London

These pictures and report in part show scenes from my professional activity and responsibilities. But they also touch upon time in which I was able to enjoy the beauty of London

The first three pictures in this slide show are from an orientation session with religious leaders as we prepared for the Ceremony for merging sacred waters, a part of the festival on the following day.

The next picture is with Julius Alexy with whom I collaborate for youth education in Europe. After that comes a picture of a steeple shot out of a bus en route to the convention center.

Three pictures are of a swan in the rivulet that flows beside London's Excel Center. Two pictures are with Maya and her mom (with whom I had the pleasure to meet and stay with throughout the festival).

The four most important pictures are from the sacred waters ceremony, and the final 4 are the young people celebrating during the music at the GPF.



For any interested, here is a video of the entire sacred waters ceremony, narrated by Mr. David Hannah:

Report on the IRFWP/NWE reception at the annual conference of the American Academy of Religion

The Inter Religious Federation and the New World Encyclopedia offered a top drawer, scholarly panel on a controversial, interesting, and relevant subject. We picked what we believed to be an ideal topic to address the challenges faced by religion scholars with a mission to teach at university and graduate school levels.

It was our hope that this presentation, could help those present recognize the unique value and importance of NWE. Such matters as the hotly debated interface between religion and science found in the article on Intelligent Design contain in microcosm questions facing religious scholarship today.

David Burgess, the editor for both literature and political science, drew from his expertise in each area to contextualize the special challenge presented when publishing articles on controversial subject matter such as Intelligent Design. He spoke of similar controversies in university literature departments, and spoke of the serious implications of the ID debate for contemporary society and culture. His job was to set the stage for the editor of this particular article, namely Rick Swarts, NWE editor for Life Sciences.

Rick Swarts followed with a second, commanding presentation, explaining his approach to the article and showing how the NWE version differs from that which appears in Wikipedia. Additionally, Dr. Swarts expanded through this particular subject to show how NWE life science articles communicate universal, ideal values along with just what many such values are.

The panel was followed by a pleasant and lively, wine and cheese reception.

New World Encyclopedia and Inter Religious Federaton - Meeting in Chicago

For 20 years the IRFWP has offered an evening of stimulating and relevant intellectual reflection on the eve of the annual conference of the American Academy of Religion (AAR). Our panels are vigorous and engaging, set in a warm collegial atmosphere, and our reception provides the chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones If you are in Chicago this year, please come. We would love to see you! Sincerely Frank Kaufmann Inter Religious Federation for World Peace New World Encyclopedia About Us The Inter Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) is a 25 year old initiative for world peace through interreligious dialogue and harmony. IRFWP has representatives in 192 countries and a database with thousands of active partners, religionists in the academy, clergy, and grass roots leadership. The New World Encyclopedia (NWE) is designed to organize human knowledge so the reader will learn information not just for its own sake, but for its value to the reader and the world as a whole. It is designed to provide the context and values of our social and organizational relationships, and our relationship with nature and the environment. The underlying goal of the encyclopedia is to promote knowledge that leads to human happiness, well-being, world peace. It is a useful tool for everyone, and an ideal resource for student research.

Busy times at the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace

Times remain extremely busy at the offices of the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace

Dialogue and Alliance continues as an award winning publication, with new editions and new articles.

The website stays active as a source of education and dialogue.

And international, spiritual and scholarly leaders steadily visit for deliberations, planning, and personal and professional conversation:
















Prophet Peter Anamoh of the Machaira of the Pneuma Foundation, Accra, Ghana






























Ralph Singh, Guru Gobind Sadan, India and USA


























Professor Eilleen Barker, Sociology, London School of Economics






























Mahaswamiji Shivamurthy Shivacharya, Sri Taralabalu Jagadguru Brihanmatha monastery, Karnataka, India

Karmapa in America '08

On Saturday, May 17, 2008 I was greatly blessed to attend together with my family the discourse of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Here is the report on this day, that appears on the website of His Holiness:

Today, American Buddhism saw yet another historic occasion revealed, as His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, gave his first ever public dharma teaching on American soil. Speaking from the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom, at which he gave one morning and one afternoon talk, His Holiness provided a lively, humorous, and down-to-earth description of “Awakening the Heart of Enlightenment,” discussing topics such as developing a stable practice even while leading a busy lifestyle, realizing the inseparability of oneself and others, and working gently and playfully with our own minds.

His Holiness’s second talk was preceded by a musical tribute from the American rock ‘n’ roll legend Lou Reed, who began his brief set with an acoustic rendition of his hit, “Perfect Day.” For the thousands of members of the sold-out audience at the Hammerstein who received the historic nectar of His Holiness’s first U.S. teachings, the day was perfect, indeed.

In the evening, His Holiness was the guest of honor at a dinner offered by the local Tibetan Association, which was led in hosting His Holiness by Kalon Tashi Wangdi, Representative to the Americas of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Afterward, at Hunter College in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, His Holiness kindly bestowed the empowerment of the deity Hayagriva upon an assembly of the local Tibetan community.

To understand a bit more about the different schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and learn, for example what is the relationship of this young man to the better known His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, please read this brief and helpful exposition.

Congress of Religions, Charleston, SC

The conference in Charleston went well. I spoke on conflict resolution, Tim Pye spoke on a business plan for the support of interfaith activity, and W.D. Mohammad also spoke on the relationship between upliftment through business in conjunction with spiritual devotion. W.D. Mohammad also spoke on the Qu'ran's guidance on the ideal of interfaith harmony and cooperation.

Here are a couple of pictures from the event:

A number of people requested my slide show. So I post it here. (It can be downloaded from the Scribd site):

Read this doc on Scribd: Charleston Congres of Religions

Conflict Resolution - Speaking engagement at College of Charleston Religious Studies

This weekend I will be on a program together with long time colleague, W. Dean Mohammad, in Charleston, South Carolina.

I will write up my experience after my return.