27 November Interfaith Soc planning meeting

At the interfaith society meeting the topic was the forthcoming Abraham's Table (renamed "The Banquet") on tuesday 4 December from 5 pm onwards. John, Yoji, Kevin, James and others discussed availability of speakers from various faiths (on topic of sexual identity and faith). Oxana has already agreed on Buddhist speaker Enrique, most other faith societies have also been represented. We still dont have a pagan speaker, Kevin's trying to organise one. The Xenophobia quiz has been prepared too. Publicity efforts for the event were also discussed.

NHSF Bhagavad Gita Class

Namaste,

Fascinated by the very base of Hinduism? Do you want to know more about the culture which has brought us many amazing features of everyday life, which we all use without a second thought? This week Dinabandhu Dasji, a Hare Krishna monk for many years presents an immense introductory course on the Bhagavad Gita, a course that is sure to leave you walking away speechless. Come and see for yourself what the fuss is all about.

Dates: Monday 26th Nov -Friday 30th Nov

26th - 29th November
Venue: Geoffrey Manton Building
Manchester Metropolitan University
Room 307

30th November
Venue: Sandra Bursulem Building
Manchester Metropolitan University
Room G.08

Time: 6pm - 8pm everyday
Cost: FREE!

There will be a free vegetarian meal after every workshop so make sure you take up this opportunity for a wealth of food and knowledge. If you are interested in attending the course, please email us at manchester@nhsf.org.uk with the subject title 'Bhagavad Gita Courses'.

Check out our website for details - www.manchester.nhsf.org.uk!

Pranaam,

NHSF Manchester.
www.manchester.nhsf.org.uk

Buddhist society activities

Dear members,

1. Meditation Class will take place as usual tomorrow, Monday, 19 November, at 6 pm, at Schunck room, on the first floor of Burlington Rooms. Burlington Rooms are above the Vegetarian Cafe, on your right hand side if you stand facing John Ryland's Library (the main Library of the University), in Burlington Street.

As usual, you are encouraged to report to Chris, our meditation teacher, after we practice as a group.

Tea and biscuits will be provided as usual.

2. Engaged Buddhism

Tree Responsibility is an organisation who have a grant to plant lots of trees on the edge of the Peak district between Lancashire and Yorkshire. The plot where we're planting is in the Upper Calder valleys near to Walsden village. For the planting you get ten minutes going over how to plant the trees (we have over 2000) and then it takes about 10 more minutes to get the hang of it. You can sweat a bit but its quite easy and some kids will be doing it. A great motivation is that there are trees
planted from 6 years ago and they're all 8 foot tall now. Its also free, though a 2 pound donation will get you lunch, and you might want some wellies if its raining a lot. We'll be leaving on the 9.09am train from Manchester Victoria Station Sunday morning and it's 34 minutes away.

Contact Info Phone: 07910847281
Email: admormech@yahoo.co.uk

Facebook event:
http://manchester.facebook.com/event.php?eid=7098618487

Thank you,
Yours truly,
Oxana (Olga Owl on facebook)

Buddhist Society website: http://www.umsu.manchester.ac.uk/mubs
Group on facebook: Manchester University Buddhist Society
http://manchester.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47337627 88

SCM meeting: on Poverty

Poverty in Manchester

This week Paul Wenham, manager of the mustard tree charity for homeless
people in Manchester, is leading a workshop on poverty in Manchester.

Come along to find out more about the problems around poverty in Manchester, and to find out how you can help.

Thursday, 7.30pm, St. Peter's House Chaplaincy (opposite blackwell's bookshop). Come along at 6.30pm for a free meal.

God bless,

David

Sikhi Week - Manchester's Biggest Ever!!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

This year things just keep getting bigger and bigger, first the Langar event in which over 1000 people were fed, and now an Akhand Paath for Sikhi Week in which potentially even more will be fed.

For those of you who don't know what an Akhand Paath is, take a look at http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Akhand_Paath

As you can imagine, given the scale of an Akhand Paath, there will be a great deal of seva involved. This is a great opportunity for you to get involved . There are many different things to be done, from cooking (skilled labour) to serving to cleaning. Of course if you haven't got much time then at least come down for the 'eating' (highly skilled labour). Saturday will be a particularly busy day, and therefore there will be lots to be done. Just ask one of the committee members and they will tell you what needs doing.

There will be a talk at the Gurdwara on Thursday Evening, which will cover a diverse range of issues related to equality, for example gender equality, race equality, social equality and, as the title suggests, caste equality. The speaker for this talk will be Harwinder Singh of the highly acclaimed Sikh Education Council UK. His talks in the past have been very well received and we anticipate the same for this one also. We have set the time of the talk nice and early, so those who may have certain thursday night engagements should be back in time. A talk not to be missed!

There will of course be Kirtan on all 3 days, in the evening on thursday and friday, and in the morning/afternoon on saturday. There will be opportunities for you to do Kirtan on friday evening and saturday morning. When you arrive just tell one of the committee members and they will organise that for you.

We will be taking students from Piccadilly Gardens on all 3 days. For those coming at different times of the day, or those who wish to make their own way there, directions to Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Gurdwara are enclosed.

The program is as follows:

Thursday 22nd November

7am - Arambh of Akhand Paath

5:30pm - Meet at Piccadilly Gardens to be taken to Gurdwara

6:30pm - Talk entitled 'Caste it out of Sikhi'

Friday 23rd November

Continuation of Akhand Paath all day

5:30pm - Meet at Piccadilly Gardens to be taken to Gurdwara

Saturday 24th November

7am - Bhog of Akhand Paath

Followed by Kirtan, Nishan Sahib Sewa and Langar (This will go on into the afternoon)

11am - Meet at Piccadilly Gardens to be taken to Gurdwara

12pm - Charity Car Wash in Aid of 'ASR Charitable Trust' ( http://www.asrcharitabletrust.com )

If you are getting late when coming to Piccadilly Gardens, just give us a ring on 07930 120 580 (Daaneshwar) or 07969 108 929 (Sarvinder) and we may be able to accomodate you.

We hope to see you there all 3 days (the food will be different everyday)!!

Manchester Universities Sikh Society

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

--

"Maans Ki Jath Sabhai Ekai Pahihchanbo"

Recognise the whole Human Race as one

- Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaaj (Akaal Ustat)

Bahai tranquility zone

In today's interfaith society meeting, Simon organised a bahai tranquility zone with the help of 3 other friends. There were only about 6 or 7 people. A very beautiful shrine of candles etc was prepared, everyone sat around it and read out scriptures of different faiths, or simply relaxed in the spiritual atmosphere.

Interfaith Soc: next Tuesday

Simon is conducting Tranquility Zone session of Baha'i faith next Tuesday, 5.30.

We are also planing to visit a prayer event (Hope 2008 in Greater Manchester) held at Manchester Cathedral at 7.30.

Here is the the link to the event.

http://www.bigdeal.org.uk/Group/Group.aspx?id=44547

Cheers.