WORLD PEACE NEWSLETTER . COM

World Peace Newsletter - The greatest thing in life is internal peace, external peace and global peace! Peace is the key ingredient to Happiness. Peace within means peace without.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Peace starts from within! A change in perception leads to a change in attitude, which leads to a change in behavior, which leads to a change in the world. Life's what you make it!

Learn Peace - Teach Peace - Share Peace!

The Hague Agenda for Peace and Justice for the 21st Century - Dec. 31, 2017

- Insist that peace education be made compulsory at all levels of the education system.

- Demand that education ministries systematically implement peace education initiatives at a local and national level.

- Call on development assistance agencies to promote peace education as a component of their teacher training and materials production.

Rationale for and Approaches to Peace Education: BOOK 1: Learning to Abolish War - Teaching Toward a Culture of Peace

BOOK 2: Learning to Abolish War - Sample Learning Units for Elementary, Middle and Secondary School

BOOK 3: Learning to Abolish War - Sustaining the Global Campaign for Peace Education: TOOLS FOR PARTICIPATION

Peace Lessons from Around the World

Time to Abolish War - A Youth Agenda for Peace and Justice

PEACE and DISARMAMENT EDUCATION - Changing Mindsets to Reduce Violence and Sustain the Removal of Small Arms

UNESCO's Integrated Framework of Action on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Democracy

United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Dec. 17, 2017

United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

United Nations Homepage

Available in many languages, the UN homepage has news, the week in review, focus issues, statistics, photos, radio, video and more.

United Nations News Page

Peace Operations Training Institute Courses - Dec. 17, 2017

This website offers courses online or with a textbook. Some are free and available in multiple languages. It is also interesting just to see the numerous courses offered in the various fields relating to peace keeping, humanitarian efforts and security operations. Each course has a 10-30 page pdf preview that you can view prior to purchasing.

Peace Operations Training Institute Security Training Manual

This 28 page pdf manual (Lesson 1) was developed for UN workers in the field but also has useful information for classroom education.

Cultivating Peace education materials website - Dec. 17, 2017

This Canadian organization offers pdf manuals, handouts and videos for peace educators.

Cultivating Peace educational materials website - cultivatingpeace.ca

Cultivating Peace - Module 1 resource links

Cultivating Peace - Taking Action, 68 page pdf for High School classrooms

United States Institute of Peace: Educator Toolkits for High School & Middle School Classrooms - Dec. 12, 2017

This webpage has links to the pdf manuals in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. You can click on the two links below to go directly to the english version pdf manuals.

United States Institute of Peace: Educator Toolkit for Middle School Classrooms, PDF Manual (131 pages)

United States Institute of Peace: Educator Toolkit for High School Classrooms, PDF Manual (136 pages)

United States Institute of Peace: Peace Clubs, Contests and additional resources for Students

* Peace is not merely the absence of war and hatred (negative peace / cold war) but also the presence of cooperation, compassion and worldwide justice (positive peace / hot peace).

* The means we use to reach our ends are extremely important. Hopefully your "means" are kindness-centered and non-destructive. Often (possibly always) being kind is more important than proving you are right. When it is critical that you prove your point, remember to intertwine wisdom with compassion. Recent events would suggest that the human race is starting to learn that change can be achieved more effectively by mass demonstrations and peaceful means than by negative, destructive and hateful means.

* "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." - Mahatma Gandhi

* "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." - Nelson Mandela

* "Change your thoughts and you change your world." - Norman Vincent Peale

* We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us. - Epictetus

* "It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

* "One hour's meditation on the work of the Creator is better than seventy years of prayer." - Muhammad

* "Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God." - Diana Robinson

* I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of your being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world. - Tao Te Ching: 67

* "I have come to realize that people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

* Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, He who is content.

* A wise person creates a harmony between the head, the heart, and the body. In this harmony comes the revelation of the source of one's life, the very center, the soul. - OSHO



. . =

* The doorways to the realm of heaven (Brahma) are right here on earth and they are four in number: we enter the highest heavenly abodes through loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), sharing joy (muditha), and equanimity (upekkha). It is through service in this world, not by abandoning this world, that we attain to heavenly realms or spiritual fulfillment. - Buddha

* Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - Jesus (John 14:27)

* If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there. - Mother Teresa

* Is 2012 the end of one stage in human development and the beginning of a new chapter in human evolution? The darkness and pain of the era of the "Art of War" (Death) appears to be giving way to the age of enlightenment and the "Art of Peace" (Life) thanks in a large part to the vast improvement in 2-way communication the World Wide Web has created.

Do you belive that "Peace for All & All for Peace" has a chance to create Peace on Earth?

Are you a Prince or Princess of Peace?

* Each and every master, regardless of the era or place, heard the call and attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit --- love. - Morihei Ueshiba

Is it mere coincidence that you are thinking about peace?

. . Table of Contents

Front Page, peace tips, Peace Building Outline, Current news from the UN, ancient insights, new insights, recent insights, stages of life tips, not-so-recent insights, enlightenment tips, enlightenment & happiness relationship tips, laughter tips, happiness tips, good day/bad day checklist, 10 success tips, 7 stages of grief, dealing with anger, regrets & set-backs, dealing with being upset, depression tips, health tips, nutrition tips, fitness tips, computeritis tips, sleeping tips, allergy tips, cellulitis tips, mental tips, universal consciousness tips, destiny tips, memory tips, drawing tips, art/culture tips, dream tips, subconscious tips, intuition tips, reality tips, goal setting tips, building an achievement list, wealth tips, success tips, values and beliefs, integrity tips, reincarnation tips, love and marriage tips, parenting tips, technology tips, web page design tips, book tips (emotional intelligence), universe tips, E=mc² tips, pyramid marvels, stressful events list, education tips . . . As we mature, so will peace.

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This newsletter exists for one purpose - To promote Peace.

If you find peace, or help another person find peace, you've improved the world!

Facebook Page and "Like" button created on June 12, 2011. Thanks to all for helping the community grow to 100,000 likes on December 3, 2011, 300,000 by December 2012, 600,00 by January 2016. Peace be with us all.

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There are many ways to promote peace in the world but perhaps the best way is to promote it within ourselves. Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy of peace! Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well-being, but this is merely one of the many bonuses that come from sharing our kindness with our fellow human beings. Did we mention that is better to give than to receive? :)

Peace, like reading, writing, mathematics, drawing, emotional intelligence and enlightenment ("understanding/comprehension/compassion/meditation/intuition"), are learned skills that improve our knowledge, maturity, health, happiness and longevity. Peace is probably the most important lesson we should learn during our lives and the sooner the better. The advent of the world wide web may just provide the boost in knowledge, wisdom & peace humankind has been waiting for. Improved communication may be the difference between extinction and survival. Through knowledge, Peace will evolve. Knowledge is power. Knowledge combined with Enlightenment leads to wisdom. Wisdom is Peace!

Blessed are the peacemakers (those actively working to reconcile alienated persons) for they shall be called the children of God.

We believe that every person ought to have the opportunity to find peace. That being said, who are the ones who are most likely in the position to help those who cry out for help? Probably those who have already found peace and have the resources to reach out to those in need. Now that we are truly a global village, it may be more important than any time in human history that we really become our brother's keeper. Please help in any way you can. The rewards to the entire world will be almost unimaginable. (Paradise on Earth?) Peace be with you!

As this newsletter grows and improves (thanks in large part to your comments, suggestions, and guestbook entries) we envision contests, educational programs and ways that we as individuals (and groups) can make significant advances towards real peace in the world. We believe the peace process must start as a grassroots movement and create the "trickle-up" process.

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Example Guestbook Comments:

Ghulam Mustafa PhD

Dear sir /Madam

The highest virtue is to preach peace. This is the secret of morality, ethics, humanity and civility. Peace is the process of progress and prosperity however interest is natural instinct of every man and nation, but thinking faculties and rationalism mediate between peace and interest to avoid conflicts, tensions, frustration, violence and wars. The entire philosophy of life may be summarized as peace is at the beginning and it is at the end, between them is interest.

Last update on - September 8, 2020

Love Education 101 . com - "Love Education Curriculum for Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and anyone who might want a Loving Relationship" - CLICK HERE

Created for teachers and students of Love - May 2020

Peace Education 101 . com - "Peace Education Curriculum for Primary Schools and Secondary Schools" - CLICK HERE

- Created for teachers and students of Peace - Added to WPN on August 2017

"The World Peace Game" - John Hunter - CLICK HERE

The World Peace Game is a hands-on political simulation that gives players the opportunity to explore the connectedness of the global community through the lens of the economic, social, and environmental crises and the imminent threat of war. The goal of the game is to extricate each country from dangerous circumstances and achieve global prosperity with the least amount of military intervention. As 'nation teams', students will gain greater understanding of the critical impact of information and how it is used. - Added to WPN on December 5, 2017

World Peace and Reality - an eassy on Peace - Added to WPN on November 21, 2012

United Nations United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights United Nations website Available in many languages, the UN homepage has news, the week in review, focus issues, statistics, photos, radio, video and more. United Nations News Page The 7 Stages of Grief Translate World Peace Newsletter into your language.

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Peace begins with you!

The main goal of World Peace Newsletter is to promote World Peace as a viable possibility by breaking it down into small steps (we realize that many people believe peace is impossible). Step 1: Find Peace within. Step 2: Teach others the ways of Peace. Step 3: Help those less fortunate than yourself (even those that you may be at "war" with). Step 4: Strive to Evolve (Human Evolution).

The steps keep going until we reach paradise: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All!

How is peace achieved? One soul at a time.

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We appreciate your comments. It's inspirational to know so many people around the world want peace. Peace be with us all :)

World Peace Newsletter "Front Page" :

* Enjoy the here and now. It is a gift called the present. (it is also a dominant aspect of Enlightenment)

* The Internet was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. Consider this: Communication is probably the most important aspect of a happy relationship, especially in a marriage. How important is communication in regards to world peace? Is there any other medium at this point in time that provides more freedom to communicate than the internet? Didn't someone once say "The Medium is the Message"? :)

Inner peace (or peace of mind) refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy (homeostasis) and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. Peace of mind is generally associated with bliss and happiness.

Peace of mind, serenity, and calmness are descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress. In some cultures, inner peace is considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as prayer, meditation, T'ai Chi Ch'uan or yoga, for example. Many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself. Finding inner peace is often associated with traditions such as Buddhism and Hinduism.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, emphasizes the importance of inner peace in the world:

"The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet."

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* The power of positive thinking when combined with the power of positive deeds creates positive results and happiness (Enlightenment). On the contrary, negative thoughts combined with negative deeds tend to be a very destructive force and leads to misery, pain and suffering (See Buddha & Dalai Lama in "Ancient Insights" below).

* It takes forgiveness, humility and understanding to put out the fire inside you when someone else lit the match.

* Be mindful not to get so caught up in making a living that you forget to make a life.

* What is the tie that binds almost every human being on the planet? . . . . We all want peace.

We all have so many differences : race, religion, nationality, gender, height, weight, age, etc.

One of the key aspirations that almost all of us share is the desire for peace and happiness (inner, local, and global).

( : Another key thing we share is the love of really cute animals : )

Confusism & World Peace - From Wikipedia

The "Great Learning" is the first of the Four books which were selected by Zhu Xi during the Song Dynasty as a foundational introduction to Confucianism. It was originally one chapter in Classic of Rites.

The book consists of a short main text, attributed to Confucius and nine commentaries chapters by Zeng Zi, one of Confucius' disciples. Its importance is illustrated by Zeng Zi's foreword that this is the gateway of learning.

Some of the terms within the text form an important part of both classical and modern Chinese political discourse. For example, the concept of world peace has been the stated goal of Chinese statecraft from the Zhou dynasty to the Kuomintang and to the Communist Party of China, as well as of philosophers like Tan Sitong or Liang Qichao. Another term used in the text, "qin-min" which James Legge, following Zhu Xi, amends to "xin-min" and translates as "renovating the people" instead of "loving the people", is the name of the People First Party, one of the minor parties in Taiwan.

The main text reads:

The Way of the great learning involves manifesting virtue, renovating the people, and abiding by the highest good.

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the world, first ordered well their own States.

Wishing to order well their States, they first regulated their families.

Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons.

Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts.

Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts.

Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.

Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete.

Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere.

Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified.

Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.

Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated.

Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed.

Their States being rightly governed, the entire world was at peace.

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.

The Great Learning is significant because it expresses many themes of Chinese philosophy and political thinking, and has therefore been extremely influential both in classical and modern Chinese thought. Government, self cultivation and investigation of things are linked. It links together individual action in the form of self-cultivation with higher goals such as ultimate world peace as well as linking together the spiritual and the material. By defining the path of learning (tao) in governmental and social terms, the Great Learning both links the spiritual with the practical, and creates a vision of tao that is radically different than that presented by Taoism. In particular, the Great Learning sets Confucianism as being this-worldly rather than other-worldly. Instead of basing its authority on an external deity, the Great Learning bases its authority on the practices of ancient kings.

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* Try to put yourself into situations that evoke your higher nature, not your lower nature. Situations that involve harming others are seldom (if ever) your higher nature.

UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS - The 100th Monkey Effect?

The Hundredth Monkey Effect is based upon the principle that after one monkey on an island discovers how to wash a coconut in the water to remove sand and dirt, the rest follow suit until the last, or "hundredth" monkey, finally learns this improved method. At that point, monkeys on other islands become aware of this knowledge without "direct" communication. This same effect has happened repeatedly in human history, where inventors have simultaneously discovered inventions that others around the world were contemplating at the same time, or where mothers somehow know when one of their children is in pain hundreds of miles away. The thoughts become energy that is available to others that tune into this energy field, or universal consciousness. It may occur more often when we are sleeping or in "hypnotic" or meditative states than during our normal waking state. If we already tap into this energy field without being consciously aware think what we will be able to do if we exercise our minds and use this incredible resource to our best advantage! When you stop and think about it, you are adding to the energy field right now by merely reading this information on peace. Thank you, this is how it will spread. We are investing our time, money, energy and dreams in this principle in order to help World Peace become a reality. Who will be the 100th Monkey for Peace? It might be you!

"If 5% of the population work for peace, there will be peace."

Quote from Peace Center, Theosophical Society in the Philippines

We estimate that there are only around 1-2% of the population actively working for peace. On the other hand, we only need another 3-4 % in order for peace to become a reality.

* Happiness. What is it and how is it attained? Some suggest it is the combination of self esteem, gratitude, sharing, daily laughter, inner and outer peace. How can we give the gift of happiness to the world? By helping others!

We all know that it is better to give than to receive. When we are selfish and judgmental, we fail both separately and together. When we all give, we ALL receive. We get what we give. Give hate and anger, get war and poverty. Give love and compassion, get peace and prosperity. That is the way of both the individual and the world.

* It seems that in the past, and possibly the present, it has been much easier to "make war" than to "make peace". This is because we have been well trained on how to make war and poorly trained on how to make peace. How can we change this reality and create a peaceful future? Teaching peace, compassion and empathy are obvious solutions. Helping to reduce poverty, pain, suffering and injustice are other ways. What other ways can you think of?

* "One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." - Maya Angelou

* When attempting to determine what is the best direction for your life (and that of your family) remember that happiness is more important than money! You may think that money is more important but what you are most likely "trained" to think is that money will bring you happiness. That is not really true. The pursuit of money may bring riches but that does not mean happiness. Those who are smart enough (or lucky enough) to seek peace are those most likely to find happiness!

* "It might seem that some people have more intuition than others but it is potentially available to everyone. Some people choose to develop it, others do not." - Francis Vaughan, Awakening Intuition

* "Intellect is the functioning of the head (the mammalian brain), instinct is the functioning of the body (the reptilian brain), and intuition is the functioning of the heart (the spiritual/inspirational brain). And behind these three is the master, your being, whose only quality is witnessing. A wise person creates a harmony between the head, the heart, and the body. In this harmony comes the revelation of the source of one's life, the very center, the soul. We all have a past, present and future. Instinct is what belongs to our animal past. Intellect is human. It is our present. The intellect is fallible because it is new, a recent arrival. Intellect lives through prejudices; it is never fair. And the third thing, which is our future, is intuition. So these three words have to be understood. Intuition opens it's doors through meditation. Meditation is simply a knocking on the doors of intuition. Intuition is your consciousness. Intellect is your mind. Instinct is your body. To understand enlightenment you must understand that intellect is a tool. It is a servant, not the master." - Osho, Intuition. Knowing Beyond Logic

* People often wonder how we will someday change and put an end to war and hatred. Many enlightened individuals believe that intuition is the key to our future. Intuition enables us to advance beyond our animalistic instincts and beyond our human intellect to a realm of higher consciousness (a meditative/spiritual/compassionate existence). For enlightened individuals that reality already exists. They have already found Peace on earth.

* You can lose your money, you can spend your money, and if you work real hard you can earn it all back, but if you waste your time you'll never get it back.

* People often talk about turning "knowledge" into "wisdom". What does this mean?

Does it mean that logic merges with emotion / humanism / intuition?

Another thought : What is wisdom, and why do so few of us actually discover and utilize wisdom to the fullest extent?

Is it possible that many of us waste too much of our time pursuing money instead of wisdom?

We've all heard that "time is money" but have you ever considered that wasted time is what causes us to sacrifice wisdom and happiness?

What is more important, money or wisdom (peace)?

How do you achieve "self-actualization"? Is it by making money or by making peace? :)

* "It is not the number of books you read, nor the variety of sermons you hear, nor the amount of religious conversation in which you mix, but it is the frequency and earnestness with which you meditate on these things till the truth in them becomes your own and part of your being, that ensures your growth." - Frederick William Robertson

* Another key to enlightenment and happiness is keeping a "Gratitude Journal". Whether you write your daily blessings down or just record them in your mind, it is important to focus on positive events in your life. Most of us have many things we should be thankful for.

* A gold medal (or a million dollars, or a championship ring) may be a wonderful thing, but if you are not enough without it, you will not be enough with it. Be who you are before you acquire the things that you think will make you who you are.

* "We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." - Ray Bradbury

* Thanks to all for visiting and caring about Peace. The funny thing about caring about peace is that peace provides a reward not only for those who care about it and hopefully discover it, but also for those that seek it. Seek and you shall find!

World Peace Newsletter has always been searching for peace but this year in particular we have attempted to discover the true meaning of happiness and how we and others can truly "live" in happiness, regardless of our current life situation.

What we seem to be discovering is that the search for enlightenment (which we started many years ago) and the search for happiness seem to be inter-related. It seems you can be happy without being enlightened but it may be more difficult to be enlightened without being happy.

WHAT IS PEACE AND HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE IT?

* Peace is not merely the absence of war and hatred (negative peace / cold war) but also the presence of cooperation, compassion and worldwide justice (positive peace / hot peace).

* Freedom and Peace. What is the relationship between these two conditions? Can you have one without the other?

* "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and under a just God, can not long retain it." - Abraham Lincoln

* "It is more difficult to organize peace than to win a war; but the fruits of victory will be lost if the peace is not well organized." - Aristotle

* "Those who love peace must learn to organize as well as those who love war." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

* "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

* "We people of the world need to find ways to get to know one another - for then we will recognize that our likenesses are so much grater than our differences, however great our differences may seem. Every cell, every human being, is of equal importance and has work to do in this world" - Peace Pilgrim

* "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner." - Nelson Mandela

* "It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

* The means we use to reach our ends are extremely important. Hopefully your "means" are kindness-centered and non-destructive. Often (maybe always) being kind is more important than proving you are right. When it is critical that you prove your point, remember to intertwine wisdom with kindness.

* What is war? It is a state of hostility between nations (or within nations; or within individuals) characterized by fighting, destruction and bloodshed. Wars are often caused by real/perceived injustice, hatred, poverty, and the desire for power.

* What is perhaps the best way to prevent war? Conflict prevention and Conflict resolution/transformation requires that we eliminate the nature of the hostilities and attempt to create harmony and equality between the various parties. Restorative justice implies that the perceived injustices must be resolved through either negotiation, mediation, arbitration, community conferencing, community meditation, negotiated rule making, collaborative/international law, or as a last resort, military action. Trauma recovery / Identity renewal can help prevent war torn areas from falling back into further fighting. Youth development strategies can help our future adults from repeating the mistakes we have made that have lead us to war. Philosophy suggests that nations that have found peace should help less peaceful nations by sharing knowledge, food and other resources. Our conscience tells us that we should treat others the way we want to be treated, with dignity and respect.

* How can we achieve Peace on Earth? First and utmost, we must find it within ourselves. By sharing our inner peace with others, peace will spread. By raising our children properly and teaching them to respect and love their neighbors (didn't someone say this before? :) they will learn the joy of peace. The peace process should be a predominantly preventative measure. A gram of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure. (See conflict prevention & resolution in previous paragraph).

Peace should likely start as a grassroots movement, thereby creating a "trickle-up" process. Not only can we teach others about peace but we can suggest alternatives to governments and political candidates that continue to advocate war as the main solution to civil and international conflict. Along the way, some form of world "Planning and Lawmaking" committee probably needs to be established that includes all nations. One nation's problems are problems for all of us. We must learn to see ourselves as one small planet and not be so concerned with our nationality, race or religion. When it comes right down to it we are all human, and we should work together for human rights and justice for all. Shouldn't we?!

Think what we could accomplish if we all worked together to create a true world economy. We could end starvation, reduce poverty, create jobs and work towards common goals such as worldwide justice, peace education, pollution control and planet management.

The following is what is covered at PeaceEducation101.com

Peace 101: Peace Introduction

Introduction to Peace.

Peace definitions.

Types and locations of Peace.

Philosophy of peace in life.

Using the arts to teach peace.

Introductory Peace education through mindfulness, self awareness and interpersonal communications.

Peace 201: History of Humankind

The Ages of Humankind.

History of Human Civilization.

History of Human Achievement.

The Seven Wonders of the World.

History of Wars.

Deadliest Wars and Natural Disasters.

Brief Background of World Religions.

Peace 301: Peace Education

Peace processes and ways to facilitate peace.

Inner Peace, Enlightenment, Salvation and the End of Suffering.

Peace in countries and governments.

Peace organizations.

Peace awards.

Peace Treaties.

Peace 401: Peace in Practice

Practicing Peace in Real Life.

Teaching Peace.

Promoting Peace.

Peace Occupations.

Examples of information included at PE101:

Peace definition - created by the WorldPeaceNewsletter FaceBook community - October 2011

Peace is a vastly greater concept than the lack of war, violence, poverty and inner turmoil. Peace is the combination of bodily peace, family peace, local peace, national peace, inner peace and world peace. Accordingly, true peace must begin with food, water, vitamin nutrition and medical care for both rich and poor alike. Next, peace training starts with the family and in our education systems. Peace needs to surround us in the form of local safety and security which is best achieved through communication and negotiation with neighbors to attain mutual trust and respect for one another. Governments and state leaders can assist in the peace process by creating and encouraging/enforcing moral and ethical standards, thus promoting justice, liberty, freedom, ethnic and religious tolerance, and constructive relations with all nations.

Inner peace may be the most important key to peace because through love (both of self and the world), faith, meditation , self-esteem, compassion, hope, kindness, gratitude and wisdom (self-cultivation), peace will spread to those around you. World peace is achieved by combining all the "peaces" together to create hot peace (as opposed to cold war). Hot peace is the absolute presence of worldwide justice, freedom, cooperation, negotiation (working with both friends and enemies), education, mutual respect, sharing, compassion, kindness, happiness, joy, equanimity, human dignity and harmony with nature, animals and mother earth. World Peace is merely an unsolved puzzle waiting for loving people to put the "peaces" together. Through love, World Peace not only becomes possible, peace becomes probable.

The benefits of human beings working together to create peace for all, will be reduced poverty, crime, war, hate, injustice, pollution, etc. The true benefit is living in a world where love, caring and compassion become the standard in this beautiful planet.

The Stages of War & Peace

The following outline can be used as a guide for training future peace educators on the stages of war/peace and methods that can be employed to create sustainable peace. This peacemaking outline is a "work in progress" (Created on July 17, 2011) and will be updated as we learn more about the peace process. Although WorldPeaceNewsletter.com started in 1997 in order to help people find peace (mainly inner peace), it isn't until now (2011) that we realized that people really don't understand how to create local & world peace. The peacemaking information that is currently available tends to be ambiguous, unstructured, lengthy and expensive for the countries that most need this training/education. We hope to change this reality either through our efforts or the efforts of others that understand our dissatifaction with the peacemaking information that is currently available to peace builders, NGO's, and others that want to create a more peaceful world. We encourage you to send us your comments, ideas, suggestions, and missing elements in sections 1, 2, 3 and 4. Please email them to worldpeacenewsletter@gmail.com - Thank you for caring about peace!

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1) Conflict / Confrontation / Injustice:

a) Threats

b) Exploitation of resources with little regard for civilian population

c) Denial of physiological needs (food, water, shelter, medical, religious needs, etc..)

d) Violence

e) Terrorism

f) Genocide

g) Tribal / Ethnic / Religious War

h) National War

i) Regional War

j) World War



2) Peace Training Education:

a) Conflict analysis and early warning signs.

* i) Conflict analysis typically focuses on the problems of culturally divided states, especially those with weak democratic traditions, deep ethnic divisions, and histories of collective violence perpetrated by one group against another or by past/current governments against civilian populations.

b) Non-violent demonstrations, protests and media campaigns (previously only newspaper, radio and tv, now including the internet and social media).

b) Erasing ignorance / non-awareness / non-admission of the situations.

c) Creating consciousness of inequity & injustice of issues, interests, needs and wants.

* i) con�scious�ness

1. the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.

2. the thoughts and feelings, collectively, of an individual or of an aggregate of people: the moral consciousness of a nation.

3. full activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life: to regain consciousness after fainting.

4. awareness of something for what it is; internal knowledge: consciousness of wrongdoing.

5. concern, interest, or acute awareness: class consciousness.

d) Conflict transformation.

* i) Conflict can be the transforming agent that causes the individual / region to change perception, attitude, behavior and actions.

* ii) Tranforming destructive relationships into productive social changes.

* iii) Identity transformation/education into peaceful souls (especially on children & youths).

* iv) Personal transformation (inner peace) related to grief and trauma, dealing with family deaths, anger, bitterness and hatred (especially in young, middle-aged and older adults).



3) The Peace Building Processes:

Negotiation - Getting all parties to talk face to face and resolve their differences by themselves.

Conciliation - A conciliator communicates with each side individually.

Mediation / Facilition - Promoting justice for all parties by an impartial third party.

Advocacy - A third party promoting one side due to real/perceived injustice.

Arbitration / Adjudictive - A third party makes a binding decision for both parties.

Threat of force - The threat of military action by a third party against the offending party.

Economic Sanctions - Third parties imposes economic sanctions against offending party.



These peace-building processes generally fall into three categories (or a combination of them) -

* Consensual (the parties reach a agreement by themselves)

* Adjudictive (court ordered by third party)

* Legislative (laws or rule-making determined by a group, organization, ruler or legislative body)



Transformative peacemaking focuses on the means (process) used to reach the ends, focusing very closley on the process instead of merely the desired outcome. The approach stresses fairness, understanding, respect, and inclusiveness of all parties in order to create a commitment to increasing justice, finding truths and healing relationships.

The end goal of these processes include some of the following:

a) Balancing power between the stronger and weaker parties (only possible when the advantages to each parties are understood).

* i) The weaker / wronged party gets restored justice and the attacking party hopefully acknowledges the wrongs committed.

b) Conflict resolution:

* i) Working together to reach independent and/or mutually acceptable goals.

* ii) Improving relationships between the various parties (not always possible).

* iii) Listening / understanding all sides without judging.

* iv) Develop / determine / promote solutions that lead to personal / regional social change and improvement.

* v) Attempt to create both individual empowerment along with mutual interdependence and community.

* vi) Reconcilliation - quarrels and differences are settled so that violent opposition are eliminated and hopefully friendships are created.

* vii) Reparations - the offending party reimburses the offended party for the wrong doings.



Conflict resolution can be viewed as "Distributed" or as "Expanded".

* "Distributed" may be equated to "dividing the pie" or "splitting the difference".

* "Expanded" attempts to discover many different solutions than first considered (value creation) prior to reaching agreements / dividing the pie, or coming up with solutions that create a win-win situation for all parties involved.



4) Sustainable Peace:

a) Reducing inequalities and perceived injustice.

b) Creating compassion and kindness for all parties involved.

c) The desired outcome of harmony can not solve the problem at the expense of justice. The fire will merely smolder and re-ignite later.

d) Creating understanding and comprehesion of what it means to create / sustain peace.

e) Living with Peace, Happiness, Liberty, Compassion and Joy!



We hope this Peacemaking outline is useful to you. We appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Printer Friendly version of this Outline

* Finding peace is not just about learning how to obtain it, but also learning how to hold onto it without slipping back to angry ways.

* If you want to achieve Peace, do not talk only to your friends, talk to your enemies.

* Blessed are the peacemakers (those actively working to reconcile alienated persons) for they shall be called the children of God.

* An eye for an eye just makes for a world full of blind people. - Mahatma Gandhi

* There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good. - Romans 2:9

* World peace (in our lifetime) may not mean that evil goes away, rather that good so overwhelms evil that evil cannot ruin the peace shared between all peace loving beings.

* You can not prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair. - Chinese Proverb

* Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do.- Emmanuel Swedenborg

* If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, 'Move from here!' and it will move. - Jesus, Thomas 48

* There has been a book written titled "The Art of War".

When will we see a book with the title "The Art of Peace"?



* The farther we are from peace is proportional to our distance from happiness. The closer we are to hatred is proportional to our distance to ill-fortune.

* Evil is not conquered by just power (power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely) but rather evil is conquered by love and wisdom because through the combination of these two qualities, evil becomes exposed. Love is also very powerful .)

* There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever - Mahatma Gandhi

* Guide our feet to the path of peace.

* Remember to stop and smell the "roses" along the path to enlightenment. Beauty is everywhere when you decide to take the time to enjoy it .)

Table of Contents

* (Tao Te Ching: 67) I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of your being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.

* (The Quran) Do you think you can enter the garden of bliss without facing the trials and pains of those entering before you?

* (Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind) Which is more important: to attain enlightenment, or to attain enlightenment before you attain enlightenment; to make a million dollars, or to enjoy your life in your effort, even though it is impossible to make a million dollars; to be successful, or to find some meaning in your effort to be successful? If you do not know the answer, you will not even be able to practice zazen; if you do know, you will have found the true treasure of life.

* (Thomas:113, see also verse 3 & 10) His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?" Jesus said, "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it." (see also Luke 17:20 - "the kingdom of God is within you") - The "Fifth" Gospel, The Gospel of Thomas. - - The Gospel of Thomas parallels to the Four Gospels

* (Buddha) The doorways to the realm of heaven (Brahma) are right here on earth and they are four in number: we enter the highest heavenly abodes through loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), sharing joy (muditha), and equanimity (upekkha). It is through service in this world, not by abandoning this world, that we attain to heavenly realms or spiritual fulfillment.

* (Socrates) Do not take thought for your persons or your properties, but first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that the virtue is not given by money, but that from vitue come money and every other good of man, public as well as private... The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.

* Nobel Peace Prize speech 1989 - Ethics for a new millennium.

By his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. An excerpt:

Consider the following. We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others� actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others� activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others. Nor is it so remarkable that our greatest joy should come when we are motivated by concern for others. But that is not all. We find that not only do altruistic actions bring about happiness but they also lessen our experience of suffering. Here I am not suggesting that the individual whose actions are motivated by the wish to bring others� happiness necessarily meets with less misfortune than the one who does not. Sickness, old age, mishaps of one sort or another are the same for us all. But the sufferings which undermine our internal peace: anxiety, doubt, disappointment, these things are definitely less. In our concern for others, we worry less about ourselves. When we worry less about ourselves an experience of our own suffering is less intense.

What does this tell us? Firstly, because our every action has a universal dimension, a potential impact on others� happiness, ethics are necessary as a means to ensure that we do not harm others. Secondly, it tells us that genuine happiness consists in those spiritual qualities of love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness and so on. For it is these which provide both for our happiness and others� happiness.

* (Tao Te Ching: 31) Weapons are the tools of violence, all decent men detest them. Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent man will avoid them except in the direst necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with the greatest restraint.

Peace is the highest value. If the peace has been shattered, how can one be content? His enemies are not demons, but humans like himself. He does not wish them personal harm. Nor does he rejoice in victory. How could he rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?

He enters a battle gravely, with sorrow and with great compassion, as if he were attending a funeral.

Enlightenment Tips:

* Enlightenment is a state of wholeness, of being "at one" and therefore at peace. Enlightenment is not only the end of suffering, as Buddha put it, but also the end to the continuous conflict within and without, and the end of the dreadful enslavement to the incessant thinking that goes on in our minds. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now. A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.

* Notice the word "being" in the above definition of enlightenment. Being is central to many teachers theme when it comes to enlightenment. We are human beings, not human doings, as Dr. Wayne Dyer is fond of saying. Zen masters speak of the duality of Being and Not-Being. Often we are so busy doing while our minds are constantly thinking/worrying/criticizing that we forget about just being and living in the present. Remember that the present is a gift, the past is history and the future is not yet reality. Where does that leave us? Right here and now, of course. Thus it is easy to understand how important meditation, prayer, zazen, yoga, quiet time, etc has been to those "enlightened" individuals that have preceded us. Buddha, Jesus & Muhammad all spent time "meditating" before they started sharing their wisdom with the rest of the world. Buddha spent time under a tree, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and Muhammad meditated in a cave. Fortunately for us they found a way to share their wisdom with the rest of the world. It is the "recent" understanding of "how" they attained wisdom and enlightenment that may help the human race to reach a higher level of human development. We were not put on this earth to suffer and flounder in confusion but rather to live in happiness, love, peace and understanding. We were meant to discover our higher selves. Thus, we were meant to be.

* If you need proof that living in the here and now is the key to enlightenment just think back to moments in your life where you experienced complete joy, bliss, peace and contentment. We know that during those moments you were living in the "now". Your mind was not upset about the past or worrying over the future, you were just living in the moment. Maslow called these "peak experiences". (Perhaps you are experiencing one right now? :) We can begin to have many more of them if we learn to live in the present and begin to appreciate all the blessings that we have.

* Some see difficulties as catastrophes while others see them as challenges and opportunities. In fact, difficulties are necessary steps in the process of attaining enlightenment. How different life can be when you see "bad luck" as an education instead of viewing it as a major calamity. When we finally learn to see our difficulties as part of our "life experience" then we have the opportunity to learn from them and possibly attain enlightenment. Of course we also need to combine other enlightenment skills such as meditation, prayer, continuous education / reading, left & right brain usage (whole brain thinking) and reliance on enlightened people throughout history.

* Personal Enlightenment is not only about coming up with "Genius Thoughts / Eureka Moments" but also the ability to remember these insights when you bounce back to left brain control of the mind. You see, it's usually the right/intuitive/knowing brain that comes up with such thoughts but it's the left/logical/knowledge brain that is used to record them on paper or in the memory center of the brain. Any distraction (the phone ringing, someone talking to you, etc.) before the "epiphany" can be memorized can cause the insight to be lost forever. The "knowing" must become "knowledge" before it can become wisdom. In other words, right must combine with left before we can discover our higher being, a level above the ego of the "east and west". Inner Peace, Enlightenment, Salvation and the End of Suffering:

These terms relate to our interpretation of a higher consciousness, a sense of well being, a spiritual being and harmony with a power, a energy greater than ourselves.

Many great teachers have tried to educate us about this concept but yet it seems to elude the majority of us. The following is an attempt to summarize what it is that perhaps they have been trying to teach us.

. .

The point is to be aware that the mind and the ego are directly tied and the ego can be very damaging to your health and the health of others. The ego wants us to believe that the mind is all powerful and whatever it has been trained to believe is the absolute truth. We have all heard the term brain-washing, and most of us understand that term implies damage to someone's thoughts and patterns of habit. Thus it is important to keep an open mind and search for life's true meaning for all of us.

One attainable truth is that we as a human race can achieve a higher state of consciousness and that we can use our minds as a tool to help us get there. Just by considering this concept you have likely reached an awareness that you may not have had before. If you stopped reading this subject matter by now, then you have rejected this possibility as insane or nonsensical. But since you are still reading, try this awareness exercise. Think about how your mind reacted to being open and considered reaching new heights. Was your mind disturbed, amused, frightened or excited about this possible new truth? If you can understand this exercise then you just experienced "watching yourself, your mind, your emotions". You became aware that there is something else within our being that can connect us with ourselves and others that are also aware that we have this greater power that supersedes the ego, the mind, and allows us to find truth, joy and inner peace like we have never experienced before. You can practice watching your mind by catching yourself when angry or upset and wondering why you are so upset. What did someone do to you to make you so angry or anxious? Are your emotions justified or did someone push a "trigger" button that set you off? Perhaps you will begin to see that there is a higher presence, a higher awareness that can oversee your egoic mind and help you avoid becoming a victim to it. Once again, the point is that the mind is a tool. Without it you could not be educated to read or write. It is just a phase in our evolution, just like a computer has become a phase in our evolution. A computer is not you but it can help you improve your understanding of life and help you grow and become even more "human". Thus now that we understand our "internal computer" we can now understand that there is more to us that would not have been available until we reached this level of awareness.

This new awareness, new consciousness may be called our soul, our inner spirit (inspiration), our true being or something else. That is something we must discover together and perhaps it becomes our collective or universal consciousness? What we call it is not as important as the truth that we discover as we use it to spread peace around the globe and put an end to war and conflict. The mind can only take us so far. Our higher consciousness can lead us to world peace and prosperity.

The ego centered mind tends to be child like and wants what it wants, usually right now. Our higher self is patient, caring and tends to have a higher intelligence, both intellectually and emotionally. It is like the difference between a child throwing a temper tantrum and a wise person staying calm, cool and collected in the middle of a conflict or hostility. Which consciousness do you think will most likely find a peaceful resolution? The ego centered mind tends to believe that it is right and those that oppose them are wrong, thus they can justify criticizing, disrespecting, bullying, harming and even murdering others. The ego dominant mind does not stop to consider that perhaps it would be better to communicate, cooperate, try to understand their positions, or negotiate a truce or "peace treaty" rather than to just resort to threats and violence in order to get their way.

To reach this higher state of being, try experiencing and appreciating the beauty of nature, art, flowers and being grateful for a nice meal, fellowship with family and friends, and just being alive.

Modern schooling typically teaches students reading, writing and mathematics but does not usually teach peace, creativity, parenting, interpersonal communication techniques, marriage and enlightenment skills. Why is this? Perhaps it is because reading, writing and math are fairly easy to understand and can help people to make a living, but teaching peace, communication, relationship and enlightenment skills (creating a meaningful life) are much more difficult since our evolution in human development is still predominantly based around conflict and wars (our animal type survival instincts), which we understand quite well. It is time we stop merely surviving and start thriving. It is time we start living together in peace and prosperity. Perhaps the best way to achieve that is to transcend our current "fight or flight" mode of the ego centered mind and reach a higher, wiser level of consciousness that can provide us with that type of peace.

Ancient religion has given us insight to help us attain inner peace. Hinduism has the term "enlightenment", Christianity has the term "salvation" and Buddhism has the phrase "the end of suffering". There are likely many more terms describing ways to achieve peace in all religions. Perhaps we can use the knowledge from religious teachings, school and parental education and our own internal awareness to help us transcend our current level of consciousness and reach a higher, more peaceful level of consciousness. World peace will likely be the reward we receive from this transformation.

New Insights:

* In any journey we choose to undertake we must take the first step and shortly thereafter the next steps become obvious. Without the first step, the tenth and twentieth steps never become reality and we have no possibility of reaching our destination. Take this world peace website for example. If we hadn't started writing the first page (and re-writing the first page over and over again) then we never would have gotten to the insights we are posting today. We kept postponing the newsletter until we had more time, more money and more wisdom. Finally we just decided to start it, even though it wasn't really ready (in our minds). But looking back, it was exactly the right way to start it! One page, one sentence at a time until it took shape and the next changes, additions and revisions became amazingly obvious. Yes, sometimes the first steps may lead nowhere but as Thomas Edison wrote, "I learned 99 ways not to make a light bulb". He understood that both difficulty and perseverance were necessary components in the effort to reach a worthwhile goal.

* "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." - Henry Ford

* "I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will eventually triumph. And there is a purpose and worth to each and every life." - Ronald Reagan

* "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?" - Martin Luther King, Jr.

* "The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place." - St. Th�r�se de Lisieux

* "Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man." - Benjamin Franklin

* "Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It's a way of entering into the quiet that's already there�buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day." - Deepak Chopra

* What is your purpose? What is your special talent? You have one! If you haven't discovered it yet, you will. Use it for good! Use it for peace!

How to give birth to the awakened state of mind? (Quotes from the book, "Chop Wood, Carry Water" by Rick Fields)

* "There is always great uncertainty when you don't know how to begin and you seem perpetually caught up in the stream of life. If you speak in terms of the person on the street they don't seem to have a chance because they are never really able to look inwards; unless perhaps they read books on the subject." "In fact, no one is excluded and all beings are candidates for Bodhisattvahood, anyone can become an awakened person." - Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

* "Having a proper attitude towards journey is essential. If we make a journey properly, then everything we encounter is considered part of it. We are fully involved in the process of journeying rather than being fixated on our destination. We are not looking for quick solutions, but are willing to be open, precise and thorough in relating with ourselves as well as all the facets of our environment - the weather, the scenery, the landmarks, and the obstacles or sidetracks along the way. In entering the path to enlightenment, we are beginning the process of transforming confusion into wisdom. But in order to make this journey, we must first acknowledge that we are confused and that our environment is chaotic. Beyond that, we must understand that chaos and confusion are perpetuated because we do not have the training to see things as they are." - Osel Tendzin

* "Modern education is competitive, nationalistic and separative. It has trained the child to regard material values as of major importance, to believe that his nation is also of major importance and superior to other nations and peoples. The general level of world information is high but usually biased, influenced by national prejudices, serving to make us citizens of our nation but not of the world." - Albert Einstein

* "Without an integrated understanding of life, our individual and collective problems will only deepen and extend. The purpose of education is not to produce mere scholars, technicians and job hunters, but integrated men and women who are free of fear; For only between such human beings can there be enduring peace." - J. Krishnamurti

* "When a man and women with significant spiritual and psychological affinities encounter each other and fall in love, if they have evolved beyond the level of problems and difficulties, if they are beyond the level of merely struggling to make their relationship 'work' then romantic love becomes the pathway not only to sexual and emotional happiness but also to the higher reaches of human growth. It becomes a context for a continuing encounter with the self, through the process of interaction with another self. Two consciousnesses, each dedicated to personal evolution, can provide an extraordinary stimulus and challenge to the other. Then ecstasy can become a way of life. Romantic love is not a myth waiting to be discarded, but, for most of us, a discovery waiting to be born." - Nathaniel Branden

* "I define love thus: The will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." - M. Scott Peck

* "Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, an orientation of character which determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole, not toward one object of love. . . . If I truly love one person I love all persons, I love the world, I love life. If I can say to somebody else 'I love you,' I must be able to say, 'I love in you everybody, I love through you the world, I love in you also myself." - Erich Fromm

* "The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run." - Henry David Thoreau

* "Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, or even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor." - Paul Hawken

* "Life's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away." - George Straight

* "Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want." - Margaret Young

* "Intuition is one of the four basic psychological functions along with thinking, feeling,and sensing." - Carl Jung

* "It might seem that some people have more intuition than others but it is potentially available to everyone. Some people choose to develop it, others do not." - Francis Vaughan, Awakening Intuition

* "Almost anything you do will seem insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. Our actions in the world are the greatest test of our insights and growth. If we can apply our spiritual insights to helping the world around us, then perhaps we are really learning something. If not, our concepts, ideas, or personal growth are surely suspect." - Gandhi

* The idea of a society built on high ideals is hardly a new one. In Tibet there is a story of Shambhala, the city of the great lost enlightened society. The tenets of Shambhala were the natural qualities of compassion, generosity, mindfulness and wisdom that arise from minds at peace with their own passions and fears.

Happiness and Enlightenment are inter-related

This section will be an ongoing search for the true meaning of happiness throughout 2010 and probably longer. Although any section on this site can grow and change, this section in particular may always be changing and growing as we, and hopefully you, learn what happiness really is and how we can apply happiness to our lives. If happiness is truly related to peace then we should be able to turn this new found knowledge into power; the power to make peace a reality in both our lives and the lives of others. Somehow or other, it seems to make sense that World Peace is inter-related to World Happiness, similar to how inner peace is related to inner happiness.

With that in mind, let's us begin with what we've discovered so far.

* Happiness and enlightenment both begin by focusing on the present, on the now! Spending your time worrying about the future or upset about the past will tend to make you a very un-happy person. This doesn't mean that you don't plan for the future or learn from the past, it merely means that you don't spend the majority of your time there. Live for today, plan for tomorrow and learn from the past, but above all, live for today!

* Enjoy the journey! All too often we think that we will be happy when ......

We will find happiness when we achieve this goal or that one. When we win the championship sports match. When we find love, get married or have kids. When we get that big promotion. When we get a house, car, boat, or whatever. There is nothing wrong with wanting these things, and maybe they will bring you happiness (some more likely than others), but the point is to stay focused on the present and find happiness today. If you focus on the future and neglect the present, the chance of being happy later is greatly diminished. The saying goes, "If you can learn to be happy now, the forecast of being happy later is much brighter, with or without achieving your goal". Focus on the journey, not the destination.

* Happy people tend to focus on "downward comparisonitus. Un-happy people tend to focus on upward comparisons, otherwise known as keeping up with the Joneses. Happy people tend to have empathy for those less fortunate than themselves and they tend to volunteer to help others when they can. By trying to help those less fortunate than ourselves, not only do we begin to understand how "lucky" we are, but how wonderful it feels to make life better for those that don't have it as well as we do.

When we spend all our time and energy trying to catch up with our neighbors who "have it better than us" then the focus is all about the future again. This is a major problem in both happiness and enlightenment. There will always be people who you think are better off than you and those that have it worse than you. Spend more of your time trying to help the less fortunate ones if you want to find happiness and enlightenment. If you spend your time seeking riches just remember one thing, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. That probably applies to heaven on earth as well. (:

* Happy people tend to be grateful for what they have. Many of the happiest people we know keep a "Gratitude Journal". They are thankful for little things and big things alike. They are happy to be alive, they are happy for their health, they are happy for their family, friends, and pets. They are happy for little things like food and water, for a sunny day, for a smiling face, for a world that has hope, compassion, love and peace. Similar to those that focus on downward comparisonitus, grateful people realize that they have been given a gift, and that gift is truly the present.

* Happy people tend to be spiritual in nature. This is not to say that non-spiritual people are not happy but rather that spiritual people tend to gain great comfort from the fact that a loving God is with them to help and guide them through their fears and struggles. Let's face it, sometimes when we feel all alone, life can be tough. Spirituality can help us through the hard times and be an incredibly uplifting force to us during some of our most difficult periods. It's hard to put into words, but you know it when you experience it.

* Happy people tend to love life. They tend to love their families. They tend to love their neighbors. They tend to love themselves. They tend to love the world!

*Gratitude opens the doorway to abundance.

* Life should be measured in smiles per hour, not miles per hour.

Recent Insights:

* Knowledge comes from learning. Wisdom comes from meditating on knowledge. Real success comes from applying wisdom (not just knowledge) in our day to day lives. In summary, knowledge comes from the left/logical side of our brain, knowing comes from the right/intuitive side of our brain and the two halves of our brain constitute our mind. Our mind has a tendency to talk to us incessantly. Our mind also has an ego that stops our higher self, our spirit, our true being, from gaining control over our mind and body. Once we learn to quiet the mind, our higher self has the chance to guide us towards enlightenment (which equates roughly to living in the moment, the present, the here and now).

One of the keys to happiness is to learn how to use our left and right brain together to create balance. The left (logical) brain must "partner" with the emotional/intuitive right brain. By looking at this "vase-face" picture, you can feel the shift from left (vase) to right (faces), and back again.



A few quick ways to shift to the right (creative/intuitive brain) is to meditate, observe flowers, enjoy artwork or play with children (enjoy time), start humming or singing, listen to music, enjoy the company of friends, family or animals, or start drawing, photographing, or painting.

A few quick ways to shift to the left (logical brain) is to look at your watch (recognize time) or perform mathematics in your head.

Those that spend all their time predominantly in one hemisphere (unless they are very well trained.) are very likely to have mental, financial, and/or emotional problems. Only by utilizing the two halves together can we hope to rise above the mind and attain the wisdom which will lead us to peace, happiness and joy. Notice how it all starts with one step after another? First we must understand, comprehend, and utilize the mind and perhaps soon after we have a chance to rise above our egos and free ourselves from anger, pain, suffering and confusion. Who among us doesn't want enlightenment! Raise your hand :)

* There are two main ways to solve a problem - Remove the cause, or Dampen the effect. Example, sewage in a river. Remove the source of the sewage, move up-river, or "treat" the sewage.

* Learn to enjoy life before you obtain wealth. If you are unhappy before you become "rich" then money will not bring you happiness.

* Yard by yard, life can be hard. Inch by inch, life's a cinch.

* Someday "Gross Domestic Happiness" may be equally important to "Gross Domestic Product" numbers.

* Insanity is inherited. We get it from our children. (:

* Improve the things which are in your power to improve and recognize that some things are beyond your current capacity to change in the physical world (but may be changed in the "mental" world ruled by our perception of life).

* How happy are you? How often do you smile? How many times a day do you laugh? How important is happiness to you? Do you blame others for your unhappiness or do you take responsibility to make sure you find a way to happiness? The point is that it is up to you to take control of your life and find what you need. Seek and you will find. Fail to seek and misery is likely to be your companion. Speaking of companions, are your friends upbeat and positive? If not you might want to seek some. (more on finding happiness)

* Why do some people have pleasant dispositions and others have negative dispositions? How do you switch from negative to positive? Recent research suggest that the brain can be rewired through meditation and other stress-reduction techniques. People who learn to handle stress tend to live longer, happier, healthier lives. Many of these "low-stress" individuals probably discovered good coping skills through good parental guidance, religion, self-help media and enlightenment training.

* "Watch your thoughts; they become words.Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -Frank Outlaw

* "Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?" -Mary Manin Morrissey

* Mental intelligence vs Emotional intelligence - Which is a better indicator of success? Mental intelligence may have a higher correlation to school and financial success but emotional intelligence is more important when seeking the ultimate prizes in life - happiness, peace, love and joy. The point is to be smart enough to know that you need both types of intelligence in order to truly succeed in life. Left brain thinking without right brain support is a little like playing soccer with only half of your team on the field. (" ... more on emotional intelligence)

* Is the mind capable of healing the body? Have you heard of Psychneuroimmunology? - Psycho immunology, Faith Factor, Colitis, Breast Cancer

* When a person labors not for a livelihood but for wealth, that person is a slave.

* "He does not possess wealth; it possesses him" - Benjamin Franklin.

* Have you heard the phrase: "No deep resentments are justified"? It means that by harboring resentment against others, you are really stopping yourself from obtaining peace. Get rid of the resentment, even if you think it's justified, and get rid of some troubling anger (and maybe a troubling ulcer.). The person you hold resentment against may be unlikely to change their ways but you can change your thoughts and feelings if you can find a way to solve "your" problem.

* It has been said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. That is not to say a rich man cannot enter heaven but rather that he must be penitent.

* Be careful of making friends with angry people lest you learn their ways and become like them (and suffer their fate).

* On September 11th, 2001, we saw the dark side of humanity, although it is clear that this was an attempt to announce to the world the suffering and perceived injustice that was/is being felt. In the year following such a violent and destructive act, we saw the bright side of humanity as nations came together despite religious and political differences. One can only hope that trend continues.

* Without hope there is only despair. Without love there is only hatred.

* Most religions teach us that there will be a day of judgment.

* You are what you think all day long. Do you think good thoughts or bad ones?

* The realm of possibility is determined by the boundary of your imagination.

* Perhaps the most important thing in life is what you do with your time. What path are you following?

* There is more to faith than just believing in something. Your actions must reflect your faith or you really haven't faith at all.

* Think of anger, fear and hate at one end of a scale and peace, love and joy at the other end of the scale. Where do you currently weigh in?

* We've all heard the phrase, "Seek and you shall find". The real question is, what causes you to seek in the first place? How do you learn how to seek?

* Whoever has no rule over their anger is like a city broken down with no walls, which is likely to be the fate of those filled with such hatred and anger. Can you think of any examples of such individuals or groups?

* The earth becomes a more wonderful place when good people make an effort to turn our world into a paradise. What are you doing to create heaven on earth?

* Remember to stop and smell the "roses" along the way.

* "To get wisdom is better than gold, and understanding is more valuable than silver." - The Bible

* "Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late." - Benjamin Franklin.

* Goals are dreams with time-lines. Have you established time-lines for your main dreams?

* Most people dream of success, some plan for it and then work their plan.

* Those who are slow to anger are stronger than the mighty. Those that rule their spirit are greater than those who rule nations.

* The more anger you have inside, the more likely you need help finding ways to get rid of the anger. Anger is usually a sign that tells you that YOU have problems. Angry people tend to blame others for their anger. The real problem is partly/mainly inside you. Admit it and you are half way to solving your problem(s).

* People sometime think that just because they are from a small town or raised in poverty they have little to contribute to society. It has been said "If you think small then your limits have already been established". The speed of the leaders determines the rate of change of society.

* Remember to help the poor. There was once a day in which you needed help.

* When you reflect back on your life, are you happy with the way you've lived it? When you reflect forward on your life, are you happy with the way you are going to live it? If not then you are going to need to change some things. You can't change the past but you can take control of your future. Make sure to have peace as a main element in your life. By focusing on peace, half of your battles will seem trivial. The search for peace and the search for happiness go hand in hand.

* When arguing with others, especially your spouse and friends, remember that just because you think you are right it doesn't give you the right to abuse them verbally.

* Recent news suggests that exercise is as effective at fighting depression as drugs. Yet another good reason to include exercise as part of our daily routine.

* Whoever is diligent in the opportunity at hand soon finds wider openings. Whoever fails to use today's opportunity finds less chance for advancement tomorrow. [also known as: "whoever has something will be given more and whoever has nothing will be deprived of the little they have."]

* Copyleft - The giving away of copyrightable material so that the world gets the maximum benefit. It's happening now with the Open-Source software revolution and with websites like World Peace Newsletter.com

* Be sure to play your music before you leave this earth. Find your passions and learn how to "sing".

* The cup can be half empty or half full, depending on your point of view. Which point of view dominates your waking thoughts; the negative or the positive?

* A smile a day keeps the doctor away. (:

* Is the mind capable of healing the body? Only for those that believe.

* There are at least three barriers to learning and achievement. Determine if any apply to you and find ways to overcome them. 1) Suggestive barriers put into your head by others or yourself. 2) Logical barriers that slow you down because of excuses like, "No one can do that, it's impossible". 3) Ethical barriers. These are things like "If I achieve too much success it might be unethical". How you earn success and how you share it with others is what reveals your true personality.

* Enlightenment has been defined as having a mind that is open to anything but attached to nothing.

Do you agree? Is it possible to be attached to nothing?

* When you are truly inspired (in spirit) things have a tendency to work in your favor. An example of this is someone who loves what they do regardless of the financial rewards it may bring them. When the rewards become more important than the journey, trouble likely lies ahead.

* How do you discover your passions? We may not have a solution to this question but we sense that the search may be almost as important as the answers. The sooner you start looking for your passions, the sooner you will find them and begin to live a richer, fuller life.

* Understanding is a wellspring of life.

* Information wants to be free similar to the way electricity wants to be free. Will the internet free up information (also known as "electrical energy" or thoughts) for the masses? The Open-Source revolution is now in full stride and has become a shining example of how the world wide web is allowing people to share with each other on a global scale.

* Over-working can be more harmful than under-working. Be careful not to become a workaholic. You must remember to stop and smell the roses.

* Sometimes it is better to cease fighting a losing battle than to continue. Although quitting is often associated with failure, knowing when to quit and when to use a different approach to solve a problem can be a sign of genius.

* Learn to live within the "system" while maintaining control of your "essence". If you lose sight of who you are, the system will overtake you.

* It has been said: Those of great minds discuss ideas, those of average minds discuss events, and those of small minds focus on other people (gossip). We all shift through these "classifications". How much time to do spend in each category?

* There are two main ways to solve a problem. (1) Remove the cause or (2) Dampen the effect. Now consider a third way - Change how you think and feel about the problem. The point is to look at the problem from different perspectives. Many people fail to realize that they CAN change their thinking.

* The positive stress from success can be almost as damaging as the negative stress from failure/depression if not dealt with properly. Get plenty of rest and be sure to spend time with family and friends.

* In the story about the cricket and the ants, the cricket played all the time and did not prepare for the rainy days ahead. By adequately preparing, the ants were able to enjoy the rainy days along with the sunny days.

* Wisdom that is not shared is wasted. Where do you find wisdom? Conventional wisdom suggests that we utilize universities, community colleges, study groups, libraries, the internet, churches, talking to our elders and by reading the most published book on the planet, The Bible, particularly the book of Proverbs.

* In the search for the truth you may find that some of the beliefs that you hold dear are wrong. Having an open mind is more important than clinging to every one of your beliefs. Think of the people that thought the earth was flat, or those that thought it was the center of the universe.

Use your intuition and let your conscience be your guide. The truth can set you free.

* If you pause to reflect on some of the best times in your life you might discover that you had a good balance between work and play during those periods. In order to return to the "best of times" find a way to balance your life.

* Keeping life stimulating is a key to good health and longevity.

* The support groups we have can make a big difference in our lives especially when times are tough.

* The digital age is making it so that people around the globe can communicate instantly and inexpensively. Many people think that communication is the key to a good relationship. Maybe the world wide web will help the nations of the world to communicate better and get along better?

* The speed of light may be the only constant in the universe. Everything else changes! Mr. Einstein observed that matter could be converted into energy just as energy was converted into matter (and anti-matter) when the universe was created.

* Admitting when you are wrong is a key to attaining emotional maturity.

* The satisfaction gained from achieving a goal is proportional to the effort used in getting there. Fear is probably the main factor that stops people from achieving their goals. Our inability to take a leap of faith is closely tied to our inner fears.

* The means we use to reach our ends are almost as important as the ends we've chosen. Ill-gotten gains seldom (if ever) bring long term happiness.

* The only person that can make you happy is yourself. Others can help but like many solutions in life, the answer must come from within.

* Sometimes a teacher, like a good parent, must be forceful and demanding but most of the time they need to be patient, nurturing and understanding. Even the wisest pupils were once ignorant.

* Mourning the loss of someone special helps us ease the immediate pain. Dealing with the emotions in the weeks and months afterwards helps us move on with our lives.

* A heart that has never been broken is incomplete.

* Half the battle in completing a worthwhile goal is getting things started.

* What does the global village mean to you?

LIFE TIPS: . The stages of life. What we all go through!

Although each of us is unique in thousands of ways, we all share the human experience of being born, living and dying. It is helpful to realize that we are not alone when it comes to dealing with life's challenges and setbacks. It is also helpful to understand that we all have needs that motivate us to act upon those needs and wants. Over our lifetimes our needs change and our motivation changes along with them.

Needs > Wants > Tension > Action > Success or Failure > Wants

The more tension we feel, the more likely we are to take action to reduce it. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, our first needs are "physiological": food, water, warmth, sleep and sex. These needs must be met for growth to occur. The next level of needs are "security" needs: protection from physical danger, financial security, nutrition and shelter. Once past these stages we move on to the "acceptance" needs: the need to be accepted by others, the desire to be popular. After learning to fit in, we try to fulfill our "esteem" needs: the need for self-confidence, status, prestige and power. If we make it past the esteem needs then we have the chance to self-actualize, something few of us have ever done. By self-actualizing, you fulfill your desire to become all that you are capable of becoming. You maximize your talents and share your success with the rest of the world. Some well known self-actualizers are Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Thomas Edison, Stephen Hawking, Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Who do you look to as a role model and why? What values does your "hero" hold in high esteem?

The following is a general time-table for stages that we all seem to go through. The better we understand the natural process of life, the better our chances of dealing constructively with life's little bumps. Try to determine the needs and wants of each stage in order to speculate the motivation (tension) behind the actions.

0-3: Basic survival. We eat, drink, sleep, absorb information, and are completely dependent on others. We are very impressionable in our first three years. Our brains are processing input, be it positive or negative. Research has suggested that children that did not receive love and affection at this age are much less likely to find happiness later in life. They are often unable to express love and affection as adults. They are less likely to develop a conscience and they tend to commit more violent crimes as adults.

4-6: Discovery period. We learn that we have needs and wants. We learn that siblings can interfere with our wants. Our creativity and emotions dominate over logic and rationality.

7-10: Schooling begins. We learn to read and write but now our creativity and emotions must be kept under tighter control. We discover friends and start to discover ourselves.

11-13: Mental and physical changes begin. By now, we have learned that we should keep our emotions under control, and creativity is all but dropped from most education programs. We notice the opposite sex and changes in ourselves. We begin to want our independence.

14-18: Our teen years. We are searching for our identity while battling acne, parents, siblings, friends, school, and puberty. These could be the easiest years of our lives but for many individuals, they are the toughest. Some start dating, most of us still fear the opposite sex. At times life seems unfair and against us. We are still young but struggling to be grown up and treated like an adult.

19-25: The real world. We leave home and either go to college (a 5 year educational playground before the real world), or get a job and possibly start a family. Real responsibility begins and we finally find out what it's like to run our own lives. By age 25, most of our values and thinking patterns are established. It takes great effort to change ourselves after this stage. For men, the sexual peak is passing but the instinctive drive still causes bad decision-making on occasion.

26-30: Still young but aging. We begin to realize we are not immortal and we can not abuse our bodies like we used to. Many of us have married and started a family by now. We can get caught up in the struggle to make ends meet and forget the importance of living. We still want to accomplish great things but time seems to be slipping away. Remember to enjoy life while you are still young and do not think that things will get better after you have made more money. Live life now while you still have youth, energy, health and lots of enthusiasm. When you get old and "rich" you likely won't have as much of these youthful qualities. Hopefully you will have wisdom and peace of mind after youth has left you. (:

31-35: Identity is established. By now we know who we are and what we want. How to get it may not yet be determined. Most of us have experienced the death of a loved one and perhaps drawn closer to family. Women that have not had children may fear that their time for having kids is running out.

36-40: Maturity sets in. Many of us are loaded with responsibilities by this age. We might have many debts and not enough income to do all we want. We start thinking about saving for retirement. Most of us have experienced some kind of traumatic illness or pain by now. Setting goals and planning for the future take on new meaning.

41-50: Mid-life dilemmas. We may find ourselves looking back on our lives with disappointment that we didn't accomplish more. We are still young enough to accomplish our goals and dreams but we have to act now. Our kids are going through their teens and moving out. The house starts to gets bigger and emptier. We start worrying about our health and may start exercising more.

51-60: Nearing retirement. The final years of working are getting closer. Financial concerns and health problems dominate much of our worries. We may have to deal with the death of one or both parents. The kids have gone and started their own families. Many of us move into new residences that fit a family without children. Grandchildren become idols to adore and spoil. We begin to give back to society.

61-70: Retirement starts. We've finally made it! No more work, only rest and relaxation. Why then after a year or so of R&R do we often feel bored and non-productive? Because for many of us we've reached our goal of just getting here. Our health may also be stopping us from enjoying our time off. We must set new goals to accomplish, just the same as any time in life when we reach our highest goals. Strive for the next level, don't just relish in past glory. Life's a journey, not a destination. Make it a fun journey because the destination is merely the end.

71-80: Continuing retirement. If we haven't started planning for our deaths by now, this is the time. We spend more and more time reflecting on the past, partly because these memories are the strongest. If our health is good, the seventies can be very rewarding due to the amount of wisdom we have acquired. This wisdom needs to find an outlet so that others may benefit.

81-90: Nearing death. For almost all of us, death is a very scary thing. We fear the unknown and death is probably the least known thing about the human experience. But it is part of the human experience and without it, life as we know it, would not exist! It's like a big physics equation that states that the amount of energy going into a system must equal the amount of energy leaving the system. For new life to enter, some must go elsewhere. Death is probably harder on the survivors than the person dying. By this age, death can actually be a welcome event, especially if our mental or physical health is poor. In a sense, life could become a curse if death did not occur when our bodies deteriorate.

91-100: More people are living to the grand old age of 100 and many do so because they were good to their bodies and good to their souls. With medical advances and better nutrition information these days, more of us will be able to enjoy our nineties. So start taking better care of yourself and keep setting new goals so that life is worth living.

Table of Contents

* Do you have a "place" that is your Garden of Eden? If not then you might want to find one or create one.

* After accomplishing all your goals, then what will you do? Will those who fail to set goals ever have this problem?

* What is more important: How you spend your time or how you spend your money?

* How do you judge the success of others? Do you rate others by the amount of material possessions they have or by the amount of happiness they possess? Which measure is a better indicator of success?

* Buy the truth and then hold onto it with both hands and don't let go.

* We've all heard the phrase, "That's just the way the world works". The world would probably work much better if we wouldn't use this cliche as an excuse for not helping to make the world a kinder, gentler place to live and work.

* You will soon be hearing more about "The Gift Economy". It is our belief that capitalism and volunteerism are combining forces and creating a gift economy. The Internet is playing a large role in this transformation.

* See if you can determine the implications of this famous story. A farmer is out in the field sowing grain. Some of the seed lands on a footpath and gets trampled. Other seed lands on shallow soil with rock beneath. This seed starts to grow but soon dies for lack of nutrients. Other seed lands in thistle patches and is soon choked out. Still other seed finds fertile soil; this seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as large as the farmer had planted.

* Some people hear the calling to become fishers for the souls of mankind. Why certain people hear the calling and others do not remains a mystery.

* Life is in the eye of the beholder. By changing your viewpoint you may change more than just your perspective. Life's what you make it.

* Meditation is often more powerful than medication. Which one of the M words is most likely going to help you attain enlightment? How much power is gained by merely trying to attain enlightenment?

* The love that wells within you, screaming for release, can drive your thoughts and actions, and help bring world peace.

* Remember to give gifts to people on days other than just birthdays and holidays. The gift of giving should come from the heart whenever the spirit moves you.(:

* When negotiating difficult situations it is wise to determine each party's stance on the following items: 1) What is it that each party wants to accomplish? 2) What is it that each party wants to avoid? 3) What are the crucial issues that are "non-negotiable"?

* Wisdom is a treasure that can turn darkness into light and cause one's face to shine. Both the heart of the prudent and the ear of the wise seek out knowledge.

* According to Proverbs 6:16, "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren."

* In order to be the greatest, one must also be the least.

* Peace on earth, goodwill to all. Sounds simple yet it has proved to be amazingly difficult to accomplish.

* Do you believe that most people want to be good, honest and helpful? We do! People just need the proper love and guidance in order to get them back to the side of "good". People need to be reminded that there are much greater rewards for the good than for the evil ones in this world. Blessed are the good, cursed are the wicked.

* Have you ever wondered if there was something you were "destined" to accomplish during your lifetime?

* How do people 