Exploring the History of God: Towards an Integral Spirituality

About the talk

This talk explores the evolution of humankind’s understanding of the concept of God as part of human culture and how these ideas shape our collective and individual religious consciousness. The first part of the talk will provide you with a “big picture” of the evolution of concept(s) of God through the ages.  The second part will look at how these ideas influence an individual’s development and religious consciousness throughout his/her lifetime.

The talk will draw from ideas put forth mainly by Karen Armstrong in her books "A History of God" and "The Case for God" as well as Ken Wilber in his books "Integral Spirituality" and "A Brief History of Everything." Armstrong and Wilber are two of the world's leading scholars in comparative religions.

About the facilitator

Edmund Chia is originally from Kuala Lumpur where he began his career as a teacher. From 1996-2004 he was the executive secretary of interreligious dialogue for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. He then taught at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, a seminary and graduate school of ministry.

Since 2011 he has been on the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy of the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. He has a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Human Development, an M.A. in Comparative Religion (all from the U.S.), and a Ph.D in Intercultural Theology (from the Netherlands).

When
Saturday 6 July        9am - 5.00 pm
Sunday 7 July          9am - 12.30 pm

Where
Dignity International
A-2-7 Pusat Perdagangan Seksyen 8 (Behind Mammoth Court/Giant Supermarket)
Jalan Sg Jernih 8/1
46050 Petaling Jaya

Registration
RM 60 (inclusive of 2 lunches, coffee and tea breaks)
Payment is by cash/GIRO transfer to CIMB Bank A/C No: 12650001973525 (Chow Mei Mei). Kindly send registration form and payment details to chowbernie@yahoo.com.

A voluntary collection will be made to cover costs for the workshop.

Please bring own writing materials

Enquiry
Angeline (03-7955 0845);    Bernie (012-2637912)

The Jesus Prayer Meditation Workshops

What is The Jesus Prayer?

The Jesus Prayer is a classical form of contemplative prayer practised by the Desert Fathers of the 3rd- 5th centuries. Later this practice moved to the monastic communities of Sinai and Mount Athos. The spiritual classic Philokalia contains the experiences and teachings of the great spiritual masters of the Jesus Prayer. In recent years the Jesus Prayer is attracting thousands of Westerners in deepening their prayer life. The beauty of this prayer form is that it is simple, but deep, and can be practised by any one at any time.

The content

During the sessions Sr. Rose will be giving some theoretical input on the spirituality and theology of the Jesus Prayer. We shall be practising this prayer form with Asian mantras and melodies. The rhythmic chanting creates vibrations within the heart, the divine space within us.

Facilitator

Sister Rose Pudukadan, India

Sister Rose who was born in 1949, trained as a nurse in the United States and spent over 20 years working amongst the poor in various hospitals in India. Since 1990 she has lived in her ashram in Kerala, South India and has dedicated herself to the study and practice of the Prayer of the Heart, also known as the The Jesus Prayer. She has received Intensive training & formation in spiritual exercises from Fr Sebastian Painadath SJ.

Workshop A: For beginners to meditation

Tuesday 16 April               7.30pm - 10.00pm 
Wednesday 17 April          7.30 pm -10.00pm

Venue: La Salle Hall, Lorong 5/15, PJ, Off Jalan Cantik, 

Registration fee: Nil


Workshop B: For participants who have previously attended meditation workshops

Friday 19 April               8.30am - 5.00pm
Saturday 20 April           8.30am - 5.00pm 
Sunday 21 April             8.30am - 4.30pm

Venue: Luther Centre (next to Tun Hussein Eye Hospital)
6 Jalan Utara, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-79565992

Registration fee: RM 100

How to register

Payment is by cash/GIRO transfer to CIMB Bank A/C No: 12650001973525 (Chow Mei Mei). Kindly send registration form and payment details to chowbernie@yahoo.com.

Enquiry

Bernie (012-2637912) or Angeline (03-7955 0845)

What to bring
Bible, writing materials, cushion, & shawl (optional).

Closing Date   10 April 2013 A collection will be taken to defray cost (optional).

The Role of Women in Early Christian Communities

This one-day workshop will give you an overview of the important role that women played in the earliest Christian communities. It will focus on reconstructing how these early Christian communities functioned and grew by:

a.    Exploring women’s active roles in apostleship and leadership.
b.    Exposing Christian history-writing as male-chauvinistic
c.    Discovering that the contributions of women in the early development of Christian communities have been virtually “wiped out” from Christian history.
d.    Revealing why women continue to be subordinated within the church.
e.    Re-reading biblical texts that give glimpses of women’s apostleship and leadership in the early Christian communities.

The workshop will also help participants understand early Christian beginnings and how this impacts the Church today.

The Facilitator

Ting Jin, a graduate in Bachelor of Divinity, worked as coordinator in Asian Women's Resource Centre, which has its office in Kuala Lumpur from 1995 to 2009. In between that period, she pursued further studies in Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry program. Currently though retired, she continues to do or facilitate in women's workshops on feminist liberation theology and critical feminist reading of the Bible.

When
Saturday, 16 March 2013
8.30 am: Registration and light refreshments
9.00 am – 5.00 pm: Workshop
5.00 pm: Afternoon tea and departure

Where
La Salle Hall
Jalan 5/15B, Off Jalan Chantek, Petaling Jaya

Registration
A nominal fee of Rm10 is for registration. A collection will be made at the end of the day to help defray the cost of venue, & refreshments & other costs. Your generosity is much appreciated.

How to register
Please complete the registration form and email/send to Bernie at  chowbernie@yahoo.com. The registration fee can be paid on the day of the workshop.

Enquiry
Bernie (012-2637912) Angeline (03-7955 0845)

Closing Date: 12 March 2013.

LIMITED PLACES ONLY - PLEASE REGISTER EARLY

Earnest Tan's 2012 workshops - Report

We were fortunate and privileged to have Earnest back with us again. TTL discovered over the years that there is a great need to be holistic human beings, paying attention not only to our spirit, but also to our mind and body. Psycho-spiritual learning became a focus of our endeavours and Earnest Tan fitted in ideally with our needs as a popular presenter and psycho-spiritual counsellor.

Anger Management Workshop (30-31 August 2012)

At this workshop, Earnest led participants through interactive exercises and his teaching with power point to understand the nature of anger and how to identify and name anger and aggression. He showed participants how anger can be a destructive force when it is expressed negatively as well as how it is constructive when it is “purposeful” or positive and how this helps us deal with issues justly and in a tempered way.

Participants were shown how to diagnose and report anger by means of an “anger inventory” and why it is important to learn how to be assertive in opposition to being non-assertive or aggressive in relationships. Practical tools to manage anger were very helpful especially the 3 parts of writing of non-threatening I-Messages (versus You-Messages) that focus on expressing feelings in the hope of resolving issues with family or friends or colleagues. The last module of the workshop focused on balancing justice with compassion. Here the matter of the art of forgiving and reconciling as well as acceptance of what is possible/ not possible were the focus.

Participant's Evaluation

What was helpful?

• The 2-day duration – it gave me time to look into my anger, to identify it and name it and how to deal with it.
• The Anger Inventory and the Anger Options and Coping Mechanisms – these are concrete methods and processes that help greatly in understanding where the anger comes from and how it can be made purposeful/constructive.
• Earnest provided the tools for processing anger and how to build bridges through  “I-Messages”.
• the group discussions and interactive exercises
• the introvert, extrovert exercise and learning to be assertive and courageous
• the sharing of personal stories and experiences
• the art of forgiveness and compassion.
• to learn that  anger is a universal emotion but there are right ways to  express it and deal with it
• learning to let go and to temper justice with compassion

Group Discussions - how did they help?

• sharing experiences is very useful as we hear other life stories to learn from
• so pleased that participants were open, sincere and spontaneous
• helps me to understand other points of view and other people
• gained knowledge
• extremely useful – an opportunity to learn from one another
• many insights were gained from listening to others
• refreshing to know that one is not isolated and that other people share the same pains, especially about everyday issues

• at times, “mothering advice” was given in my group and I did not welcome it….
• “For me personally they were not useful” (respondent did not say why)

Overall Responses

• “People are sensible, it is amazing. Makes me wonder if these are a special group of people….. I feel loved and understood . I haven’t found or believed I have found such acceptance in other environments that I have been in for a long time……
• My sincere thanks to the organizers.
• The workshop was paced well – Earnest gave flexible timings as needed.
• This is a good functioning group…..most of the members are mature and extremely capable of handling their anger… I have learned tremendously from all of them
• This workshop was practical and relevant.
• Very good course
• Happy, good session and great people!

• “What I really missed in this workshop are the scripture verses that we can relate to
• The breaks were too long sometimes

About Earnest

• Thank you Earnest for openly sharing your own personal experience. ….it helps me to share my personal problems……God Bless.
• Earnest is a good presenter.
• Personal thanks to Earnest for his generous self-disclosure. This gives what he teaches much credibility.

Human Sexuality Workshop (1-2 September 2012)

The session began with what the various dimensions of sexuality are and how to understand it in the context of the whole personhood of a human being. The primary, affective and genital aspects of sexuality were explained before the participants were taken through an inventory of their own psycho-sexual personal histories. This was done very cleverly through the tool of the Inner and Outer Circles where participants faced one another in teams of two while discussing questions given by Earnest.

What impacted most in the session that followed was Earnest’s own forthright sharing of his growth and experiences through childhood to adulthood that impacted his sexuality. This emboldened the participants to share freely their own stories with each other during the charting of their own personal psycho-sexual histories and also during the sharing time. The module on gender helped clarify the variety of sex-based prejudices that are common in society.The concluding modules were about managing sexual energy based on “L-i-f-e” (Love, infatuation, friendship and exploitation) Choices and how to embrace our total sexuality in the light of God’s power and grace.

Participant's Evaluation

What was helpful ?

• It gave me a lot of knowledge about sexuality issues
• It gave me more understanding of the stages of sexual maturity
• To understand and embrace the idea that there is no separation between sexuality and spirituality – to say we are spiritual and not sensual is to deny our sexuality (eg. masturbation does not need confession)
• “Where did that come from?” By posing this question, Earnest went to the root of problem
• Understand fixations and guidelines for clarity  - helps us to lower our expectations of others and be more understanding and tolerant so that we improve our relationships and ourselves.
• Chance to share in a “safe atmosphere”
• the Psycho-sexual development chart
• L-i-f-e- Choices and Relationship Inventory
• how to manage sexual energies
• Inner and Outer Circle method of sharing stories

The Group Discussions – how did they help?

• “It was fabulous! In many ways”
• It gave me confidence & assurance that I am not alone in the situation.
• I have more understanding of my partner.
• Sharing experiences is very useful as we hear other life stories to learn from.
• It broadened my awareness – the cross-sharing gives ideas to apply in my own life situations.
• It is about shared humanity and practical wisdom – evokes empathy.
• It helps me to understand other points of view and other people – how different people look at the same issue in different ways
• It allows me to be more open and expressive.
• There was a lot of acceptance
• It helps to know the struggles of others’ experiences.
• I got helpful advice to grow in faith and spirituality.
• It helps to bring suppressed emotions to the fore.

• More sharing time is needed.
• Need more time to digest the information

Overall Responses

• Helped me get a better understanding of men, women, gays and lesbians.
• My sincere thanks to the organizers.
• A very useful and informative workshop – it should be promoted to everyone.
• It would be sensible to facilitate follow-up meetings for support and outward growth.
• It brings meaning to our lives.
• Thank you TTL team!
• Very good! Hope to see you again!
• The whole session was conducted in layman’s terms.
• Have this session again “so more people can be healed”
• I realise how deep our “constructs” are and the effect they have on our life

• I am sleepy – maybe play some videos about the topics?

About Earnest

• Thank you Earnest!
• A very down-to-earth  presenter
• Presenter’s self-revelation is courageous, authentic and makes understanding easier.

Cultivating Healthy Sexuality

Sexuality is often a taboo subject.  As such, it is seldom discussed in forums.  Ironically, it is integral to who we are as human beings.  This is largely due to the notion of sexuality being equated merely to genital activity.  Although it includes this aspect, it covers much more.  It is about the way we experience the world as men and women and how we relate to each other accordingly.  It is time to bring this discussion out of locker rooms and gossips and address this most vital aspect of our lives openly.

Topics:

Overview (On Being Human, On Becoming Spiritual, On Sexuality In Its Full and Mature Bloom)
Getting In Touch With Our Sexuality
The Stages of Psycho-Sexual Development
On Being Gendered
On L.I.F.E. Choices
On Managing Sexual Energies

About the Facilitator

Earnest L. Tan designs and conducts workshop-seminars geared towards personal growth and wellness. He writes books and produces materials that are innovative and inspirational in nature. He is a regular lecturer and resource person for the East Asian Pastoral Institute, Asian Social Institute, the Medical Education Unit of the University of the Philippines and Philippine General Hospital, and Miriam Graduate School. He graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with A.B. (Psychology) and is a candidate for M. A. in Education majoring in Guidance and Counselling.

Earnest brings his vast experience of training in the areas of Human Intimacy & Sexuality, The Process of Value Development, Effective Coping & Communication Skills, Effective Parenting, Relationship Enhancement and Empowerment. He has shared his expertise around the Philippines and in other countries such as Australia, Brunei, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Malaysia.

In recent years, he has been coming to Malaysia to conduct various seminars related to personal growth and wellness, enhancing relationships, understanding emotions and self awareness empowering self and others.

When
Saturday, 1 Sept & Sunday, 2 Sept 2012
9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Where
La Salle Hall
Jalan 5/15B, Off Jalan Chantek, 46000 Petaling Jaya

How much
A contribution of RM120.00 is requested to cover the cost of venue, lunch & light refreshments. Those who can afford to pay more are encouraged to contribute to a collection on the last day to help defray other costs.

How to pay
Payment is by cash or GIRO transfer to CIMB Bank A/C No: 12650001973525 (Chow Mei Mei). Kindly send registration form and payment details to chowbernie@yahoo.com.

Who should attend
Persons interested in personal growth & self-improvement.

What to bring
Your own writing materials.

Who to ask
Bernie (012-2637912)
Angeline (03-7955 0845)

Closing Date: 15 August 2012

Click here to download the flyer and registration form

Anger Management (The Art of Purposeful Anger)

Anger, like other emotions, exists for a purpose.  It evokes in us action that will eliminate what threatens us.  Anger that is raw can however be potentially harmful to ourselves and others.  It is at this state that we need to have a “handle” on it and decide what to do with it.  This is in place of the common notion of merely controlling our impulses.  The invitation is for us to listen to and address our anger and arrive at healthier resolutions.

Topics:

The World of Emotions
The Experience of Anger
Anger Options
Approaches to Life
Anger and Forgiveness

About the Facilitator

Earnest L. Tan designs and conducts workshop-seminars geared towards personal growth and wellness. He writes books and produces materials that are innovative and inspirational in nature. He is a regular lecturer and resource person for the East Asian Pastoral Institute, Asian Social Institute, the Medical Education Unit of the University of the Philippines and Philippine General Hospital, and Miriam Graduate School. He graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with A.B. (Psychology) and is a candidate for M. A. in Education majoring in Guidance and Counselling.

Earnest brings his vast experience of training in the areas of Human Intimacy & Sexuality, The Process of Value Development, Effective Coping & Communication Skills, Effective Parenting, Relationship Enhancement and Empowerment. He has shared his expertise around the Philippines and in other countries such as Australia, Brunei, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Malaysia.

In recent years, he has been coming to Malaysia to conduct various seminars related to personal growth and wellness, enhancing relationships, understanding emotions and self awareness empowering self and others.

When
Thursday, 30 Aug & Friday, 31 Aug 2012
9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Where
La Salle Hall
Jalan 5/15B, Off Jalan Chantek, 46000 Petaling Jaya

How much
A contribution of RM120.00 is requested to cover the cost of venue, lunch & light refreshments. Those who can afford to pay more are encouraged to contribute to a collection on the last day to help defray other costs.

How to pay
Payment is by cash or GIRO transfer to CIMB Bank A/C No: 12650001973525 (Chow Mei Mei). Kindly send registration form and payment details to chowbernie@yahoo.com.

Who should attend
Persons interested in personal growth & self-improvement.

What to bring
Your own writing materials.

Who to ask
Bernie (012-2637912)
Angeline (03-7955 0845)

Closing Date: 15 August 2012

Click here to download flyer and registration form

The Lord's Prayer from a Justice Perspective - CANCELLED

IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PRESENTER'S HEALTH, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED

At the very heart of the Lord's Prayer is the reality of the kingdom of God.   It represents God's vision of the abundant life for humanity, a life that is really meaningful in a society worthy of human beings.  It also constitutes the basic vocation of every disciple of his:  "But strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well" (Mt. 6:33; Lk. 12:31). 

Divine "righteousness" points to the most important and, today, severely tested Christian concern of social justice -- a recognition of the dignity and rights of one's neighbours or the concern for fellow human beings in the societies in which we live.   Because of this, the Lord's Prayer is worth exploring as starting point and, perhaps, even as a framework in discussing justice matters which the 1971 Synod of Bishops declared as "a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel."

This two-part presentation will explore both how social justice is rooted in the Lord's Prayer and how it is expressive of social justice. In examining its various petitions from this particular viewpoint, we gain insight into the "why" and the "what" of social justice.

Presenter

José M. de Mesa is a lay theologian, recognized as one of the most important theologians of the world today by the Missionwissenschaftliches Missio in Aachen, Germany. He is presently a University Fellow at De La Salle University, Manila and a Professor of Applied Theology at the Inter-Congregational Theological Centre in the Philippines. He also teaches regularly in Theological Union in Chicago and East Asia Pastoral Institute and is a published author.