Being Peace

Once again, some hard teachings in this chapter, which covers, among other things, the interdependence of all things and some monastic techniques for healing conflict, but ends with the need for peace activists to embody peace. "In the peace movement there is a lot of anger, frustration and misunderstanding. The peace movement can write very good protest letters, but they are not yet able to write a love letter. We need to learn to write a letter to the Congress or to the President of the United States that they will want to read and not just throw away. The way you speak, the kind of understanding, the kind of language you use should not turn people off. The President is a person like any of us. Can the peace movement talk in loving speech, showing the way for peace? I think that will depend on whether the people in the peace movement can be peace. Because without being peace, we cannot do anything for peace. If we cannot smile, we cannot help other people to smile. If we are not peaceful, then we cannot contribute to the peace movement."

The monastic teachings on de-escalating conflict were interesting (though I like the Plum Village ones better), including things like confessing faults and "laying straw over mud," which involved a senior teacher addressing and helping de-escalate the situation.