Peace eludes us
All over the world, there is endless hatred, envy, jealousy, and violence. Nations are in social disaray, economic disparities threaten families and communities, people are treated inhumanely, and species are being driven to extinction. Our world is suffering.
Our planet is being destroyed as Earth’s ecosystems are exploited and treated with disdain and disregard. Many humans are being pushed beyond their ability to think clearly and compassionately. People, animals and plants that inhabit this earth with us deserve protection, preservation, and care. As humans, we have a special responsibility to protect our Earth and its environment for future generations. It is in our power to open our hearts more to each other with compassion in our interactions.
We must cultivate living in harmony with each other and nature.
Earth cannot be changed for the better unless the consciousness of individuals is changed first. With commitment and action, we still have an opportunity to build a just, peaceful, and caring world. But, we must have the courage to confront the reality of our actions and profoundly change our behaviour today. We must become passionate stewards of our planet.
Together We Can Change Our Future
We can do much more than we may think to reduce our stress and learn to live in harmony. As more of us commit to practicing kindness and cooperation, while reducing judgments and separation, we strengthen the heart’s intuition for solutions to personal and collective challenges. Together we can lift the collective spirit.
HeartMath Institute offers tools to enable people to better recognize and access their intuitive insight and heart intelligence. Their Gobal Coherence Iniative is a “science-based project to unite people in heart-focused love and intention, to facilitate the shift in global consciousness from instability and discord to compassionate care, cooperation and increasing peace.” They invite people around the world to participate in a worldwide Care Focus together. The HeartMath Institute offers a free monthly podcast of 30 minute episodes every 3rd Tuesday of the month here.
The Parliament of the World’s Religions, an interfaith Convening Organization, envisions a world of peace, justice and sustainability. Their mission is “to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions to address the critical issues of our time.” To this end, they have developed the five principles of a Global Ethic.
Global Ethic
- No new global order without a new global ethic!
- Every human being must be treated humanely.
- Commit to a set of irrevocable directives including: non-violence and respect for life, solidarity and a just economic order, tolerance and a life of truthfulness, equal rights and partnership between men and women, a culture of sustainability and care for the Earth.
- Work towards a transformation of consciousness.
All women and men, whether religious or not, are invited to endorse the Global Ethic here.
A Global Convention
In 2023, the 9th global convening of The Parliament of the World’s Religions will return to Chicago, USA, for the third time in its history, to celebrate 130 years of an enduring mission of justice, peace, and sustainability.
Chicago is reaffirming its commitment to its history as the birthplace of this movement and to the mission of the organization: to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities and to foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions to address the critical issues of our time.
The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be hosted in McCormick Place Lakeside Center from August 14-18, 2023. More information available here.
Closer to Home
Opportunities for yoga, tai-chi, meditation, group prayer, and other forms of heart-felt cohesion can be practiced at home, on-line, or with a local community group. Non-profit organizations welcome volunteers as they provide a variety of civic, humanitarian, social, and environmental services. Schools and workplaces offer occasions to build a just, caring, and peaceful world. Opportunities to develop and share heart-focused love and intention abound. Lets embrace each other with conscious recognition of our oneness.
