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“Peace comes from within.” Buddha
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Nonviolence: Linking Body, Mind & Spirit

I just returned from an annual meditation retreat: 10 days of pure silence (no eye contact with others, even), 10 hours of meditation per day, no eating after 12pm. "Are you crazy?" people sometimes ask in good humor before I head to retreat. "Maybe!" I’ll say with a laugh.

Chuckles aside, I see these retreats as intensive nonviolence trainings. When the body sits still that long—and when the mind lacks distraction—you become an expert observer of your emotional and physical conditioning, or what Thich Nhat Hanh calls "habit energy." The aim is to remain non-reactive to whatever arises on the cushion ("My knees hurt! I'm hungry! That thing my sister said tees me off! Oh, but wait—look how silly it is to identify with these temporary states of being."). I find it really effective for establishing a calmer heart and a sharper mind, and I leave these retreats feeling more courageous and more compassionate.

Because of my latest retreat experiences, I'm extra drawn to a recent Daily Metta on self-purification. In it, Michael Nagler calls nonviolence "the Olympics of the spirit." I love that description!

Wishing you the very best,
Kimberlyn David, Director of Communications & Editor of Nonviolence



 

We Say No to Nuclear


Special guest Alice Slater, the New York director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and a member of the coordinating committee for World Beyond War, joins our latest show. Did you know that the US is poised to spend $1 trillion dollars on new nuclear weapons facilities and warheads, and that other countries are following suit? We discuss this and more. Check out the show.
 

Party with a Purpose


If you're near Santa Rosa, CA we hope you'll come out for an event at the Arlene Francis Center in support of the Metta Center. There will be incredible music by our good friends Abraham Entin and Lloyd Ferris, not to mention The Sebastopol Love Choir. Plus: food, drinks and lots of socializing fun. Party with a Purpose starts at 6:30pm PST on Friday, September 23. See more info.
We do not have to accept terrorism as "the new normal." So how can nonviolence address terrorism? It begins with recognizing the human beings behind the terrible actions. Watch our 5-minute animation for the full picture—and share it widely.

Viewpoints & Resources


Frances Po on Post-Brexit Consequences for Refugees in Calais
"...as refugees in Calais anticipate dramatic changes in the relations between the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, refugees in the Jungle need more support than ever." Read her eye-opening piece in truthout.

Stephanie Van Hook on Writing a Children's Book About Gandhi
"Far too often, children are exposed to violence in their media and in their lives. We can show them the promise of something else." See the interview with Stephanie Van Hook in Nonviolence Magazine.

Joseph Gardella on Administrator Concerns About Using NVC
In his latest post as a Metta Center Fellow, Joseph Gardella acknowledges and responds to concerns that administrators may have about using Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in schools. Read his post.

Parent Power Podcast: For Peaceful Parents and Happy Children
What is nonviolence, really? How can parents discuss the importance of nonviolence with their children? In what ways can parents empower children to grow into natural peacemakers? Hear the short podcast.



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Petaluma, CA 94953

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About Us
Metta Center for Nonviolence is a 501(c)3 educational organization that aims to help people use nonviolence safely and effectively. We advance a positive view of humankind while empowering people to explore the question: How does nonviolence work, and how can I contribute to a happier, more peaceful society? Learn more.