The Human Cohesion Project — 23 May 2024

We stand at the confluence of wisdom this full moon:

Vesak, Kurma Jayanti, and the Declaration of the Báb.

Each path invites us to pause, to reflect,

To find meaning in the myths and symbols they present.

A young prince, Siddhartha, shielded from pain,

Sneaked out of comfort, encountered the truth:

Age, sickness, death, suffering…

And realised that the only way out is through.

He became the Buddha,

Revealing that enlightenment comes from embracing suffering,

From dancing with it, understanding it,

Until it transforms into a path of liberation.

Kurma, the tortoise, supported the churning ocean,

Balancing the cosmos on his back

In the Indic myth, as an incarnation of Vishnu, the creative force.

His slow, steady presence inviting us

To be in the dance of creation and chaos.

Even as the world churns upon us and around us,

Can we be the balance amidst the turmoil?

The Báb declared a new dawn,

A message of unity, of oneness,

Challenging the divisions that tear us.

His vision transcended norms,

Calling for a connection beyond divisions,

A spiritual awakening.

In his words, we find hope,

A call to break free from the prisons we have built for ourselves.

In these myths and messages, we see reflections

Of our own lives, our own struggles and hopes.

The Buddha’s journey through suffering,

Kurma’s steadfast grounding,

The Báb’s vision of unity,

Each offers a lesson, a guiding light.

What truths must we open up to?

How can we support and balance our world?

How can we see through and beyond our differences?

These questions echo in the confluence of these celebrations,

Inviting us to introspect, to engage, to transform.

In this confluence is woven a rich tapestry of wisdom,

A call to awaken, to support, to unite.

May we dance with these truths,

Finding our path in the light of their teachings.

Let us celebrate not just the festivals,

But the lessons they offer…

#RukminiIyer #ExultSolutions #peacebuilding #interfaith #TheHumanCohesionProject