The Jewish Festival of Shavuot or The Feast of Weeks is being celebrated on May 19

Shavuot / שבועות

The festival of Shavuot (or Shavuos, in Ashkenazi usage; Shabhuʿoth in Classical and Mizrahi Hebrew Hebrew: שבועות, lit. "Weeks") is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text. The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer.

Shavuot begins at sundown on Saturday, 19 May 2018.  On the Jewish calendar it is the 6th of Sivan 5778.  Shavuot ends in the evening of Monday, 21 May 2018.  

Fire at ancient Tibetan temple in old Lhasa

From The Sydney Morning Herald  FEBRUARY 18 2018 - 10:51PM

·      

Kirsty Needham

Kirsty Needham is China Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age

The most important Tibetan pilgrimage site, the Jokhang Temple in old Lhasa, was ablaze on Saturday night but few details have been released by the Chinese government about the extent of the damage. The 7th Century Tibetan building, which sprawls over 2.5 hectares, is protected by law and is listed for its "outstanding universal value" by the United Nations cultural protection agency, UNESCO.

London-based Tibetan expert Robert Barnett told Fairfax Media: "The Jokhang is widely regarded as the most sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism, with thousands of pilgrims travelling across the plateau for centuries to reach there and still doing so today, when allowed to."

The Dharma Wheel on the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

"It was the earliest Buddhist temple to be built in Tibet and is seen by many Tibetans as the symbolic heart of the country and of its cultural heritage."

A UNESCO report in 2016 stated the temple was in a good state of conservation but noted fire was a "high disaster risk" and prevention measures were in place.

After multiple videos of the large fire in Lhasa's old town, in which Tibetans can be heard gasping and crying, spread on social media on Saturday night, Chinese state media confirmed there had been "a partial fire in the Jokhang Temple. The fire was quickly extinguished and no casualties reported".

Read more here

Sacred Pilgrimage and Devotional Meditation Retreat with Babaji Baldev Singh at Bulandpuri (Spiritual Light House), Pubjab India

Sacred Pilgrimage and Devotional Meditation Retreat with Babaji Baldev Singh

Bulandpuri (Spiritual Light House), Punjab, India. 

March 29 through April 14, 2016

Free

Babaji Baldev Singh welcomes anyone who comes with a true and sincere desire to merge with the Divine, manifest his/her destiny and flower into our true potential to celebrate Life and serve Creation. The most magnificent sweet, loving divine presence flows abundantly here to melt our hearts and tenderly touch each of our cells to blossom into truth and manifest their Destiny.

Come share with us this precious opportunity to visit the Spiritual Light House, Bulandpuri in Punjab, India and sit in meditation and receive teachings from Babaji Baldev Singh who will guide us back to our truth and help us attune ourselves to the Divine so that we may serve others. 

Babaji Baldev Singh is the present embodiedment of a long line of Saints going back to the original teachings of Guru Nanak. 

He speaks perfect English, since he lived and studied in Canada in his youth. His humility and selfless service are truly immaculate. He spends all his time in service to countless people in many countries who come to him for help, healing and above all, a safe, loving, sweet path to merge with G-D and fulfill their life's purpose.

You may see videos of his teachings in English here

You may visit him at Bulandpuri Spiritual-Light-House, an ashram-like complex with Temple, school, comfortable and safe lodging facilities, kitchen, etc, in the Punjab, India.

Babaji speaks perfect English. Bulandpuri has all the conveniences to make your stay comfortable, clean and safe. Miguel Kavlin & Carmen Castañeda will be there to host and accompany and take care of you and will also translate into Spanish.

There will be visits to the Golden Temple, Anandpur Sahib and other sacred sites of the Sikh Gurus and Saints. You may also extend and visit, on your own, other sites in North India, Rajastan, Taj Mahal, etc.

Contact via email: 

miguelkavlin@gmail.com

Pilgrimage: 25 years of the Christus Rex Pilgrimage from #Ballarat to #Bendigo

Apologies from the Editor of Beside The Creek. 

 I have never heard of this practice until to-day.

You can read more about it below.

The material comes from here.

The Christus Rex Pilgrimage is a 3 day walk from Ballarat to Bendigo,covering over 90 kilometres. This route takes us from one great cathedral – St. Patricks, Ballarat – to another splendid cathedral – Sacred Heart, Bendigo. Over the 3 days we walk through the picturesque and serene countryside and forests of Victoria, through the towns of Creswick, Smeaton, Newstead and Lockwood. Along the route we engage in prayers and song – rosaries, litanies, hymns and medieval pilgrim songs that unite all in fellowship. Daily Mass in the extraordinary form (1962) is celebrated every day in local churches, except on the Saturday where Solemn Mass is celebrated in the woodlands of Campbelltown at a woodlands site; sacred polyphony and Gregorian chant are a part of each Mass. There are many opportunities for confession and spiritual guidance from the priests who join us on the pilgrimage.

T

The passing years have seen the pilgrimage attract Catholics from all over Australia of all ages, bringing them together to walk the route in honour of Christ the King and showing forth the communal body of the Catholic Church. The pilgrimage numbers have increased every year and have reached 450 in the past.

Christus Rex Society Inc. 

is run by a committee of members 

who organise the Pilgrimage every year,

from different regions around Australia.

Faith Communities Council of Victoria - FCCV - October 2015 : Events and News

	Latest News & Upcoming Events October 2015
		Upcoming Events Compassion Forum: Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia Women's Committee 4th October 12:15pm Read More JCMA Friendship Walk: Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia 11th October 2:00pm Read More Victorian Buddhist Centres Bus Tours: Buddhist Council of Victoria 12th October 9:20am Read More Tour to Places of Worship: Dandenong Interfaith Network 14th October 8:30am Read More DVD and Website Launch Event: Casey Multi-Faith Network 14th October 7:00pm Read More Let's Hurry to Love: Boroondara Interfaith Network 18th October 2:00pm Read More Food, Faith and Fasting: Cardinia Interfaith Network 18th October 3:00pm Read More Bridges and Walls: The Australian Council of Christians and Jews 25th October 6:00pm Read More Victorian Buddhist Centres Bus Tours: Buddhist Council of Victoria 26th October 9:20am Read More Discovery Bus Tour: Manningham Interfaith Network 8th November 12:30pm Read More Interfaith Conference on Tantra: MELA Interfaith Association 14th November 8:30am Read More Non-Violent Interfaith Leadership Program 14th November 9:30am Read More 2015 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference: Faith Communities Council of Victoria 22nd November 12:00pm Read More People’s Climate March: Australian Religious Response to Climate Change 27th November 5:30pm Read More   Religious Dates & Holidays Confucius Birthday (Confucianism) 9th October Read More Navaratri (Hinduism) 13th October Read More Islamic New Year (Islam) 14th October Read More Conferment of Guruship to Guru Granth Sahib (Sikhism) 20th October Read More All Hallow’s Eve (Christianity) 31st October Read More All Saints Day (Christianity) 1st November Read More All Souls Day (Christianity) 2nd November Read More Diwali - Festival of Lights (Hinduism) 11th November Read More Birth of the Bab (Baha'i) 13th November Read More Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i) 14th November Read More Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom (Sikhism) 24th November Read More Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikhism) 25th November Read More Day of the Covenant (Baha'i) 26th November Read More Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Baha'i) 28th November Read More Advent (Christianity) 29th November Read More ​Latest news 2015 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference - Registration now open  Registration is now open for the 2015 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference to be held at Kingston City Hall (City of Kingston) on Sunday, 22 November 2015. To register for this free event go to vinc.eventbrite.com.au. Please note, places are limited so register early. Read More Statement on Syrian and Iraqi Humanitarian Crisis: Faith Communities Council of Victoria  The Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV) has issued the following statement in response to the Syrian and Iraqi Humanitarian Crisis: Read More Promoting Equality and Respect: An Interfaith Collaboration on Preventing Family Violence - The City of Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network  On Wednesday 30 September 2015, in partnership with the City of Greater Dandenong, the Interfaith Network held a public launch of a faith-based resource to prevent family violence in the community. Read More International Day of Peace Celebration 2015: Geelong Interfaith Network  On Friday 18 September 2015, the Geelong Interfaith community shared with the City of Greater Geelong prayers for peace and harmony for individuals, each world nation and all life on earth in celebration of International Day of Peace. Read More Wake Up for Peace: Brahma Kumaris Australia  On Monday morning, 21 September 2015, over 300 people from the Melbourne community woke up for peace and proactively supported the UN International Day of Peace, along with millions around the world through a significant meditation event held at the heart of the city in Deakin Edge, Federation Square between 7.45am and 8.30am. Read More Understanding Creates Acceptance - A Pledge for World Peace: COMMON  On Monday 21 September 2015, COMMON (Centre of Melbourne Multifaith & Others Network) supported by WIN (Womens Interfaith Network) Foundation and Youth For Human Rights gathered at the Church of Scientology, Melbourne to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Over 150 attendees from various religious, faith and human rights groups attended the event. The theme for this year’s International Day of Peace was ‘Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for all.’ Read More International Peace Day & Ganesh Visarjan Festival: Manningham Interfaith Network  On Sunday 20 September, the Manningham Interfaith Network celebrated the International Peace Day & Ganesh Visarjan Festival at Ruffey Park Lake in the City of Manningham. Read More Lost in Translation: The Federation of Indian origin Multi-Faith Organisation  On Saturday 5 September 2015, the “Lost In Translation” Interfaith Issues Forum was held by the Federation of Indian Origin Multi-Faith Organisation Inc (FIMO) at Walker St Gallery (Theatre) in Dandenong. This forum was an opportunity to contextualize some of the issues that community leaders, service providers, law enforcement bodies and the community at large face with regards to religious beliefs. Read More On the theme of Domestic Violence: Yarra Interfaith Network  On Wednesday 16 September 2105, Yarra Interfaith Network, supported by the City of Yarra, held an event  to raise awareness of and reflect on Domestic Violence in our society today at Richmond Town Hall . The event was well attended by many from the local community and interfaith connections from across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Read More Interfaith September Get-Together: Casey Multi-Faith Network  On Thursday 3 September, the Casey Multi-Faith Network held a special meeting which incorporated the theme of Interfaith September, an initiative of the Uniting Church in Australia. Read More Interfaith Pilgrimage to India: MELA Interfaith Association  The MELA Interfaith Association is organizing an Interfaith Pilgrimage to India and is seeking expressions of interest from people wishing to participate in this joint journey. The pilgrimage will take place from Saturday 6 February to Friday 19 February 2016, and will consist of a maximum group of fifteen people. Read More Sikh Holy Day (20th October): Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji  The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is truely unique among the world's great scriptures. It is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and Head of the Sikh religion, rather than any living person. It is also the only scripture of it's kind which not only contains the works of it's own religious founders but also writings of people from other faiths. Read More Articles Local: Thousands rally in Melbourne for Syrian refugees as Prime Minister Tony Abbott vows to do more Herald Sun, 8 September 2015 Proposed Plan to force religious clergy to join national faith register Herald Sun, 30 September 2015 Bendigo councillors leave meeting under police escort after anti-mosque protest erupts ABC, 17 September 2015 Rise Up Australia Party deputy and Casey Cr Rosalie Crestani sits down with Greens MP Nina Springle, Islamic Council of Victoria to discuss cultural tensions Leader (South East), 22 September 2015 Faith leaders push for peace in the home Leader (South East), 30 September 2015 World Peace March timely reminder in turbulent times Geelong Times, 18 September 2015 Music for harmony Indian Link, 4 September 2015 Vicious attack at Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Association centre in Langwarrin Herald Sun, 10 September 2015 Blessing the State of Victoria J Wire 9 September 2015 National: Inaugural Youth Parliament of World Religions J Wire, 19 September 2015 Catholic anti-marriage equality booklet condemned as 'immeasurably harmful' The Guardian, 28 September 2015 Scott Morrison says Christians will be focus of Australia's refugee intake The Guardian, 10 September 2015 United in Prayer for Peace Insights, 23 September 2015 NSW: Legacy of Abraham shared in One God Symposium Religions for Peace Australia, 28 September 2015 Focus on individual efforts at International Day of Peace event Australian Baha’is, 23 September 2015 No direct link between halal certification and Islamic terrorism, Senate inquiry told ABC, 24 September 2015 Darwin Sikh Becomes Australian of the Day for Feeding the Poor Singh Station, 1 September 2015 International: France pays inter-faith tribute to World War I Indian heroes Hindustan Times, 3 September 2015 Putin Opens New Mosque in Moscow Amid Lingering Intolerance The New York Times, 23 September 2015 Yom Kippur, Holiest Day Of Jewish Year, Begins CBS, 22 September 2015 Palestinian Woman Is First to Oversee Muslim Wedding Vows The New York Times, 22 September 2015 Pope Francis Assembles a Squad to Fight Religious Extremism The Atlantic, 25 September 2015 Articles of Interest: Bendigo: A city split over a multicultural future The Age, 6 September 2015 Who are Syria's minority groups? SBS, 11 September 2015 Whose Religion? Which Secularism? Australia Has a Serious Religious Literacy Problem ABC, 23 September 2015 Back To School at the First Public School In The Country To Require A World Religions Course Religion Dispatches, 9 September 2015 Yom Kippur, Eid al-Adha: Common Faith, Common Fate Huffington Post, 21 September 2015 Stanford scholar casts new light on Hindu-Muslim relations Stanford Report, 9 September 2015 Lunch with Dave Andrews: Jihad for Jesus Sydney Morning Herald, 21 August 2015 Couple shares traditional Sikh wedding to educate, promote connection The Fresno Bee, 3 September 2015 Celebrating and Deepening the New Christian-Jewish Relationship Jewish-Christian Relations, 1 September 2015 Multimedia: Pictorial: Eid Al-Adha 2015 In Pictures: How Muslims Celebrated The Holiday Around The World International Business Times, 25 September 2015 Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations for Hindu elephant god's birthday ABC, 27 September 2015 Audio: Touching the Sacred ABC Radio, 13 September 2015 Finding peace between Christianity and Islam ABC Radio, 3 September 2015 What Western journalists could learn from Buddhism ABC Radio, 3 September 2015 Video: Victoria’s Governor Linda Dessau welcomed by her shule J Wire, 8 September 2015 Eid al-Adha in 60 seconds The Telegraph, 24 September 2015   Resources Promoting Equality and Respect: Interfaith Collaboration on Preventing Family Violence City of Greater Dandenong Signposts – Policy and practice for teaching about religions and non-religious world views in intercultural education Council of Europe
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