There is no path to peace. Peace is the path. - Mahatma Gandhi

I accept the world the way it is and all is forgiven. I am grateful for life and everything that nourishes it. Peace is where I am.

These practises are intended for use every-where by every-one. From the boardroom to the bedroom to the battle-field. Regardless of race, gender, religion or any other defining attribute we say “peace is where I am” and we invite you to join us and have peace be where you are too.

Each of these practises starts with the self and looks inward. If your job is as a mediator or counsellor then the practise may move to looking at others but otherwise if you are looking over there then you are not doing these practises you are doing something else. What you are doing may be valid, we don’t know, it’s just not these practises or the path that we say leads to peace.

Practises

Acceptance

“Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change.” -Katherine Mansfield

Acceptance is not liking or agreeing with, it’s not submitting. It’s not fighting with or resisting. It’s not giving in or strategising, it’s not even a step towards resolution. Acceptance is letting go of all judgements, opinions, positions and prejudices. Acceptance is accepting everything about what is and isn’t so about any given situation. If you want to find peace first you must find acceptance.

Forgiveness

“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” -Marianne Williamson

Forgiveness starts with yourself. It’s an act of generosity. Forgiveness builds bridges. In not-at-peace forgiveness is the bedrock from which communication can occur. Like the practise of acceptance there is no ulterior motive to forgiveness, if you are forgiving in order to change, fix, resolve or anything else then that is not forgiveness. Forgiveness acknowledges your responsibility in whatever is occurring. Any time that we are not at peace then we are complicit if not directly then through our past apathy and inaction. So first we forgive ourselves. Then we forgive others. We put aside all of our judgements and opinions and thought stuff and we forgive, just because we can.

Gratitude

“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. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melody Beattie

Every day there are a million little miracles that occur in each of our lives. The practise of gratitude is the practise of acknowledging each of those miracles. Even and especially in the times that seem least miraculous. This practise is not intended to deny or hide from the fact that bad things happen in the world. The intention of this practise is to keep bringing the attention back to the good that is happening.

Peace

“It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

The over-ruling question to ask yourself is “What am I doing right here right now that is bringing peace here and every-where?”

Practise. Practise the practises of peace.

I accept the world the way it is and all is forgiven. I am grateful for life and everything that nourishes it. Peace is where I am.