#40 - Non-violence

To begin, think about the word "violence", you clearly know what it describes. Everyone has an imagination, but the term doesn't need explaining, very often we hear or see some violence from the media or others. Or even we might be participating in a violent scene, either as a victim or assailant.

Fortunately, everything has two sides and the opposite side of violence is non-violence (kindness, peace).

This week we are going to deepen into non-violence, so that reason you should fully acknowledge the term itself.

To understand how non-violence can manifest in our lives each day, we must first learn how subtle daily actions and responses containing elements of violence.

When our thoughts contain negative responses like disappointment, resentment, or guilt, when we feel shame, we are subtly creating violence. If you can’t forgive someone for something they’ve done to you, or if you can’t forgive yourself for something you’ve done, this is an act of violence because it pushes love away.

Expecting too much of yourself and putting all responsibility on your own shoulders is a type of violence too, as is expecting that the world will run according to your design. You’re being violent towards yourself and the world on a large scale with these kinds of mindsets. Acting out of our fears is a form of violence to the self. We inflict violence on others daily in subtle ways, but this is simply an outward expression of the war that goes on inside of everyone. Whenever we resent others, it creates a negative atmosphere.

Finding inner peace through non-violence, come to peace in interactions with others. This topic may come as a surprise if you consider yourself a non-violent person.

Consider how violence can function in the subtlest of ways. Violence disguises itself well; it manifests in words, actions, and even inner thought.

Another way to bring non-violence into your life is through compassion. It’s the ability to accept events as they are with an open heart, letting go of reacting in any negative way and replacing those feelings with kindness and acceptance.

It's something that takes work, time, and refining. Nonviolence as a practice of not injuring others might seem straightforward in theory:

• "Of course, I shouldn’t throw a tantrum if I don’t get something my way."

• "Of course, I shouldn’t bully anyone."

• "Of course, I shouldn’t lie."

We also recognise that the theory is often so much harder to put into practice and maintain. Sometimes we simply forget, we get lost in our thoughts, worries and desires that we lose the sound of consciousness and the result might come out violent even though we often didn't mean it.

That's why with this course we are trying to be more conscious about ourselves and our choices, be closer to subconsciousness and be kind to ourselves and others, to fauna and flora. Find inner peace and above all - unconditional love towards everything.

We are all diverse and not equal. Everybody starts from different places, but everybody has the same goal - to have a happy life.

This topic is very wide, I would like to focus on the small part about treating people as equally good as possible, to get rid of prejudices, opinions, discrimination and just simply give love to everybody. No matter where this person comes from, what is background, past, race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, belief, disability and other things that do not define who the person is true.

Everybody has something beautiful to offer to this world. Everybody should be supported, valued and respected. We don't know what is the person's story, and why this person is like that.

It's good to observe the mind process, and always ask yourself questions

• "Why do I get thoughts like this?"

• "What mind program is behind it?"

• "Does it bring harm?"

One side is about creating consciousnesses, what can harm us and others. With love in the heart, it will become natural to actively work towards positive creation around us.

When we see non-violence in action, it keeps us in a positive connection with ourselves and the world.

I see non-violence in the news story about an eight-year-old boy helping another eight-year-old boy with autism feel better on the first day of school.

I see it when my neighbour helps his wife through illness with love.

When I learn that a friend is organising cleanups from plastic garbage on local beaches.

When I choose a healthy nourishing meal to serve my body in the midst of a busy workday.

Non-violence is present and relevant to all, in each of our unique lives. Bringing awareness to it as a conscious life is a key to its continuation and expansion.

For some people, it means not killing any animal. If you decide to eat meat focus on practicing self-love and gratitude, to understand that this animal was sacrificed to become part of you.

A question a lot of people often ask is "Do I have to be vegetarian or vegan?". While the guidance of non-violence advises not harming another living thing and therefore suggesting abstaining from eating animals, there has to be a balance.

• If cutting out certain things from your diet causes you harm, then it’s important to consider what works best.

• Can you change things a little so you’re supporting environmentally friendly companies?

• Eat organically?

• Maybe eat vegan or vegetarian at least a couple of times a week?

• Decrease overall animal product consumption?

• Buy in fair trade or open-air market?

Whether you choose to eat meat and animal products or not, doing what is right for your unique body and helping to support the environment at the same time is something we can all be a part of.

Day by day we have to learn to consume just as much as it's actually needed, and not to store to later to throw away because we bought so much. It creates waste, and when you realise you are creating so much waste that you could've avoided it.

Next time you go shopping, keep it in mind and buy enough not too much, so you stop the violence towards yourself and the planet. Think about a journey of your food from the earth to your table, since it was a seed grown to fruit, or a little chick to become the chicken soup to keep you alive, functioning.

Feel thankful for the beginning, try to stay conscious, and observe your feelings. Overall, keep it balanced, eat any food you can but not too much or too little.

This week is a reminder of being kind, grateful, and love. Love yourself and others, only true peace of mind and gratitude could create genuine love. Love towards yourself and other living things, then the love can eradicate the violence.

You found a way to being nonviolent by now and how to manifest it so you will gain more control over your automatic reactions and behaviours, that would cause you to inflict violence.

Apply a nonviolent diet in your everyday life by doing your best to stick to that, not only when eating but with your mindset as well.

Keep it balanced and stay conscious about your actions.

Analyse your life, and write down all those moments, when you caused consciously or unconsciously harm to yourself and other beings.

Take one hour for quiet reflection for full 7 days, and write down all things. (you can use the template on the next page)

On the last day read them all out loud and find in your heart forgiveness towards yourself and others. You can burn this page, as a way to detach from the past.

This exercise might be very emotional for some people. It's okay, it is what happened and it doesn't matter anymore. You don't have the power to change the past, but you have the power to create a new and better tomorrow.