Major Peace Initiative
Dalai Lama meets with Muslim & Sufi leaders
April 2006
The Dalai Lama meeting with Muslim leaders, in San Francisco
(Photo courtesy of USA Today)
The Dalai Lama proclaimed himself a ''defender of Muslim
teachings'' in a groundbreaking international peace conference
that was held in San Francisco on Saturday April 15, 2006.
The event was covered by major media from the New York Times
to major television networks.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, initially met with about
sixty Muslim leaders and scholars, most of whom were Sufis.
Kabir Helminski head of the Mevlevi order in the USA reported
on the event saying, “A tremendous amount of goodwill
and love was generated during this event. It was historically
significant that Muslims and Buddhists were coming together
with open arms on both sides, and, as a matter of fact, the
Dalai Lama, during one of the meetings took a special interest
in our brother Ahmed Tijani, taking him by the shoulders,
looking into his eyes, and saying, ‘You have to help
me come to Africa!’”.
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The Dalai Lama and Sheikh Ahmed Tijani
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This was followed by a larger event attended
by about 500 representatives from approximately 30 countries
from the world's major religions. There has rarely been such
a gathering of eminent spiritual leaders involving so many
Muslims. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Dalai
Lama said “Muslims, like any of the major traditions,
have the same message, the same practice. That is a practice
of compassion." The Dalai Lama urged the leaders of all
faiths to stand together on their common ground to defend
Islam and promote the ideal of respecting the faiths of individuals
while embracing religious diversity in communities. All of
this took place on the weekend of the birthday of the Prophet
(pbuh), Easter and Passover.
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Sufi Meditation Series
on ABC Radio
April-May 2006
The Australian Centre for Sufism and Irfanic
Studies was pleased that ABC Radio National ran a six part
Sufi Meditation series by our Founder and Director
Fleur Nassery Bonnin.
The program aired for six weeks commencing Sunday 23 April
2006 on the "Sunday Nights with John Cleary" program.
Along with the meditation, each program had an introduction
and explanation where Fleur talked about various aspects of
Sufism, spirituality and the inner path.
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