Source: news.bbc.co. Climate change, indigenous rights and the west's relationship with Islam are the subjects of one of the world's largest inter-faith events, the Parliament of the World's Religions, which runs until 9 December in Australia. Source: www.theage.com.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, December 4, 2009:
It is expected to attract up 8,000 people of 80 countries from a broad range of faiths: most key leaders of the world's religions are attending. Buddhist monks from Vietnam, rabbis from Israel and revered Hindu philosophers are converging on Melbourne for the festival.It is convened every five years and has a simple, symbolic premise - to bring together different people to talk about their beliefs and share ideas.
Environmental sustainability, the eradication of poverty and self-determination for indigenous groups will be discussed over the next six days.
There will be a special focus too on Islam. The director of the conference Dirk Ficca, a Presbyterian minister from the United States, says it is important that the voices of moderate Muslims are heard.
Organizers have said that the closing address will be delivered by the Dalai Lama, who is on a visit to Australia and New Zealand. Speaking in Sydney, the Nobel Peace Prize winner had a message for world leaders ahead of climate change talks next week in Copenhagen - he urged them to make the issue of global warming their "number one" priority.
[HPI note: Hindus have a strong presence on the Parliament, including the Convocation of Hindu Spiritual Leaders on December 8th, featuring only Hindu speakers. All participants of the Parliament are welcome to attend.]
Delegates had their week-long meeting blessed by Zoroastrians, Jains, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Baha'is, Aborigines, Shintos and in song.
Jain dancer Divya Jain and Muslim sitar player Kahlil Gurdaz were particularly appreciated. A Sikh blessing involving ceremonial daggers and iron discipline was the most dramatic.
The world's religions were there in force, with more than 200 registered for the parliament. There were white robes, brilliant golds, blues and scarlets, vibrant African patterns, the black hats and earlocks of Orthodox rabbis and the purple of Anglican and Catholic bishops.
Parliament chairman William Lesher said the world faced daunting problems, but the solution was spiritual. He spoke of a tidal wave of compassion sweeping the world. "We are becoming an inter-religious community. Martin Luther King jr and others envisaged a gathering like this, where people gather to build a new, just, peaceful, sustainable world," Dr Lesher said.
David Saperstein, nominated by Newsweek this year as America's most influential rabbi, spoke passionately of living in extraordinary times. "We are the first generation that grows enough food to feed every human on earth. Our failure to do so is a failure of moral vision and political will," Rabbi Saperstein said.
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