To Harrison, Judi, Joelle and others...........
In the space in which I move and the clients/ groups with whom I work, the word
"peace" isn't used much. Nevertheless, I think that is what I - and so many
others on this list - do. By opening space for conflict to be aired and held,
for dialogue to open up, for unheard voices to be heard and new, transforming
conversations to happen, we create space for the flow of spirit. In my case, of
late this means helping cancer researchers to move beyond their original
institutions and form a co-operative network and share research resources; for
a bank to foster the development of "communities of practice" and knowledge
sharing; for mid-level managers to come into their own power (empowerment).
Not to say the ongoing work of parenting two teenagers!!
And yes, it begins in my own being, with as much acknowledgement of and
non-resistance to all that I see in myself as I can manage [the good, the bad
and the ugly!] and than naturally extending that out to others - close..
further.. further still. Being able to provide a container for peacefullness in
myself helps me to provide such a container for others too. Some of these
"others" are clients; but it is also children, family, friends.... ultimately
and hopefully everyone we come in contact with. For me peace is not just the
feeling of peacefulness, kindness, friendliness. It is the place which is able
to contain that AND it's "opposite" - anger, fear, jealousy.. and hold them
until a resolution naturally appears.
.................Easy to say, life-long task to do!!
Best to all - will be with you in spirit for 3 pm meditation!
Meg Salter
MegaSpace Consulting
416/486-6660
meg.sal...@sympatico.ca
www.megaspaceconsulting.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Harrison Owen
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 3:46 PM
Subject: A Practice of Peace (Tova Averbuch)
As the decibels of war increase, conversations about Peace seem to grow
commensurately, but I think conversations may be growing a little thin. In the
great sweep of history, the difficulties of the moment will probably be seen as
another bump in the road of Humanity, but as we sit on the edge of this
particular pothole, it looks awfully deep. At such a time, talk about Peace
should probably give way to the active creation of that ephemeral state of
being. And I believe that is exactly what we do each and every time we Open
Space. No guarantees, of course, but in my experience, the true gifts of Open
Space come in packages marked Trust, Respect, and Hope. At least that is what I
am told everywhere i go around the world. And this trio goes a long way towards
the establishment of Peace. Why and how this might be so is a mystery we would
do well to consider -- but THAT it occurs is a matter of personal experience,
at least my personal experience. So I beg you -- Practice Peace, Open Space --
wherever, however, and as often as you can. And as you do, reflect on what all
that might mean for you and then share so we all can learn.
Tova Averbuch, our friend from Israel, sent me the following -- and I share
it (with her permission). She mentions Carol -- a young Palestinian with a
small son Simon and a husband called Sam. Great People.
I speak to Carol and I speak to Miriam (from the settlements). We go to
demonstrations and look for ways to unite all the political and public forces
that are looking for resolution and consent (in various ways including os). The
more the brutality the more the sanity and public commitment, I hope it will be
figural and applicable soon. We open spaces in organizations and communities at
least once or twice a month. That is a place to find some hope, when people,
together, touch on something that is truthful, authentic; uniquely created and
attended, being born. The feeling is revitalizing and reminding people of their
wholeness and 'partness' no matter what the issues are, and I like this form of
prayer together.
In all of that craziness there is a voice that has to tell you about one of
the practices that keeps me sane, maybe that is the way I practice being whole
and at peace in 'war zone'- some degree of peace in a situation in which
"knowing" is not a luxury I can afford.
My practice is that I reiterate 4 principles (strongly the first two) and one
law whenever I am "stuck to death" in anger, sadness or despair and look for
life, for flow. I remind myself:
1."Whoever are here are the right people" yes, everyone!. If I do not
understand what is 'their' contribution it is for me to figure out but they/we
are all the right people, the very loving and the very hating, the extreme
right and the extreme wrong / left.
My practice is to tell myself Whoever are here are the right people even in
situations I (and/or others) do not want to hear it, especially in those
situations, and to look for some new understanding in what way he or she or
'them' or me are 'the right people', moment by moment.
I really do believe this to be so with no difficulty and take this truism as
an axiom. It is very helpful because I can find myself sad and hopeless at
times but never short of meaning to have or to make up, lessens to seek and
learn (I keep busy.I can flow) and I know new things again and again about
being part (partaking is defiantly a part of peace making. It is piece making.)
and finding endless ways of doing and being 'inclusion' in a world of
'exclusion' as the name of the game. Another asset of this rule of peace is
that it keeps me humble yet an active player in the game of living.
This principle also serves me as a personal master guide in the midst of
chaos: if I am 'the right people' what may my task be? What is my passion and
what is my responsibility, moment by moment. This is particularly helpful in
peace making in times of war because it is so overwhelming at times that one
tends either to save the word or to feel totally helpless.
2. "Whatever happens is the only thing that could have". I find the
reiteration of this axiom especially necessary for energy preservation. No, I
do not yet believe it but I made up my mind ' to fake it until I make it' going
on my way of turning from a worrier to a warrior.
It is hard to stop accounts with the past and for me it is even harder to let
go of the future but that is what gives me enough energy to be fully present
and make a difference. As I see it, this is essential for peace making in war
zone for two reasons: one is that you need yourself totally present to survive
and the other is that because of the chaotic forces if you are fully present
you have endless opportunities to try and make a difference. I know it is to
some degree paradoxical but yet each one of us is one of the determinants of
"whatever happens". I can see a third reason: being totally present is the
fullest way I can think of "being alive" or 'doing living' and that is a real
necessity.
It is becoming very late and I am not sure how much sense I make at three
o'clock in the morning so I will bring it to a stop here. If I didn't make much
I hope you will forgive me.
Tova
Tova -- You make great sense. And thank you for sharing. And for the rest of
us -- How is our Practice of Peace progressing? And what to we have to share?
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
