The Parliament of Worlds Religions has ended in Melbourne; I sat with roughly 7000 attendees from 80 countries, including representatives from 220 religions. We all tried to choose from among 660 programs, and 40 offsite events; the variety and richness was staggering.
The Parliament is the world’s greatest show for religions; it is the Big Top of Faiths, and it has happened only five times in history. Tthis time the Parliament made history again: for the very first time, the indigenous peoples of the world met together: Native Americans, Australian Indigenous, and Japanese Ainus, among others, came together at the invitation of the world's religions to share their wisdom and prophecies.
This was my third Parlament; I conducted and participated in five of the 600+ programs, and I'll report here on what I saw and heard.
Check out the Whirling Dervishes:
hmmmm...i always wonder why the Sufis like to twirl around like that and what experience would they gain...as i kid, i used to make my self dazed by turning around just for fun but after awhile, my head hurts....
Posted by: Alan | December 09, 2009 at 09:04 PM
How interesting! do they chant as well?
Posted by: mc | December 10, 2009 at 12:02 PM
i don't think so...i remember watching a similar video where the Dervishes remains silent, maybe in concentration?...
Posted by: alan | December 22, 2009 at 09:37 PM
wow. that's beautiful. and amazing that they don't crash into each other.
Posted by: Upekkha | February 05, 2010 at 12:50 AM
yeah...mebbe they keep their distance by sensing the vortex suction around them?..
Posted by: alan | February 10, 2010 at 11:46 PM