I have just returned from a Yoga Retreat in the Sydney area and was able to enjoy lunch at a Vietnamese cafe across the road from the Prime Minister’s electoral office before heading to the retreat in the Royal National Park south of the city. The PM’s office is in suburban Marrickville with wonderful Greek and Vietnamese cafes, an old Town Hall, large ultramodern Library, churches and schools in a very multicultural area of the city.
PM Anthony Albanese was not at this office that day, however, there was a Gaza-Palestine protest in place at the front of his offices that had been camped there for some time. The demands for a ceasefire and other demands to save lives and provide humanitarian aid in the war between Israel and Hamas were posted up.
Australia is a multicultural country and has seen the population grow with the waves of refugees arriving to become citizens of this great land. Many of the refugees have been escaping from wars like the Russian Revolution, World Wars, Vietnam War or the latest war in Ukraine. These conflicts continue to happen requiring us to show compassion and open hearts for the survivors.
This past week we celebrated across Australia Harmony Day and Week for the diversity and inclusiveness in our community. Schools, early learning centres, and community centres like the Nambour Community Centre (NSC) had events. We attended the Russian community event at the NSC where we enjoyed the Russian and Ukrainian folk songs and dancing by adults and children of those communities.
In the book “Living With An Open Heart” by psychologist Russell Colts and Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron they provide everyday lessons for cultivating compassion in your life. To me it seems obvious we need compassion, love and forgiveness across our community and this book provides guidance to achieve this.
It is Easter and with it comes the messages from the Christian community of love and forgiveness as recognised in the life of Jesus Christ. By embracing the principles of love and forgiveness, as Jesus taught, we mirror love and contribute to a more compassionate world.
Enjoy your Easter.