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What an inspired and inspiring quest! I am particularly impressed by your all-embracing fairness, your refusal to make any material demands, the absence of any preaching or condescension, the honesty of a pure, heartfelt appeal to the better person in all of us. How can anyone refuse such an appeal?? Will it ever reach the most violent portions of our society? Probably not - but they may find themselves totally marginalized by a different kind of majority in search of peace. No matter what happens in the future, the quest itself is eminently worthwhile. We admire the strength of your convictions. More power to you! We are of course forwarding your website to everyone in our address book.
Lou & Renate, Massachusetts I began thinking of One Thousand Acts of Peace, not about what I could or would do today, just feeling the idea of it, and after a while, felt a subtle shift in the way I was "in" the world -- a calmer, less aggressive, and more forgiving way of being in the world. Louie, California |
It is a wonderful production. I believe with all my heart, and I know, that the only way to live a worthy life is to do this kind of inner work, within one's heart, that you propose in your website. And yes, it starts with three little movements towards the other, and then the soul grows and grows and goes another step upwards. And then it becomes so much easier to do ten more little movements a day, and suddenly it is intoxicating to become a better human being. It is also a beautiful site, everything is so clear. The work that was done in it is blessed.
Rica, Jerusalem It is as simple a concept as it is spectacular. A guide, a way for all people to attain something that our "representatives" can't ever seem to comprehend, their good intentions notwithstanding. Marvin, New York |
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This is a wonderful website and I am taking my time with it.
It has so many profound implications for our world's future and what a fabulous experiment. I am passing it on to my important others . . . It helps people to get the message that just a thought reaches out to everyone, everywhere. As the Chinese say, "One wave of the hand reaches for 10,000 miles." Very powerful, our thoughts. Elizabeth, Virginia How simple, concrete, and easy it is to take part in, even for an oldie like myself! I have already begun, and will be spreading the word around me here and online. And how our world needs peace! And you are reminding us that it must begin deep in each one's own life. Bea, California I love everything about this! And I will forward it on to everyone in my online address book. Linda, New York Wonderful idea, very practical and I hope many will commit to it. I like the Kids' TAP idea . . . I am thinking of doing it myself . . . maybe I have to test it out while driving. K. California I now have seven classes writing peace journals every day. I am also writing a letter to Peace International -- the international peace organization to which our school belongs. Just sent an email to all of my parents, so we'll see what happens. Can only be good. Barbara, New Jersey . . . And now to hear that it is being translated into other languages -- amazing how this "network" effect of the internet can be so powerful. We will do our bit here to spread the word. Cindy, Florida I always think how we (individuals) can make a better world -- a Difference. We are all responsible for our PEACE on earth. This is one thing we can do for our next generation and generations to come. And on the same note; I have been busy with glass work which happens to be called Peace of Art -- it is Art for Peace. Nina, California What an absolutely wonderful vision you have! I have e-mailed your site on to several friends and will continue to do so. I will begin my peace notebook and encourage my family to do the same. Kathleen, Virginia |
What a lovely and meaningful project! I do think that a conscious commitment to peace by individuals is the only way that a lasting peace will be achieved on this planet. It is increasingly clear that governments are ineffectual in compelling or even guiding their citizens in ways that will increase peace in communities and countries. Governments cannot be wiser than the collective consciousness of the citizens . . . One just longs for a time when there will be greater global sanity and less bloodshed because of perverted religious, nationalistic, or racial
beliefs. Linda, Colorado Since committing to daily Acts of Peace, I have been "gifted" with visits from some of the more hidden parts of myself . . . such as my anger. Now I welcome angry feelings as opportunities for Acts of Peace; gentle attention to my fear and unconditional forgiveness. My breath and my connections with others are deeper. Great way to feel more alive! Already a couple of people to whom I forwarded the website have commented how great the whole idea and site are: "This is the only way Peace will happen" one said. And both are "committed." BEAUTIFUL . . . and such a clear and gentle site. The medium is the message. Noreen, California I especially like the section for Kids and can imagine that this could be picked up by schools as part of social studies (or whatever they call it today) curricula. Greg, Seattle This is something I try to practice daily anyway, but have never considered writing it down. I will definitely spread the word, and most likely commit to the cause. I understand the need to journal it, but I like to make mental notes usually. But this will at least heighten my awareness of my daily actions/reactions. Kat, California The website is fantastic -- such a simple idea, and yet so effective. I am certainly going to start trying to "TAP" three times a day -- it's so true what you say, if people are focused on doing something good with their days, then they are less likely to stray down the wrong paths . . . and what a wonderful thing that schools will use it! I have forwarded the web address to several people I know who will be really interested in the idea. Thank you! Francesca, London This is very COOL, wonderful! I just looked through the site and really like it. I think I WILL tell my little kids about it, and their parents. And my friends and sons. Jeannie, California |
Peace. What is that? We all say it, we put it on posters in many languages, we chant it in the streets, we long for it in our innermost hearts. But what would it take to actually accomplish it in our world -- forever? Certainly, peace can never happen as long as we think every conflict is the other guy’s fault. As long as there is an attitude of blame in our hearts, we will not be at rest: so how could there be peace?
If we reflect on it, we realize that nothing in our world can exist all by itself, the way it first appears to us. The more we look at every side of a situation, and expand our perspective through genuine concern for someone else’s experience, we see how slippery it gets to try and define just "what" is going on. It is not the journalists’ fault if stories sometimes seem biased: every story is biased.
Yet this leads to a crucial insight about the nature of reality itself: everything we experience is dependent on our own perspective, and couldn’t be any other way. Everything we see happening "out there" in our world, is always a reflection of what is going on inside. We see others doing things that annoy us, or anger us, or even directly threaten our own welfare, and then we react in kind. But as soon as we see ourselves doing that, we implant indelible images within the video-recorders of our minds, which will stay with us, and actually force us to see the same kinds of hostility coming back at us later on, over and over again.
Not understanding that things we see happening outside of us are in fact caused by our own past actions, we habitually react in the worst possible way. The most intelligent response, though, would be to recognize what we don’t like about another’s behavior and do the opposite ourselves. It is the only way to stop the tragic cycles which we have perpetuated in our world since time immemorial.
So if we want to solve problems in the Middle East, or anywhere else, the most blatantly illogical thing we can do is to continue
employing violent means of any kind. Spending billions of dollars a year to equip a military with the supposed intent of "working towards peace" is like trying to heal your child’s scabby knee by sawing away at it with a razor blade! We can only reap more pain for ourselves in the future.
What we do towards others yields matching results for ourselves. Period.
Fortunately, this also means that when we put others’ needs before our own, it will lead to every joy we can imagine -- both for ourselves and others. What if our nation were to spend billions a year on building schools and hospitals?
But if we are to wage peace by learning to love others, we must learn to love everyone, and that includes our own political leaders. It cannot possibly help matters to rage against one’s own government, when one hopes to see that government become peaceful.
If the state of our world is indeed a reflection of the seeds in our own minds, then the only way we can really establish peace "out there," is by learning to be peaceful "in here." And that means every day, taking time for silence, perhaps learning to meditate, but most of all, being totally patient with that other person who really gets on our nerves.
When we are about to explode in anger over some little disagreement, or when that car cuts us off, we might remember the
bombs and the tanks, and stop our own habitual response for the sake of others: out of compassion for the people whose shattered existence we have witnessed on television.
There is a very real connection. In fact, it may be the most direct connection of all.
Eva,
Virginia
If we reflect on it, we realize that nothing in our world can exist all by itself, the way it first appears to us. The more we look at every side of a situation, and expand our perspective through genuine concern for someone else’s experience, we see how slippery it gets to try and define just "what" is going on. It is not the journalists’ fault if stories sometimes seem biased: every story is biased.
Yet this leads to a crucial insight about the nature of reality itself: everything we experience is dependent on our own perspective, and couldn’t be any other way. Everything we see happening "out there" in our world, is always a reflection of what is going on inside. We see others doing things that annoy us, or anger us, or even directly threaten our own welfare, and then we react in kind. But as soon as we see ourselves doing that, we implant indelible images within the video-recorders of our minds, which will stay with us, and actually force us to see the same kinds of hostility coming back at us later on, over and over again.
Not understanding that things we see happening outside of us are in fact caused by our own past actions, we habitually react in the worst possible way. The most intelligent response, though, would be to recognize what we don’t like about another’s behavior and do the opposite ourselves. It is the only way to stop the tragic cycles which we have perpetuated in our world since time immemorial.
So if we want to solve problems in the Middle East, or anywhere else, the most blatantly illogical thing we can do is to continue
employing violent means of any kind. Spending billions of dollars a year to equip a military with the supposed intent of "working towards peace" is like trying to heal your child’s scabby knee by sawing away at it with a razor blade! We can only reap more pain for ourselves in the future.
What we do towards others yields matching results for ourselves. Period.
Fortunately, this also means that when we put others’ needs before our own, it will lead to every joy we can imagine -- both for ourselves and others. What if our nation were to spend billions a year on building schools and hospitals?
But if we are to wage peace by learning to love others, we must learn to love everyone, and that includes our own political leaders. It cannot possibly help matters to rage against one’s own government, when one hopes to see that government become peaceful.
If the state of our world is indeed a reflection of the seeds in our own minds, then the only way we can really establish peace "out there," is by learning to be peaceful "in here." And that means every day, taking time for silence, perhaps learning to meditate, but most of all, being totally patient with that other person who really gets on our nerves.
When we are about to explode in anger over some little disagreement, or when that car cuts us off, we might remember the
bombs and the tanks, and stop our own habitual response for the sake of others: out of compassion for the people whose shattered existence we have witnessed on television.
There is a very real connection. In fact, it may be the most direct connection of all.
Eva,
Virginia