by Discover the highlights of the inaugural Reflection and Spirituality Days organized by H.E. Pujya Swami Rameshwarananda Giri Maharaj at the Forum Transcendence. This significant interfaith event brought together leaders and representatives from various religious traditions in Spain, including Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Protestantism, the Baha’i Faith, the Unification Church, and Scientology, represented by Ivan Arjona. The event fostered meaningful dialogue and collaboration among diverse faiths, focusing on the themes of freedom, respect, and understanding. Learn how these discussions contribute to building bridges between communities and promoting unity in a multicultural society. Join us in exploring the importance of interfaith dialogue in today’s world.
Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, 8th Aug 2024 – The Transcendence International Interreligious Forum (FIIT) has achieved a major milestone in its mission to foster interfaith dialogue and spiritual understanding during its first Symposium of reflection and spirituality, held at the Phi Campus, a nature-friendly and sustainable environment that became a space for sharing ideas. The conference brought together representatives of various religious traditions to share their views on faith, coexistence and the role of spirituality in everyday life.
The president of the FIIT and PHI Foundation, H.E. Pujya Swami Rameshwarananda Giri Maharaj, was the host and organiser of this meetings which were attended by leaders and representatives of different religious traditions present in Spain. Among the members of the FIIT were the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna, Gracia Gil and Rosa Ortí from Catholic Christianity, as well as Amparo Navarro from the Jesuit Migrant Service. Isaac Sananes participated for Judaism; Pandit Krishna Kripa Dasa (who also presented his latest book), Swamini Dayananda Giri, and Swami Rameshwarananda himself attended for Hinduism; and Elisabeth Gayán (for Brahma Kumaris).
In addition, a representative of Islam, Shaykh Mansur Mota participated virtually. Also present were representatives of the traditions that have recently joined the Transcendence Forum this year. Representing Protestantism was Francisco Javier Piquer; Clarisa Nieva and José Toribio represented the Baha’i Faith; Armando Lozano represented the Unification Church; and from the Church of Scientology, Ivan Arjona-Pelado was present.
Within this context, Ivan Arjona, who is Scientology’s Representative to the European Union and the United Nations, had the opportunity, as did the other participants, to give a more detailed insight into the fundamentals of his faith. The recent inclusion of Ivan Arjona as a member of the Transcendence Forum is a clear indicator of Transcendence’s and Scientology’s commitment to actively engage in interfaith dialogue, increasing the number of interfaith forums where Scientologists participate worldwide. Transcendence forum aims to create a space where diverse faiths can coexist and dialogue to promote a sense of unity and collaboration. During the conference, Arjona gave a lecture focusing on the concept of freedom, a fundamental principle in Scientology religious doctrine.
Drawing on the Creed of the Church of Scientology and the “Prayer for Total Freedom” written by L. Ron Hubbard, Arjona highlighted the relevance of both individual freedom and personal responsibility in the individual spiritual journey. Arjona’s presentation not only illuminated Scientology’s perspective on freedom, but also gave attendees the opportunity to reflect on how these concepts apply to their own beliefs, as each tradition was able to express its vision of freedom according to their scriptures.
This openness to dialogue provided by Campus Phi fostered an atmosphere where participants felt comfortable sharing their personal experiences, thus enriching the exchange and promoting a climate of respect and curiosity. Arjona was able to explain the tenets of his religion in a clear and understandable way, which was instrumental in creating this atmosphere, turning the discussions into a truly intercultural dialogue that broke down walls and myths.
In one of the highlights of the conference, Arjona participated in a session dedicated to religious readings and personal reflection. There he had the opportunity to read excerpts from “The Way to Happiness“, a book that presents a moral code based on reason and logic. He specifically selected the chapters “Respect the religious beliefs of others” and “Flourish and prosper“, which not only reflect Scientology values, but also set out a framework for peaceful coexistence between different religions.
These meetings provided a platform for attendees to delve into the philosophy of various religious traditions and explore how these principles could be applied in their own lives. The participants, coming from different religious traditions such as different branches of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Baha’i and Scientology, demonstrated a genuine interest in understanding the basis of each other’s faiths directly from their sources.
“Interreligious dialogue goes beyond the exchange about one’s beliefs; it also seeks to identify common ground that can serve as a basis for collaboration in social and community initiatives,” said Iván Arjona-Pelado.
In an increasingly turbulent world, moments dedicated to reflection and spirituality are not only an opportunity to explore differences, but have also proven to be fertile ground for fostering unity and hope for a future where interfaith collaboration is common. These first meetings of the Transcendence Forum “have been a success for all participants and primarily due to the team of the Fundación Phi and the monastic order of the Vedantic Centre that accompanied us at all times,” said Arjona, “establishing a more solid foundation for a more extensive and relevant dialogue between diverse faiths”.
NOTE: Grateful thanks to Marcos Soria Roca and Fundación Phi for the permission to use their copyrighted photos.
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