Category: Chaplaincy

Next Gita Study Group on 29th April

Next Gita Study Group on 29th April

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Gita Study Group

Verses to honour Pope Francis

As we approach a new term, and as Spring is being seen a felt around us, I am reminded that Krishna says that he is the flower baring spring. This makes the joy of seeing a bluebell’s bud open, or noticing the scent of Verbena a meditation on the Supreme. Each wonderful thing being a spark of his splendour. Lovely thoughts.

However, the verses I thought we could begin the term considering are from the second chapter of the Gita. I choose them in honour and celebration of the life of the late Pope Francis. He was a sincere and humble man of God, and I think we can see his dedication to a spiritual life reflected in how he restrained and retrained himself, as these verses suggest for us all. They also graphically illustrate how easily we fall short of our ideals, further illustrating the committent of Pope Francis.

Chapter 2, verses 59-63

Verse 59
Though the embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.

Verse 60
The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavouring to control them.

Verse 61
One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.

Verse 62
While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

Verse 63
From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.

Our next Bhagavad-gita Study Group meets on Tuesday, 29th of April, 5-6pm. We will host hybrid sessions, both in person, at the OCHS, 13-15 Magdalen Street, OX1 3AE, and also online at:

Email secretary@ochs.org.uk to get on the Gita Study Group mailing list and receive a Zoom link.

I look forward to seeing you.

Warm regards,
Shaunaka

 

Gita Readings with Shaunaka Rishi Das

Gita Readings with Shaunaka Rishi Das

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Gita Study Group

In relation to Oxford’s Hindu Chaplaincy, the OCHS has weekly Bhagavad Gita study sessions during the term for students. During these sessions, the study group discuss the Gita’s importance on the basis of a chaplaincy and/or life practice point of view.
 
The Bhagavad Gita appears as the sixth book of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata – just prior to the eighteen-day battle of Kurukshetra. The hopes of the Pandava faction rest largely on the martial prowess of Arjuna. But, at the start of the Gita, we find Arjuna unwilling to wage war against his own family members. At this point, Krishna begins to offer instructions to Arjuna. Initially, Krishna aims to persuade Arjuna that waging war is not necessarily wrong. However, the text goes far beyond this initial aim. It develops into a full exposition of belief and practice that has had an immeasurable influence on Hindu thought and practice.
 
If you wish to join the study group please contact secretary@ochs.org.uk

Read more about our Hindu Chaplaincy here!

Gita Study Group (Hindu Chaplaincy)

Gita Study Group (Hindu Chaplaincy)

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Gita Study Group (Hindu Chaplainc)

Dates:

30 June 16.00 pm – 17.00 pm

7 July  16.00 pm – 17.00 pm

14 July 16.00 pm – 17.00 pm

21 July 16.00 pm – 17.00 pm

28 July 16.00 pm – 17.00 pm

Due to the unusual circumstances created by Covid 19, and to student demand, we are extending our Tuesday Gita sessions. They are discussion and informal explorations of the gita and all are invited to attend.

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUocequpzMqGtMQ8UlYfjpQ4wTrTJmR9rCb/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGpqz0pHN2dsBmARpwcGY_ob-7xmFxfjbdwrUfQDxlVaBPHYvV2IIZVHeqJ

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81563698007?pwd=dUI1OTBUL1dTQXpZeHBZQVZkN01sdz09

Meeting ID: 815 6369 8007
Password: 645306

HUM alumni dinner

HUM alumni dinner

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HUM alumni dinner

Friday, 21 August 2015

On 24 September, Oxford’s Hindu Society, HUM, will be holding an alumni dinner in support of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

HUM has always enjoyed close ties with the OCHS and this evening will bring together old friends for a three-course meal at the Regency Hotel, London, kindly provided by OCHS Benefactor, Mr Harish I.K. Patel.

The dinner will also be the launch of the HUM Alumni Community, allowing students to keep in touch with each other, the Centre, and Oxford.

The guest speaker for the evening will be Ramesh Venkataraman, a Senior Managing Director at Samena Capital, who will talk about why he became a member of the OCHS Board of Governors. Mr Venkataraman has also been a partner at McKinsey and Company, was a National Talent Scholar at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) and holds an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford and an MPA in Economics and Public Policy from Princeton University.

The event is open to all HUM alumni.

Tickets can be purchased by following this link.

Event details:
6.30pm, Thursday 24 September
The Regency Hotel, 100 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5AG