Hall Green Quakers
Hamlet Road
Birmingham B28 9BG
A talk by Anuradha Dooney of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
What are mantras? Who are they for? How and why are they used? Do they work? and why should we care? This talk draws on Hindu sacred text and practice to explore the ancient art of harnessing the mind
Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester
A talk by Anuradha Dooney of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
What are mantras? Who are they for? How and why are they used? Do they work? and why should we care? This talk draws on Hindu sacred text and practice to explore the ancient art of harnessing the mind
Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF
Grace in Vaishnavism
A talk by Dr Brainerd Prince of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
Does God give grace freely without any qualification? Or are good living and good works needed to receive God’s grace? The Vaishnava understanding of grace that focuses on the role of guru may give some clues. For Vaishnavas, while the grace of God is freely given through the guru, the disciple still has an important role to play in receiving the grace. This is an example of how Hindu thought can contribute to a debate that also exists in Christian theology and offer insights to find a way forward.
The OCHS Continuing Education Department is offering a day-school, Three Short Upanishads, in London on 25 March. Tutored by Dr Jessica Frazier, Dr Rembert Lutjeharms, and Anuradha Dooney, it aims to to be intensive yet accessible.
This day school is a study of three of the shortest of the major Upanishads: the Kena, the Ishavasya and the Mandukya. Despite the brevity of these works, they are fundamental to the doctrines of Hindu Dharma and are foundational works for Hindu religious teachings.
Because these Upanishads are so short we can undertake a close study in a relatively short time, with reference to the commentary of Shankaracharya and others.
The day-school takes place from 10am to 6pm at The Rembrandt Hotel, 11 Thurloe Place, Knightsbridge.
For enrolments and more information, click here or email lal@ochs.org.uk.
Applications are invited for the role of Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
The position of Academic Director is one of leadership, coordination, communication, development, and nurture.
Salary: £67,000 to £74,000
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Permanent
Applications Close: 7th May 2017
Applications are invited for the role of Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
The Academic Director will oversee research programmes at the Centre, as well as engaging in their own research, teaching, and publication. He or she will oversee education, including teaching and supervisory provision for the Faculties of the University that require it, and in relation to the Centre’s programme of lectures and events.
The Academic Director position will also oversee OCHS publications, including the Hindu Studies book series with Routledge, the Journal of Hindu Studies with Oxford Journals, and other material. The Academic Director also works with the OCHS Continuing Education Department.
The position entails helping to develop relationships with the University, other institutions and scholars, and the Centre’s outreach projects. The Academic Director will participate in the life of the Centre helping to share and maintain the ethos and aims of the centre.
Application is invited from scholars in the fields of Hindu Studies, as well as Religious Studies, Indology, and related disciplines. The successful person will be a senior scholar with wide experience of research in the field of Hindu Studies, a substantial profile of publications, and thorough knowledge of one or more classical or contemporary languages of India.
To apply, please provide a covering letter or statement explaining how you meet the above criteria, a full CV (including a publication list), and the name, institution, and contact details of 3 referees.
The closing day for applications is 12.00 midday on Sunday 7th May 2017.
Contact Person: Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director
Contact Phone : 01865-304303
Contact Email : shaunaka@ochs.org.uk
Meeting House of the Society of Friends
1 Hamlet Road Hall Green
Birmingham B28 9BG
Grace in Vaishnavism
A talk by Dr Brainerd Prince of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
Does God give grace freely without any qualification? Or are good living and good works needed to receive God’s grace? The Vaishnava understanding of grace that focuses on the role of guru may give some clues. For Vaishnavas, while the grace of God is freely given through the guru, the disciple still has an important role to play in receiving the grace. This is an example of how Hindu thought can contribute to a debate that also exists in Christian theology and offer insights to find a way forward.
Start at Jalaram Mandir, Narborough Rd, Leicester, LE3 0LF
The Friends of the OCHS annual pilgrimage to the main temples of Leicester.
Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF
Imam Ibrahim Mogra and Shaunaka Rishi Das both served as Commissioners on the Commission for Faith and Belief in British Public Life (2013-2015), established by the Woolf Institute, Cambridge. In this moderated session Imam Mogra and Shri Rishi Das will reflect on how their traditions have been represented in the Commission’s report and on approaches to areas covered in the report, such as; the common good, education; the law; and integration. Moderated by Tom Wilson, Director of St Philips Centre in Leicester.
Belgrave Community Centre,
Leicester
A talk by Prof. Werner Menski
The challenge to figure out what is the right thing to do in any particular life situation is a universal problem. Hindus have addressed this over time in various ways that can be focused, also today, on the key concept of dharma. The presentation identifies the many different aspects of dharma and provides practical examples of how to handle this decision-making process in a balanced manner. This balance, ideally, should take account of individual needs, social expectations, legal requirements, and also today’s new concerns about human rights and international law.
Jalaram Community Centre (opp Jalaram Mandir)
85 Narborough Rd,
Leicester LE3 0LF
A talk by Ramesh Pattni of the Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies
The mystic poet Meerabai is a celebrated saint of North India and a devotee of Krishna. Her poetic style and expression has a unique combination of profound wisdom and deep devotion, with elements of passion, longing, defiance, anticipation and ecstasy of union. In this talk we examine the Bhakti movement, its origins and growth, its unique philosophy and principles, taking some textual references as the basis of this exploration. Within this context and understanding, we consider Meerabai’s singular story, her path to devotion, and consider some of her devotional poetry.