This is one of a series of classes of a course on “Ecology in Zoroastrianism” offered by NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies.
2 PM EST / 7:00PM London
Zoroastrianism and Sustainable Development
Khojeste P. Mistree, Farrokh Mistree, Karishma Koka
The Good Mind Nurturing Nature – A Zoroastrian Perspective on Sustainable Development
Abstract: The great strength of the Zoroastrian faith is that it enjoins the caring of the physical world not merely to seek spiritual salvation, but because human beings, as the purposeful creation of Ahura Mazda, are seen as the natural motivators or overseers of the Seven Creations, namely, sky, water, earth, plants, animals, humans and fire. As the only conscious creation, humans have the ultimate task of caring for the universe. The faith endorses the caring of Seven Creations, as part of a symbiotic relationship. Zoroastrianism sees the physical world as a natural matrix of Seven Creations in which life and growth are interdependent if harmony and perfection are to be the final goal. This goal is to be achieved by recreating the primeval unity of a perfect world, unpolluted and unsullied, as was first conceived by Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord.
Khojeste, in this webinar, will highlight some principles, anchored in Zoroastrian doctrine and practice, that are foundational to sustainable development when harmony and perfections are to be the final goal.
Farrokh, in this webinar, will relate what Khojeste shares by way of natural matrix of the seven creations to UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and how these are put into practice by a Social Entrepreneur, Ashok Das, of SunMoksha in India.
Karishma will synthesise the principles that Khojeste and Farrokh present.
This concept was first presented online on 25 July 2021 and then at the Parliaments of The World’s Religions in 2021. The Good Mind Nurturing Nature A Zoroastrian Perspective on Sustainable Development is a webinar series set up by Dr. Karishma Koka and Mr. Yazdi Tantra.
We recognise that Mr. Zaiwalla’s time and knowledge are truly a gift in the Zarathushti spirit of philanthropy and sharing for which The President of the ZTFE Mr. Malcolm M. Deboo and I are most grateful.
This ZTFE led webinar series is supported by Mr. Yazdi Tantra in a collaboration, and will be shared on Zoroastrians.net
Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago proudly hosts the
2022 Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism (SSZ) Conference
supported by Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) & World Zoroastrian Organization
at the
Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr
8615 Meadowbrook Drive, Burr Ridge, IL 60527
on
Friday November 18 – Saturday November 19, 2022
Online attendance is available only for the Scholar Lecture / Meeting Sessions.
Registration
All community members, students, scholars and members of interfaith communities are invited and encouraged to participate. Suggested donation is $10. This will include dinner on Friday and breakfast, lunch and refreshments on Saturday. Please RSVP (for Friday and Saturday separately) by November 10, 2022 to SSZ co-Director & Secretary Pervin Taleyarkhan (pervin.taleyarkhan@zamc.org).
FRIDAY – November 18, 2022
6:00 Meet and Greet
Welcome — Jamshed Rivetna (ZAC President)
7:00 Keynote Address – Prof. Dan Sheffield
8:00 Dinner.
SATURDAY – November 19, 2022
Conference Chair: Prof. Dan Sheffield
8:30 Registration and Breakfast
9:00 Benediction – Mobedyar Boman Damkevala
Monajat – Mani Rao
Welcome — Jamshed Rivetna (ZAC President)
Welcome, Intro to SSZ, and Annual Report – Zal Taleyarkhan (SSZ President)
Morning Session – Scholarly Symposium conducted by Prof. Dan Sheffield and Zal Taleyarkhan
Session Chairs: Afshan Barshan & Sheroy Gonda
9:30 Opening Address: – Prof. Dan Sheffield introduced by Zal Taleyarkhan
10:00 Dr. Kerman Daruwalla – The History of Zoroastrian Priests in India
10:45 Dr. Benedikt Peschl – Zoroastrian Middle Persian Literature and its Relation to the Avesta: current research perspectives.
11:30 Prof. Dan Sheffield – The Pahlavi Book of Religious Decrees: a Forgotten Source for the History of Medieval Zoroastrianism.
12:15 Lunch & Reflection on Morning Session
Afternoon Session – Community-Led Scholarly Works
Session Chair: Kamal Saher
1:00 Ervad Tehemton Mirza – Nature’s Spirituality (Online IZS class)
2:15 Meheryar Rivetna – Everything You Wanted to Know About the Younger Avesta (But Were Afraid To Ask)
3:00 Coffee break
3:15 Afternoon Panel: Moderator Dr. Persis Driver, Panelists: Delna Balsara, Sarosh Irani, Teshtar Irani, Vispi Karkaria: — Contemporary Identity and the Role of Intergenerational Memory in the Zoroastrian Diaspora
4:30 Networking with hors-d’oeuvres and drinks
SUNDAY – November 20, 2022
9:00 Roundtable to discuss SSZ Future Plans
10:00 Jashan Demonstration with Audience Participation — Er. Tehemton Mirza (Dean, NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies) with support from other Mobeds.
About the SSZ. The Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism (SSZ) is an initiative to promote study and scholarship of the Religion of Zarathushtra. The mission of the Society is to revive the tradition of scholarship within our community among athornans and behdins alike, and to promote interaction among academicians, theologians (priests), educationists, lay scholars and practitioners of Zoroastrianism, through roundtable discussions, conferences and publications.
History of SSZ Conferences. SSZ Conferences have been held since 2006, when noted scholars and students present their research papers. To encourage Zoroastrian studies within the community, these SSZ conferences also include sessions delivered by community members, especially the next-generation. Persons/Associations interested in the mission and vision of the Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism, are invited to host future Conferences in their areas. The organizers enjoy complete autonomy in regard to programming and organizing the Conference.
All community members, students, scholars and members of interfaith communities are invited and encouraged to participate. Your presence gives support to the speakers, and your feedback is invaluable so that future research efforts may be directed in a constructive manner for the benefit of both the academicians as well as the community.
The ZTFE Online Symposium – Progressing Together Sustainably (Peace for Progress) was held on Armistice Day, Friday 11th November 2022 at 4pm GMT to express our gratitude to the Armed Forces for their role in maintaining Peace.
To conclude the meeting Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG, the President of Hughes Hall Cambridge and former British ambassador to Moscow and Foreign Commonwealth Office Director National Security shared his perspective.
The international Zoroastrian representatives included people from India, UK, Australia, New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, California.
Many of them including Mr. Rusi Dalal, Mrs. Katayun Kapadia, Mr. Kersi B. Shroff, Dr. Behram Pastakia and Mr. Percy Master shared their thoughts of respect to the Armed Forces and their families.
The ZTFE was much appreciated by one and all for holding this event and bringing such eloquent and distinguished speakers to the forum, and bringing people together internationally to mark this important day.
We are grateful to Mr. Yazdi Tantra for sharing this recording on Zoroastrians.net.
View the Video Here:
The next ZTFE Online Symposium – Progressing Together Sustainably is on Armistice Day, Friday 11th November 2022 at 4pm GMT.
Please join us to give gratitude to the Armed Forces for their role in maintaining Peace to facilitate Progress and the Greater Good of All sustainably.
Speakers: ZTFE Patron Lord Karan F. Bilimoria CBE, DL and Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major PVSM AVSM SC VM (Retd).
This concept is in line with FrashoKereti (Progress with Righteousness and Good Action) which encompasses and goes beyond the UN 17 SDGs.
With best wishes,
Malcolm M Deboo, ZTFE President
& Dr Karishma Koka, Co-opted member ZTFE Managing Committee