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Hindu teacher offers talks on spirituality

Swami Bhaskarananda, president of the Vedanta Society of Western Washington, will talk about "Controlling the Turbulent Mind" in a lecture tomorrow at the Richards Street YMCA.

The Hindu teacher heads an education and meditation center in Seattle. A monk of the nonsectarian Ramakrishna order, he is the author of books on Hinduism, meditation and monastic spirituality.

The talks will be at 11:30 a.m. in the YMCA, Room 307.

» Tomorrow: "Controlling the Turbulent Mind"
» May 15: "Divine Incarnations"
» May 22: "Rig-Veda: What Is It?"
» May 29: "After Death, What?"

The swami is available to meet with people who want to learn about Vedanta, which teaches the harmony of all religions. Appointments can be made by calling 921-0290.

The lectures are sponsored by the Vedanta Society of Hawaii. Information on the group is available by calling Mr. or Mrs. Chennat Gopalakrishnan, 734-1760.

Waipahu celebration starts Obon season

The Buddhist celebration of the Obon season, honoring the dead through music and dance, will get under way next month.

The first bon dance will be June 4 at Hawaii's Plantation Village, 94-695 Waipahu St. Mililani and Waipahu Hongwanji members will participate, as well as Aiea Taiheji Yagura Gumi, Iwakuni Dance Group, Hawaii Eisa Shinyuukai and Yamada Dance Group.

May 23 is the deadline for temples to send information about their bon dance schedules to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Suite 7-210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu 96813, or by fax to 529-4750 or to madamski@starbulletin.com.

The Star-Bulletin will publish a complete listing on May 28.

The festivities continue all summer as temples around the state take turns on successive weekends to accommodate the hundreds of people, including non-Buddhists, who follow the circuit. The Obon tradition was brought to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants and evolved into a social and cultural event as well as a religious custom.

Faith alliance to hold diversity symposium

The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii and Hawaii Conference of Religions for Peace will sponsor a Symposium on Religious Diversity next Saturday at Central Union Church parish hall.

"Transforming Intolerance into Cooperation" is the theme of the symposium, which will be presented from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Newspaper columnist Dave Shapiro will be keynote speaker.

Also participating will be an interfaith panel including Poranee Natadecha-Sponsel, a Buddhist; Sister Joan Chatfield, with the Christian perspective; Gregg Kinkley, offering the Jewish view; and Farideh Farhi, the Muslim perspective.

To register, call 261-4585 or e-mail jheidel@hawaii.rr. com. The $7 cost includes lunch.