Dharmapeople RE: October 2015

In this post, Thomas Coleman discusses the conference the International Association for the Psychology of Religion (IAPR) 2015 World Congress (17th-20th August 2015). Coleman takes us on a tour of the conference, through panels of interest to him on topics of atheism, disbelief and nonreligious mystical, or transcendent, experience.

Thursday 15 October 2015

Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief

NEW PUBLICATION

Peter Edge and Lucy Vickers, Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief (EHRC Research Report no. 97, 2015)

This EHRC report draws on a detailed analysis of primary and secondary sources of British law, wider research and policy literature, and four workshops of experts to explore the legal framework on religion or belief. It covers definitional issues, the legal protection for religion or belief, the balancing of rights, a duty of reasonable accommodation and the public sector equality duty. Key findings included that:

· The current domestic law in this area is comparatively recent and addresses complex issues in a context where there is considerable difference of opinion as to how the law should be framed and applied. Given this, the law is generally clear and consistent.

· The review indicates the definition of belief, particularly in equality legislation, merits further assessment. The broad definition currently being applied by the courts is unclear, which results in apparent inconsistencies between judgments, particularly at Employment Tribunal level.

· The impact on domestic law of some specific issues which have been tested at European level remains unclear.

· The primary focus of the case law to date has been on the relationship of the religious employee and their employer. However, the position of the religious employer and the religious service provider remains relatively unexplored.

· The role of the public sector equality duty in integrating religion or belief equality into the day to day practice of public sector organisations remains largely untested.

· The extent to which a duty to accommodate religion or belief (as practised in Canada or the USA) might be beneficial to employees and employers remains uncertain and different views are held about its perceived advantages and disadvantages.

The report is available at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/research-report-97-review-equality-and-human-rights-law-relating-religion-or-belief

-- 
Namo Amida Bu

Acharya Modgala Louise Duguid

Friday 9 October 2015

e.Bayda: The three things we fear most

The Three Things we Fear Most

http://www.zencentersandiego.org/files/articles/tricycle2009spring_fear.pdf

Thursday 8 October 2015

Financial Support for construction of Shanti Niketan Bouddha Vihara at Tuichawng Village, Mizoram

Subject : An earnest prayer for Financial Support for construction of Shanti
Niketan Bouddha Vihara at Tuichawng Village, Lunglei District,
Mizoram, India.

Sir/Venerable,

In inviting the subject cited above, I, on behalf of the Buddhist Community of Tuichawng beg to state that, Shanti Niketan Bouddha Vihara was established in the year 1968 by a local Managing Committee with a very temporary structure.
The village Tuichawng is located in south west corner of Mizoram India near Indo-Bangladesh Border. Most of the villagers are CHAKMA in tribe and BUDDHIST by religion.
About 480 families live at Tuichawng and surrounding villages.
The total population is around 3500 who live on shifting cultivation.
Due to unavailability of fertile land in the locality, they can not produce enough crops for their livelihood. So, they live a miserable life just hand to mouth. Being poor, our people can not contribute fund to develop the Buddhist monastery.
During last twenty five years, it was anyhow constructed with sown timber structure with GCI sheet roofing in 1996. Now it has become very old. The villagers are trying to re-build it with concrete structure.
An small amount has already been gathered which is not enough. It has become very difficult to gather more fund.
Therefore, I on behalf of the helpless Buddhist Community of this village would like to request your generous end to have a look into the matter sympathically to provide us financial support for the construction of Shanti Niketan Bouddha Vihara of this village.

For which the act of your kindness, I shall remain ever grateful.

With a lot of Metta and regards,
Encl: Estimated Budget of the Building.
Dated Tuichawng, Yours in Dhamma,
(SUDIP CHAKMA)

https://www.facebook.com/dsdipckmu?fref=ufi

BARDO Teaching by Sey Namkha Dorje Guru in Aldershot

Dear Members & Dharma Friends.

for your kind information the above teaching BARDO (transition/time/gap between death and rebirth) will be conducted by Sey Namkha Dorje Guru.

Date: Saturdays 10 and 17 October 2015

Time: 0900 to 1700 hours both days.

Venue: Gumba, Aldershot.

Lunch will be provided but donation will also be accepted. any one wants to sponsor/ donate food/water then you are more than welcome, If you want to do so then please contact Gumba.

Please contact Gumba at 01252338765 to register your name for food estimation purpose.

The important thing is the whole teaching is divided in six headings. You are to attend for all or in another words you have to commit for both days. There will be no point or less point attending only one day.

Maximum number of attendance is expected because this is a very important teaching by a very highly qualified Teacher. You better not to miss.

Please bring in your neighbours, friends and family members.

Yours sincerely,

AS BAHADUR GURUNG

General Secretary