Welcome to AHIMSA Berkeley

Our name evokes the deep principles of ahimsa, to which we are dedicated – ahimsa is the Sanskrit word for nonviolence – the human capacity for peace. AHIMSA is a non-profit, nonsectarian foundation, drawing on both Eastern and Western faith traditions, and founded in 1993 to mark the Centennial of the Chicago Parliament of Religions. Our central activity is to encourage dialogues and public forums on issues which bridge spirituality and science and society.  Our mission is to serve the advancement of peace by exploring how religion, science, and social action impact our awareness, to seek pathways for understanding, and to encourage every individual to seek and find his or her own truth and wisdom. The acronym AHIMSA stands for, "Agency for Human Interconnectedness through Manifestation of Spiritual Awareness." ALL OUR ACTIVITIES ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
 

April - May 2013
 

 Non-violence, which is the quality of the heart, cannot come by an appeal to the brain.

-- Cesar Chavez

Violence All forms of discrimination, fanaticism, and violence
are rooted in the idea of the “others.”
Spirituality is not ideology. It is ideology that creates division in society.
Spirituality  is about the Unity of  the whole creation and, therefore,
acts as a bridge between religions and people of different ethnic backgrounds. it.

-- Swami Tattwamayananda

Develop an educational system that is not about
conflict and violence,
but one that promotes respect for values, for life, and respect for one's elders.
This requires a huge investment. Yet if we can invest in a different vision of peaceful coexistence,
I think we can change the world, because every problem has a nonviolent answer.

-- Rigoberta Menchu

 

 

 

2013 MAY DISCUSSION:

LIVING NON-VIOLENCE

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 AHIMSA Berkeley is pleased to present a Discussion by

Lalita Paranatantiri on Violence In Our Schools: One School Psychologist’s Perspective

A Lalita Paranatantiri is a School Psychologist residing in the Bay Area and working in the Oakland Unified School District.  She has extensive experience working with youth in schools, intervention programs, and across global continents. Her work in mental health, behavior and learning differences contribute to an understanding of violence and how to alleviate it in schools and in the community.
 
Please join us for this evening of discussion on how violence in all its forms is impacting our youth. All educators, administrators, parents, and interested participants are welcome.

7 - 9 pm, at the Institute for World Religions /Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. 
2304 McKinley Ave,
Berkeley, CA 94703
(Near Berkeley Bart)


FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
PLEASE JOIN US!

For more details go to Events page.  

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April 22  Earth Day         Earth, Teach Me

Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.

- An Ute Prayer
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Saturday, May 25, 2013  Vesak Day / Saka Dawa ; to commemorate Lord Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana.  In the Buddhist tradition, this year, May 25th is the commemoration of Buddha Shakyamuni’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (passing from this world). May 25th is the holiest day of the year for Buddhists around the world.

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Postings:

** NEW : The talks from our March 24, 2013 panel discussion on Unity in Diversity: To Cure a Culture of Violence are now available  --- go to Events page. This was a special discussion on cultural violence and responses to it, in the light of the Vedantic philosophy as brought to the West by SWAMI VIVEKANANDA (1863 - 1902).  The event was held in commemoration of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birthday, and AHIMSA's 20th anniversary.

** Ruth Richard's talk on Age of Empathy? : New Views on Health, Human Nature and Relational Creativity (presented May 17, 2011) is now available on line at:
http://cultureofempathy.com/References/Experts/Ruth-Richards/
 
For more on the original talk go to Events).

** Mitch Hall's talk on Childhood Roots of Empathy, Peace, and Nonviolence (presented December 7, 2010) is now available on line at:
http://cultureofempathy.com/Projects/Interviews/2010-12-08-AHIMSA/

The slide show from Mitch’s wonderful empathy presentation is also available in several versions, PowerPoint, pdf and as image files. see
http://cultureofempathy.com/Projects/Interviews/2010-12-08-AHIMSA/index.htm and as updated on Slideshows page at http://breathepeacefully.com/

For more on the original talk go to Events).

** A special resource is being built by Edwin Rutsch: The Center for Building a Culture of Empathy, which is a portal for resources and information about the values of empathy and compassion. See Links and go to http://CultureOfEmpathy.com for Mitch Hall's talk and much much more, including Portal to empathy articles @ Empathy Cafe Magazine
  http://cultureofempathy.com/References/NewsPaper/


Other:
** Report on Networking Workshop, September 2009 (Go to Links, Networking Workshop)
** Video: Huston Smith at AHIMSA Networking Workshop (Go to Networking Workshop)
** Audio:Talks from our 2008 conference on "The Power of Nonviolent Language and Action". Go to Ahimsa Voices

 

CONNECTIONS

* The Metta Center for Nonviolence Education Announces:
A Series on Gandhi:
The Metta Center is currently working on a three-disc (30 MP3) series on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Each MP3 is approximately 5-6 minutes in length, and is designed for those learning for the first time about Gandhi as well as those who want to explore the deeper aspects of his legacy. The entire collection is scheduled to be finished in mid-November and will be available on our website.

www.mettacenter.org / info@mettacenter.org

Box 98 | Petaluma, CA 94953 US

707-774-6299


 

AHIMSA PAGES

» Ahimsa Voices
What is our deep hunger? How is ahimsa rooted in spiritual attitudes and practice?  How is ahimsa manifest in everyday life?  Stories, audio talks, past journals.

» Events
Announcements and current events, including conferences and speakers.

» Offerings
Listing of conferences and annual themes.  Available materials.

» Links
Links to various organizations and events in an expanding network.  These contacts will be maintained on a temporary basis, in connection with ongoing events and projects.    

» Who we are
Our organization and history.

Welcome to our re-newed website.  This new website is the generous contribution of Inflight Studio. Our original website, by CharityFocus, was also a gift of service.  We give great thanks to both » inflightstudio and » CharityFocus


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