A Season For Nonviolence
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Opening
OPENING DAY
January 30, was the anniversary of the assassination of Gandhi, began the 28th year of A Season For Nonviolence. Even after 28 years of publishing these nonviolent practices, we still feel compelled to publish and promote and MODEL each of the 64 practices. We hope you too, will not only engage in each of these 64 practices, but also promote each day's action to everyone you know, and encourage each person to do likewise. The more people reading and taking into their interactions with everyone they meet, the closer we will be to living in a peaceful, nonviolent world. Yes, we believe it is possible, but it ain't gonna happen by itself, we all have to understand the concepts, actually do the work, and use them in every interaction we have. AND, teach them to our children. We know in our hearts it is possible! In advance, THANK YOU for your support and encouragement.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Closing
CLOSING: Every day, I join others in this prayer for World Peace.
With each kind thought,
each choice for nonviolence,
we plant a seed that shall bloom
to bring forth rich fruit in its Season.
Together, friend, we till the soil and
plant the seeds that all creation may
sing for joy and dance in the
Garden of Peace.
May our prayers and practices
during this Season be but the beginning
of a new culture of peace, security and
joy that shall endure unto our
children’s children’s children.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 64: Celebration
DAY 64: The practice for today is CELEBRATION. Margaret Mead said "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Nonviolence is building the courage to speak and act with respect, reverence and compassion for our own being. Rejoice in the work that you have done. Celebrate the journey that you have made with countless others who believe that every individual can move the world in the direction of peace with their nonviolent choices and actions.
Today: I celebrate my knowledge and maturity, my choice of nonviolence, and the journey I have chosen.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 63: Release
DAY 63: The practice for today is RELEASE. A Sufi proverb says "when the heart weeps for what it has lost, the spirit laughs for what is found." Release the weight of your past, the judgments of yourself and others, and be the change you wish to see. Make room for what is here in this present moment, release the hurts and resentments and mistakes of the past and be present to the nonviolent presence you are right here, right now. In the presence of a man or woman in whom all hostility has been released, others cannot be hostile. In the presence of a man or woman in whom all fear has been released, no one can be afraid. This is the power of true nonviolence, as we can see in the life of Gandhi. He had released all hostility, and thereby was a profound force for peace.
Today: I reflect back on how far I have come during this 64 day journey. I release the false idea that World Peace is not possible and I acknowledge that I really do make a difference. Say out loud, "I DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 62: Commitment
DAY 62: The practice for today is COMMITMENT. Until one is committed there is hesitancy, a chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment that one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way. And so it is with nonviolence. We set forth a commitment to nonviolence with an intention that we can act upon today. By doing so, we are presented with situations and circumstances that will allow us to model our commitment, to bring nonviolence to a situation.
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!" -GoetheToday: I will identify what I am willing to do as a consequence of my commitment to nonviolence. I will clarify and affirm my personal commitment to nonviolence by sharing it with at least two people.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 61: Peace
DAY 61: The practice for today is PEACE. "Practice watering seeds of joy and peace and not just seeds of anger and violence, and the elements of war in all of us will be transformed," says Thich Nhat Hanh. You water seeds of anger and violence by deciding to stay angry and act violently. You water seeds of joy and peace by deciding to be peaceful, no matter what is happening to you. Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart, and then respond in a nonviolent way. Not only must we dedicate our lives to inner transformation, we must be prepared for our consciousness to make manifest ways that call for us to act for peace for all. It is not enough that we are at peace, that we each have inner peace - we must BE a force for peace in the world. Do we stand by and watch someone be physically abused and do nothing? Do we rationalize the situation and say "gee, it's their problem" - of course not! The same applies to armed conflict - do we stand idly by and do nothing, just as long as it's not our families who are put in harm's way? As long as it's not our sons and daughters whose life is put on the line? But the truth is, it IS our sons and daughters whose life is on the line, because if we don't stand up and be counted now, there is no hope for peace in our lifetime; their lives ARE at risk.
Today: I choose to meet each experience with an intention for peace. I will be aware of any feelings of anger or irritation and replace the feeling with calm. I envision any areas of unrest transformed into safe havens for all people. I see beyond conflict and discord to the truth: peace is everywhere present and active. Peace begins with me.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 60: Witnessing
DAY 60: The practice for today is WITNESSING. "We are each other's bond," writes poet Gwendolyn Brooks. Those who practice nonviolence cannot close their eyes to injustice or cruelty. We are here to be a witness for justice and compassion. Those who practice nonviolence look at injustice or cruelty and know that it is possible for the situation to be different, and that to bring about change, we cannot stand by and do nothing. You can stand up for truth by your presence, your words and your actions, and by doing so, make a difference.
Today: When I see injustice, I will say or take action to bring about a peaceful change. I will write down my thoughts about the action I took, and share this with another person.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 59: Intervention
DAY 59: The practice for today is INTERVENTION. Alcohol and drug abuse, as well as physical abuse, are both a consequence of, and a cause of, violence. Without intervention, the cycle continues. You could make a difference in someone's life through intervention. Make no mistake about it - our lives affect others, mainly by the force of our example.
Today: I will have the courage to intervene in a caring way with someone who is using alcohol or drugs, or is in a physically abusive situation. Through my honest, straightforward, and nonviolent communication, I will encourage them to get educated, get help, and identify resources available to them.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 58: Citizenship
DAY 58: The practice for today is CITIZENSHIP. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary General to the United Nations urged, "Use every letter you write, every conversation you have, every meeting you attend, to express your fundamental beliefs and dreams." Make a difference in your community by becoming involved. To be a citizen means to help your community be the best it can be. You are a member of many communities: your family, your place of work or school, your place of worship, your city, your country, and the planet. Participation in your community presents an opportunity to model nonviolent action, peaceful resolution, and how each of us can and DO make a difference.
Today: I will call or write one of my legislators and register my views. I will tell at least three people of my efforts and ask them to do the same.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 57: Service
DAY 57: The practice for today is SERVICE. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Everybody can be great . . . because anybody can serve . . . you only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love." Ask yourself, “How can I serve today?” What really gives value to anything is its usefulness in serving others. Our life draws its value not from the money we make, or the prizes we win, or the power we wield over others, but from the service we give every day to add a little bit more to the happiness of our family and our community. And when you serve, do it without thinking of getting anything in return. Do it as a service to the universe, not reluctantly, but with joy. By doing so, you are a model to others, and add to a culture of nonviolence.
Today: I will volunteer a minimum of two hours this week with an organization of my choice and share my commitment with at least one person. I will do one thing today to help somebody at home, at school or work, or in my community, and then write a paragraph about the experience.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 56: Self-sufficiency
DAY 56: The practice for today is SELF-SUFFICIENCY. People need the dignity of work and the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. Economic self-sufficiency is a requirement for a nonviolent world. For Gandhi, economic self-sufficiency - symbolized by the spinning wheel - was a vital element of independence from colonial rule and from oppressive economic conditions.
"Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency." -Gandhi
Today: I will discover the satisfaction of making something for myself instead of buying something - and from spending time in self-sufficient quiet reflection or meditation. If I know someone who is looking for employment, I will offer to assist them with a resume, an application, making phone calls, or practice interviewing.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 55: Responsibility
DAY 55: The practice for today is RESPONSIBILITY. The quality of my community starts with me. I take responsibility wherever I am. Whatever we are today is the result of what we have thought, spoken, and done in all the previous moments before now. The responsibility for both present and future is in our own hands. By living right today, tomorrow will be right. This applies to our physical, emotional and spiritual life; we each have the ultimate responsibility for our choices.
Today: I will pick up trash that is not my own, whether at home, at the office or on the street. If there is a conflict present in my life, I will take responsibility for my part in the conflict and work toward a nonviolent resolution.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 54: Giving
DAY 54: The practice for today is GIVING. Practice generously giving by sharing time, talent, energy and material resources with others. Whatever you give, do it without thinking of getting anything in return. Do it as a service, not reluctantly, but with joy. That is a real gift. If you expect something in return, it is not a gift, but a contract.
Whatever you give, be sure it is from the heart:
"Not in what we give, but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare."
Gifts are not just material things. Consider any harmful behavior you might have. Changing the behavior, or giving it up, could be a gift to those who love and care about you.
Today: I will clean out my closet, bureau drawers, or garage and give away things I'm not using. I will give my time to a volunteer organization and my financial resources to a cause that supports and practices nonviolence. I will consider giving up some harmful or negative behavior I may have.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 53: Action
DAY 53: The practice for today is ACTION. "Each of us can work to change a small portion of events and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation" said Robert Kennedy. Imagine what actions Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy would be taking if they were among us today. Truly nonviolent action is centered in love and compassion. Actions speak louder than words, it is said, yet it is not so much loudness as clarity and truth that matters; a gentle action can be far more powerful than a forceful one. So, too, the smallest actions - those closest to home - can be more meaningful than those expressed from a distance.
Today: I will explore actions from the heart I can take today to express my commitment to peace and nonviolence - in both my personal life and in the public domain. I will find a way to make one small change that will contribute to the well being of my home, school, workplace or community.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 52: Equality
DAY 52: The practice for today is EQUALITY. Have you ever noticed the groups of people who are under-represented in your activities and lifestyle? The Constitution of the United States says that all people are equal, and all people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Do you think everyone in our community is treated equally? If not, what can you do to change this? When I recognize as my equals those with whom I disagree, true opportunities for dialogue emerge - opportunities that are otherwise denied when I think of myself as better than, or less than, others. Martin Buber wrote about the "I-Thou" connection, the ultimate equality, and the intention from which nonviolence originates.
"Unless man is committed to the belief that all mankind are his brothers, then he labors in vain and hypocritically in the vineyards of equality." -Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Today: I will be mindful of ways that I see myself as better than, or less than, others. When I listen to people today, I will listen to them as equals; when I speak, I will speak to others as equals. I will enrich my life by considering how I can invite different people and unusual experiences into my life today.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 51: Advocacy
DAY 51: The practice for today is ADVOCACY. "When someone stands up to violence" says Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, "a force for change is released. Every action for peace requires someone to exhibit the courage to challenge violence and inspire love." Thich Nhat Hanh's life is about nonviolence, and ours can be too.
When we choose to be an advocate for nonviolence and decide right now that we will be the one to stop the violence, we release peace into the world.
Today: I will be an ally. Without blaming or judging others, I will listen from my heart, and speak out with love for those who are disrespected, abused or not listened to. I will find out how I can be an advocate in current conflicts, world-wide as well as locally.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 50: Choice
DAY 50: The practice for today is CHOICE. In ancient Greece, Heraclitus raised the awareness of choice by saying "The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny - it is the light that guides your way."
Do you think the statement "We always have a choice" is true? Do you ever think that you don’t have a choice? Do you ever think you must be violent? Can you always choose nonviolence? By raising our awareness of any thoughts or remarks that show disrespect toward ethnic groups, women or men, classes of people, religious groups, gays or lesbians, we have the opportunity to choose nonviolence. By being considerate of every person's dignity and by choosing not to participate in disrespectful communication, I am contributing to a nonviolent society.
Today: I will write about the choices I face throughout the day, noticing how they influence and translate my commitment to nonviolence through my thoughts, words and actions.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 49: Honor
DAY 49: The practice for today is HONOR. "Those who are good and pure in conduct are honored wherever they go. The good shine like the Himalayas, whose peaks glisten above the rest of the world even when seen from a distance. " -The Buddha
People who are as described by Buddha, who work for the welfare of others, will be very deeply loved, respected and honored wherever they go. It is a simple law of human nature that we love the highest, that we emulate such people, and we want to lead the kind of life they lead. This is the saving grace of human nature: when we see someone who is patient, kind, forgiving, and forbearing, we recognize their nonviolent ways, because we too, have those qualities. As we honor them, we honor ourselves.
Today: A simple way to raise my awareness of honoring others is to do so at mealtime. Before each meal today, I will stop to think about all the people involved with the food I eat and I will silently say to them, "I honor you." Likewise, I will bless and honor the earth for its abundance.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 48: Ecology
DAY 48: The practice for today is ECOLOGY. Gandhi said "To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves." Individuals like you and me who make the final decisions about what is bought and sold in the stores, how much carbon dioxide is pumped into the atmosphere, and what is dumped into the sea. Each of us can begin to heal the environment right away by changing our daily habits. And what about our internal environment, which is as real as the one we see around us? This internal environment has a powerful effect on the external environment: the way we think affects the way we treat the earth. When we purify this inner environment, we are not only making ourselves more secure and fulfilled, but we are also making an important contribution to the health of Mother Earth. Nonviolence extends from each and every one of us, not just to our brothers and sisters, but to the earth as well.
Today: I will practice recycling by using recycled products whenever I can. I will pay attention to what I discard, and look for ways to recycle rather than tossing. I will reduce, reuse and recycle the products I use.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 47: Disarmament
DAY 47: The practice for today is DISARMAMENT. What if we lived in a world where there were no weapons? What if we used the resources for developing weapons for other projects? What if we really did beat swords into plowshares? Imagine such a world for yourself and your family, because until we believe it is possible, it cannot become a reality. Peace and nonviolence does, and must, begin with each and every one of us.
Today: I will have a conversation with someone today about what the world would be like if there were no weapons, nor any need for them. I will define new uses for the resources freed-up by not developing weapons.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 46: Compassion
DAY 46: The practice for today is COMPASSION. Compassion is about both relieving suffering and about celebration (which also relieves suffering by putting it in a context of gratitude). With compassion comes a greatness of heart. Compassion arises when we allow our heart to be touched by the pain and needs of others. Compassion is about transformation from separateness to unity, from being concerned only with ourselves to being concerned about all of humanity.
“A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” -Albert Einstein
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." -The 14th Dalai Lama
Today: I will seek out someone with whom I have had a disagreement. I will set aside my own prejudices and preconceptions, step into that person's shoes, look at life through their eyes rather than my own. By doing so, I become one with him, listening and seeing with compassion. Expanding this idea to the broader world, I will engage compassion to lead my actions, my words and my life. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 45: Mastery
DAY 45: The practice for today is MASTERY. Labor organizer, Cesar Chavez taught "If you use violence you have to sell part of yourself for that violence. Then you are no longer a master of your own struggle." Practicing nonviolence requires recognizing and then learning to master your anger. This should not be surprising. After all, to attain excellence in anything we have to work at it. An Olympic swimming champion doesn't go for a workout once a week on Sunday afternoon, but practices for hours every day. The impetus to gain mastery over one's mind and senses does not come from some Olympian height, or from a distant deity; it doesn't come from any monastic rule, or even from one's spiritual teacher. It comes from deep within yourself. You have had a fleeting glimpse of the shining presence within, and in its bright remembered light, all your flaws and blemishes are thrown into sharp relief. You can't wait to start removing them.
Today: When I think of something or get into a situation where anger comes up, I will acknowledge the anger then breathe deeply, silently counting backwards from ten, and then decide what action to take. Mastery of nonviolence will come as I continue to practice.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 44: Cooperation
DAY 44: The practice for today is COOPERATION. When we work together, we are stronger than when we work alone. When we find ways that we can cooperate more effectively with the people in our family or workplace, school or community, we are removing walls of separation; we are contributing to a nonviolent culture. Parveen Rehman works on the Orangi Pilot Project in Pakistan, cooperative groups working together to improve living conditions, and as she describes “rising horizontally” – how all benefit from cooperation and working together. And as biologist Elisabeth Sahtouris describes our very existence depended upon cooperation of bacteria millions of years ago, and today says "When we learn to see the advantage of cooperation we will be able to give up competitive juvenile hostilities. It's not too late to remodel our engineered institutions into healthy, living systems."
Today: Find a very heavy object. Try to pick it up by yourself. Now ask 3 or 4 other people to assist. How did working together with other people help make this task easier for you?
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 43: Uniqueness
DAY 43: The practice for today is UNIQUENESS. Dale Carnegie said "The greatest need people have is for love and approval." Most of us cannot help comparing ourselves with others, at least now and then. This has become so entrenched in our culture that to have self-esteem, it seems almost necessary to say "I am better than he or she" implying therefore I am good. As long as we compete with each other and compare one with another, a certain amount of envy is inescapable. It is the very rare person who is completely free from jealousy. Fortunately as our awareness grows, we will know that there is a uniqueness about everyone. The truly nonviolent person does not compare himself with others, rather recognizes, acknowledges and celebrates his or her uniqueness, while also being aware of our oneness. This uniqueness/oneness awareness creates a sense of peace.
Today: I will do something that shows how unique I am. I may draw a picture, sing a song, dance or write a story. I will praise, compliment or honor the uniqueness of someone I know and by doing so, notice the positive impact I make by recognizing their uniqueness.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 42: Accountability
DAY 42: The practice for today is ACCOUNTABILITY. In conflicting situations, personal accountability allows me to take responsibility for how I contribute to the conflict. I can then make a different choice that can lead to a peaceful resolution.
Today: I will be accountable for my words. I will make a list of the thoughts I think and the words I speak that are violent. Every time I become aware of my violent thoughts or words, I will say to myself "delete" and start again. Every time I become aware of my nonviolent thoughts or words, I will say to myself "thank you."
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 41: Openness
DAY 41: The practice for today is OPENNESS. A Turkish proverb says, "he who builds himself a fence, fences out more than he fences in." If you don’t listen to someone because they look different or have different ideas than you, you’re building a fence around yourself and you’re missing out on having a new friend and learning something new. When we refrain from acting on a negative emotion or selfish desire, we stop building the wall around our life - we can open our life up to others. When we can be open to the opportunity for growth, we can use this as a way to find nonviolent ways to resolve differences.
Today: I will be open to understanding ideas and people that I have previously opposed. I will find somebody with whom I never wanted to talk to before and find a way to have a conversation with him or her.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 40: Unity
DAY 40: The practice for today is UNITY. Differences give variety to life and are often only on the surface. Most communities are made of diverse groups of people who have different opinions, who look different, and who speak many different languages. Our challenge is to see beyond outer differences in opinions and appearances and find a meeting point of underlying unity that exists in diversity. There is peace and nonviolence in unity as we recognize who we are in others, a transformation from separateness to unity.
Today: I will look for three ways to see beyond outer differences in opinions, appearances, or goals. I will seek out someone who looks different from me; looking beyond these outer differences I will see the unity which is inside and journal about what I have discovered.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 39: Dialogue
DAY 39: The practice for today is DIALOGUE. Marianne Williamson describes a healthy society as one in which "those who disagree can do so with honor and respect for other people’s opinions, and an appreciation for our shared humanity." We might not always agree with other people, but when we really listen to what they have to say we are having a dialogue. We never argue in a dialogue. We say what we think and then we listen to the other person so we can understand what they think and learn from them. When we engage in dialogue, we seek not to prove we are right, or that the other person is wrong, but to state clearly - from a place of ahimsa and truth force - what we believe to be true. We listen deeply so as to be able to understand the perspectives of those who do not appear to share our understanding.
Today: I will speak my truth quietly and clearly, and not enter into the spirit of argument. I will listen with an open heart, with compassion, to the truth as perceived by others.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 38: Kindness
DAY 38: The practice for today is KINDNESS. Every day we hear of random and senseless acts of violence. By participating in the counter-revolution of kindness started by Anne Herbert ("Practice random acts of KINDNESS and senseless acts of beauty") you are contributing to a culture of nonviolence. If someone does or says something unkind to me, if I return kindness, I am not simply being kind to that particular person, I am being kinder to myself. I am taking one more step towards being free. I am turning wrath away from myself, as well as being kind to the other person and by doing so, I am reinforcing kindness as a part of my personality.
"My religion is kindness" -The Dalai Lama
Today: I will do something kind for someone for no reason other than to be kind. I will bring beauty to a place where it may be needed without letting anyone know I was the one who did it. I will write about how I felt and then share this story with someone.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 37: Graciousness
DAY 37: The practice for today is GRACIOUSNESS. Are we willing to make all sorts of gracious concessions on things that are rather inconsequential, and yet stand unshakable on essentials? To do this, we have to be detached from our opinions. This doesn't mean being wishy-washy or lacking strength in our convictions, but that we cultivate the wisdom not to force our opinions on others.
"My life is an indivisible whole, and all my attitudes run into one another; and they all have their rise in my insatiable love for mankind." -Gandhi
Today: I will create a skit with at least three other people to show the difference between graciousness and selfishness. I will observe and share with the others how graciousness adds to nonviolence.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 36: Mindfulness
DAY 36: The practice for today is MINDFULNESS. Mindfulness is thinking about what you’re doing and knowing why you're doing it. If we just act in each moment with composure and mindfulness, each minute of our life is a work of art. Be aware of the motivation behind your action, the intention behind your words and the needs and experiences of other people. By doing so, you are making life more beautiful and you are more likely to make nonviolent choices.
"The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers." -Thich Nhat Hanh
Today: Choose something simple to do, such as eating a piece of fruit. Bringing my complete attention to it, I notice what my hands do, the way the fruit feels in my mouth, the taste, the texture, the idea of nourishing my body. Suppressing the possible diversion of talking or thinking of anything else, I will keep my attention on what I am doing. Similarly, I will practice being mindful in everything I do today.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 35: Understanding
DAY 35: The practice for today is UNDERSTANDING. Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist teacher says, "When you understand, you cannot help but love. Practice looking at all living beings with the eyes of compassion." True understanding requires suspending our judgments and listening from an open heart. When we understand from the other person's point of view, a healing can begin, because behind every harsh thought, behind every unkind word, behind every act of violence, is an unhealed wound.
Today: When I find myself disagreeing with someone, I will focus on understanding what they are saying - and why. I will listen compassionately to them, with a silent thought of love, and tell them what I understand them to be saying. With empathy, I will state clearly and quietly what I believe they are saying.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 34: Love
DAY 34: The practice for today is LOVE. Gandhi wrote, "nonviolence is based on the assumption that human nature ... unfailingly responds to the advances of love." All the great texts encourage us to "love your enemy." The ancients understood that this is where the creative energy comes from. An enemy does not have to be life-threatening or violent; an enemy can just be a thought that gets us to look at something in a different way. Consider the power of befriending someone you previously thought was an "enemy". In a conflict, rather than putting your energy toward winning, see what channeling that energy toward a loving, nonviolent solution can accomplish.
Today: I will focus on what I can find to love in the person I like the least. As I meet people during the day, I will reflect on how love can enhance the relationship.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 33: Acknowledgement
DAY 33: The practice for today is ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Acknowledgement helps us see the oneness of all life, that we are part of a greater purpose, and by doing so, elevate our awareness of nonviolence. When I acknowledge someone, how could I possibly do harm toward them? When I tell someone what a difference he or she has made in my life and acknowledge that person for being there for me, I am affirming our connectedness.
"Acknowledge
1. a. To admit the existence, reality, or truth of.
b. To recognize as being valid or having force or power.2. a. To express recognition of: acknowledge a friend's smile.
b. To express thanks or gratitude for. "-The American Heritage® Dictionary
Today: In each of the four meanings quoted above, I will take time to acknowledge each person I meet or see today - including myself - in the spirit of ahimsa and forgiveness.I will take time today to acknowledge the realm of nature, the community of life on Earth, and the Earth itself.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 32: Patience
DAY 32: The practice for today is PATIENCE. According to farm activist Cesar Chavez, "Nonviolence is not non-action… It is hard work…It is the patience to win." When your plans seem delayed, choose to be patient by recognizing ways you can constructively use this time to support your goal. By practicing patience we can respond rather than react, and by doing so, stay centered and at peace. Patience and passion both come from a Latin word meaning to suffer or endure. Whenever we practice patience - cheerfully bearing with somebody who is irascible, or enduring discomfort, rather than imposing it on others - we are embracing those principles and creating an opportunity to model nonviolence. There is only one way to create a nonviolent world, and that is by being nonviolent ourselves.
Today: I will look for opportunities to practice patience. In a situation where there is friction, rather than run away, I will move closer to the core of the conflict and look for a nonviolent solution. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 31: Praise
DAY 31: The practice for today is PRAISE. Appreciation helps people to grow. Offer praise to the people you encounter today for their personal qualities, achievements or helpful service. Telling someone what you appreciate about them is paramount in nonviolent communication. Praise is important for ourselves, too. Louise Hay says "Praise yourself as much as you can … The love in our lives begins with us … Loving yourself will help heal this planet." Peace in our world begins with each and every one of us.
Today: I will give sincere praise to at least three people today for their personal qualities, achievements, or helpful service, and then to myself. I will journal about the experience and feelings of each encounter. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 30: Making Amends
DAY 30: The practice for today is MAKING AMENDS. The other side of forgiveness is making amends, when it is you who has been - or needs to be - forgiven for hurt or wrongdoing you may have caused. As with forgiveness, the gift of making amends - to yourself and to whoever has been hurt or wronged - is revealed when it is given unconditionally from your heart. What would it be like if world leaders made amends?
"Making amends may seem like a bitter pill to swallow, but for those serious about recovery it can be great medicine for the spirit and soul." -Step 9: The Twelve Steps
Today: As I interact with people today, I will reflect on whether there are ways I feel moved to make amends; I will let my heart gently guide me, as I recall each person's unique ways of expressing his or her joys, fears and pains. I will be open to let my heart speak through words, actions, thoughts or prayers. I will offer a sincere apology to someone I may have hurt. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 29: Forgiveness
DAY 29: The practice for today is FORGIVENESS. When we forgive, we do not condone hurtful behavior. When we realize that there is something within us that is more important than this hurtful experience, we are free to let go of the past and move on with our lives. In doing so, we open our hearts to the humanity of those we forgive.
As we forgive others, we are teaching the mind to respond with forgiveness everywhere, even to the misdeeds and mistakes of our own past. And if I have treated a particular person badly, even if I can no longer receive that person's forgiveness, I can still receive the forgiveness of myself.
"The result of forgiveness is the stopping of the recycling of anger within ourselves and in the world. Peace will come to the world when each of us takes the responsibility of forgiving everyone, including ourselves, completely." -Gerald Jampolsky
Today: I am willing to let go of the past, and forgive those who have hurt me, and towards whom I feel anger. I will forgive myself too. Today, I will write a letter of forgiveness to someone for an event that still has strong emotional attachment for me (I do not have to mail it). -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 28: Listening
DAY 28: The practice for today is LISTENING. Can you stop what you are doing and thinking, and take time to truly listen to the feelings behind someone's words? Being fully present for the conversation and interested in what that person is saying is a practice of nonviolence. Notice the difference between hearing and listening is that listening requires active participation. To bring peace to the listening process, add a component of Marshall Rosenberg's "Nonviolent Communications" which involves listening with compassion. The listener attends fully to the speaker's words, while sensing the feelings and needs beneath the words. The listener is fully present, not trying to "figure it out", nor trying to "get it right", nor trying to “fix it.” If I can listen to you with compassion, it is usually only a short time before you listen with compassion to me, creating a nonviolent dialogue.
Today: I will be fully present to each conversation I engage in, and listen longer than usual - and with more patience - to what others are saying. I will give the other person my full attention, because nothing else really matters. I will look directly at the person who is speaking, without thinking about other things. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 27: Generosity
DAY 27: The practice for today is GENEROSITY. Mother Teresa said, "There is a hidden poverty more pervasive than lack of money. It is the poverty of the heart." Look at ways you can contribute to your family, friends and community through your generosity. You will see how your generous gift comes back to you. The more generous you are today, the more generosity you will have tomorrow. The more love you give, the more loving you become. The more generous you become, the less need to defend what you have, the greater your capacity for nonviolence.
Today: I will find three ways to give generously of my time, talent and resources to others. I will create a 'Gift Certificate' for someone. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 26: Respect
DAY 26: The practice for today is RESPECT. Gandhi taught "Language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers." Respecting yourself and others means making a choice not to use profanity or 'put downs'. Let your language be based on respect for those you address. The life of peace excludes no one. Let your words reflect your respect for others - speak from the depth of your heart and soul. The other side of respect is listening - listen to others with the respect that what they have to say matters. The act of listening has a calming effect on others, even if they are in a heated tirade, just listening models a nonviolent response.
"Courtesy towards opponents and eagerness to understand their viewpoint is the ABC of nonviolence." -M.K. Gandhi
Today: As I interact with and observe people during the day, I will be aware of ways in which I respect each person. I will draw a picture of someone for whom I have a great deal of respect, then frame the picture with words that describe this person. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 25: Friendliness
DAY 25: The practice for today is FRIENDLINESS. To humorist Will Rogers, strangers were simply friends he hadn’t met. View those you encounter in that light. Every time I am friendly toward another, I help break down the wall of separation and I contribute to nonviolence. When we extend our friendliness (our love) outward, we include not only our friends, but our community, our country, and our world.
Today: I will make a new acquaintance, befriend a stranger. I will go up to someone I haven’t met yet and say "Hi friend." -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 24: Harmony
DAY 24: The practice for today is HARMONY. Choosing NOT to engage in any form of gossip today contributes to harmony. Choosing to see the good in others rather than finding fault leads to peaceful relationships. By making these choices, we are contributing to a culture of nonviolence; we are being a model of peace.
We don't live in this world alone, and we need other people if we are to grow. Can you practice patience with a deer? Can you learn to forgive a redwood? Of course not, but we can do these things with other people. By doing so, by choosing to live in harmony with the people around me, will bring enormous inner growth.
Today: I will choose to see the good in others instead of finding fault. I will spend the entire day without criticizing anything or anyone; if I am tempted to criticize, I will write down the criticism rather than speaking it, and then later discover where the criticism is coming from within me. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 23: Prayer
DAY 23: The practice for today is PRAYER. "Prayer from the heart can achieve what nothing else in the world can" said Gandhi.
Begin and end the day with a prayer for peace. Peace begins with me.
Saint Francis of Assisi said it this way:
"..... make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy."
Today: I will begin and end the day with a prayer for peace. When I say goodbye to people, I will say "May Peace Prevail on Earth." I will create a space in my home dedicated to prayer for nonviolence. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 22: Mission
DAY 22: The thought for today is MISSION. "My life is my message" said Gandhi. Gandhi’s mission was to be nonviolent. What do you want to stand for in your life? Our mission, and our deepest need, is for the joy that comes with loving and being loved, with knowing we are of genuine service to others. If we are determined to stick to what is really important in life, then from day to day we will see that the unimportant pastimes, the distractions that lead us away from our purpose, will gradually weaken their hold.
Today: I will write down what I stand for in my life. I will note at least one way I can show, through action, that I stand for my beliefs. I will develop a personal mission statement and draw a picture of myself living my mission. I will share my mission with at least three other people. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 21: Inspiration
Day 21: The practice for today is INSPIRATION. There are many people who inspire us. Take a moment to reflect upon someone who inspires you and what characteristics you most admire in them. See the potential that is also within you and choose to cultivate these characteristics in your daily life. And as I live a nonviolent life, I too, will inspire others to follow my model, because human nature responds to such an example.
"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds. It will get you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life BE Revelation." -Eileen Caddy
Today: As I think of at least two people who exemplify the practice of nonviolence, I'll acknowledge what it is I admire about them, what inspires me about them. I'll practice these behaviors today so that other people may be inspired and I'll share this insight with at least three other people. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 20: Self-Forgiveness
DAY 20: The practice for today is SELF-FORGIVENESS. When I judge myself, I tend to believe that who I am is what I have done or not done, what I have or do not have. I know that who I am is greater than all these things. I am greater than any mistake I have ever made. When I get even the slightest glimpse of the unity of life, I realize that sitting in judgment of other people and countries and races, I am training my mind to sit in judgment of myself. As I forgive others, I am teaching the mind to respond with forgiveness everywhere, even to the misdeeds and mistakes of my own past. Practicing self-forgiveness is a foundation for practicing nonviolence.
Today: I will write an apology letter to myself for anything I have done to myself that I wish I had not, or ways that I have disappointed myself and not fully lived up to my potential. I'll mail the letter to myself and when it arrives, I will read it in a quiet place.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 19: Acceptance
DAY 19: The practice for today is ACCEPTANCE. "Resentment, fear, criticism and guilt cause more problems than anything else" says author Louise Hay. By choosing not to judge myself and see myself as unique, loving, capable and bright, and by accepting myself just as I am, I am modeling nonviolence. Any time I can take down the walls of defense, I open myself up to a nonviolent way of living.
"Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such." -Henry Miller
Today: As I reflect on what is difficult for me to accept - in myself, in other people, and in the state of the world - I'll let go of any resistance or judgment, and allow myself to accept and acknowledge whatever I have been resisting.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 18: Freedom
DAY 18: The thought for today is FREEDOM. Nelson Mandela said "To be free is to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Personal freedom means we are no longer dependent on how others act towards us. The person who practices this freedom is a model for nonviolent conflict resolution. By loving people who oppose or disagree with us and responding with compassionate communication helps bring us closer to peace, and healing to the world. Our native state is freedom. What we want most is to be free of all the thought and actions that keep us from living in peace with ourselves, with others, and with the environment. This desire for freedom is at the core of our being.
Today: I will reflect on areas of my life where I express my freedom, acknowledge those areas where I do not feel free and make a plan for resolving this conflict.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 17: Integrity
DAY 17: The practice for today is INTEGRITY. "Do the Right Thing!" Spike Lee used these words as a title for one of his movies. When faced with a choice, listen to your conscience, and be willing to act accordingly, no matter what others may say. I know what is right to do; I can choose to do it. Integrity asks for firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values and denies any form of corruption. Integrity is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. And when I am in harmony, I am a model of nonviolence. This applies not only to human interactions, but also to those with the plants and animals, with the entire earth.
Today: When faced with a choice today, I listen to my conscience. I'll recall, then write a short story about a time when I listened to my heart when the people around me were doing something else.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 16: Gratitude
DAY 16: The practice for today is GRATITUDE. On her TV show, Oprah Winfrey frequently promoted the daily practice of gratitude. Expressing gratitude to others and to ourselves has a direct affect on our mental and physical attitude. People who express gratitude suffer less stress, are more optimistic and in general are happier than those who do not.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie
Today: I will list five things for which I am grateful for and share these good things with another, then reflect on who and what made those experiences possible. I will write a "thank-you" note to someone who would least expect me to thank them. I'll journal about my feelings with regard to this.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 15: Reverence
DAY 15: The practice for today is REVERENCE. Reverence for all life is fundamental to Ahimsa; it is the ultimate rationale for nonviolence - for how can one willingly do harm to that for which one has reverence - and towards which one has the love that reverence engenders?
"In the main, reverence for life dictates the same sort of behavior as the ethical principle of love. But reverence for life contains within itself the rationale of the commandment to love, and it calls for compassion for all creature life." ~Albert Schweitzer
"Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence." ~ Plato
Today: I open myself up to a feeling of reverence for all forms of life, especially each and every person that I meet during the day. I'll take a walk outside and experience the beauty that surrounds me as I BE with the sky, the plants and animals, as well as my brothers and sisters.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 14: Humility
DAY 14: The practice for today is HUMILITY. Making mistakes is a part of learning and growing, an error in approach. Paradoxically, the only way we can begin to resolve the consequences of our actions is to stop running from them and to face them with fortitude and humility. In this sense, every difficult situation is a precious opportunity for learning. When I humbly acknowledge my mistakes and reflect on what I have learned, it frees me from the need to be defensive. Being free from defending my position creates an opportunity for nonviolence.
"The seeker after truth should be humbler than the dust. The world crushes the dust under its feet, but the seeker after truth should so humble himself that even the dust could crush him. Only then, and not till then, will he have a glimpse of the truth." - Gandhi
Today: As I gaze up at the stars tonight, I am aware of how small I am, how my life is but a fleeting moment in the vast scale of time and distances of the solar system and the universe. And in that moment of humility, I acknowledge that I DO make a difference.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 13: Creativity
DAY 13: The practice for today is CREATIVITY. The human soul's natural desire is to create. The best thing you can do is to nourish the soul to express this natural desire to create. Your life is your creative expression. Creativity allows something unpredictable and joyous to express through you.
"Why should we use all our creative power? . . . Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money." -Brenda Ueland
Today: I reflect on what I am creating in my life today by identifying at least five ways in which I can express my creativity joyously. I will create something that expresses my feelings about nonviolence. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 12: Grounded
DAY 12: The practice for today is GROUNDED. Gandhi said "To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves." Black Elk reminds us "Some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds." This is how we feel when we are grounded, like a tree planted in the earth. Stand up straight and close your eyes. Imagine your body is a tree. Send down roots into the soil, feel the sun shining from above. Feel your branches and leaves blowing in the wind. When we feel grounded, we feel secure in our environment; and when we feel secure, we are more likely to respond to a situation in a nonviolent way. Being grounded helps us contribute to peace, to a culture of nonviolence.
Today: I will nurture a plant or plant a seed in, and for, the earth. When I am in a confrontational situation, I will recall that sense of being grounded and respond in a grounded, nonviolent way.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 11: Contemplation
DAY 11: The practice for today is CONTEMPLATION. The "law of action" states that everything we do - even everything we think, since our thoughts condition our behavior - has consequences; not "equal and opposite" as in physics, but equal and alike. Many sacred texts tell us some variation of "your thoughts shape your reality".
"The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival." -Aristotle
Today: I take a moment to relax, breathe and let my mind be fed by what is good, beautiful, and peaceful. As I think, so I am! I will write down my thoughts and share them with others. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 10: Faith
DAY 10: The practice for today is FAITH. When Cesar Chavez was organizing farm workers in California, he challenged them to say, "Si, se puede" - yes, it is possible - when they didn’t know how they would overcome obstacles. You too, can say "Yes, it is possible" even if you don’t know how your goal will be realized. When you have faith, you will find a way. Faith enables you to work free from tension, agitation, and fear of defeat. When you approach life with faith, you are always at peace, because you are not anxious about the results.
Today: I will say, "Yes, it is possible," to every obstacle I meet. I will write down three things of which I am having a challenge and with each one write "It is possible for me to overcome this obstacle and be successful."
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 9: Visioning
DAY 9: The practice for today is VISIONING. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a great dream, a vision. You too, have a vision - follow your vision, your dream, follow your heart, follow your inner light. A vision, like a thought, is a precursor to action; a vision without action is just a hallucination.
We need men (and women) who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not. - George Bernard Shaw
There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were, and ask 'Why not?' -Robert F KennedyToday: I take ownership of my own vision for peace and nonviolence. I will write down and act on at least one thing to honor my dream today.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 8: Healing
DAY 8: The practice for today is HEALING. Poet and activist, Maya Angelou turned a traumatic childhood experience into a catalyst for creativity and achievement. She used this experience as a reason to bring peace to the world. We all have had such experiences, sometimes holding on to the experience for a very long time. A mantram is a wonderful way to resolve conflict we hold in our mind and one of the best times to repeat the mantram is while falling asleep at night. Tuck yourself in, close your eyes, and start repeating your mantram. Between the last waking moment and the first sleeping moment, there is an opening into deepest consciousness. You can send your mantram in through that opening, repeating itself in your sleep, healing old wounds and restoring your peace of mind.
Today: I will reflect on an incident in my life to find the "gift" it has brought me. I will write down two ways I can use this memory to become a more creative and peaceful person. Consciously, I share this gift with others.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 7: Education
DAY 7: The practice for today is EDUCATION. Knowledge strengthens your conviction and deepens your understanding and acceptance. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." The complete education teaches how to live by the principles which benefit us and the people around us. Learn about the power of nonviolence by educating yourself. Read an article, periodical or book; watch a video on a subject that relates to nonviolence.
Learn about human rights, justice, diversity, ecology, history, forgiveness, spirituality, peace studies, biographies of heroes and more.
Today: I consciously expand my knowledge about nonviolence. I will share what I have learned with at least three other people, and invite them to learn, too. (Suggestions: Watch the video "A Force More Powerful" and/or "Gandhi"; read the book "Nonviolence" by Kurlanski, and/or "Nonviolent Communication" by Rosenberg.)
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 6: Simplicity
DAY 6: The practice for today is SIMPLICITY. To simplify is to invite peacefulness into your life. When we have lots of 'stuff' in our lives, it can be hard to be peaceful. Close your eyes and ask "How can I simplify my life, what can I let go of?" If I dare let go of my possessions and the will to control and dominate, I will cultivate a deeper spirit of peace within myself. By simplifying our lives, dropping less important activities and 'things', we allow more time for what matters most. We can consider the idea of accepting the present moment as a gift.
"Live simply, so others can simply live."
-Traditional Quaker guidanceToday: I will write down three ways I can simplify my life and put at least one of them into practice today. I will give away something I have not used in the past year.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 5: Believing
DAY 5: The practice for today is BELIEVING. Author Wayne Dyer writes about the impact that our beliefs have on our daily lives. Believe that you have all the resources you need to move your life in the direction of peace, happiness and nonviolence. Believe that you can be peaceful all day. Say to yourself "I am peaceful, I practice nonviolence."
Today: I will write what I believe about nonviolence. I will create an "I Believe in Nonviolence" t-shirt, bumper sticker, song, or art, and be aware of the simple demonstrations of peaceful responses.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 4: Caring
DAY 4: The practice for today is CARING. According to Peter McWilliams, "Nonviolence toward the self is caring for oneself. Self love is a crowning sense of self worth; it is what the Greeks call reverence for the self."
When I regard my life as a trust, I realize that the first resource I have to take care of is myself. This can be startling! Even my body is not really my own - it belongs to life, and it is my responsibility to take care of it. Taking care of it is a demonstration of nonviolence.
Today: I will make a list of at least five ways that I can take care of myself, physically, mentally, emotionally, and I will honor that list today through demonstration.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 3: Appreciation
DAY 3: The practice for today is APPRECIATION. Author Louise Hay says "Praise yourself as much as you can . . . The love in our lives begins with us . . . Loving yourself will help heal this planet." Peace in the world begins inside each person. Appreciating who I am raises my awareness of nonviolence.
Life is filled with opportunities to express appreciation, yet how many times do we pass up the opportunity thinking "oh, I'll tell them later." When we tell someone that we appreciate them, we are promoting nonviolence.
Today: I will write down ten things that I appreciate about myself and my life. I will tell at least one other person what I appreciate about them.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 2: Smiling
DAY 2: The practice for today is SMILING. Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said "If, in our daily life, we can smile . . . not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work." A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship and nonviolence. A smile not only improves our looks, it improves our outlook, and when our outlook improves, it is much easier to be at peace.
Today: I will share a sincere smile with everyone I meet, knowing that my smile contributes to peace.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Day 1: Courage
DAY 1: The practice for today is COURAGE.
"I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." -Anne Frank
When I discover that everyone is contained in me and I am contained in everyone, I have then realized the unity of life. I realize I am not just a person, I am a beneficial force. Wherever you go, wherever you live, those around you will benefit from your life. Even when one unassuming man or woman in a community has the courage to lead a nonviolent life, she will make her contribution, and she will slowly inspire others to make the same contribution, because human nature responds to such an example.
When we can say, "Whatever comes, I will not be afraid because the divine Self is within me," then this resoluteness and faith will enable us to work free from tension, agitation, and fear of defeat. The person who works in this way is at peace, because he or she is not anxious about results.
Today: I will light a candle to symbolize my commitment to accept the courage to practice 64 Ways of living nonviolently. -
Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Opening
OPENING DAY
January 30, was the anniversary of the assassination of Gandhi, began the 28th year of A Season For Nonviolence. Even after 28 years of publishing these nonviolent practices, we still feel compelled to publish and promote and MODEL each of the 64 practices. We hope you too, will not only engage in each of these 64 practices, but also promote each day's action to everyone you know, and encourage each person to do likewise. The more people reading and taking into their interactions with everyone they meet, the closer we will be to living in a peaceful, nonviolent world. Yes, we believe it is possible, but it ain't gonna happen by itself, we all have to understand the concepts, actually do the work, and use them in every interaction we have. AND, teach them to our children. We know in our hearts it is possible! In advance, THANK YOU for your support and encouragement.
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Daily Practices Toward Creating A Culture of Peace - Closing
CLOSING: Every day, I join others in this prayer for World Peace.
With each kind thought,
each choice for nonviolence,
we plant a seed that shall bloom
to bring forth rich fruit in its Season.
Together, friend, we till the soil and
plant the seeds that all creation may
sing for joy and dance in the
Garden of Peace.
May our prayers and practices
during this Season be but the beginning
of a new culture of peace, security and
joy that shall endure unto our
children’s children’s children.
Creating a Culture of Peace
Pledge of Nonviolence
Making peace must start with me. I commit myself to become a nonviolent and peaceable person.
To Respect Myself and Others
To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks and self destructive
behavior..
To Communicate Better
To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to talk and act when I'm angry, and to work at solving problems
peacefully.
To Listen
To listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me, and to consider others' feelings and needs
rather than insist on having my own way.
To Forgive
To apologize and make amends when I have hurt another, to forgive others, and to keep from holding grudges.
To Respect Nature
To treat the environment and all living things,
including my pets, with respect and care.
To Play Creatively
To select entertainment and toys that support our family's values and to avoid entertainment that makes violence look
exciting, funny or acceptable.
To Be Courageous
To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community,
and to stand with others who are treated unfairly.
Eliminating violence, one person at a time, starting with me.
Read more about this long-running project in Len Ellis' original article, first published in 2013: