Peace Mala International Awards for Youth 2006

Congratulations!

Ysgol Gynradd Brynaman, Carmarthenshire (Teacher: Carey Thomas)
Pontygof Primary School, Ebbw Vale (Teacher: Michael Vaughan)

Highly Commended Entries

1st Llansamlet Brownies (Leaders: Helen Thomas and Pam King)
Ethnic Youth Support Team, Swansea (Youth Leader: Helal Uddin)
Swansea College Ty Coch Campus (Lecturer: Hazel Israel)

Sponsors

Awards for all Wales
The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA)
CEWC Cymru
ISKCON Wales
Co-operative Group (Wales and Borders Regions)
South Wales Police (H Division, Swansea)
Lifestyle Financial Choices Limited, Tonypandy
The Bridgend New Spiritual Energy Research Group
Revd and Mrs Glynne James, Norma Glass MBE, Cheryl Sullivan, Erin Kavanagh, Ros Moule, Pam Evans, Dr Penny Sartori
Kerry Evans Contemporary Art

Peace Mala is extremely grateful to all those who have sponsored and supported the 2006 Youth Awards.

Message from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the winners of the Awards

Archbishop Rowan Williams

Dear friends,
Congratulations to everyone receiving their awards today - to Ysgol Gynradd Brynaman, to Pontygof School (my old friends from days in Newport! I still have my special mug from the school), to the Swansea Ethnic Youth Support Team, Swansea College, Tycoch and the First Llansamlet Brownies. So much in the news seems to be about how tension is mounting and how bitterness is being reinforced between people of different faiths and communities. But the truth is that at the level of local communities and ordinary people of faith, there is probably more contact, more understanding and more co-operation than ever in history.

You are part of that new history that is being made. Never mind today's headlines, it is you who are setting the standards and the hopes for the future, and that is a tremendous joy and privilege. So every blessing to you as you go on making a difference where you are. The Buddhists say, 'Make your minds bright!' and Christians say, 'Keep the faith!'. May you go forward in trustful faith with clear and compassionate minds and hearts.

With my love and prayers,
Archbishop Rowan

Music and dance at the Peace Mala Awards for Youth Ceremony 2006

Les Paul DJ

Music and sound by Les Paul DJ

native hoop dance by Rising Eagle

The native hoop dance beautifully depicts the spirit of unity and harmony in our world. Performed here by Rising Eagle.

Music by the Hemiola Young Musicians

Music by the Hemiola Young Musicians

Sheikh Ahmad Dede and his Haqqani-Mevlevi Dervishes with The Forever Haqqani musicians

Dance by Sheikh Ahmad Dede and his Haqqani-Mevlevi Dervishes with The Forever Haqqani musicians

Sheik Maulana Muhammad Nazim

Wa Alaikum Salaam.

My dear sister Pam,
Wonderful what I have read about Peace Mala. I see that the spirit of Peace Mala is the spirit of God's love. And in this time we need to bring this opening of universal rainbow love to all mankind. My dear sister, we would love to be part of the ceremony to bring the blessings of the Holy opening of the spirit of whirling from our Grandsheik Muhammad Nazim and our Grandsheik Mevlana Muhammad Jalauddin Rumi. All we need is love, love, love.

I look forward to seeing you.

With love and Salaams,
Sheikh Maulana Muhammad Nazim
Grand Sheikh of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandia Tariqat

The Naqshbandi Mevlevi Society will perform at the Peace Mala Awards for Youth 2006. The presence of these whirling Dervishes will add enormously to the overall atmosphere of the Awards Ceremony. The Naqshbandi Haqqani-Mevlevi Dervishes embodies the spirit of love and unity that is at the core of the Sufi movement. This is in harmony with the vision of Peace Mala. It will be an added bonus to hear their band of wonderful musicians 'Forever Haqqani', who perform beautifully to accompany the presentation.

Their presentation will consist of a short spoken introduction, which will explain the process to those present. This will be followed by 20 minutes of whirling meditation. This is a graceful and beautiful sight, which should bring everyone present to a standstill of balance between high energy and inner calm. The hypnotic rhythms, haunting vocals and graceful, meditative whirling of the Mevlevi Dervishes, will create an incredible sense of calm, unity and tenderness.

Much has been written and researched about the 'Sema' or The Whirling Dervish Ritual. The Naqshbandi Sufi Order followers have been given permission from the Sheikh to practice it. Sheikh Nazim said, "Grand sheikh may open it for a particular person". And The Mevlevi Order, who are known for the ritual, is the closest Sufi School to this one. Maulana (pronounced Mevlana in Turkish) Jalaludin RUMI is the Great Grandfather of Sheikh Nazim through his mother's side of the family. It is an awesome sight to behold if you are ever lucky enough to see any done properly. Devotees can whirl gracefully for hours, in total worship, in total harmony with the great whirling of creation, from the atoms around the nucleus to the huge and countless galaxies, all whirling passion and awe of the Creator . . . Mevalana RUMI would actually levitate but more to the point, attained unprecedented levels of nearness to God. His encounter with Shams of Tabriz has been called 'the greatest love story ever'. He produced a very famous book called 'The Mathnavi' an epic devotional poem. Though it is sad that the whirling Order was in a way outlawed (seen as a threat to democracy!) the Whirlers from Konya have developed their 'performance' and have taken it to many countries.

The religion of love transcends all other religions, for lovers, the only religion and belief is God.
This moment this love comes to rest in me, many beings in one being.
In one wheat-grain, a thousand sheaf stacks. Inside the needle's eye, a turning night of stars.
A secret turning in us makes the universe turn. Head unaware of feet, and feet unaware of head. Neither cares. They keep turning.

Rumi

Here is a slideshow of photos from the day

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