet takes care of her. The real lesson was, this is how one should treat another human with grace. Unfortunately the story is told with a conversion angle - that lady converted because of his grace.

Even if the greedy converters want to convert others, they should do it with grace. Instead of the blasphemy laws, they should be nice to them, then they have a chance to harvest (The un-civil word used by the greedy converters like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson) them to their faith. The blasphemy laws are dumb from that point of view.

Prophet Muhammad was pelted stones by the miscreants on his way to Taif, angel Gabriel and his associates were ready to go thrash the bad boys, But what did the Prophet do? He held the avengers back and instead asked them to pray with him for God to grace them with goodness.

No wonder, Allah assures the followers of Islam to do their work and not worry about the religion, he will protect it. The wisdom was simply to protect the human kind, lest they become aggressive and compel others to do or undo and create havoc like the Blasphemy laws in Pakistan or some other Muslim majority nations do. These laws have to go. It is against the spirit of Islam - there is no compulsion.

We all should work to ban Blasphemy Laws - I have some honey for the greedy harvesters, by banning the blasphemy laws, no one would be tempted to play the game and relative peace prevails. The arrogant people can go harvest poor souls to convert, just as the greedy Christian Missionaries do, serving people should be the goal and not harvesting them.

We have to stand up against these senseless blasphemy laws, they are against the spirit of Islam and go against the peace models Prophet Muhammad taught.

To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; that is indeed the purpose of religion, any religion. Mission statement

Mike Ghouse/ world Muslim Congress.com
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Blasphemy Laws Today
By The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing

President of the United Religions Initiative
Retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California

On March 27, 2001, almost immediately after I had arrived in Lahore, I was taken to the Pakistan Movement Workers' Trust where I was interviewed by a large number of journalists. I was on a three nation (Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan) visit to show solidarity with new United Religions Initiative groups and to enhance our exposure. Interfaith was my mission. But the first and clearly the loaded question from the reporters was, "What do you think of our blasphemy laws?" Clearly they were baiting me to condemn Pakistan's laws which were sometimes ripe excuses for bringing terror and intimidation to people of minority religions. I had hardly been in town an hour and was publicly on the spot.

I said something like this. "There probably is such a thing as blasphemy. When someone mocks the Divine Creator of the Universe. Blasphemy could be felt silently or expressed overtly. It could be with clear intent or it might merely be a clumsy choice of words that seem like blasphemy but are not. Or when someone who desires to bring ultimate harm to another, that someone could lie and claim that the other voiced blasphemy. Whatever blasphemy is, God should be the one to determine the intent and to mete out a just sentence. When human beings begin to take the place of God and pass judgment on intent and mete out death for blasphemy, I think that human beings are in a most presumptuous, dangerous and unwise state."

Later on in that trip I saw first hand the terror and intimidation that comes from blasphemy laws. I was in the kitchen of a Christian family in Lahore, and the parents were sending their little children off to school. The parents warned their children not to kid around or tease or be in any way offensive to Muslim children. Those Muslim children, if aroused to hatred, could claim that they heard a Christian child mock the Quran or the Prophet. On the basis of one male witness or four female witnesses, the blasphemy machinery could be put in motion and culminate in the death of your child.

This becomes a broader threat when blasphemy is understood to be an indignity toward the religion as well as a contemptuous assertion about God. Further, it gets more complicated when a religion is linked with a nation. That ends up with people who say something against the nation or the religion or God being accused of blasphemy. A theocracy of all these invites blasphemy laws.

In Jewish history Mosaic Law tells us that death by stoning was the punishment for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16). In England in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, blasphemy was punished by death. In Scotland it wasn't until 1837 that blasphemy was punishable by fine or imprisonment or both but not by death. Even in the United States some states had blasphemy laws that had prescribed punishments. Pakistan is merely the latest nation to wrestle with this ancient and unreliable concept.

When I think of the central figures in the creation of Pakistan, I think of The Great Leader, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and also Allama Mohammed Iqbal. These were most certainly not religious extremists but moderate, modern innovators. As a matter of fact Jinnah described religious minorities as a "Sacred trust of Pakistan." Originally the blasphemy laws of Pakistan were passed to deal with "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs."

For forty years these broad sensibilities prevailed. But in 1986 a new Blasphemy Law (Amendment Act No. III) was introduced that brought a mandatory sentence of death (section 259C of the Pakistani penal code). If a claim of blasphemy is made, a person is arrested and put in detention. If the charge of defaming the Prophet Mohammed is upheld in the courts, the sentence is mandatory death. If the charge of desecrating the Holy Quran is upheld, the sentence is life imprisonment. If a mob decides that blasphemy had been committed, the sentencing is swift and deadly.

Presently convictions are made possible without proof of deliberate intent on the part of the accused. In this past twenty years almost 650 have been accused of blasphemy in Pakistan even though this law is in contradiction to the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan (Article 6 of the Constitution).

Time has passed. Most blasphemy laws throughout the world have been repealed. They don't accomplish what they set out to do. All civilized societies are figuring that out. Today Muslim Pakistanis immigrate to other countries and are themselves a minority religion and are terribly glad that there are not blasphemy laws in these new counties which could lead to their children's death. We all live together in one great big world. We are all in a religious minority or a religious majority or a grouping that eschews or ignores faith. Yes there probably is such a thing as blasphemy but that is for God to determine. Yes there probably are blasphemies against things sacred in our midst. Nevertheless our main job in all of this, it seems to me is not to spend our time and resources figuring out the blasphemy crimes and punishments but to rise to new levels of mutual respect and willingness to acknowledge differences and create healthier communities.

Having had conversations over the years with Pakistani Supreme Court Justices, legislators, ambassadors and religious leaders I am certain that all of them were as horrified as the rest of the world by the recent burning of Christian people and homes in Gojra. It appears that the perpetrators of this violence did so under the belief that they were carrying out the intent of the Blasphemy Laws of Pakistan.

If such laws could inspire such terror, I am not surprise to find the Government of Pakistan appointing a Commission to review these laws.

I work with people in Pakistan who strive to promote interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to build cultures of peace, justice and healing. These people want religious minorities throughout the world not only to be protected from mob rule but to build new, stronger bonds of understanding between people of majority and minority religions in every country.

Therefore I heartily endorse the intent of the Commission and hope that they day will come when Blasphemy Laws will be repealed or amended and that new paths of interfaith living might be fostered.

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YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW
We have to speak up, if we want goodness to prevail.
If not the extremist would have their say,
then the good people become bystanders.
.

September 2009 Holidays

2009-09-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS

September 2009...
* 8/23 to 9/3: Ganesha Chaturthi.

* 9/1 eve to 9/2 eve: Old Greek festival honoring Athena Polias and Zeus Polios as protectors of city and state.

* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn all manifestations of sexism.

* 9/4 (12:03 p.m. EDT): Full Moon (Harvest Moon).

* 9/5: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that harm to the Earth and sentient beings results from ignorance of interdependence.

* 9/6: Day Latin American Catholic Bishops espoused Liberation Theology (1968). They believe that the Gospel requires Christians to aid the poor and oppressed in the struggle for economic and social justice.

* 9/7: Labor Day--Day to reflect on the sacredness of all work and the value of ethical, meaningful employment.

* 9/8 (OC 9/21): Birthday of Blessed Mary, catalyst of liberation and redemption.

* 9/8: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Izzat - the Almighty.

* 9/8: Animal Day--Day to honor all creatures of the land and to meditate on Deity manifesting as animals - God-Goddess as Ra/Lion & Rait/Lioness (Old Egyptian); Nandi/Bull & Prisni/Cow (Hindu); God as Cernunnos/Stag (Old Celtic) & Mica/Coyote (Lakota); and Goddess as Rhpisunt/Bear Mother (Haida).

* 9/8: Death day of Mother Ann Lee (1784), mystic and founder of the Shakers, who worshipped with ecstatic dance and song, and believed Deity to be Father, Son, Mother, and Daughter.

* 9/9: Christian feast of St. Joachim, father of Blessed Mary and grandfather of Blessed Jesus; guide of grandfathers and elderly men.

* 9/10: Birthday of Thomas Thayer (1812), Universalist who believed Deity to be at work in evolution and continuing Creation.

* 9/11: Day terrorists killed over 3,000 innocent civilians of many ethnicities and religions from 86 nations (2001); day to mourn all victims of terrorism.

* 9/12 eve: Vigil for lost grandparents; night of mourning and healing.

* 9/12 to 9/16: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Armaiti, creator and protector of Earth.

* 9/13: Grandparents' Day--Day to give love and thanks to all grandparents; day for all grandparents to celebrate their age and contemplate their sacred duty to share their wisdom with the young.

* 9/13: Day Israelis and Palestinians committed to peaceful coexistence (1993); vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in the Middle East.

* 9/14: Birthday of Margaret Sanger (1883), non-violent advocate for education, autonomy, and responsibility concerning sexuality, reproduction, and birth control.

* 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister in the U.S. (1853).

* 9/16 eve: Laylat al-Qadr/Night of Power--Commemorates the first revelation of the Qur'an to Muslim Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel in 610 CE. The Qur'an says: Let there be no compulsion in religion.

* 9/17: Christian feast of St. Hildegard von Bingen (d. 1179)--mystic who sang praises to the Holy Spirit as Grace (Caritas) and Wisdom (Sapientia). She recognized the Holy Spirit to be the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity, and found Her everywhere in Nature.

* 9/18 (2:44 p.m. EDT): New Moon.

* 9/18 eve to 9/20 eve: Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year (Year 5770)---Commemorates Creation of the World by Elohim, the one universal Deity; begins ten days of self-examination and penitence for harm done.

* 9/18 to 9/21: Iroquois Squash Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the squash harvest.

* 9/19: Appearance of Our Lady of La Salette, Mother of the Harvest (France 1846).

* 9/19 eve to 9/22 eve: Eid al-Fitr--Muslim festival celebrating the end of Ramadan.

* 9/19 to 9/28: Navaratri/Durga Puja--Hindu festival of Great Goddess Maha Devi as Durga, Protector of the Powerless; celebrates Her destruction of evil and restoration of cosmic order.

* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world.

* 9/22 (5:18 p.m. EDT): Autumn Equinox--Marks the beginning of Autumn and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with feasting and aiding those in need.

* 9/22: Old Slavic Dozhinki--At the end of the grain harvest, God Jarilo/Lado betrays Goddess Morana/Lada, and he returns to the realm of the dead. Moranas anger and sadness causes the world to become dark, cold, and dead.

* 9/22: Day the world's nations committed to protecting the skys ozone layer from harmful chemicals (1988); day to mourn continuing air pollution.

* 9/22 to 9/23: Coya Rayni--Inca festival honoring Moon Goddess Quilla; focus is on purging sickness and evil.

* 9/23: Taoist festival honoring the Shen of Winds, West, and Autumn; thanksgiving is made for the harvest. Taoists live simply, respect life, and recognize the equality of all.

* 9/23: Aki-no-Higan--Day Japanese Buddhists mark the time of change by meditating on the impermanence of life.

* 9/23: Beginning of Libra (the Scales of Lady Justice).

* 9/24: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Obatala, Orisha of Peace and Justice.

* 9/25 (A 11/5): Old Egyptian festival of Neter Amen-Ra-Atem, the Great God, and Neteret Amenet-Rait-Mut, the Great Goddess.

* 9/25: Indigenous Peoples' Day--Day for celebrating the life-affirming spiritual traditions of indigenous peoples world-wide.

* 9/26 to 10/3: Navapad Oli‑‑Jain period of fasting, recitation of holy scripture, and meditation on the principles of right knowledge, right faith, right conduct, and right penance.

* 9/27: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Mashiyyat - Divine Will.

* 9/27 eve to 9/28 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement--Jewish day of fasting, prayer, reconciliation, making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need.

* 9/28: Birthday of Confucius (K'ung Fu-Tzu) (551 BCE). He taught that societal harmony could be realized when individuals acted with loving care for family, concern for friends and neighbors, benevolence to strangers, and respect for all.

* 9/29: Feast of Michael, Angel of Protection, and Uriel, Angel of Justice.

* 9/30: Christian feast of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Soul of the Universe, and source of faith, hope, and love.

* 9/30: Birthday of Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207), Sufi saint and poet. He believed the soul to be one with Deity, and thought ecstatic experience of Deity could be attained with music, whirling dance, and chanting Deitys holy names.

* 9/30: Birthday of Elhanan Winchester (1751), Universalist who exhorted people to lives of personal ethics and social reform.

* 9/30 eve to 10/1 eve: Demokratia--Old Greek festival celebrating democracy, constitutional government, and justice under law. Zeus Agoraios, Athena Agoraias, and Themis were honored.

The Spirit of Rosh Hashanah

2009-09-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Shalom,

Wish you all the best on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.
Leshana tova tikateiv v'techateim." and
"Leshana tova tikateivi veti"

Mike Ghouse
http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Rosh Hashanah
Joy and Judgement
Jacqueline O' Sullivan explains the annual celebration.

The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) takes place in the month of Tishri (September and October on the Gregorian calendar) and commemorates the anniversary of Creation. It is on this day that G-d opens the Book of Life and observes his creatures, deciding their fate for the coming year.

It is a time of restricted rejoicing because, even though it celebrates HaShem's kingship, the celebrations are muted in acknowledgement of the great judgment taking place.

As is customary in Jewish festivals, observance begins on nightfall the day before Rosh Hashanah. Celebrants prepare by bathing, receiving haircuts, donning special clothes and giving treats to children.

Certain types of work are forbidden, though there are some exceptions. Food preparation and the carrying, transferring or increasing of the fire is all permitted. Women of the household light commemorative candles before sunset of the first night and a half-hour before sunset on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, reciting blessings over them.

Though G-d opens the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah the judgment is not final. The book is 'sealed' on Yom Kippur, ten days later. The time between these two festivals is known as Shabbat Shuva (The Shabbat of Returning). This is a period for self-reflection in which to justify your existence to G-d. Rosh Hashanah is the only Jewish celebration that lasts for two days, signifying the importance of this date in the calendar.

Prayers play an important part in the proceedings. Intense and lengthy devotions on Rosh Hashanah vary from those normally uttered on Sabbath with even the familiar prayers containing subtle differences. Following the evening prayer people will wish each other a Good New Year. There are also specific greetings for each sex. A man is wished, "Leshana tova tikateiv v'techateim." A woman is bid, "Leshana tova tikateivi vetichatemi." . The Yiddish equivalent is a "gut yoar."

Following lunch on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the ritual of the Casting is performed. Crumbs of bread are tossed into water after the Torah verse, "And you will cast all their sins into the depth of the sea." The hems of the worshippers' garments are shaken alluding to the fact that sins are being cast away.

One of the essential elements of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is made from an animal's horn, preferably a ram. The cow's horn is not acceptable, nor is any animal horn that's a solid piece.

The horn is blown 100 times every day of Rosh Hashanah upon the command of HaShem with different meanings attached to the varying sounds. The Tekiah is one long 'blast' with a clear tone. The Skevarium is a 'broken' sighing sound of three short calls. The Teruah is the 'alarm' of a rapid series of nine or more quick short notes.

The command to blow the shofar comes from the Torah, but no explanation is attached. Rabbis have provided different reasons. It acts as a reminder for the soul to enter into repentance. It is also a warning to the Jewish people not to fall into temptation. It calls to mind the blasts blown by Moses when he ascended from Mount Sinai for the second time, after pleading with G-d for mercy for the Jews who had worshipped at the alter of a false God.

The shofar blower recites two blessings - the community must listen to the blessings and respond 'Amen' to both. It is forbidden to speak once the first blast is sounded until the last one is blown.

The Jewish New Year takes place around September/October, and is considered one of the most important and serious holidays (or High Holy Days) in the Jewish calendar. As well as being a time for celebration it is also a time for reflection and repentance for sins committed in the previous year. In synagogue, people pray to God to forgive them for their wrongdoings and to give them a good year - during the service a Shofar, or ram's horn, is blown, to alert congregants to the seriousness of the festival and the fact that God is deciding their fates for the coming year - which will be sealed on the Day Of Atonement ten days later. This period is known as The Ten Days Of Repentance and is traditionally a solemn time.

However, Rosh Hashanah is also a time for celebration - other traditions include eating apples dipped in honey in the hope that this will lead to a sweet year.

Mike Ghouse
http://www.mikeghouse.net/
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Spirt of Navaratri

2009-09-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Spirit of Navaratri

Among the popular festivals celebrated in India, Navaratri is among the longest.

Like the other festivals of India, Navaratri is rich in meaning. At one level, Navaratri signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant.During this spiritual journey, the aspirant has to pass three stages personified by Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Then, he or she enters into the realm of the infinite, wherein one realises one's Self. Navaratri, which literally means 'nine nights,' dedicates three days each to worshipping the Divine in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The tenth day, though, is the most important; it is known as Vijayadashami, the 'tenth day of victory.'

The reason behind the worshipping of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati lies rooted in the philosophy that the attributeless absolute can only be known through the world of attributesâ€”the journey is from the known to the unknown. Hence it is said that Shiva, who symbolizes pure consciousness, can only be known through Shakti, who represents divine energy. That is why people worship Shakti, also known as Devi, in Her various manifestations.

Inner Meaning of Navaratri Worship

The different stages of spiritual progress are reflected in the sequence of celebrations during Navaratri. During the first three days, Durga is worshipped. She personifies that aspect of shakti which destroys our negative tendencies. The process of trying to control our senses is akin to a war for the mind which resists all attempts at control. So the stories in the Puranas symbolically depict Devi in the form of Durga as waging war and destroying the asuras.

However, getting temporary relief from the clutches of vasanas does not guarantee permanent liberation from them. The seeds of the vasanas will remain within in latent form. Therefore, we should supplant them with positive qualities. The Bhagavad Gita refers to these qualities as daivi-sampat, literally "Divine wealth." Correspondingly, we worship Lakshmi during the next three days. Lakshmi is not just the giver of gross wealth or prosperity; She is the Mother who gives according to the needs of Her children. Only one endowed with daivi-sampat is fit to receive the knowledge of the Supreme. Accordingly, the last three days of Navaratri are dedicated to worshipping Saraswati, the embodiment of Knowledge. She is depicted as wearing a pure-white sari, which symbolises the illumination of the Supreme Truth.

The tenth day is Vijaya Dashami, or the festival of victory, symbolising the moment when Truth dawns within. Significance of Navaratri for Householders However, Navaratri is not only significant for spiritual aspirants; it has a message for those who lead a worldly life as well. They should invoke Durga's help to surmount obstacles, pray to Lakshmi to bestow peace and prosperity, and contemplate upon Saraswati in order to gain knowledge. These three ingredients are just as necessary for a full and complete worldly life. In reality, when we pray like this, we are but invoking the Shakti that is within ourselves.

Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are not different entities, but different facets of the singular Divinity. Some of the spiritual practices associated with Navaratri include fruit and milk fasts, japa (mantra chanting), chanting of hymns dedicated to Devi in Her different forms, prayer, meditation and recitation of sacred texts including the Devi Mahatmya, Sri Lalita Sahasranama and the Durga Saptashati.

Navaratri, Dussehra and the Ramayana Navaratri highlights the principles elucidated by the Ramayana. This is hinted at in the other name by which Vijaya Dashami is known in India, Dussehra. "Dussehra" is derived from "Dasha-hara," which means "victory over the ten-faced one." This ten-faced being ("Dashamukha") is none other than Ravana, Lord Rama's adversary. His ten heads symbolise the ten senses (five of perception and five of action). Ravana's manifest extrovertedness stands in contrast to Dasharatha, Lord Rama's father, whose name can be taken to mean "one who has controlled his ten senses." That he is father to a Divine Incarnation suggests that only when one is able to subdue all ten senses can one realise the divinity within.

In similar allegorical fashion, Sita, Rama's consort, represents the mind. As long as the mind remains wedded to the Self within, so long will bliss ensue. That is why Rama and Sita are depicted as enjoying a harmonious and satisfying relationship, both amidst palatial comforts and the privations of the forest. As soon as the mind withdraws from the Self and turns outwards to worldly objects, bliss ceases, and sorrow follows.

In the Ramayana, Sita becomes distracted by a golden deer, actually an asura (demon) in disguise, and starts coveting it. Rama counsels her on its true nature, but Sita remains deaf to his words of wisdom, and insists that he captures it for her. Rama orders Lakshmana to remain with Sita and protect her from danger, while He pursues the deer. As soon as Rama hunts it down, the magical deer treacherously calls out, in Rama's voice, to Lakshmana and Sita for help. Hearing this, Sita is convinced that Rama's life is in danger and tells Lakshmana to hurry to Rama's rescue. Lakshmana, who represents tapas (austerity), recognises that the situation is a trap and tries to advise Sita accordingly. Sita arrogantly rebuffs his explanations and orders him to leave at once. Seeing no other way out, Lakshmana leaves in search of his brother. Before leaving, he draws a line on the ground and warns Sita not to cross the line.

This line, the Lakshman rekha, marks the limits of morally permissible behaviour. Because Sita trespasses into forbidden territory, she has to suffer the consequences: she is taken captive by Ravana. Only after this ten-headed egoist gets destroyed, only after the ten senses are controlled, is Sita reunited with Rama. The story of the Ramayana is relevant to us as well. If we wish to progress spiritually, we have to first make efforts to control the negative tendencies. Only then can we cultivate the positive ones. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna enumerates the signs of a Jnani (one who has realised the Self), not because an ordinary person can recognise such signs, but so that we may cultivate those qualities. Likewise, Amma says that we should read stories about Lord Rama so that we may become Rama Himself, that is, imbibe His noble qualities.

Navaratri

A deeper meaning of the festival Navaratri suggests the spiritual growth of a person, where one needs courage to stand up for others and protect the weaker and be able to fight the evil and their temptations. This is the first requirement of spiritual growth - to take a firm against the evil and for the good. The second requirement is to fulfill one's needs, treat the guests and help the poor. For this one needs money and the next three days of Navratri are dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi so that she would bless us with the necessary money to be put to good use. Learning virtues and good qualities and upholding one's responsibility as a sacred duty is the next requirement to the spiritual growth. Finally, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped so that she blesses us with power of knowledge and helps us to attain spiritual enlightenment.

The 9 nights festival of Navratri begins on the first day of Ashwin of the bright fortnight. The festival comes to an end on the tenth day of Vjay Dashmi or Dussehra, when the idols of the Goddess Shakti are immersed in the river. Dussehra, is thus, considered auspicious for beginning mantra incantation and renouncing the world as 'Sanyasi'. However, Navaratri has a message for people who lead worldly life too. It teaches us to surmount obstacles with the help of Durga, thank and pray to Lakshmi for her blessings and gain knowledge with the blessings of Saraswati. This done, we can find Shakti (power) within ourselves. We must also understand that Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are different facets of a single entity, thus, representing that Mother Goddess bestow us with wealth, prosperity and knowledge and protect us too.

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
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