[Report is compiled from multiple public addresses, multiple sources made over multiple publication dates and post-event reflection]
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Glen Eira Interfaith Network (GEIFN)
Global engagement in friendlier neighbourhoods. Join us with 'humanising the other’.
Caretaker Carey Rohrlach
Email: carey@caro.com.au
Website: www.gleneirainterfaith.org
A commemoration of UN International Peace Day and opportunity for audience members to sit informally together with people of different religious traditions and intersectionality all working, living and loving in Victoria.
General discussion yielded that arriving and established migrants often come with a religious background and have all sorts of positive and negative experiences as the different face in town.
- Upon arrival, religion might be the last point of call due to historical experience or entrenched prejudice.
- As a newly arrived, it might be difficult to make and sustain meaningful friendships and relationships.
- As an old arrival, when has enough time passed to be considered a local?
As a demonstration of compounded intersectionality (having multiple identities co-exisiting at the same time), a minute’s ‘silence’ for UN International Peace Day was combined with Acknowledgement of Country and Guided Meditation.
To minimise confusion in thoughts, dialogues or activities, discussion of the usefulness in establishing definitions of key words at the start of important conversations. The importance of checking the source, citing the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri word Ngargee (gathering for celebration); Latin words Zeal (passion, enthusiasm) and Religion (again uniting energy); and modern causes for Confusion like West vs East.
The questions were posed to the audience that, based on the literal Latin definition of Religion:
- would AFL qualify with its recent advances on gender, race and sexuality equity?
- would AGMC's Living Loving Diversity qualify as religious?
Discussion included hazards of generalisations, specifics and subjectivity when establishing personal identity. When times are confusing, it is important to understand that all concepts and words are flawed, but useful in the beginning to start somewhere. This included understandings that any concept like binary can be understood to actually have 3 components. When this concept gets easier, then the 3 expands to 5. When that gets easier, then the 5 expands to unlimited. And when that gets easier, all contracts to 1.
In this way, the Root Cause of Suffering can be considered as being the consequence of conditions numbering 2,3,5, infinity and back to 1. If/When/As that 1 is Ignorance.
As we all know, understanding, trust and peace does not arrive by accident. It arrives in step by step increments. Overcoming the occasional slip-ups and trips that any journey is subject to. Beginning with the individual. Growing in beneficiaries until including a greater number, if not all.
On this and every day, thankyou for playing a part in striving towards a society with fairer sharing of equity. Together we are better.
On behalf of BCV’s Buddhist Religious Instruction (bENGAGED) and Glen Eira Interfaith Network (GEIFN), thankyou to Hosts, Organisers, Volunteers and Participants working to share, build collaborations, celebrate diversity and foster team approach to addressing today's society. Received with gratitude.
Glen Eira Interfaith Network (GEIFN)
Global engagement in friendlier neighbourhoods. Join us with 'humanising the other’.
Caretaker Carey Rohrlach
Email: carey@caro.com.au
Website: www.gleneirainterfaith.org
