Category: Friends

Friends Event: Love and War in the Bhagavad Gita

Friends Event: Love and War in the Bhagavad Gita

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Friends Event: Love and War in the Bhagavad Gita

Leicester Friends Event
Wednesday, 4 April 2018 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF

A talk by Anuradha Dooney of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Prince Arjuna stands on the battlefield facing family, friends and revered elders in conflict. The conch has sounded and a war of epic proportion has begun.  Yet the Bhagavad Gita is renowned for its teachings on bhakti or devotion to God. Does the Bhagavad Gita then advocate war? How can we reconcile Krishna’s teachings on love with such a scene of violence? How can love be Krishna’s teaching when He instructs Arjuna to fight? This class explores the apparent irreconcilable teachings on love and war on the battlefield of kuruksetra and beyond.

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Leicester
lf@ochs.org.uk
Friends Event: Paths to Liberation in the Bhagavad-gita

Friends Event: Paths to Liberation in the Bhagavad-gita

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Friends Event: Paths to Liberation in the Bhagavad-gita

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 3 March 2018 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF

A talk by Dr Nick Sutton of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

In this talk we will explore the view that the Bhagavad-gita advocates a number of different paths to liberation from rebirth, including karma-yoga, raja-yoga, jnana-yoga, bhakti-yoga, and dhyana-yoga. We will then focus primarily on knowledge and devotion, looking at how the Gita explains these two paths and how it tends to draw them together. The question will be raised as to whether Krishna has a preference for one path over the others or whether he regards them simply as different roads leading to the same goal.

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Leicester
Friends Event: Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

Friends Event: Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

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Friends Event: Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 3 February 2018 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF

A talk by Dr Ramesh Pattni of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Is mind matter? Is it other than matter? Never mind, doesn’t matter! In this talk we engage your mind and explore the concept of mind in Hindu systems of philosophy, in particular Yoga and Advaita Vedanta which have different conceptions of mind, how it is constituted and how it works. Find out about the sophisticated models of the mind which existed long before modern psychology came into being. Listen about the various states of the mind, different levels of the mind and the functioning of the individual in the world depends on the mind. Learn how the scriptures talk about the mind, particularly the Bhagavad Gita, and how it is the key element in meditation and all the pathways to liberation. 

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Birmingham
Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

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Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

Birmingham Friends Event
Saturday, 27 January 2018 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Hall Green Quakers
Hamlet Road
Birmingham B28 9BG

A talk by Dr Ramesh Pattni of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Is mind matter? Is it other than matter? Never mind, doesn’t matter! In this talk we engage your mind and explore the concept of mind in Hindu systems of philosophy, in particular Yoga and Advaita Vedanta which have different conceptions of mind, how it is constituted and how it works. Find out about the sophisticated models of the mind which existed long before modern psychology came into being. Listen about the various states of the mind, different levels of the mind and the functioning of the individual in the world depends on the mind. Learn how the scriptures talk about the mind, particularly the Bhagavad Gita, and how it is the key element in meditation and all the pathways to liberation. 

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Birmingham
Friends event: Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha – the idea of the Guru in Hinduism

Friends event: Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha – the idea of the Guru in Hinduism

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Friends event: Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha - the idea of the Guru in Hinduism

Birmingham Friends Event
Saturday, 18 November 2017 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Hall Green Quakers
Hamlet Road
Birmingham B28 9BG

A talk by Tushar Shah of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Hinduism pays great reverence to gurus as spiritual instructors, guardians, role-models, counsellors, mediators, and even embodiments of the divine. In this talk, we will explore how the notion of the guru has developed throughout history. Then, by looking at various case studies, we will discuss what role modern gurus play today in the development of Hinduism as well in people’s lives.

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Birmingham
Friends event: Reading the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament

Friends event: Reading the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament

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Friends event: Reading the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 4 November 2017 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Jalaram Community Centre (Opp. Jalaram Mandir)
85 Narborough Road,  Leicester LE3 0LF

A talk by Tom Wilson of the St Philip’s Centre and Dr Rembert Lutjeharms of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies 

Devotional reading is an important part of how many Hindus and Christians live out their faith on a day-to-day basis. But what can we learn from reading each other’s sacred texts? In this interactive and engaging session, Shaunaka Rishi Das of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Tom Wilson from the St Philip’s Centre will read texts from the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament together, and discuss what they’re learning. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion as we invite the audience to engage in this process of scripture reading together.

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Leicester
LFOCHSTalk4thNov2017.pdf
 
 
 
Friends event: Exploring Diwali

Friends event: Exploring Diwali

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Friends event: Exploring Diwali

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 7 October 2017 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF

A talk by Shaunaka Rishi Das and Dr Nick Sutton of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

As we prepare for the celebration of Diwali, sending messages, planning meals, buying jewellery, hoping for jewellery – and all the arrangements that have to be made for friends and family – it will be equally good to prepare our thoughts. What is Diwali about? What are the stories of Diwali, from Gujarat, to Chennai? And why is it such a popular festival, even among non-Hindus? This evening we will prepare our minds for Diwali. Bring your story and bring a friend.

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Leicester
lf@ochs.org.uk
Friends event: What’s the point of Mantras?

Friends event: What’s the point of Mantras?

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Friends event: What’s the point of Mantras?

Birmingham Friends Event
Saturday, 20 May 2017 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm

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

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Birmingham
Friends event: What’s the point of Mantras?

Friends event: What’s the point of Mantras?

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Friends event: What’s the point of Mantras?

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 6 May 2017 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

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

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Birmingham
Friends event: Doing the right thing as a Hindu

Friends event: Doing the right thing as a Hindu

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Friends event: Doing the right thing as a Hindu

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 4 February 2017 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

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.

Organiser: 
Friends of the OCHS – Leicester
lf@ochs.org.uk