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Intentions Matter | Erik Larson
“You don’t attract what you want. You attract what you are.” Wayne Dyer
Intentions are thought to be the energy that powers all our actions and even affect what we attract into our lives. When we honour our intentions as an expression of the integrity and strength of our character, success follows us like a shadow. So how do we become more aware of our deepest intentions and their impact, and what practical tools can we use to enhance positive outcomes?
Speaker: Erik Larson
Based in New York, Erik has been involved with the Brahma Kumaris for over 35 years. With a background in Civil Engineering and experience in property loss control for over 30 years, he blends the very practical with the very spiritual to achieve a common-sense way to look at life and to help others. Erik is a Director of the Brahma Kumaris (USA) and also BK representative to the United Nations. He is a member of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief and a member of the Committee of Religious NGOs. Erik is also a founding member on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum.
Greening the Planet, Hydrating the Spirit | Grace Lopez Charles
Celebrating Earth Day 2024
There is a profound connection between the well-being of the soul and the health of our planet. Using ancient wisdom and modern insights our speaker, Grace Lopez-Charles will explore the root causes of both ecological and personal depletion and offer practical and contemplative approaches to re-hydrating the spirit and rejuvenating our world.
Speaker: Grace Lopez Charles is a retired teacher, lecturer and researcher in the field of Mathematics. For the past 16 years she has been based in Ghana, West Africa, where she coordinates the activities of the Brahma Kumaris there. She is one of three delegates representing the Brahma Kumaris at the United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification. For the past 18 months the team has been supporting the work of the Great Green Wall Initiative in Africa, through a monthly meditation focus on the Sahel region entitled: Peace Drops for the Great Green Wall.
Radical Tolerance | Enrique Simó
Radical tolerance takes us beyond the state of just putting up with something, or even being super patient, and into the realm of unconditional deep appreciation of all that is, in every moment. This wisdom of the heart can be cultivated by understanding our true nature and the nature of reality and is the key to the inner freedom we all seek.
Speaker: Enrique Simó is a professional executive coach and a facilitator in leadership development programs, helping senior managers and their teams meet their personal and professional goals in the business world and the educational field. He travels extensively lecturing on mindfulness, meditation, coaching and personal development. A student and teacher of Raja Yoga meditation for over 30 years, Enrique is a member of the national coordination team of the Brahma Kumaris in Spain and coordinator of the headquarters in Madrid.
Reconnecting with Mother Earth
A discussion on The Great Green Wall, Sustainable Yogic Agriculture and other Earth Restoration Projects across the World. With inspirational keynote speakers Ody-Marc Duclos and Sister Jayanti. With opening address by High Commissioner of India to the UK, H.E. Mr Vikram Doraiswami.
Speakers:
His Excellency Mr Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK, has a long distinguished diplomatic career, serving all over Asia, at the UN in New York and at the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. He was appointed High Commissioner to the UK in September 2022.
Ody-Marc Duclos, Vice President of the Green Heart Foundation, introducing the Great Green Wall, a major environmental and humanitarian international reforestation project, bridging Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, bringing economic growth, stability and peace. The Foundation’s wide ranging projects include raising awareness and educating populations about resilience to the effects of climate change; promoting and developing agricultural activities in harmony with nature and respectful of the environment.
Sister Jayanti, Additional Head of The Brahma Kumaris, introducing Sustainable Yogic Agriculture which supports thousands of farmers in India; enhancing crop performance, farmers’ emotional well-being and community resilience. Also introducing the BK Environment Initiative’s global projects and the understanding of the natural world as a living system that needs our care, engaging us in compassionate environmental choices that can be felt in all spheres of our lives.
Moderator:
Maris Tebecis has worked at the intersection of politics, industry and sustainability for over a decade. He served as an Australian diplomat for nine years and then co-lead RE100, the largest global corporate renewable energy initiative. He is currently Associate Director in the Climate and Sustainability practice at Global Counsel.
Presenter:
Birajith Baskaran is a member of the Brahma Kumaris COP team, contributing to panel discussions, raising awareness of the benefit of leading a consciously environment friendly lifestyle. He graduated in aerospace engineering and is a Performance Analyst at IAG Cargo. He has been meditating since he was 15.
A collaborative event between the Brahma Kumaris, Yoko Forum and the Green Heart Foundation
This event brings together two distinguished speakers of great vision and dedication whose lives and choices have for many years reflected their values and caring for the Earth.
Trust - The Cornerstone of Life | Wendy Farrington
We all want to be trusted and to trust others. Trust takes time to build but is easily shaken. It is the basis of successful relationships and agreements - in both a personal and organisational context. Most of us build trust by accumulating evidence of trustworthiness, and in daily interactions, this would seem sensible. However, on a different level, there exists a kind of trust which has its roots in an eternal knowing that all is well.
Speaker: Wendy Farrington is a member of the national coordinating team for the Brahma Kumaris in Italy and an experienced and widely known speaker and teacher. Born in the UK in 1941, Wendy embarked on a very varied and colourful career which included being a member of the Olympic ski team for Great Britain, a dancer and choreographer in Rome, Las Vegas and Canada and even training and presenting a dolphin show in Paris. After coming across the Brahma Kumaris in Paris in 1982, Wendy went on to open the first Brahma Kumaris centre in Rome in 1984, where she is still based.
Soul Connections: The Story of Reincarnation | Urvashi Patel
From the viewpoint of eternity, the ‘story of our life’, is actually only a chapter in the ‘story of our lives’. The characters we think we are meeting for the first time, are more often, souls we are reconnecting with for the spiritual progress of the soul. Many of our relationship struggles, challenges, joys and loves can be understood clearly once we see from the soul perspective.
Urvashi Patel has been with the Brahma Kumaris from a young age. Originally from Bradford, Urvashi has become an integral part of the International Coordinating Office of the Brahma Kumaris in London. Her friendly and adaptable nature has led her to play a wide variety of roles which span from producing large scale public events to supporting the maintenance of BK centres across the UK. She believes her key to success is teamwork and creating harmony within everything she does.
Proper Selfishness | Geoff Marlow
“The problem was that in trying to be someone else I neglected to concentrate on the person I could be.” Charles Handy
Conventional wisdom suggests that selfishness is to be avoided on a spiritual path and replaced by selflessness. However, we can’t hope to help others find and fulfil their potential unless we focus first on doing this for ourselves. This is “Proper Selfishness” – knowing, caring for, and cultivating our self. Only then can we discover our purpose and endeavour to embrace and embody who we are.
Join us this evening for an exploration of this vitally important aspect of human existence. Our speaker, Geoff Marlow will take up:
• What is meant by ‘Proper Selfishness’ in a spiritual context?
• How do we balance pursuing our own goals whilst fulfilling our responsibilities to others?
• What are the pitfalls and challenges?
Speaker:
Geoff Marlow has more than 35 years’ professional experience helping organisations throughout Europe, Asia and the US create cultures that enable them to flourish in an increasingly uncertain and unpredictable future.
He has been a student and teacher with the Brahma Kumaris since 1990 and regularly conducts BK workshops, seminars and lectures around the world.
Synchronicity | Philippa Blackham
Synchronicity is an ever present reality to those who have eyes to see – Carl Jung
Improbable coincidences take our breath away and make us feel that the hand of destiny is guiding us. How can we interpret the subtle language of synchronicity and how do we increase this magical, benevolent conversation between the universe and ourselves?
Speaker:
Philippa Blackham worked for almost 20 years as a producer and presenter for the BBC, including seven years at BBC Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour'. Since then, she has trained as an Interfaith Minister and now serves as a celebrant. She is part of a team that heads up the Media & Communication work of Brahma Kumaris, UK. She has practised Raja Yoga meditation for over 40 years.
A Greater Love: Demystifying Detachment | Eric Le Reste
Love and detachment may seem like polar opposites or perhaps a lofty ideal for committed mystics. But actually, life is calling all of us to love more deeply, and to go beyond the expectations, disappointments and complications which come with being attached.
Based in Montreal, Eric Le Reste was with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CBC/Radio-Canada, for more than 35 years. As a Journalist and producer, he worked for the main television news and current affairs programs within the French services. Alongside his career, Eric always maintained a special interest in spirituality, and for the past 40 years he has taught the meditation and philosophy offered by the Brahma Kumaris, an international organization for which he acts as the Canadian Coordinator.
Maha Shivratri | The Story of Immortality - Amarkatha
It has been said that Parvati was listening to the story of immortality in order to become free... immortal... free from the burden of fear and sorrow.
An afternoon of Sacred Darshan (Glimpse) of Amarnath, an Exhibition, plus an enchanting Stage Performance depicting the story of immortality - through live dances that bring the age-old tale to life and give us the wisdom to be fearless and conquer inner demons.
Inspiring Inclusion | Samantha Fraser & Waltraud Idir
Celebrating International Women’s Day
In a world of diverse cultures and perspectives it is more important than ever to navigate a path toward a future where everyone has a feeling of belonging and is valued and appreciated for their unique contribution.
Samantha Fraser in an empowering conversation with Waltraud Idir exploring:
· What are the barriers to inclusivity?
· How do we break these down and build bridges that unite?
· Tangible strategies to cultivate an inclusive mindset
· What is your vision of such a world, what would it look and feel like?
Speaker 1: Waltraud (Val) has practised Raja Yoga meditation for 20 years. She is passionate about self-empowerment and community cohesion. Based in Croydon, her professional background is in developing inclusive international projects in training, education and self-leadership as a consultant. Val is experienced in working with people from all backgrounds.
Speaker 2: Samantha Fraser has been a primary school teacher for nearly 25 years. Although born and educated in the UK, she spent 20 years working in different countries in Southern Africa as a teacher and also coordinating activities for the Brahma Kumaris centres there. Samantha is currently based at the Global Retreat Centre in Oxfordshire.
The Enigma of the Right Behaviour | Jim Ryan
There is no right or wrong behaviour. The only meaningful choice is between fear and love. - Gerald Jampolsky.
The complexities in understanding behaviour arise from the multitude of perspectives and ideas that society, religion, and culture generate to maintain order and control. With the myriad influences that shape our conduct, there comes the age-old question: What defines the right behaviour?
Jim Ryan has been a teacher, a headteacher, an HR trainer, and a management consultant. He has been a long-time student and teacher of meditation and spiritual philosophy. For over 40 years, he has been a student and teacher of Raja Yoga Meditation with the Brahma Kumaris. Throughout the UK, Jim has supported numerous students and teachers of the Brahma Kumaris. Currently, he contributes to the activities at the Global Retreat Centre in Oxford.
Jim has authored six books, including "Dialogues of a Silent Mind" and "In the Stillness – Meditations to Read."
For the "Lights of the World" animation, please use the following link:
https://brahmakumaris.uk/resources/...
or
https://youtu.be/8Ml4udVlxoI