INTER-FAITH FORUM IN RUTLAND PROVES A SUCCESS

It's been quite a few years since I last picked up a copy of the Rutland Times. I lived in Oakham for 16 years (1987-2003) and during those years the Rutland Times and I were on very good terms. I used to write regular small pieces about the sizeable and active Bahá'í community we had there at that time, as well as about the business of the Bahá'í Publishing Trust, where I worked then. I also wrote obituaries for the paper of John and Vera Long (who pioneered for the Bahá'í Faith in 1963, when they moved from Leicester to establish a new Bahá'í community there) when they both passed away in 1992. The Rutland Times also used to have occasional pieces about my Creative Writing classes and it once ran a profile piece about me. I don't have a copy of that any more; it would probably be embarrassing to read now. Those were more innocent times, in many ways.

Arriving at Launde Abbey today for the Christians Aware Christmas lunch, I find a copy of this week's edition of Rutland Times (edition published Saturday 8 December 2012) in the bar. Flicking through it, I'm glad to read the following short but pleasing article:

Inter-faith forum proves a success

A church welcomed people of several religions for an inter-faith forum.

Christians, Sikhs and Muslims joined together at St Andrew’s Church in Lyddington at the invitation of the Rev Jane Baxter.

Faith representatives included the newly-elected police and crime commissioner for Leicester and Rutland, Sir Clive Loader, and Judge Saleem Ahmed. 

Penny Escombe from Northamptonshire gave the opening address on spirituality in public life, followed by a talk from Chioneso Kulwant Kaur.

Former High Sheriff of Leicestershire, Resham Sandhu, said: “We are very fond of Rutland, and I hope we can repeat this successful event in Wing next year.”

Coincidentally, Resham's wife Surinder is here for the Christmas lunch, so I'm glad to be able to show the article to her.

Considering how much effort and resources we threw into Rutland promoting inter faith activities during the years I lived there (never mind the by the Bahá'ís who were there before and after that time) I am glad to see that the flame is being kept alive. I also joined in a Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer in Rutland, that was run by a small group of women from All Saints Parish Church in Oakham, that had an inter faith dimension. We once used extracts from Bahá'u'lláh's Hidden Words as the text for a session of contemplative prayer. I don't think that is still going, but it was a joy while it lasted.

Photo of St Andrew's Church, copyright Julian Dowse and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

mindfulness (7)

Seventh (penultimate) session in the course on "Mindfulness" offered by Christians Aware at Christchurch, Clarendon Park Road.

Having led the group since the first session, Ian Grayling hands over to his colleague from the city's Serence Reflection Meditation Group, Kevin Commons, who's been here, if in a back seat, since the first. Kevin presents us with a plan for the evening. This evening's topic is "Beyond Thoughts and Feelings" and it turns out to be the most overtly Buddhist of all the sessions so far.

We begin with a short period of guided meditation, in which we are able to relax physically and reflect mentally on the themes of the first six sessions. Then, in small groups, we're asked to discuss the question "What is the purpose of religion - or faith?" As usual, we come up with a variety of answers, which reflect both the positive and the negative:

"It gives a sense of belonging"

"It gives a narrative that you can be part of"

"It provides a sense of mutual obligation"

"It provides a framework for human searching and longing"

"It offers transcendence above the self"

"It can offer hope for something beyond this life"

"It can provide membership of a worshipping community"

"It can offer the chance to become sanctified"

"It can help to integrate and interpret"

"It makes us think"

"It helps one understand oneself"

"It can stunt and distort"

"It can provide social control"

"It provides a source of authority"

"It can provide one with the means of 'individuating'"

"It can lead to the loss of ego as one's dominant function"

"It offers the opportunity to grow in holiness"

"It can engender feelings of satisfaction - or dissatisfaction"

"It can transform the experience of suffering"

"It can give feelings of guilt"

"It can lead to loss of a sens of self-worth"

"It can be a source of power greater than oneself"

"It is a pull from eternity"

Kevin leads us through a quarter of an hour or so, where he explains how the practice of mindfulness can be mapped on to Buddhism. Clearly, Buddhism is a very diverse way of thinking and being, so he has to be pretty general in doing this. However, it's definitely useful and interesting. He then takes on the (even more) difficult task of organising us to look at how to map mindfulness and meditation on to our own belief system and practices. Considering that the group this evening is made up of eight Christians (of various denomination), four Buddhists, two Hindus, one Baha'i, one Humanist and one Unitarian, a few of the groups are a bit pik'n'mix. But once again, it's a useful and interesting exercise, which allows us to share with each other and learn from each other.

In our discussion, I recall that for a few years when I lived in Oakham, I was involved in a monthly meeting of the Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer, which I found very beneficial.

Find out more about the Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer:
http://www.contemplative-prayer.org.uk/