Season For Nonviolence

A Season for Nonviolence January 30 - April 4

Season For Non Violence The Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, peaceful world.

Days 24-46 focus on interpersonal change. To create a peaceful world, we must learn to practice nonviolence with one another in our day-to-day interactions.

Practices for Week Six, Days 36 - 42

MAR. 6 MINDFULNESS: 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 for others.

MAR. 7 GRACIOUSNESS: When you are out driving today, slow down and let the other car pull in front of you.

Stop and let pedestrians cross the street. Hold the door open for someone else to enter first.

MAR. 8 KINDNESS: Participate in random and senseless acts of kindness. Perform 3 acts of kindness today.

MAR. 9 DIALOGUE: A healthy society is one in which those who disagree can do so with honor and respect for other people’s opinions. “Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others” (Desiderata). Today, speak up but do not enter into the spirit of argument.

MAR.10 UNITY: Today, look for three ways to see beyond outer differences in opinions, appearances or goals. Find the meeting point of underlying unity that exists in diversity.

MAR. 11 OPENNESS: “He who builds himself a fence, fences out more than he fences in” (Turkish proverb). Today, be open to understanding ideas and people that you have previously opposed.

MAR. 12 ACCOUNTABILITY: Today, take responsibility for how you contribute to a conflict and make a different choice that can lead to a peaceful resolution.

Practices for Week Five, Days 29 - 35

FEB. 27 FORGIVENESS: There are more important things than remembering a hurt. Write a letter to forgive someone and move on with life. You do not have to mail the letter.

FEB. 28 AMENDS: Make amends today. Apologize to someone you may have hurt and mean your apology sincerely.

MAR. 1 PRAISING: Appreciation helps people grow. Offer praise to at least three people today for their personal qualities, achievements or helpful service.

MAR. 2 PATIENCE: When your plans seem delayed, choose to be patient by identifying at least 3 ways that you can constructively use this time to support your goal.

MAR. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Tell someone today what a difference he or she has made in your life. Acknowledge that person for being there for you.

MAR. 4 LOVE: “Nonviolence is based on the assumption that human nature… unfailingly responds to the advances of love” (Gandhi). Focus on what you appreciate most about the person you like the least.

MAR. 5 UNDERSTANDING: “When you understand, you cannot help but love. Practice looking at all living beings with the eyes of compassion” (Thich Nhat Hanh). Send a silent thought of love to 10 people today. Share your experience with someone.

Source: Association for Global New Thought (www.AGNT.org)

JOINT PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE

Nonviolence means honoring the dignity and inherent worth of every human being.

Nonviolence means believing that our lives are linked together, that what we do impacts the lives of other people. Therefore, we are responsible to and for one another.

Nonviolence means dedicating ourselves to guaranteeing the fundamental rights of every human being (justice, equity, equality). It means using our talents to empower others as well as ourselves.

Nonviolence is courageously choosing to practice compassion with our apparent adversaries. We oppose injustice, not people.

Nonviolence means recognizing love as the power of the human spirit to triumph over injustice, social inequity, and suffering. This is the hero’s journey.

7 Ways to Create Nonviolence Wherever You Are -Week 6

I PROMOTE NONVIOLENCE WITH THESE ACTIONS:

Volunteer for a group outside my regular circle.
Pay attention to violent thoughts and heal them.
Find a way to compliment everyone I meet.
Learn how to say the word LOVE in every language.
Notice when I’m being hard on myself, and love myself instead.
Spend a whole day without criticizing anyone… not even myself.
Try a new ethnic cuisine every day for lunch.

7 Ways to Create Nonviolence Wherever You Are - Week 5

I PROMOTE NONVIOLENCE WITH THESE ACTIONS:

Give my time to those who are much older than I.
Attend a function where I am the minority.
Serve a meal at the soup kitchen once a week.
Refuse to view any media with gratuitous violence.
Plan how to remain peaceful in traffic and do it.
Breathe deeply before speaking, every time.
Drive to work through a different neighborhood.

(Source: Rev. Carol Carnes)

CSL Baltimore: 410-358-0163
Center: 26 W. Susquehanna Ave. Towson, MD 21204
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