Religious and Spiritual Leaders Series

9th July 2009
43 Lancaster Gate

Presented with a Photo of the Sikh Leader His Divine Holiness Satguru Jagjit Singh

Ambassador for Peace Award - Prof. Tara Singh Anjan

Imam Mahmadou Bocoum

Held under the auspices of the Interfaith Committee as a monthly event, the first meeting went well last night.  There was a guided meditation and discussion led by Dr. Amarjeet-singh Bhamra. This was a good opportunity to find peace of mind after our busy working day. This was followed by a talk on the life and significance of Mansur al-Hallaj, the Sufi thinker who was executed for his controversial statements in 922 in Baghdad. Both sections developed into a profound discussion about the experience of divinity. The inner experience of great religious and spiritual leaders has led them to pioneer movements of revival that have profoundly influenced civilisations even if they were inconvenient or unpopular at the time.

The ecstatic intoxication of Mansur al-Hallaj spurred him to witness to others about his experience which shocked the religious and political leadership of the time.  The inner experience of meditation based some of the oldest known religious scriptures has enabled the exploration of the relationship of mind, body and soul that have challenged our concepts of human limitations.

The next event will be on August 13th from 6:30 pm. There will be a guided meditation and a discussion. Please put this in your diaries and let us know if you are going to attend.  (Click here for more photos of  July 9th’s event.)

Presenting Sant Tehal Singh with an Ambassador for Peace Award

‘The Search for Spirituality’ Book Launch by Prof. Ursula King

June 11th 2009

‘Spirituality is becoming popular. Even sociologists have become spiritual!’ said Professor Ursula King while discussing her latest book, ‘The Search for Spirituality: Our Global Quest for Meaning and Fulfillment’. She referred to a  cultural vision of spiritual oneness beyond diversity of race, nationality and religion that is evolving within the human species. It is an evolution that was not discussed by Darwin but it is happening nevertheless. Gustav Jung referred to a coming together of the interconnectedness of humanity.

Prof. Ursula King

Mr Jay Lakhani

Imam Mahmadou Bocoum

Prof. King defined spirituality in terms of the web of life, through the relationship to oneself, to others, to the environment and the Divine Spirit, Creator or God. The growing edge of spirituality, she explained, was not under our control and therefore is full of mystery as we pass through the stages of our life. We need to educate children about spirituality because we need to know how to allow our spirit to flourish throughout the ‘dance of life’.

Interfaith dialogue can enable a person to discover the spirituality within another faith. This can help us to develop both spiritual literacy and the awareness that we have great resources within us.

Mr. Jay Lakhani, the Education Director of the Hindu Council UK, suggested that there is close link between science and spirituality becoming visible at the growing-edge of science. Quantum Physics for example is clearly suggesting that the underpinning to this creation is not matter but something that is guaranteed not to be matter. What is it?  Hinduism has been claiming that the underpinning to this universe and ourselves is essentially the Spirit. First it manifests as matter then it becomes more visible as living things and clearest vision of spirit is Men and Women. This is called Spiritual Humanism.

Imam Mahmadou Bocoum who is a lecturer at the Muslim College, Ealing and a Prison Chaplain, referred to Chapter 1 and 4 as areas of the book that he really appreciated. He emphasised an inspiring figure in history for him was Mansur Al-Hallaj who was executed for proclaiming that he had seen the Lord. He thought that such a figure would have been inspired by this book. He explained the spirituality of submission with reference to the Quran and Mansur Al-Hallaj. Concluding that ‘to know God is to know ourself and the only way to know yourself is to know others.’

The evening progressed well with a number of other contributions including that of Mohammed Ali, CEO of the Islam Channel and Dr Satwant Multani, Chair of Central Scotland Interfaith, who was visiting from Scotland. Prof. King summarised the evening saying, ‘I really wished Prof. Ninian Smart could still have been with us – he would have much enjoyed the evening and the company. I hope it will inspire some people to be more spiritual….’

For more photos click here. Follow the link for more about the UPF Interfaith Committee.