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
"Love is a rare herb that makes a friend even of a sworn enemy
and this herb grows out of nonviolence" -- Mahatma Gandhi
A beginning student of yoga was not allowed to perform a single yogic exercise until he had completed an intensive moral program. Top of the list was ahimsa 'nonviolence'. The yogin must not swat a mosquito, make an irritable gesture, or speak unkindly of others but should maintain constant affability to all. Until his guru was satisfied that this had become second nature, a yogin could not even sit in the yogic position. A great deal of the aggression, frustration, hostility, and rage that mars our peace of mind is the result of thwarted egoism, but when the aspiring yogin becomes proficient in this selfless equanimity, the texts tell us that he would experience "indescribable joy."
-- Karen Armstrong: The Case for God
New Postings:
March and April 2010 events:
** Tuesday March 16 Celebration of NOROOZ, the Persian New Year. Instead of our regular TTT event on March 16, we are invited to join the New Year celebration. See Event Connections below.
** Tuesday March 23: AHIMSA TTT Panel Discussion moderated by Kumar Metha: ORGANIZED RELIGION, ATHEISM, IMPERSONAL GOD --WHAT SERVES SOCIETY BEST? (See below, or go to Events)
** April 18, HUSTON SMITH speaking on Fundamentalism in America Today. Details soon.
** METTA FILM SERIES: "Nonviolence at the Movies" with you! See EVENT CONNECTIONS below
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
2010 AHIMSA DISCUSSION SERIES
Tea & Talk on Tuesdays
4th Tuesday, 7:30 to 9:30 PM
Berkeley Buddhist Monastery--Institute for World Religions
Current Offering:
March 23rd, 2010 Ahimsa Panel on ORGANIZED RELIGION, ATHEISM, IMPERSONAL GOD -- WHAT SERVES SOCIETY BEST
See Events Page
EVENT CONNECTIONS
* NOROOZ, THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR
Join us in celebrating Norooz, the Persian New Year Tuesday, March 16 This is a new program venue for AHIMSA. Plan to meet outdoors at 7:00 pm near the Persian Center in Berkeley for Charhar Shanbeh Suri a purely secular festival for all Iranians that is celebrated on the Tuesday before the Persian New Year (March 20). This Zorastrian custom dates back to 1300 B.C. It celebrates one of the last evenings of the year and is symbolized by fire so that people can see their way into the new year. Bonfires are lit because they are purifying and can light our way into the new year.
In Berkeley, Durant is lined with people of all ages talking, laughing, dancing, and wishing greetings upon each other. Downtown Berkeley is a great venue for the event. Behind Staples what is normally a quiet side-street is blocked off and filled with Persian music and flooded with lights. Two sets of bonfires are lit to keep the celebration moving.
HOURS: Tuesday before Vernal Equinox, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
For more information: The Persian Center/ 2029 Durant Avenue / Berkeley, CA 94704 / Phone: (510) 848-0264
* METTA FILM PROGRAM: Films on nonviolence: a series of movie nights planned for 2010, offering a thoughtful and open community exploration of nonviolence in film. Metta launched this series in February with a showing of the film Gandhi, the 1982 classic film by Richard Attenborough. The March film will be A Force More Powerful
Details of the Series:
What: the Metta Center Nonviolence Film and Discussion Series
Where: The Metta offices, at 1730 MLK Way in Berkeley
When: last Friday of each month, throughout 2010
Why: to share and learn, and to build community and understanding, and to explore nonviolence, art, and education.For information
For more information contact the Metta Center for Nonviolence
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
Next page: Voices of Ahimsa
