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PEACE
+ Abundancetrek Blog Post on August 31, 2006:
I just discovered that Wayne Dyer offers some significant suggestions on empathizing with our enemies. He cites former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara who has courageously admitted that he made huge mistakes as the architect of the Viet Nam war because "our side" did not understood the reasons why "their side" was fighting and vice versa. At a time when our current Secretary of Defense is telling us to learn the lessons of history, the wisdom McNamara has attained as an Elder is quite relevant and calls Rumsfield's wisdom into question. Secretary of Defense Rumsfield claims that Iraq war opponents are "morally and intellectually confused" and are "appeasing the enemy" in the same way that the Western democracies appeased the Fascists in the 30s. Dyer reminds us that Christ calls on us to love our enemies and we now know that a loving approach could have prevented the horrible suffering of the Viet Nam war (not to mention other wars). Many of us believe that our security will grow as we work hard to understand and empathize with our enemies seeing them as human beings with real grievances and hopes and dreams like us. Let's have the courage to negotiate, to talk, to share, to build relationships of lasting repect. Yes, criminals must be brought to justice. But we need not assume that all those who are taking up arms against us are criminals. Do we believe that our soldiers are criminals? Let's talk. Let's share. Let's find ways to build trust and respect between us and our supposed enemies. It can be done. It must be done.
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+ Abundancetrek Blog Post on August 24, 2006:
War with Iran?: I am wondering if war with Iran is becoming inevitable. I sure hope not. I know war can be avoided if negotiations take place. I am sure that there are some in both governments who want to go to war. I am also sure there are some in both governments who want to avoid war. Let’s pray that those who want to avoid war prevail in both governments. Let’s pray that negotiations lead to a mature dialogue with a real airing of grievances on both sides. Let’s pray that our side becomes willing to negotiate. John F. Kennedy once said: “Let us never negotiate out of fear but let us never fear to negotiate.” Good idea. Let’s negotiate with the teaching of Jesus in mind: “Love your enemy … Bless those who curse you.” Why is our side afraid to negotiate? Do too many of the policy makers in our government believe that war is a better idea? Let’s pray that the better idea of peace shines brightly in the White House and Capitol in the months and years ahead.
War is viewed by many in romantic ways. It is glorified. Heroes and legends are created in war. The cries for peace seems weak to many so-called realists. The drumbeat for war is hard to stop once started. Iranians & Americans will listen to their own propaganda and believe that war is necessary. Now is the time to stop this drumbeat. The horrors of war must be considered seriously by the leaders and all the people on both sides.
War … let’s not go there. Peace … let’s go there. Pray for peace and encourage others to pray for peace. Now is the time to pray for peace between the USA and Iran as well as in many other situations. Now. Prayer leads to new ways of thinking and acting. So, begin with prayer and then let’s see what happens.
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WEB RESOURCES::
NEW 2/28/07: Spirituality & Practice offers a book review of Peace is the Way edited by Walter Wink. Read an excerpt by Henri Nouwen.
NEW 1/29/07: Inner Frontier offers "Stages of the Path" by Joseph Naft. "The path" of awakening and awareness is linked to detachment from beginning to end. The more we let go, the more we know peace and freedom. Naft quotes Buddhist master Achaan Chah: "If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom."
NEW 9/28/06: Wahiduddin's Web promotes the teachings of a Sufi Master, Hazrat Inayat Khan, one of the best advocates of the Perennial Philosophy, or Mysticism.
NEW 9/13/06: Wide Hive Records offers lyrics and a free MP3 download of "Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice" by Azeem and Gregory Howe. Notice the Sufi connection.
NEW 9/5/06: The SAYINGS OF SWAMI OMKARANANDA offer some essential wisdom on the abundance of God's love and beauty and peace and joy. He reminds us that the practice of stillness is the essential path we must take in order to know that we are living in heaven right now, right here.
NEW 8/26/06:
Let's support the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE every September 21 with prayer, vigils, concerts, workshops and in other ways. PEACE ONE DAY is devoted to a grassroots movement to make the annual International Day of Peace, September 21, a global ceasefire day which is an idea that the United Nations now officially endorses. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE VIGIL is also devoted to this movement.
NEW 8/26/06:
INNER FRONTIER offers some important paths to peace.
Spirituality & Practice offers extensive resources on peace as a spiritual practice. You can spend many productive hours or days or years learning and reflecting about peace as a practice using these resources.
The SAN ANTONIO PEACE CENTER offers HUNDREDS OF GREAT QUOTES ON PEACE
Seaox offers THE FOURTEEN PRECEPTS OF THICH NHAT HANH (scroll down to the bottom of the page). This Buddhist Monk once led the peace movement in Viet Nam. Now living in France, he is a very wise teacher of the ways of peace and love. These precepts make a lot of sense to me. I'm sure that following even one or more of them would go a long way in creating inner and global peace.
I offer a list of links to wonderful organizations working for peace and justice.
John@abundancetrek.com
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