Expanding Horizons

Enter the Dragon

Those lucky enough to be born in the Chinese "Year of the Dragon" are said to be endowed with Power, Abundance, Majesty and Longevity. Kris's address today takes its title from Bruce "The Dragon" Lee's martial arts film - "Enter the Dragon". It is about a darker side: that "dragon" within ourselves and commences with a reading from an interview with the Mythologist, Joseph Campbell.
At the outset, Kris asks us: "Have you got your 'inner dragon' under control?"

Well have you? Listen on to find out.

"The Matrix"

Today Kris delves into the symbolism behind the plot of the 1990s film "The Matrix", drawing from the Matrix's similarities with the Martin Scorsese film, "The Last Temptation of Christ, the folk-law of the Greek heroes and (Joseph Campbell's) The Hero's journey". There is also a Christian context to the symbolism of "The Matrix". Kris asks - "What is Reality? It is also about the choices we make - or choose not to make, and the consequences of our choices. So often it's a choice between complacency, stasis - or risk the unknown. Our journey is all about exploring Reality. It's about discovery, especially "self-discovery", risk taking, growth, especially treading the spiritual path - a spiritual journey leading to spiritual growth. Intellect will only take us so far. Listen on to begin - or to continue - your spiritual journey. Kris concludes: "Let us choose Love!"

Risen!

On this third day of Easter, Resurrection Day, in an address called "Risen", Kris explores some of the Resurrection Mythology from other cultures and religious traditions that preceded the New Testament account of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Kris asks: "Why have humans throughout history and in so many cultures from around the world, woven stories of Gods - and even ordinary people like us, dying and being reborn again?"

It is still all about Hope, suggests Kris. But it's something more certain than our own immortality. What's more - it's something we are all capable of, and it's something we can - each of us - take away with us today.

A Good Friday Service

Today, as the focus of our Easter service, Kris talks about Courage in defiance of Authority:-

- that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as Messiah, - to the Jews, that ultimate blasphemy.

To get us into an Easter mind-set, Kris asks us some key questions:-

• Is there a cause we feel very strongly about?
• How far would we be prepared to go in pursuit of that cause - especially if we were challenged by Authority?
• Would we be prepared to make that ultimate sacrifice - of our life in fulfillment of that cause?

We learn of one Messiah who made that ultimate sacrifice and is remembered;

- another, "wanna-be" 'messiah' who fell short but lived to tell the story - albeit one of capitulation to power - of failure and ignominy.

Our Water Service

Today our young people joint with us in celebrating our annual water "communion" . We were each given an opportunity to contribute our water offering to the common bowl which our young then carried out with them to to add to our garden, to feed other living plants and animals. As our water has intermingled, so do we. It is it illusiory to think that we are all separate. Today we come together to celebrate the wonderful diversity of cultures to be experienced in Adelaide; yet we are still - One Humanity, united by our common needs far more than what may divide.
In extending this water theme, Grant reads from the poet, Rumi about water followed by Kris's reflections on water. Despite the illusion that we are solid, Kris points to the the disproportionate amount of water that comprises all life on earth - the "sine-qua-non" of life - "without which we are nothing". Kris then reflected on Babylonian and Jewish creation myths separating water and sky (the firmament). And when humans arrive - well, that's when all the trouble began! Other water practices include ritual cleansing, immersion (the Jewish, Miqveh), absolution, baptism, "World Water Day", "Water for Peace" , ...the needs of Palestinians in Gaza and Rafah! We need the thirst to become better people!
Listen on for more of Kris reflections on what was a memorable celebration of Water!

Getting ready for a new year

Kris commences "Getting ready for a new year" with some illustrations and observations on ancient stone monuments, astronomically aligned to identify the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which - since the stone age, heralded in the commencement of a new year. With Spring came fresh aspirations, to be energised into new resolutions for the year ahead: in Japan: Shunbun no Hi; amongst Kurdish and Iranian people - it's the rapidly approaching Nowruz.
Kris observes that the sum of our past thought and actions bear fruit and we "reap what we sow." Hopefully that fruit is wisdom and - if not loving - then at least positive, productive relationships that we can build upon.
Kris asks: "How did you go with your New Year resolutions?" We are invited to start afresh with the approaching Nowruz of the Kurdish and Persians? However, it's not the day or date - but the strength of our resolve to bring about change within ourselves that really matters. A New Year - the time for new resolve, a fresh start - can be any day, like now!
Kris begins the denouement of this address with a memorable quote from Unitarian, Ralph Waldo Emerson - "....every day is the best day of the year...." and follows this with some ideas for new resolutions which I found to be very relevant. Hopefully, you will too! So do listen on!

Ramadan

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.

Ramadan

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.

What we stand for!

Kris commences his address "What (Do) We Stand For!?" at our Vespers Service at Shady Grove today with an anecdote that comes in the form of a criticism of Unitarians and Unitarianism: "You don't stand for anything!"
Perhaps the criticism was from a person searching for the certainties of a creed and we are a Non-Credal church. But it's not that we are without beliefs, principles - certainties even! It's just that we are free to decide what those certainties are. Unitarianism is older than Trinitarianism, and today, Kris answers that criticism with What We Do Stand For.

Australian Unitarians find themselves historically, philosophically and globally - midway between British Unitarianism and American Unitarian Universalism. Kris's address today considers where we've been as Unitarians, where we're at -now, and where we might be heading. We have some decisions to make!

The Eight-fold Path

Kris's Address today is on the Buddhist approach to living - The "Eight-fold Path" to Enlightenment, based on the Four Noble Truths:-

• that suffering is an inevitable part of living-
• - whose causes can be determined.
• It's possible to escape suffering and-
• there is a path - the "eight-fold path" we can follow to  end suffering.

The Buddha's practical guide to effective living is as relevant to our living today as it was 2,500 years ago.

Kris explains the Eight-fold path: Right View; Right Intention (or Resolve); Right Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness; Right Concentration. The Eight-fold Path is not an ordered sequence of steps to follow - but more like eight spokes of a wheel, each playing their part - in keeping the wheel turning, true! And then there's the role of Meditation. Kris also sets us some homework! - And some challenges!