East and West.

In a garden near my home there is a pond in which grow lotuses and water lilies.

It seemed to me that these symbolized Eastern and Western spiritual traditions.

The lotuses for the East.

And the water lilies for the West.

And so Australia is the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.

Lotuses grow wild in Australia's Kakadu National Park.

The Aboriginal people of Australia have been linked to ancient emigrants from the sub-continent of India.

And Yoga is still very popular in Australia.

The water lilies represent the modern emigrants from Europe who brought with them the religion of Christianity during the Age of Pisces.

And so the two cultures - the Aboriginal and the European - converge in Australia's heart.

There are also many Asian immigrants in Australia.

And they bring their own spiritual traditions.

Buddhism (which also originated in India) and Chinese traditional religions.

Also Islam from Indonesia and South-East Asia.

And so we in Australia have the unique opportunity to harmonize the cultures of East and West.  

Photo Credit: lilysflorist.com