thich nhat hahn

I am listening to this podcast as I write these words. There is nothing more I can add to it... my hope that it will be listened to.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/thichnhathanh/

Peace activism comes in many forms

Taking to the streets is one way to bear witness to the cause of peace, but there are many other ways -- many small actions we can throughout the day, every day to widen the circle, and start living as though world peace were a reality here and now (which it is... we just have to choose to live like it.)

- Think before speaking.
- Simplify your life.
- Let the other person go first.
- Smile at anyone who meets your eyes.
- Listen.
- Call that friend or family member you've been meaning to.
- Turn off the tv.
- Assume good intentions on the part of the other.
- Seek clarity.
- Clean up your messes.
- Forgive someone.
- Forgive yourself.
- Chew your food well (trust me on this one..!)
- Help out a friend, or better yet, a stranger.
- Express appreciation and gratitude at every opportunity.
- Pay attention to your feelings.
- Just pay attention.
- Hug.
- Hug more.
- Take responsibility (but avoid guilt)
- See yourself in someone else, and vice versa.
- Believe that there's enough for everyone, if we share.
- Find something to laugh about as often as possible (try looking in the mirror!)
- Realize that everyone, and I mean Everyone, has the same basic wants and needs as
you do.
- Extend your wishes to everyone that they will have those wants and needs met,
regardless of your feelings about them.
- Choose being kind over being right.
- Whatever it is, let it go.
- Suspend judgment whenever possible.
- Be totally present when saying good-bye, even if it will only be for a short time.
- Have faith that every little thing you do makes a difference.
- Breath in.
- Breathe out.

Anything else?

My First Vigil

It would seem for all the talking I do, I would have attended a peace vigil, protest, march or anything group-oriented long before today. Nope. Don't really know why, just never have. I think I often justified that the enormous effort I was making just navigating my own life without inflicting violence was heroic in itself. But, today, on the 5-year anniversary of our misadventures in Iraq, the conditions seemed right to invite (read: coerce) my four adorable and only slightly-sulky sons to accompany me to my local Quaker Meeting for a 45-minute gathering and potluck. I knew I'd probably want to write about it.. but I wasn't sure what aspect would generate "blog-fodder" (as I like to call it).

It was a lovely, balmy evening... the heaviest of the all-day rain seemed to have passed by the time we arrived. In spite of boy #1 & 2's best efforts to weasel out, we all filed into the Meetinghouse for the preliminary 15 minutes of Silent Worship. Regardless of where their heads were at in those moments, I was filled with such a sense of contentment and satisfaction, sitting there where I've sat for over six years, wishing my family were there with me-- and here they were (well, except for hubby)-- from the youngest, nestled in the crook of my arm, to the oldest on the end, head resting on his arm supported by the bench in front of him.

As I sat in silence, I reflected on where my own head was at. I felt light and happy... the somber purpose for our gathering, and the resistance thereof, was not in my range of focus. In that building, I have always felt warm and safe, and connected to like-minded people. It had been a long, dark, introspective... and self-absorbed couple of months; my energy had not at all been projected out into the world at large and for the greater good. What came to me was a refreshing reminder of the necessity of community.. for support, and, that we can only know the Divine through each other. In each of the spiritual schools of thought I draw from this holds true.. for Quakers, it is the Meeting; for Buddhists, the sangha (A Sanskrit word roughly translated to mean 'an association or company with a common goal or vision); and in pagan traditions, there is a circle, or coven. (Okay, I am sure some folks would accuse me of REALLY stretching it here, but there are socially-oriented pagan circles, and even when they gather just for magical purposes, it is with the idea of creating a sacred space, invoking the divine, and magnifying the energetic intention to create some kind of shift in the world. Am I so off-base?) Sitting there with my sons, and my friends (my Friends), I felt a small part of a much larger whole, but being in the place where I was, a very vital part... a light, a vibration, offering no resistance, only joy to be there, and with the intention for everyone I came into contact with to feel that.

Once out on the curb, with our umbrellas and signs reading, "War is Not the Answer", we were met with many supportive honking horns, and, as to be expected, some glares and screeching tires. (But it was all good.. love and light to everyone..) There were a number of exuberant teens present who would whoop and holler when a driver showed their support, and generally everyone was talking, laughing, waving to folks driving by. It was great to be there, wonderful to be with each other.. even one of the 'elders' was present, sitting in the drizzle, just behind our line, away from traffic.. a 90-year-old joyful man, and an extremely vocal advocate of the Quaker peace testimony (which sadly, nowadays, is in need of advocacy). I hardly recognized him, and he joked that being retired, he only feels compelled to dress nicely and shave on Sunday. Even my reluctant 7-year-old ended up with the sign I was holding and proceeded to work the traffic, thrusting it out emphatically when cars went by. I was so proud..

.. and so thankful to be part of it all. And whether or not our pleas for peace were heard by that small corner of our county, I like to believe that the magic created by a small group of people coming together for the purpose of ultimately spreading a message of love was felt far beyond that Route 30 curbside.

Catchin' Up..

It's been a while since I've posted, or left my little cranes out in the world. Finally getting back to it...

Last week -- sent one each, enclosed in a letter stating my concern about GMO's to the following candidates: Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, and John Edwards. Still waiting to hear back.:)

Friday December 7th-- left one in the receipt dispenser of a as pump at the Turkey Hill in Thorndale.

Today, Monday, Dec 10th -- left one in the gas pump handle of the Wawa in Downingtown.

More to come...

A letter to Cindy Sheehan

Dear Cindy,

I read your good-bye letter yesterday. First I want to say that I am truly sorry for your loss. Mine is not a military family, but my oldest son (of four boys) will turn 18 soon, and I am loathe to think what this government may demand of him and his brothers in the future.

I want to express my admiration for your willingness to have taken up the cause for peace for as long as you did, something so many of us are not willing to find the time, or the guts, to do. I am sorry for the bitterness and feeling of failure that you experienced as a result of the politics and egos of those who wanted to exploit your message for their own purposes. The bearers of the standard of peace, historically, have been met with resistance and outrage from the masses.. even by those who claim to want the same thing. And typically, their lives did not end without violence. Be thankful you made it out alive. But know, too, that the ripples of what you've created.. the individuals that you've touched and inspired, may not be so obvious and evident as your detractors, but may prove to be more powerful than any of the results you were looking for from our political process.

The thing is, peace cannnot be achieved through fighting. I'm not even sure one can die for it. It's an individual matter, attained only through the recognition that there is no Other. What we do to our brother (sister), we do to ourselves. (and what we do to ourselves affects us all). A deceptively simple lesson... but the truth is, like you said, it is up to us. There is no military strategy, no political party, no activist group, mandate or law that can bring peace. It can only come from within.. a way of being in the world, and manifesting through our interactions with every individual (and I do mean EVERY individual... no exceptions!)

So, Cindy, thank you again. And now, please go home. Take care of your children, take care of yourself. Reconnect with your life, your source of strength and your love. Those of us who truly desire a peaceful world don't demand sacrifice. But every ray of light shining in this world is needed, and helps all of us to acheive the goal of peace.

With love,
o.h.

20,000 Troops = 20,000 Peace Cranes

Ok. Well, my friend, Susan, informs me that she heard it was 21,500.

Anyway.

We are at a moment in history similar to the one where a prior generation had taken to the streets. Many of us admire and wax nostalgic for the passion of those times... and yet, here we are, faced with the same disregard for (human life, sane leadership?) that should call for tremendous outrage. Who is willing at this time to resist and protest the way our foremothers and fathers did (well, okay, not mine..)? We have children to worry about, bills to pay, blogs to write, etc, etc... is there a way to send a message that speaks more of peaceful resistance and doesn't take a whole lot of time?

The beauty of the crane, like so many things Japanese, is it's simplicity. One intricately folded piece of paper, in the shape of a bird, is in itself a work of art. But what about 100, or 1,000? (see: http://www.wtchealingproject.org) What about one paper peace crane for every soldier pledged to ship off to Iraq? What if every person reading this were to send one peace crane to their congressperson. Or to the White House? (or for really ambitious folk, how about a whole crateful???)

Sometimes I like to write things on them..little sayings.. but they also send a powerful message on their own. And they don't have to be on fancy paper. Just a 3" x 3"square of anything will do...used gift wrap, junk mail.. I think military obituaries would be perfectly appropriate. I'm folding a few out of a Discover solicitation as I write this.

And if you really get into the groove like I did, where you find yourself folding cranes while hanging out with friends or watching tv, and you have bagfuls of 'em, you can inconspicuously leave them in places. Be creative!! If you work in a government office, leave one on the water cooler! Or on an ATM machine. There are so many possibilities... make some huge ones and hang them in visible locations. I would love to see photos of your cranes perched around the world!

Want to know how? Here's an informative video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9VF3gdf_Hk

Where should you send them? http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ ( you can even get a little personal info on your rep in DC!)

Sightings

In the last several weeks, a number of peace cranes have come to roost in various locations around Chester County... Wegman's, Blockbuster Video, the Chester County Library, Kimberton Whole Foods, Oasis mini mart.. and other spots in West Chester and Philadelphia. (Thanks S.C!!)

I have debated about whether or not to leave any kind of mark on these little gifts, but I have to admit that I am curious as to whether folks are taking notice... and perhaps are curious too.

So, if you are reading this, chances are you have found a little bird in an unexpected place, and managed to read my scrawl on the wing. (bless you!) If you go to my first post (about my 9/11 birthday) you'll see the reason why you came across a peace crane perched gently atop your box of Lucky Charms, or stuck on under your windshield wiper, or nestled between the pages of Bill O'Reilly's "Culture Warrior". Hopefully it brought a smile to your face.. and perhaps a similar desire to leave folded paper cranes or some similar tokens of peace (that might be easier to fold) around your neighborhood. If so, then my intention was fulfilled. (And if you would, add a post here and let me know where you found one..)

Meanwhile, there are many more cranes about to hatch here in the nest and will soon take flight, hopefully to travel far and wide, spreading their message of peace for the world. Wow, I think they would look just beautiful perched in the many Christmas trees on display right now... don't you?

What can the Amish teach us about the "F" word?

Last week's horrible tragedy occurred about 20 miles away from us. Not that it matters, nor the fact that we have Amish neighbors, but I think that incidental familiarity caused my husband to be particularly curious about what the community reaction would be in regards to us "english", and in particular, this man that murdered several of their children. In light of their religion, would they brand him as evil incarnate? The devil in a milk truck?

As the story enfolded, horror and grief were shared by Amish and non-Amish alike. It was bad enough that this was not the sole incident of its kind even within a week, but there seemed to be something particularly tragic and senseless that it happened within a community that eschews violence, and ironically in a town called Paradise. Headlines on local newspapers caught my eye, though I did not pick them up to read.. one of them momentarily hitting a tiny chord as I rushed out of the store.. but then pushed aside as I went on my way. And then, my husband bringing home what he had read and heard about the goings on around the sad burial of the first young girl, which confirmed that I did read those headlines correctly. Am I hearing this right? The "F" word?

Yes, indeed. A word so insidious as to be shunned in our moralistic, God-blessed society. To my knowledge, it is not used in most decent circles, whether when discussing world events, or one's experience driving to work that day. It is most certainly taboo on all major media, regardless of political or religious affiliation.. or perhaps to be fair, it is used, but very selectively. To use the word with any emphatic meaning would be to proverbially have one's mouth washed out with soap, and perhaps publicly flogged.

And yet, there it was. Used by the Amish for all the world to hear. Forgiveness. It's all over the news now, from what I can see, and I am heartened by how much attention, positive attention, is being given to the words of one Amish grandfather to several young boys when he reminds them that they "must not think evil of this man". And to the Amish families that reached out to the wife and children of Charles Roberts with their condolences. And to the schoolteacher who says of Roberts, "He had problems of the heart."

Forgiveness is a tricky matter, indeed... or maybe we "english" just make it that way. Religious or no, at the very least, it is a letting go of the tremendous burden of carrying around the past, and the hate and anger that seems to accompany a desire for retribution, or what we like to call "justice". I pray that I will never have my faith tested by the loss of one of my children in such a way, but I pray harder that if I do, I will also come through it with forgiveness.

My birthday is September 11th

This year, I turned 40. And I really wanted a party, but after making that request to my husband, I realized that I felt a little selfish, and modified my request to be about creating a new tradition around that inauspicious date.. one that might be celebratory of being with good friends and loving family members, about being alive and furthering the cause of peace. Well, it didn't exactly turn out that way... everyone came and had a lovely time, which I was grateful for, but nothing much in the "larger picture" theme.

I decided to send everyone who came a thank-you card.. thanks for being here to celebrate, and for being a precious part of my journey to 40 (and beyond), and I enclosed a folded paper crane inside each one, with the idea of putting forth that intention of peace in the world. As I sat folding crane after crane, (decorated with beads, tiny Swarovski crystals, and little pendants that read "love" or "imagine") I was thinking what cool little gifts these could make, and perhaps I could make them to sell. Further along, I then began to imagine just making tons of them, like Sadako with her noble but unreached goal of folding 1,000 cranes before she succumbed to cancer... and placing them in random public places: the supermarket shelves, the ATM machine, Dunkin' Donuts, the gas pump, the video store. What if I enclosed one in every bill I mailed in, or in letters to my congressmen? What if I could get everyone I know to do this? Can you imagine hundreds upon thousands of paper cranes descending upon the White House?

Origami paper is pretty, but we could use any kind of paper...recycled junk mail, political smear ads that are coming by the hundreds in the mail, magazine articles covering the war in Iraq! What would be the reaction as more and more people starting seeing these delicate little birds everywhere they went?

It's just a folded piece of paper. It's silly to think that something so insignificant could have an impact on the huge and entrenched mindset of the necessity for war.

We'll just have to see, won't we...