Welcome
May this find you well and kindly treated.
Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Assyrian calendar 6770 as we prepare to farewell the year that was and proceed into Gregorian New Year 2021.
Let us consider how in a globalised world New Year depends on the country of origin, ethnic background or calendar of the people.
For example: In countries Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. In countries China, Korea and Vietnam celebrations are late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, whilst Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later.
Let’s begin by sharing a timely aspiration:
"Now may every living thing, young or old, weak or strong, living near or far, known or unknown, living or departed or yet unborn, may every living thing be full of bliss."
Attributed to the Buddha (c563-c483 BCE)
For example: In countries Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. In countries China, Korea and Vietnam celebrations are late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, whilst Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later.
Let’s begin by sharing a timely aspiration:
"Now may every living thing, young or old, weak or strong, living near or far, known or unknown, living or departed or yet unborn, may every living thing be full of bliss."
Attributed to the Buddha (c563-c483 BCE)
Otherwise, the following monthly curation from publicly available information is offered below for consideration.
Topics
Guest Sings
Approx 5 min presentationLinden Park Primary School - I am, you are, we are Australian
Sesame Street: Helping Kids Resolve Conflicts
Intro
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics politics, death and sex with Nat explaining how "Smashing gender norms, Nat's What I Reckon does it one cooking video at a time” via WA Today
Laura Hampson explores reality-based self identity, purposeful living and reflective listening, revealing "What losing my job in the pandemic taught me about self-worth” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Stephen A Russell explores a funnier side to disability, visability and finding love, reviewing a new film showing why "Thomas Banks is used to having romantic doors slammed in his face” via The Age
Intra
Adam Carey explores a family tradition of embracing learning, reporting how "'Amazing': Three generations of Boon Wurrung women graduate together” via The Age
Amelia McGuire explores place, connecting and belonging, revealing the thinking behind why "Loneliness can be countered by knowing just six neighbours, study finds” via WA Today
Amanda Hooton explores a mixed marriage, cool heads and adapting to change, revealing why "'It helped that we were both passionate about books': the Bega shop owners writing a new life chapter” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Inter
Jim Bright explores introspection, connection and belonging in meaningful ways, reasons why "Looking inwards and outwards for a path going forwards” via The Age
Susan Carland explores emotional and complexity maturity, reasoning why "Tension doesn’t make us fall apart. Rather, it keeps us together” via The Age
Explore experience, culture unfused with good intentions, reviewing how an "Awkward moment leads to 40-year friendship – and a new album from Yo-Yo Ma” via WA Today
Multi
Liam Mannix explores the race against time and connecting the dots, shining a light on "Marvellous Melbourne: how our scientists led the COVID fight” via The Age
Melinda Houston explores individuality, public expression and performance as "Stan Grant searches for identity in One Plus One” via WA Today
Jacqueline Maley explores perils in addressing entrenched societal inequality before bedtime, declaring why "My five-year-old wanted to read about systemic misogyny. I just wanted her to go to sleep.” via The Brisbane Times
All
Gary Nunn explores inner, outer and sub conditions to clarity, understanding and decision making, writing "What it actually means to 'go with your gut’” via The Age
Ross Gittins explores prospects of productive economies post-pandemic, predicting how "More working from home will transport us back to the future” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sherryn Groch explores intersectionality between assigned sex, experiential gender and societal attitudes, explaining "Why do gender pronouns matter and how do you use them?” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Ella Archibald-Binge explores valuing resiliance, understanding place and using privilege when shining a light on a "Power generation: emerging Indigenous leaders on overcoming adversity – and their next steps” via The Age
Cara Waters explores collective efforts to combat social media fear-mongering, conspiracy theories and unproven health treatments, writing of the "‘No sense to them’: Tackling COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on social media” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Dan Bilefsky explores culture, reengineering visibility and representing multiculturalism through a reflective lens, citing many reasons to celebrate why "This is not your grandparents’ Messiah” via The Age
Nobly
Carolyn Webb explores a family who identified a need, defined their limits and just got on with it, writing “'It's selfless': One family's gift of love to Melbourne's homeless” via The Age
Nathan Despott and Chris Csabs explores a deepening understanding within society of gender, sexuality and identity, writing "Victoria’s conversion bill is world-leading legislation” via The Age
Peter FitzSimons explores intentions, words and actions, rallying behind reasons why "Indigenous language anthem at the Test was a nation-changing moment” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Street Jives
Approx 2 min presentationSesame Street: Helping Kids Resolve Conflicts
Wisdom Reconciles
- ImFromDriftwood: Ingrid Galvez Thorp on Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace (19 mins)
- Colin Jones: What do hands represent in Aboriginal art (2 mins)
- ImFromDriftwood: Megan's Coming Out Again (And Again) To Grandma With Alzheimer’s (7 mins)
- Invicta: Rise of the Mughal Empire and the Reign of Akbar the Great (18 mins)
A historical account of the Rise of the Mughal Empire and the Reign of Akbar the Great! Akbar the Great was the 16th century Mughal ruler of India who led his Empire to never before seen heights. In a land of countless cultures and religions, his reign is almost universally revered today not just for its impressive military conquests but also its incredible administrative reforms that ushered in a new age of progressive multiculturalism which united India for the first time in over a millennia. - ImFromDriftwood: Carlo’s Gay, Catholic and Still Wanting to Have a Family. It’s Just Going to Look Different (6 mins)
Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics politics, death and sex with Nat explaining how "Smashing gender norms, Nat's What I Reckon does it one cooking video at a time” via WA Today
Laura Hampson explores reality-based self identity, purposeful living and reflective listening, revealing "What losing my job in the pandemic taught me about self-worth” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Stephen A Russell explores a funnier side to disability, visability and finding love, reviewing a new film showing why "Thomas Banks is used to having romantic doors slammed in his face” via The Age
Intra
Adam Carey explores a family tradition of embracing learning, reporting how "'Amazing': Three generations of Boon Wurrung women graduate together” via The Age
Amelia McGuire explores place, connecting and belonging, revealing the thinking behind why "Loneliness can be countered by knowing just six neighbours, study finds” via WA Today
Amanda Hooton explores a mixed marriage, cool heads and adapting to change, revealing why "'It helped that we were both passionate about books': the Bega shop owners writing a new life chapter” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Inter
Jim Bright explores introspection, connection and belonging in meaningful ways, reasons why "Looking inwards and outwards for a path going forwards” via The Age
Susan Carland explores emotional and complexity maturity, reasoning why "Tension doesn’t make us fall apart. Rather, it keeps us together” via The Age
Explore experience, culture unfused with good intentions, reviewing how an "Awkward moment leads to 40-year friendship – and a new album from Yo-Yo Ma” via WA Today
Multi
Liam Mannix explores the race against time and connecting the dots, shining a light on "Marvellous Melbourne: how our scientists led the COVID fight” via The Age
Melinda Houston explores individuality, public expression and performance as "Stan Grant searches for identity in One Plus One” via WA Today
Jacqueline Maley explores perils in addressing entrenched societal inequality before bedtime, declaring why "My five-year-old wanted to read about systemic misogyny. I just wanted her to go to sleep.” via The Brisbane Times
All
Gary Nunn explores inner, outer and sub conditions to clarity, understanding and decision making, writing "What it actually means to 'go with your gut’” via The Age
Ross Gittins explores prospects of productive economies post-pandemic, predicting how "More working from home will transport us back to the future” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sherryn Groch explores intersectionality between assigned sex, experiential gender and societal attitudes, explaining "Why do gender pronouns matter and how do you use them?” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Ella Archibald-Binge explores valuing resiliance, understanding place and using privilege when shining a light on a "Power generation: emerging Indigenous leaders on overcoming adversity – and their next steps” via The Age
Cara Waters explores collective efforts to combat social media fear-mongering, conspiracy theories and unproven health treatments, writing of the "‘No sense to them’: Tackling COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on social media” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Dan Bilefsky explores culture, reengineering visibility and representing multiculturalism through a reflective lens, citing many reasons to celebrate why "This is not your grandparents’ Messiah” via The Age
Nobly
Carolyn Webb explores a family who identified a need, defined their limits and just got on with it, writing “'It's selfless': One family's gift of love to Melbourne's homeless” via The Age
Nathan Despott and Chris Csabs explores a deepening understanding within society of gender, sexuality and identity, writing "Victoria’s conversion bill is world-leading legislation” via The Age
Peter FitzSimons explores intentions, words and actions, rallying behind reasons why "Indigenous language anthem at the Test was a nation-changing moment” via The Sydney Morning Herald
TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Lyndon Davis: Welcome to Country (11 mins)
- Vasin Shnatepaporn: Human Intimacy in the Digital Age (8 mins)
- Ooooota Adepo: Are Africans citizens of the world? (15 mins)
- Sabah Choudrey: Brown, trans, queer, Muslim and proud (15 mins)
- Bindumadhav Khire: LGBT"Kyu?” (13 mins)
Music Challenges
Approx 30 min presentation + reflection timesIf desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection.
For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.
Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.
Cryptic Clue:
What is a tool for acknowledging evidence based Truth and a show of proof that we are working together towards improved and more equitible futures?
- Inspire
- Perspire
- Collaborate
- Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
- Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
- Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
institute
[in’stih’tute]
From Middle English: from Latin institut- = established, from the verb instituere, from in- = in, towards + statuere = establish, set up, place.
- an organization having a particular purpose, especially one that is involved with science, education, or a specific profession. Ie, the Institute of Architects. Ie, a research institute.
- (archaic) a commentary, treatise, or summary of principles, especially concerning law. Ie, Coke's Institutes of the Laws of England.
- introduce or establish (a scheme, undertaking, or policy). Ie, the state instituted a national lottery. Ie, the award was instituted in 1900.
- begin (legal proceedings) in a court. Ie, the spouse intended to institute divorce proceedings.
- appoint (someone) to a position, especially as a cleric. Ie, the children were instituted to the clergy. Ie, a testator who has instituted his daughter heir.
restitute
[re’stih’toot]
From Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin restituere = restore, from re- again, intensify, concentrate + statuere = establish, set up, to place.
- the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner. Ie, the Mabo Act established legal precedence to fairly restitute land rights to original custodians of the land.
- recompense for injury or loss. Ie, the defendant was ordered to restitute $10,000 in damages.
- the restoration of something to its original state. Ie, the medical team tried hard to restitute the patient's damaged mucosa.
- (Physics) the resumption of an object's original shape or position through elastic recoil. Ie, the coefficient of substances that restitute.
constitute
[con’stih'toot]
From late Middle English: from Latin constitut- = established, appointed, from the verb constituere, from con- = together + statuere = establish, set up, to place.
- be (a part) of a whole. Ie, single parents constitute a great proportion of the poor.
- combine to form (a whole). Ie, there were enough members present to constitute a quorum.
- be or be equivalent to (something). Ie, their failure to act constituted a breach of duty.
- give legal or constitutional form to (an institution); establish by law. Ie, the superior courts were constituted by the Judicial Acts 1873–5.
[Practice]
Optional
-- Chant Mantrastyle
Human development is an institute in constant need of renovation. History shows there is no greater inhumanity than what humans have done and continue to do to ourselves. The past has been done and can't be undone, so where ever necessary there arises an opportunity to restitute. When this is done we can constitute learnings, applications, evidence, experience and awakening wisdoms from it. The future hasn't been determined yet, is full of potential and influenced by what we do now. Now is being present: maintaining course, adjusting speed or altering direction as required by the situation. The most important step is the first step, without this, there is no progress. The second and subsequent steps make a journey for self while clearing a path along the ground for others to follow.
Why? Why not?
Start today.
As the case may be.
Or not.
Acknowledgments
Reconciliation
Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.Invitation to Support Content Creators
The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.Caretaker Disclosure
Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. Or not. As each case may be.
It is not personal, it just the way things are.
