Hamid Peseschkian, a speaker at the Changing Times European Youth Forum.

HLUBOKA, Czech Republic, 23 February 2005 (BWNS) -- Good time-management in all the important spheres of life will help meet the challenge of living a balanced life, a speaker told a Baha'i youth seminar that attracted participants from 30 countries.

"Baha'is are called upon to walk with practical feet on the mystical path," German psychiatrist Hamid Peseschkian told the "Changing Times European Youth Forum," which was held at the Townshend International School from 26 December 2004 to 1 January 2005.

Dr. Peseschkian offered a model of a balanced life that gives equal emphasis to four major areas -- health and body, work and achievement, contacts and relationships, and spirituality and future.

"The Baha'i Faith has the vision of a new generation of people who on the one hand exercise moderation in all things but on the other have a faith-centered life and not a work-centered one," he said.

The seminar, organized by a team of European Baha'i youth, is the third annual event of its kind, its reputation for learning and camaraderie attracting participants from many European countries as well as from Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States.

The keynote speakers were Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, who until recently served as a member of the Universal House of Justice, and his wife, Violette Nakhjavani.

Participants in the Changing Times European Youth Forum. Photo by Kamran Granfar. Press image for a high resolution copy

Mr. Nakhjavani gave his insights on the world situation and on spiritual matters, and also recounted his memories of growing up in the Holy Land. Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani paid a tribute to the Hand of Cause of God, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, whom she accompanied on many of her travels for the Baha'i faith.

Other speakers included Italian industrialist Giuseppe Robiati, who spoke on the Baha'i view of a new world order.

Workshops addressed a variety of themes such as consumerism, the art of communication, leadership and power, and using the arts to express a vision of a new world.

Keith Sabri of Australia performed two one-man plays depicting Baha'i historical events.

(Seminar photos by Kamran Granfar.)

For more information about the seminar, see http://www.changing-times.org.