Peace: Ours for the Choosing

Dear Friend in Peace,

Throughout time, cultures, and religious choices, we agree treating others the way we wish to be treated is fundamental to living together in peace as evidenced by the Golden Rule being an essential part of many religious traditions.

Here are a few:
 Christianity: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
 Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow-man. This is the entire Law, all the rest is commentary.”
 Buddhism: “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others.”
 Islam: “None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”

We know living by the Golden Rule is essential for living together in a society of peace. The missing component, especially in times when division, anger, and injustice are being promoted is how. How do we return to and anchor inner peace? How do we choose peace when the world is not peaceful?

The great soul, Thich Nhat Hahn, embodied peace during the Vietnam War so we know it is possible. In his classic, The Miracle of Mindfulness, he guides us through the practice of meditation and much more. It is a training manual for becoming peace. He suggests using a half-smile at various times throughout the day beginning when we awaken as we talked about last week. This is a simple, powerful, and peaceful habit to cultivate. What intrigued me is that he also speaks of using a half-smile when in an uncomfortable situation or hearing unpleasant news. This simple practice of the half-smile is a physical filtering out through one’s body of that which is jarring. Just as a sneeze removes irritants from our noses, a half-smile can remove irritants from our hearts and minds.

It always has been and always will be ours to bring peace to ourselves. No one else can do it for us. This blessing of the half-smile changes us by shifting our internal rhythm and supporting compassion for ourselves and others; it shifts us into a calm that our heart understands and reinforces.

May we wait before we speak, be mindful of our thoughts, and cull out any judgmental ones. Ours is to love, listen, and speak when our words can be kind. All else we compost in the bin of love, our hearts.

To all that is not peaceful
I smile a half smile
and compost it in
the bin of love:
my heart

I deeply appreciate your comments and suggestions so please keep them coming. Last week we spoke of Presence as a path to peace and I asked for your means of returning to peace. Linda Commito sent in the attached document which comes from the Shanti Medina in Boulder, Colorado. It explains how to reset our nervous system to a place of peace through a Vagus nerve reset and is very effective. Thank you, Linda!.
Thank you for choosing peace in your thoughts, words, and actions.

Yours in peace and love always,
Donna

P.S. Please pass on the peace by sharing this post with friends and family. They can join this mailing list, by writing to me at donnadday@gmail.com