PEACE: Perception, Empathy, Acceptance, Caring, Enlightenment

Peace is an occurrence of harmony characterized by lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence.

Commonly understood as the absence of hostility and retribution, peace also suggests sincere attempts at reconciliation, the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality; a working political order that serves the true interests of all.

“To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” ~ Buddha

Below are five suggestions to achieving and sustaining a future peace filled generation:

P: Perception is the first step for each human being on this planet to work on; accepting that change in self comes first. Peace is actually a state of mind nurtured by a vigilant dedication to cultivating and harvesting inner quiet.

E: Empathy is the first step for balance to be achieved on this planet; allowing for positive growth within all realms through the action of seeing the world through your neighbour’s eyes. ‘Character and Culture’ are two required attributes that enable the human experience to achieve empathic understanding of the whole, removing need for separation. If we are ever to see a future peaceful generation of society, we must understand how humans function as both the creators and creatures of an evolving culture.

A: Acceptance is the key to staying in the moment; embracing every experience as holding meaning to our purpose in life. Peace is arrived when one removes self from the land of uncertainty, enabling the soul to rest. This can be achieved accepting the words of Socrates ‘When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.’

C: Caring is the charitable action required to create sustainable change, working to better conditions for all and not the few. Stepping outside of the ego self allows one to experience compassion, living life with wider, more expanded vision. Caring for others is the action that takes one out of self, releasing the fear that seems to arrive when one is completely self absorbed.

E: Enlightenment is the Gift of Spirit in the moment; achieved by embracing every experience as holding meaning to one’s purpose in life. Achieving inner peace is found through these momentary blessings, that with devoted awareness can be strung together like a string of pearls creating an amazing necklace of living, worn as one’s glorious yoke of life!

The International Day of Peace, sometimes unofficially known as World Peace Day, is observed annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The day was first celebrated in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples.

In 2013, for the first time, the Day was dedicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to peace education, the key preventive means to reduce war sustainably. To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City). The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents except Africa, and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as “a reminder of the human cost of war“; the inscription on its side reads, “Long live absolute world peace“.

A Celebration of Women™ will be hosting our Annual summit this year through the evening of Sunday, September 20 – with celebration activities carrying us to the toll of midnight, ringing in new peace on the 21st at first bell. DETAILS COMING SOON!

TRIBUTE to: Hayao Miyazaki- Nature, Culture, & Character

A closer look at the storytelling techniques of one of Japan’s greatest animation directors, Hayao Miyazaki.

Hayao Miyazaki- Nature, Culture, & Character from Zackery Ramos-Taylor on Vimeo.

In the words of one of our world’s more modern minds, Dan Millman says:

“There is no need to search; achievement leads to nowhere. It makes no difference at all, so just be happy now! Love is the only reality of the world, because it is all One, you see. And the only laws are paradox, humor and change. There is no problem, never was, and never will be.

Release your struggle, let go of your mind, throw away your concerns, and relax into the world. No need to resist life, just do your best.

Open your eyes and see that you are far more than you imagine. You are the world, you are the universe; you are yourself and everyone else, too! It’s all the marvelous Play of God. Wake up, regain your humor. Don’t worry, just be happy.

You are already free!”

Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives