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ReadingThich Nhat Hanh

Escalation of Peace

17 November 2015
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Excerpt from Creating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community, and the World by Thich Nhat Hanh

Escalation of Peace – page 91 to 92, read during Afternoon of Mindfulness 14.11.2015

(also pages 103-109 was read but it hasn’t been written up)

Suffering, unhappiness, violence, and war escalate when we are overcome with anger and try to punish and inflict suffering on the other side. We act this way because we believe that as a result we will suffer less, but of course this action only leads to the other side desiring revenge. This is the surest course of destruction. Deep down, we know this is childish, unintelligent behavior, but still most of us act this way. When we suffer, we blame the other person or group. We hope that is we can punish them and make them suffer, we will feel better and gain some relief. We know the disastrous effects of such behavior, yet we continue to follow this course. The result is more unhappiness, more terrorism, more violence, and more war.

Sometimes, people who cannot find any way to resolve a problem with someone else are tempted to eliminate the problem by eliminating the other person. They wish the other person would just go away, die, or disappear. That desire may be strong enough to lead them to kill. Killing another person is not an act of freedom but an act of despair and great ignorance; it will not bring freedom or peace.

Let us train ourselves to act with Right Understanding and compassion and move in the opposite direction. We can live our lives in such a way that we cause an escalation of peace to occur within our family, our school, and our society. Offering a calm and gentle smile – this is an act of peace. Looking with the eyes of compassion, making a peaceful step – these are gestures of peace and nonviolence that you can offer every day. Speak peacefully, walk peacefully, think peacefully, and your peace will radiate out in all directions.

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by wakeuplondon
News & EventsPeace SitWake Up London

Meditation Gathering for Climate Action

13 November 2015

Wake Up London and Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement are coming together to organize a meditation gathering prior to the People’s March on Sunday 29th November, the eve of the beginning of the Paris Climate Summit and where people around the world will be taking to the streets to show our love for the planet, and our solidarity as a globally conscious and connected movement at this pivotal time.

When: Sunday 29 November, 12-12.30pm
Where: Joy of Life Fountain, located next to Aldford Street North Gate, alongside Park Lane, London W1K
Nearest tube stations: Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Marble Arch
Map to location: https://goo.gl/maps/q6coRRHQ32P2

Join the Facebook event page here and please share and invite your friends and family.

“When we meditate together and walk mindfully together, we amplify the power of our mindfulness, concentration and compassion. This strong energy of collective awareness will be felt in the world. It has the power to re-establish the Earth’s equilibrium and restore balance, since we are nothing less than Mother Earth herself. Our actions will lead to collective insight, collective awakening, and collective change.”

Check out these recent links for inspiration:

Climate-March-webflyer

by wakeuplondon
ActionPlum VillageReading

Plum Village’s Call to Action: People’s Climate Prayer

13 November 2015
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Plum Village released a letter yesterday calling our international community of mindfulness practitioners to come together to engage in awakened action from Nov. 29 to Dec.11 during the Paris Climate Summit.

Please read the letter here.

“When we meditate together and walk mindfully together, we amplify the power of our mindfulness, concentration and compassion. This strong energy of collective awareness will be felt in the world. It has the power to re-establish the Earth’s equilibrium and restore balance, since we are nothing less than Mother Earth herself. Our actions will lead to collective insight, collective awakening, and collective change.”

Wake Up London members are organizing a Meditation Gathering for Climate Action in Hyde Park before joining the People’s March on Sunday 29th November. All are welcome!

A few other recent links for inspiration on climate action:

With peaceful steps on the Earth,
Wake Up UK friends

by wakeuplondon
Plum VillagePoliticsPress

Buddhist Climate Change Statement to World Leaders 2015

12 November 2015

http://plumvillage.org/buddhist-insights-climate-quotes/

http://plumvillage.org/buddhist-insights-climate-quotes/

On 29th October, Thich Nhat Hanh, together with fourteen other most senior Buddhist leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have issued a landmark international Buddhist Statement on Climate Change announced to world leaders. The statement calls upon these leaders to adopt an effective climate change agreement at the upcoming UN negotiations in Paris (COP21) starting 30 November. This is the first time so many Buddhist luminaries have come together on any global issue to speak with one voice.

Read the statement here where you are also invited to add you name to endorse it. Read the news article coming from the Plum Village website.

Please also see the ‘Time to Act is Now: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change’ which the GBCCC statement endorses as well.

by wakeuplondon
ActionCommunityPictures

Pictures of Green Earth Awakening camp last July

27 May 2015

Wake Up volunteers Jasmine, Elina, Tom M, Tom G, Nina, Kareem and Joe went to Buddhafield’s Green Earth Awakening camp in July 2014 deep in the Somerset countryside and offered two mindfulness workshops (and had lots of fun too).

by wakeuplondon
PressWake Up London

Wake Up London wins “Spiritual Community Initiative” award

7 May 2015

Kindred Spirit award

We are very happy to have won The Spiritual Community Initiative Award 2015 at the Kindred Spirit Awards ceremony during the MindBodySpirit London Wellbeing Festival 2015 on Saturday 2nd May.

Thank you Kindred Spirit Magazine for shortlisting us, thank you to all our friends who voted for us, and thank you to all beings in the world who are enjoying their breaths in the spirit of community!

Watch the award ceremony where Wake Up London members Joe and Steven joyfully accepts the award at 6.25 minutes in:

“When You Breathe You Can Already Celebrate Life” – Thich Nhat Hanh.

by wakeuplondon
News & EventsPlum VillageRetreats

Plum Village Monastics’ UK Visit this August

24 March 2015

We are so happy to be able to share with you these wonderful gifts offered by Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic community this August and organized by The Community of Interbeing UK.

The Miracle of Mindfulness Retreat – 24-29th August 2015

Stourbridge, West Midlands (nr Birmingham)

As well as offering daily dharma talks, monks and nuns, students of Thich Nhat Hanh will be offering their wisdom, practice and peaceful presence in all aspects of the retreat, which, will include programmes for under-5s, children up to 13, teenagers and young adults (Wake Up) and is open to all, whether experienced in mindfulness meditation or a complete beginner.

Bursaries available to those who might otherwise be unable to attend.

More information

The Miracle of Mindfulness Public Talk – 22nd August 2015

Logan Hall, London

You are invited to join the monks and nuns of Plum Village, exploring the practice of mindfulness through listening deeply, meditation, chanting and singing.

This is a wonderful opportunity for people from all cultures, different faiths and none, to come together to experience the transformational practices of mindfulness and liberation.

More information

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by wakeuplondon
ActionCommunity

International Day of Happiness

16 March 2015

YOUR HAPPINESS IS PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER

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Join us for a Positive Message Flash Mob on the International Day of Happiness – 20 March.

With paper, pens and paint we’ll be joining together to show morning commuters the world can be a happier and more connected place.

Facebook event

What exactly is a positive message flash-mob?
It’s very simple really. A small (or large!) group of people meet up and create personalised or hand-made inspiring messages on cardboard signs and use these to connect with and cheer up passers-by. It always gets a very positive response – people can’t help smiling and making a connection, even if just for a few seconds. And it’s a wonderful thing to be part of too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcL7BPhMVH0

Why join one?
March 20 is the UN International Day of Happiness and this year it’s all about connection. Our connections with others are the most important contributor to happiness – yet in modern societies we are surrounded by people and feel connected to almost none of them. We could change this in a day if everyone reached out and made at least one positive connection – so join a positive flash mob and help make your city a happier and more connected place.

How do I make a positive message sign?
We’ll make sure there is plenty of cardboard, pens and paints that you flash-mobbers can use to make your signs – but if you prefer to prepare your sign from home, great! Make your words BIG and BRIGHT, and keep the message as SHORT as possible. Try to use words that will appeal to people from all walks of life.

You can join us for a sign making session the evening before.

Check out the website dayofhappiness.net to find out more about the campaign and how you can get involved.

by wakeuplondon
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Mindful content from our community

Wake Up London is a community of individuals practicing together to promote peace and reconciliation within ourselves and for our planet. We’d love to highlight what’s happening within our community, and how the practice is positively impacting our society.

There will be no Wake Up this weekend (August 31st) due to a wedding at the Quaker House. Our next session will be on September 7th.
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