The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com ] Unity Way | | | | September 24, 2006 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Practical Peacemaking | | by Andrei Yashurin | | | | Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of | | God. | | | | To begin with, we need to say that fight is not a blessing. When we | | demonstrate anger and hostility, when we are aggressive toward | | others, we are not happy. Later on we might say that our actions or | | reactions were justified. We could build complex rationalizations | | why we had to behave the way we did. We could say that we were | | provoked, and there were no other way to deal with those people | | under the circumstances. But the fact is, we weren't happy. It is | | possible that we are unhappy now, as we remember that incident. | | | | However, there is a way to maintain peace and happiness even in the | | midst of most challenging interactions with others. | | | | When some people hear that, they immediately start asking, "Should | | I become a doormat? Should I allow others to abuse and to mistreat | | me?" The answer is no. But these questions are revealing. They | | speak of dualistic, "black-or-white" thinking which lacks both | | wisdom and spiritual perspective. | | | | Wise persons of all ages warned against using violence against | | others. Even if we will win in a conflict, we will plant seeds of | | bitterness and hatred in hearts of the other party. It will think | | of retaliation - and fulfil this plan in a due time. But there is a | | deeper aspect we need to realize: the world is governed by the law | | of cause and effect. Even if revenge won't happen, the universe | | will cause us to suffer violence in some other way. The law is | | unbreakable - if we sow violence, we will have to reap violence. | | | | So, what should we do? | | | | First, we need to settle it in our minds that our goal is peaceful | | and harmonious existence with others. All people are children of | | the same God, and therefore our sisters and brothers. The same | | divine Light which shines in us is within others. This Light might | | be obscured by heavy clouds of ignorance and prejudices, but it is | | still there. Our goal is to act on that awareness. | | | | Second, we need to stay centered in God. This will cause us to act | | with confidence and assurance. It is true that violence is often | | displayed against those who think and act like victims, those who | | have an aura of weakness and inferiority. Of course, this cannot | | justify abusers and oppressors, but it explains why some people are | | being mistreated over and over, while others are treated with more | | respect - although they do not fight for their rights. | | | | Third, we should not intrude into lives of others, physically or | | mentally. We should not judge or criticize people. We should not | | give them unwelcomed advises - it is almost the same as criticism. | | If we think that others might profit from our wisdom and | | experience, let us wait until they will ask for it. If we genuinely | | love people, we will allow them to learn their own lessons. | | | | Having this attitude, our first reaction will be to look for | | alternatives of violence, for reconciliation and agreement. This is | | what peacemaking is about. | | | | But if we are still attacked, can we fight back? I think that yes. | | But while doing that, let us make sure to maintain the spirit of | | peace - it is possible as we look up to God. But the truth is, when | | we are doing our inside job properly, situations where we actually | | have to fight will occur less and less often. | | | | As we encounter people, let us say to them silently: "I bless you | | with a spirit of peace and love". | | | | As we observe difficult situations in our life or somewhere else, | | let us affirm: "Only love prevails. Only peace prevails. Divine | | harmony reigns supreme!" | | | | (to be continued) | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Recommended Reading: | | | | [ http://astore.amazon.com/talksontruth-20/detail/0875165516/ | | 102-7508442-6870560 ] Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Catherine | | Ponder | | | | Previous Articles of Andrei Yashurin: | | | | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/2006/09/16/purity-and-vision/ ] | | Purity and Vision | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/2006/09/09/ | | mercy-and-wholeness/ ] Mercy and Wholeness | [ http:// | | unityway.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/the-great-fulfillment/ ] The | | Great Fulfillment | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/2006/08/26/ | | meekness-not-weakness/ ] Meekness, Not Weakness | [ http:// | | unityway.wordpress.com/2006/08/19/true-comfort/ ] True Comfort | | | | [ http://zme.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/T3FSLT9BWIHSWQ ] If you | | find these messages helpful, please send a donation to Andrei | | Yashurin | | | | If you like our list, please recommend it to others. | | | | To be unsubscribed, click the link at the bottom of this message, | | do not write to the author. | | | | E-mail: [ mailto:yashurin@gmail.com ] yashurin@gmail.com | | | | Information: The publisher of this list technically cannot | | subscribe/unsubscribe anyone. You are responsible to do it | | yourself. Please check links at the bottom of this message. | | | | All messages (c) 2006 by Andrei Yashurin | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=lit.unityway&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com