Peace Ideas - Issue No. 77 by Peace Ideas

No.

peace ideas

‘’If five percent of the people work for peace, there will be peace.’’ A Quarterly Publication of the Peace Center Theosophical Society in the Philippines, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines

Tel. No. 741-5740; Fax: 740-3751; E-mail address: philtheos@gmail.com; Webpage: http://www.theosophy.ph

Inner Peace ____________

Peace Perspective______________________________

Practicing Gratitude

What Peace Science is Telling Us

Why should we practice gratitude? In answer to this question, bestselling author Melody Beattie once wrote: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” That said, here are some tips for practicing gratitude from another bestselling author, Dr. Christina Hibbert: · Post words, photos and objects of gratitude at home. · Keep a gratitude journal, listing down the things you are grateful for each day. · Write a gratitude letter and pay a visit to a person you feel you owe much. · Incorporate gratitude into your exercise and morning routine. Be grateful for the new day and for life itself. · Say "thank you" more often. · Send your loved ones messages of thanks through text or social media. · Acknowledge one ungrateful thought per day and then replace it with a grateful one.. · Practice mindfulness. Focusing on the present moment enables you to recognize the blessings of life that you miss when dwelling on the past and future. Source: Dr. Christina Hibbert, "10 Ways to Practice Gratitude Today (www.drchristinahibbert.com/10ways-to-practice-gratitude-today)

Eminent physicists, biologists and philosophers established in the emerging field of Peace Science like astronaut-scientist Dr. Edgar Mitchell, biologist-author Rupert Sheldrake, and Mahatma Gandhi grandson-peaceworker Arun Gandhi have arrived at conclusions that accord with the spiritual teachings of history's great sages and saints, such as: 1. We are all One Mind at the core of our being but we do not experience it at will because we are not evolved enough. 2. Although peace is in our deepest nature, conflict and violence are provoked in us by threats from what we mistakenly perceive as "not-self." 3. Because of our illusion of separation, fear is deeply rooted in our society. And our ego's fear of annihilation is the cause of much violence in our world.

4. There is hope because the shift from hostile competition to mature collaboration is repeatedly seen in the evolution of life --a trend that shows we are slowly awakening to our true nature. 5. Beneath our ego-consciousnesses is a unified field of global consciousness with which we interact on a daily basis. Part of this field is the collective memory of each species. Each individual tends to follow the habitual patterns of the species it belongs to. 6. The best way to become an instrument of world peace is to bring peace into our own lives so we can contribute positively to our species' collective memory. 7. We must practice spirituality to access the deepest peace at the core of our being and bring it to manifestation in our world. Source: http://www.scienceofpeace.com/document.html

Inside ____________________________________ The Toll of the Global Tobacco Plague Would Gandhi Use Social Media for Peace? Beware of the Stress Contagion The Wisdom of Teaching Without Grades Norman Cousins: the Laughing Peacemaker The Health Benefits of Silence

Too Many Choices Equals Unhappiness Cool Inventions for a Greener World Childhood Obesity: a Sign of Child Abuse? Spirituality in the Third Millenium Violence Against Women: Fast Facts and Stats And More…

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Peace Advocacy _________ Outer Peace___________________________________

Peace Boat: The Toll of the What is It? Global Tobacco Plague

Peace Boat is a global non-government organization headquartered in Japan established for the purpose of raising awareness and building connections internationally among groups that work for peace, human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development. "Peace Boat" may also refer to one of the ships embarking on a cruise under the Peace Boat organization. Since its founding in 1983, the Shinjuku, To kyo-based or ga ni za tion has launched 25 international voyages of passenger ships manned by international volunteers that travel particularly to areas that are experiencing or have experienced unrest. Besides the international voyages, Peace Boat carries out other projects seeking justice in various international realms such as a campaign for the abolition of land mines, a Galapagos reforestation project, and more. Peace Boat also acts as the Northeast Asia regional secretariat of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict. As an international NGO granted Special Consultative Status by the UN, it can sub mit re ports and pro posals based on the re sults of its activities. Source: excerpted from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Boat)

peace ideas No. 77

A quarterly publication of the Peace Center of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines. The Theosophical Society is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization dedicated to the promotion of universal brotherhood without distinction of creed, caste, sex or color.

According to the World Health Or ga ni za tion (WHO), tobacco smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable death. Alas, we do not seem to mind the spread of the global tobacco epidemic even though tobacco use-· kills 1 person in every 6 sec-

onds or nearly 6 million people every year (600,000 people including 165,000 children by second-hand smoke). · kills up to half of its users, on average 15 years prematurely. · will cause more than 8 million deaths each year by 2030 if urgent action is not taken. · will kill around 500 million people alive today and up to a billion people this century if current trends continue. Be sides be ing a sys tem atic killer, tobacco use also-· exacerbates poverty. · contributes to world hunger by di vert ing prime land away from food production. · damages the environment. · harms the economy (tobacco use costs the world an estimated $500 billion each year in health care expenditures, productivity losses, fire damage, and other costs.) To make matters worse, tobacPeace Ideas seeks to disseminate workable ideas that will promote lasting peace and universal brotherhood. Contributions from readers are welcome, whether their own or clipped from their readings. Previously published materials must include name and address of publication from where the materials were taken. The views expressed herein do not necessarily express those of the editors or the publisher. Subscriptions: In the Philippines: P120.00 per year. Foreign: US$8.00 per year (postpaid airmail). Single copies: P30.00 (Foreign: US$2.00). Bulk orders for redistribution are entitled to sub-

co use is growing fastest in low-income countries, due to faster population growth there, together with tobacco industry targeting, ensuring that millions of people become fatally addicted each year. More than 80% of the world’s tobacco-related deaths will be in low- and middle-income countries (whose economies are more vulnerable) by 2030. If you care to help end the global tobacco epidemic, here are some things you can do: 1. Demand that ending the epidemic becomes a priority in state legislation. Urge the regulation of tobacco products and hiking of tobacco taxes. Urge the government to step up keeping kids from starting to smoke, protecting citizens from second-hand smoke, etc. 2. Support anti-smoking campaigns and organizations. Participate. Volunteer. Donate. 3. Use your social media channels to get the word out to friends and family about the severity of the global tobacco crisis. 4. Be a good example. Do not smoke even just occasionally to, say, please peers during social gatherings. Exemplify self-control in all aspects of your life. Sources:http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/facts_issues/toll_global/; http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/mpower_report_tobacco_crisis_2008.pdf

stantial discounts. For information please write to: Peace Ideas, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines. Tel. No. 741-57-40. Fax No. (63-2) 740-3751. E-mail address: philtheos@gmail.com Editor: Joselito B. Cendaña Editorial Staff: Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr., Estrellita V. Gruenberg, Jenifer Aposaga

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Parenting _____________________________________ Self-Improvement ________

5 Things Your Kids Need to Live Happy Lives In his book, The Childhood Roots of Happiness, Dr. Edward Hallowell M.D. lists these five things children need to build a lifetime of self-esteem and happiness: 1. Connections. Feeling rooted gives children a foundation of security. They need unconditional love from parents, and benefit when they have close ties to their extended family, feel part of their school, and help care for pets. 2. Play. Children's free time should not be too programmed and reg i mented. Open-ended play, in which kids can invent scenarios and solve problems, helps them discover their talents and use their own resources. 3. Practice. When kids find out what they are good at, they will want to do it again and again. But

sometimes you may have to do some gentle nudging to ensure your child sticks to an activity and gains a sense of accomplishment. 4. Mastery. From practice comes mastery. When children achieve a skill--tying their shoes, playing the piano, or whatever-they are further motivated to tackle new challenges. This leads to a can-do attitude. 5. Recognition. Approval and support from parents, teachers, and peers for a job well done reconnect children to the wider world. When kids think what they do affects others, they are more likely to exhibit moral behavior and they feel good about themselves. Source: Sandra Lee, "How to Raise Happy Kids" (http://www.parents.com/parenting/betterparenting/style/how-to-raise-happy-kids/)

Peace Practice _________________________________

Would Gandhi Use Social Media for Peace? Would Gandhi use social media like Facebook and Twitter to promote peace? During a UN "Global Peace Through Social Media" conference, keynote speaker Nipun Mehta expressed his belief that Gandhi would surely use social media because they can facilitate the three fundamental requirements needed for so cial change to occur. These three are: 1. Raising awareness. Social media is an incredible tool for raising awareness and even shaping consciousness. In fact, society is moving in the direction of having a planetary mind because of the global reach of social networks. 2. Creating an impact. We have witnessed in Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street the great impact social media can create in

society. Social media is also quietly creating an impact at a level deeper than just socio-political: the spiritual. For example, a very fast-growing number of people are being drawn by social media to become part of peace causes and are being inspired to embody peace in promoting these causes. 3. Transforming the heart. According to Gandhi, we must "be the change" first "that (we) want to see in the world," but from this starting point, we can use social media to bring inspiration, creativ ity, and in sight from our transformative experience, and influence others towards their own self-transformation. Source: Olivia Torres, "The Global Peace Through Social Media Conference in the UN" (http://www.abzuginstitute.org/content/2012/02/24/bali-intern-attends-the-global-peace-through-social-media-conference-at-the-united-nations/)

Beware of the Stress Contagion Stress is the biggest health threat in today’s society. If you wish to avoid being affected by stress at least on a given moment, it should help that you avoid people who easily get stressed or observing people get stressed out even if only on TV and other similar media. The reason? Stress is contagious. This is the conclusion reached by scientists involved in a large-scale cooperation project between the the Max Planck Institute for Cog ni tive and Brain Sciences and the Technische Universität Dresden. In its study of 362 people wherein everybody was tested in pairs--one exposed to stress and one observer--the scientists have found that: · 95% of those exposed to stress experienced a rise in levels of the stress hormone cortisol · 30% of the observers had elevated cortisol levels by watching through a one-way mirror · 26% had elevated cortisol levels by watching through a video monitor · 40% had eleveted cortisol levels by watching their romantic partners get stressed These findings also behoove us to avoid contaminating other people with our stress by always trying to keep our inner peace. Source: Ian Landau, "Study Confirms Stress is Contagious" Details Magazine (June, 2014)

Peace Ideas Online Read entire issues of Peace Ideas plus outlines of essays on Self-Transformation in the Internet. The webpage of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines can be found in: http://www.theosophy.ph/

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Art of Living ___________ Education ____________________________________

Why Life is The Wisdom of Teaching Like Coffee Without Grades An in spi ra tional YouTube video entitled "Life is Like a Cup of Coffee" tells this anecdotal story from an unknown author: A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university pro fes sor. Con ver sa tion soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. The professor then offered his guests drink, bringing out a large pot of cof fee and an as sort ment of cups--plastic, glass, porce lain, crys tal, plain-look ing, ex pensive-looking, and so on. Soon after, the best cups were taken and the professor said: "While it is normal for you to get the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Life is like the coffee. And the jobs, money and position in society are like the cups--they are just tools to hold and contain life. The type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of the coffee nor the life we live. When we focus on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. The happiest people do not have the best of everything but make the best of everything. Live simply. Speak kindly. Care deeply. Love generously." Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Ngz Q9Pcsg

Bulk Copies of Peace Ideas Bulk quantities of Peace Ideas either in newsprint or standard paper may be ordered at very low prices. It is a very economical way of promoting inner and outer peace. Contact the Peace Center, 1 Iba St., Quezon City, Philippines, Tel. 741-5740; Fax No. (63-2) 740-3751.

"What gets measured gets managed," once wrote Peter Drucker, the foremost management thinker of the 20th century. Unfortunately, today's educational systems typically give too much emphasis on measuring academic learning at the expense of qualities that are more meaningful and important. When asked what qualities they want their children to develop most in life, parents answer: The ability to-· enjoy life · value themselves · be risk-takers · be self-reliant · be free from stress and anxiety · have loving, peaceful lives · celebrate their present moments · experience a lifetime of wellness

· be creative · fulfill their higher needs and feel a sense of higher purpose Incidentally, these are the very qualities that the Montessori style of teaching without grades seeks to develop in children. Rather than accentuate comparison by grading each student, it promotes peaceful co-existence and co-learning, by helping each child find his passion in life and best contribution to society. Its focus is to meet not only the intellectual, but overall fundamental needs of students to help them develop into physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually/socially healthy human beings who care deeply for others and the whole world. Source:: http://www.northstarmontessori.com/articles/articles.what-no-grades.html

Norman Cousins: The Laughing Peacemaker Norman Cousins (1915 to 1990), was an American political journalist, global peacemaker, author and professor who received hundreds of awards including the UN Peace Medal and Albert Schweitzer Award as well as nearly fifty honorary doctorate degrees. But for all his lifetime achievements, he became famous above all as the dying man who laughed himself back to health! His seminal book, Anatomy of an Illness, tells the story of how he was given up to die within a few months in 1965 due to ankylosing spondylitis (a painful degenerative disease characteraized by the breakdown of collagen in the spine). While in the hospital he was confined in, he hypothesized that if negative emotions such as frustration and anger could contribute to poor health, then positive emotions such as joy, laughter, faith, and love should have the opposite effect. Almost completely paralyzed, he checked out of the hospital, moved into a hotel room and began taking extremely high doses of vitamin C while exposing himself to a continuous stream of humorous Marx Brothers films. His condition steadily improved and he regained the use of his limbs until he was able to get back to work and eventually receive many more awards for peacework and other achievements. His journey back to life through laughter and positivity has become an inspiration to people without number. Source: http://www.joeyguse.com/2007/07/how-marx-brothers-brought-norman.html; http://letslaugh.net/laugh-

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Interpersonal Relationships _______________________

Understanding the Needy Person Once in a while, you will encounter a person who exhibits too much neediness or dependence for your liking. Neediness, just like all other negative personality traits, is really a sign of some inner suffering which needs (no pun intended) our understanding a n d c o m p a s s i o n . D r . Ni c k Arrizza, author, life coach and developer of the powerful Mind Resonance Process (MRP), explains the roots of neediness (and other negative personality traits): 1. Neediness is largely rooted and driven by negative memories of unhealthy relationships in childhood as a result of abuse, neglect, lack of love, humiliation, shame, rejection, etc.

2. These negative memories stored in the subconscious generate negative self-beliefs such as: I'm inadequate, I'm flawed, I'm unwanted, I'm unloved, etc. 3. These negative self-beliefs create a state of neediness because the person's uncomfortable feelings of lack are soothed by other people's show of attention, approval, love, etc. which he was deprived of when he was a child. We can hardly get a needy person to change by force or insensitive words. What he needs is love and the realization that he is already whole and complete at the deepest level of his being. Source: Nick Arrizza, M.D., "How to Stop Being Needy and Co-Dependent" (http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/how-to-stop-being-needy-co-dependent)

Peace Quotes Ego says, "Once everything falls into place, I'll feel peace." Spirit says, "Find your peace, and then ev ery thing will fall into place. MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Where's the point in fighting and slaying if you can make a friend out of any beast instead of a foe? BRIAN JACQUES

Dad, how do soldiers killing each other solve the world's problems? BILL WATTERSON

Many people think excitement is hap piness...But when you are Inner Peace ___________________________________ excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.

Too Much Choice Equals Unhappiness

In our materialist culture, we are raised to believe that the more choice we have, the better. But accord ing to psy chol o gist Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, too much choice can actually paralyze us. For example, imagine being bombarded by choices and spending precious time on even the most mi nor de ci sions in a gro cery store, e.g., toothpaste or gel, dish powder or liquid, this brand or that brand, and so on. And a Colum bia Uni ver sity study also found that when we finally do choose from among our many available options, we end up less satisfied with our decision. It turns out that all those choices ramp up our expectations to a level that is hard to meet. That said, Daniel Barbezat of

the Cen ter for Con tem pla tive Mind in Society, gives us the following simple suggestions for nav i gat ing through our product-laden world: 1. Weigh the cost of searching for what we think is the best option in every case. Is it worth our time and energy? 2. Pay attention to what really matters. Our desire for things of this world lead to suffering because everything is transitory in this world. It is to our benefit that we minimize them and simplify, while focusing on the more meaningful things in life. 3. Know when to turn over your choice to someone you trust or get advice from a reliable source if you must choose. Source: "Too Much Choice = Unhappy." Mindful Magazine (October 2013)

THICH NHAT HANH

When love and hate are both absent, everything becomes clear and undisguised. Make the slightest dis tinc tion, how ever, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. If you wish to see the truth, then hold no opinions for or against anything. To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind HSIN HSIN MING

You might be tempted to avoid the messiness of daily living for the tranquility of stillness and peace ful ness. This of course would be an attachment to stillness, and like any strong attachment, it leads to delusion. It arrests development and short-circuits the cultivation of wisdom. JON KABAT-ZINN

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Health and Healing_______ Environment _________________________________

The Health Benefits of Silence When you live in the city, chances are you have become so accustomed to noise that you do not think as much about its harmful effects as you should. But the fact is that there is a direct relationship be tween noise and stress--the number one proxy killer disease to day. Re search stud ies have shown that excessive noise can even drive humans to violence and suicide. Conversely, there is a lot of science showing that silence is ben e fi cial to your health. Silence-· lowers blood pressure and allows you to be calmer. · enables your brain to recharge more than it does during sleep. · allows you to find your center or inner stillness. · boosts your immune system. · makes you happier because it boosts your brain chemistry. · makes you focus better. · makes you look and feel younger, and have more energy. · reduces stress (lowers blood cortisol and adrenaline levels) · allows for good hormone regulation and interaction of all the hormone-related systems in your body. · keeps plaques from forming in arteries, thus helping prevent cardiovascular disease and strokes. · reduces pain. · helps your brain become more interactive, enabling you to work with more of your brain and have higher cognitive abilities. · makes you more capable of dealing with emotional issues and loneliness. Sources: Dr. Paul Haider, "The Health Benefits of Silence: Simple Yet Profound" (omtimes.com/2012/10/the-health-benefits-of-silence-simple-yet-profound)

Cool Inventions for a Greener World Green tech development has been racing against time to avert the worst of climate change and mass extinction. Here are four green resource- and energy-saving inventions of late: 1. Solar powered, sewer system-less toilet. Clement Cid of Caltech has built a solar powered toilet prototype that uses an electro-chemical reactor to turn both flushed waste and water into clean water that can be used to flush new waste in a closed-loop system. In other words, a sewer system and additional water are not needed for it to work. 2. LED lightbulb. Compact fluorescent bulbs have been replacing incandescent bulbs but the new lighting revolution is in LED. LED lightbulbs have a lifespan of up to 20 years and use minimal energy. They are so effi-

c i e n t th a t i f e v e r y 6 0 - wa t t incandescent in the US were replaced, $3.9 billion and 20 million metric tons of carbon emissions can be saved in one year. 3. Super powered electric car. Electric cars are green but slow, right? Not the Tesla Model S which can go 130 mph, while generating only 1/3 the CO 2 and 1/10 the pollution of hybrid cars. 4. Solar powered cellphone. Much energy and carbon emissions would be saved if all the world's cell-phone users owned solar-powered units. Fortunately, Germany's Fraunhofer Institute is close to integrating solar cells to mobile phones, allowing them to be powered continuously on just 2 hours of sunlight a day. Sources: https://ph.news.yahoo.com/video/playlist/tech nostorm/solar-powered-toilet-future-002054913.html; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/05/green-inventions-eco-innovations_n_3540831.html

Animal Welfare _______________________________

What is Wrong with the Circus? Most people associate the circus with wholesome entertainment, but the truth is actually much darker. Here are some myths and truths that show some of the things that are wrong with the circus: Myth #1: Circus animals live and travel in comfort. Truth: Cir cus an i mals live most of their lives in trailers, cages, or chains. They have much shorter lifespans than animals in the wild because they live unnatural, miserable lives Myth #2: Circuses use positive training methods on animals. Truth: Training is based on intim i da tion and vi o lence, intended to break the animal's will

and force him into submission Myth #3: Cir cuses provide safe family entertainment. Truth: The use of animals in circuses poses serious threats to public safety and health because circus animals experience tremendous stress and suffering that they can go mad. Myth #4: Circuses have high educational value for children. Truth: Showing children that wild animals can be dominated by human beings and used as objects sends the wrong message about controlling other sentient beings. It is an assault on developing empathy and compassion. Source: http://www.bornfreeusa.org/articles.php?p=493&more=1

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Childcare ____________________________________ Self-Improvement ________

Childhood Obesity: Sign of Child Abuse? We know that childhood obesity is a health problem. But can it be a sign of child abuse? According to recent studies, many, if not most, children become obese due to parental neglect, child abuse and domestic violence. Parental neglect While genetics can be a predispos ing fac tor, the alarm ing spread of the global epidemic of childhood obesity in recent decades indicates that genes is not its primary cause. We simply cannot change our genes in a matter of decades. Instead, parental neglect has played a major part in the increase of childhood obesity. For example, working parents have less time to prepare meals for, and oversee the eating habits of, their children. As a result, fast foods (typically high in sugar and fat) have become the convenient alternative. Parents should be buying and serving more fruits and vegetables for their children, using cooking methods that are lower in fat, encouraging exercise, planning active family outings like going swim ming or playing in the park, limiting time spent on watching TV and using the computer, assigning active chores, avoiding using food as a reward or bribe, setting the example in healthful eating and exercise, and so on.

Child abuse Numerous studies have found a strong link between child abuse (physical and/or sexual) and both childhood and adult obesity. Researchers offer the following possible explanations for this link: 1. Abused children may eat as a form of coping, a pattern that often continues into adulthood. 2. Increasing size by gaining weight may offer children protection from physical threats. 3. Weight gain may be used to discourage sexual advances and repel sexual abusers. 4.The emo tions as so ci ated with abuse can lead to an increase in ap pe tite be cause of higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 5. Children, especially adolescents, may believe that being fat is socially protective, that society will expect less from and think less of someone who is obese. Domestic violence Researchers have also found that children whose mothers reported chronic abuse at the hands of their intimate partner were more likely to be obese at age 5 than those from violence-free families, because of one or some of the above-mentioned causes. Sources: "Childhood Obesity: What Can Be Done" Awake, March 2009; http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/linking_sexual_abuse_to_obesit.html

Thinking of a Gift? Why not a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subscription to Peace Ideas? P120.00 (or US$8.00 foreign by air). If you subscribe for more than 10 friends, you get a 10% discount for all. Your friends will receive a card announcing your gift subscription together with the first issue. Just send your name with the list of your friends, together with a check or money order to: Peace Ideas, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines.

Befriending Your Anger Anger is our expression of aversion to and rejection of the reality that is unfolding before us. The practice of mindfulness or full present-moment awareness is an effective anger-management tool we can use to stay present with whatever life presents, rather than being overcome by past- and future-oriented thoughts of what should be. Here is a mindfuless prac tice us ing self-com pas sion sug gested by Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina: 1. Identify the feeling. When you notice feelings of anger or aversion inside you, pause and breathe mindfully. Name the feeling: "Anger is here now," "Aversion is here now," etc. 2. Name it also as suffering: "This is suffering," "Suffering is here now," etc. as you continue to breathe mindfully. 3. Recognize that it is your "little me" or ego which separates itself from the flow of life and what is that is suffering. Soften into the moment. Breathing mindfully, trust your capacity to hold the suffering of anger that is here now in awareness. 4. Deepen your presence by touching your true spiritual Self. Be Compassion itself in your inner stillness. 5. Then embrace your "little me" that is in pain like you would embrace a dear loved one who is in pain. The essential aspect of this practice is to stay fully in the present moment and not to allow yourself to be swayed by past- and future- oriented thoughts of what should be so you can connect with what is eternal and true in you. Source: Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., "Cooling the Raging Fires." Mindful, October 2013.

Peace Ideas, No. 77

Interspirituality _________ Outer Peace __________________________________

Spirituality Violence Against Women: in the Third Fast Facts and Stats We have been hearing the · Up to 70% of female murder Millenium shock victims are killed by their ing news one after the o-

We are witnessing the gradual emergence of a global spirituality that is at the heart of world religions and spiritual traditions. In his book, The Mystic Heart, the late interspirituality advocate and Catholic lay monk Bro. Wayne Teasdale says that this spirituality of the next thousand years and beyond will have these major characteristics: 1. It will be contemplative because contemplation--the conscious process of uniting with the Divine at the deepest level of being--represents the maturity of the inner experience. 2. It will be interspiritual and intermystical with an enhanced understanding of the inner life gained from the inner treasures of the different world religions. 3. It will be socially engaged, concerned with the plight of all those who suffer because it understands the fundamental Oneness of all reality. 4. It will be environmentally responsible, with a keen sense of value of the "created order." 5. It will be holistic, integrating the body with the mind, soul, consciousness and spirit. 6. It will engage other media, looking to art, music, movies, science, and so on to nourish contemplative life and the sacred. 7. It will be cosmically open, recognizing that we are part of a much larger commu nity than simply our earth community: a cosmic community. 8. It will aim for integration, honoring the truths of the revolutions of science and culture while incorporating the insights of the great religions and spiritual traditions. Sources: Wayne Teasdale, The Mystic Heart. (California: New World Library, 1999)

ther lately: "Malaysian teenager gang raped by 38 men," "Mother of murdered rape victim in India attacked for refusing to withdraw her complaint," "Girl and husband murdered by relatives for marrying against their wishes," "Pakistan girl burned alive for rejecting marriage proporsal," etc. The truth is that these acts of violence are just examples of common occurences of violence against women the world over. Statistics show that-· 1 in 3 women throughout the world (or more than 1 billion women) will experience physical and/or sexual violence by a partner or sexual violence by a non-partner. · In Zambia, more than 5 women a week are murdered by a male partner or family member. · In South Africa, a woman is raped every 4 minutes. · Over 22 million women in the US alone have been raped in their lifetime; every 90 seconds, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. · Around 17,500 women and children are trafficked into the US annually for sexual exploitation or forced labor.

male partners. · Systematic rape, used as a weapon of war, has left millions of women and teen girls traumatized, forcibly impregnated, or infected with HIV. · In Asia alone, at least 60 million girls are "missing" due to prenatal sex selection, infanticide, or neglect. · Female genital mutilation/cutting affects an estimated 130 million women and girls. If you wish to do your share of helping minimize violence against women-1. Call the police when you notice evidence of domestic violence. 2. Support a friend or family member who may be in an abusive relationship. 3. Volunteer in an organization that works to help end violence against women. 4. Teach children the Golden Rule and respect for others. 5. Lead by example. Work to create a culture that rejects violence as a way to solve problems. 6. Support government policies that deal with violence against women. 7. Raise awareness of violence against women in our world. Source: www.domesticviolenceinfo.ca/article/facts-and-stats-151.asp

The Peace Center The Peace Center of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines is open Tuesday to Sunday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Center is located at the National Headquarters of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines, 1 Iba Street,

Quezon City, Philippines. Tel. No. 741-57-40. The Board of Trustees of the Center is composed of the following: Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr. (Chairman), Rudy Rodil (Executive Director), Flerida Ruth P. Romero, Leticia R. Shahani, Concepcion L. Madarang, Luis Torres, Leonardo Salazar and Patricia G. Muñoz (Trustees).