Welcome to the links list review. Once a month the links directory receives a facelift, providing a fresh selection of multi-faith spiritual snacks for visitors to enjoy. I take great pleasure in hunting down tasty treats for our readers, as part of the service to the time2link network and also as part of my study of world religions, spiritualities and philosophies. With the celebration of Earth Day (http://ww2.earthday.net) occuring tomorrow, I have included several sites with ecological content and purpose.
Our Roman Catholic members may be interested in visiting the website for the Catholic Conservation Center – an organization ‘promoting ecology, environmental justice and the stewardship of creation in light of sacred scripture and living tradition of the Roman Catholic Church’. The vast website hosts a wealth of wonderful articles and introduction to Catholic environmental justice.
Avid readers may enjoy a visit to Eco Libris – where you can plant a tree for every book you read! Eco bibles are available to purchase. View the plantings gallery, read the blog…as of 31 March 2008, Eco Libris has balanced out over 26,000 books by planting trees.
Our video choice this month also has a green theme – Big Picture TV. Watch streaming video clips of leading experts, thinkers and activists in environmental & social sustainability. There are 16 categories within the station and the religion category features clips from 19 different speakers.
This is also an opportune moment to mention an A Rocha project called The Climate Stewards. A Christian based organization providing a great resource and the chance to explore in some depth, the Christian perspective regarding climate change. At the site you can calculate your carbon usage, read about the extensive work being undertaken, reflect on questions such as, why does God allow climate change, why should Christians care? Find out how you can become involved, join the Living Lightly campaign or sign up for prayer updates.
St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Ecology. In the links list you’ll find directions to the official website for the National Shrine of St. Francis in San Francisco – a vast site! Do drop by for a virtual visit and enjoy the selection of the saint’s prayers and meditations.
A new event called World Reiki Hour was launched on 8 April. Reiki Hour takes places every Sunday evening at 9pm local time. Switch off your household lights for one hour and become the light! Visit the official site to discover what a Reiki Gram is and you can also sign up for the monthly newsletter.
Continuing our monthly meditation feature – this month’s review highlights a free e-mail course from Aro. My sources tell me that the course material is very down to earth and would appeal to non-buddhists. The practical and illustrated teachings advise on the correct and most comfortable way to sit, breathing and mindfulness. It’s perfect for beginners and even practised meditators may find the advice helpful.
The links menu also features a link to the official website for ‘A Course in Miracles’ (ACIM) – ‘a unique, universal, self-study spiritual thought system that teaches the way to Love and Inner Peace is through forgiveness’. Current students may also be interested in Marianne Williamson’s website – Marianne shares her reflections about ACIM everyday on Oprah and Friends. www.marianne.com/
The Invisible Disabilities Advocate, supports those living with chronic illnes, pain and disability, the Carers, friends and family. The website provides supportive articles for your loved ones, there are seminars and a newsletter, ongoing campaigns and a support group. A caring and sharing a space - the IDA really understand about living life with an invisible illness.
On 2 May Buddhists around the globe will be celebrating the birthday of Buddha – Vesak Day/Buddha Day and I hope our Buddhist linkers will enjoy the article I have chosen about Vesak Day by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, (Theravada monk) United Nations 15 May 2000. Wishing you all a joyous and peaceful Vesak.
Yours in Peace
Suzanne
If you missed last months links – they have been added to the bottom of the New Links 21 March Review for archive purposes. As always, the links directory reflects the multi-faith foundations of the time2link, rather than the personal views of the founder.