A Practice of Peace (Tova Averbuch)

[Harrison Owen]

As the decibels of war increase, conversations about Peace seem to grow 
commensurately, but I think conversations may be growing a little thin. In 
the great sweep of history, the difficulties of the moment will probably be 
seen as another bump in the road of Humanity, but as we sit on the edge of 
this particular pothole, it looks awfully deep. At such a time, talk about 
Peace should probably give way to the active creation of that ephemeral 
state of being. And I believe that is exactly what we do each and every 
time we Open Space. No guarantees, of course, but in my experience, the 
true gifts of Open Space come in packages marked Trust, Respect, and Hope. 
At least that is what I am told everywhere i go around the world. And this 
trio goes a long way towards the establishment of Peace. Why and how this 
might be so is a mystery we would do well to consider -- but THAT it occurs 
is a matter of personal experience, at least my personal experience. So I 
beg you -- Practice Peace, Open Space -- wherever, however, and as often as 
you can. And as you do, reflect on what all that might mean for you and 
then share so we all can learn.

Tova Averbuch, our friend from Israel, sent me the following -- and I share 
it (with her permission). She mentions Carol -- a young Palestinian with a 
small son Simon and a husband called Sam. Great People.

   I speak to Carol and I speak to Miriam (from the settlements). We go to 
demonstrations and look for ways to unite all the political and public 
forces that are looking for resolution and consent (in various ways 
including os). The more the brutality the more the sanity and public 
commitment, I hope it will be figural and applicable soon. We open spaces 
in organizations and communities at least once or twice a month. That is a 
place to find some hope, when people, together, touch on something that is 
truthful, authentic; uniquely created and attended, being born. The feeling 
is revitalizing and reminding people of their wholeness and ‘partness’ no 
matter what the issues are, and I like this form of prayer together.

In all of that craziness there is a voice that has to tell you about one of 
the practices that keeps me sane, maybe that is the way I practice being 
whole and at peace in ‘war zone’- some degree of peace in a situation in 
which “knowing“ is not a luxury I can afford.

My practice is that I reiterate 4 principles (strongly the first two) and 
one law whenever I am “stuck to death” in anger, sadness or despair and 
look for life, for flow. I remind myself:

1.“Whoever are here are the right people” yes, everyone!. If I do not 
understand what is ‘their’ contribution it is for me to figure out but 
they/we are all the right people, the very loving and the very hating, the 
extreme right and the extreme wrong / left.
My practice is to tell myself Whoever are here are the right people even in 
situations I (and/or others) do not want to hear it, especially in those 
situations, and to look for some new understanding in what way he or she or 
‘them’ or me are ‘the right people’, moment by moment.
I really do believe this to be so with no difficulty and take this truism 
as an axiom. It is very helpful because I can find myself sad and hopeless 
at times but never short of meaning to have or to make up, lessens to seek 
and learn (I keep busy
I can flow) and I know new things again and again 
about being part (partaking is defiantly a part of peace making. It is 
piece making
) and finding endless ways of doing and being ‘inclusion’ in a 
world of ‘exclusion’ as the name of the game. Another asset of this rule of 
peace is that it keeps me humble yet an active player in the game of living.
This principle also serves me as a personal master guide in the midst of 
chaos: if I am ‘the right people’ what may my task be? What is my passion 
and what is my responsibility, moment by moment. This is particularly 
helpful in peace making in times of war because it is so overwhelming at 
times that one tends either to save the word or to feel totally helpless.

2. “Whatever happens is the only thing that could have”. I find the 
reiteration of this axiom especially necessary for energy preservation. No, 
I do not yet believe it but I made up my mind ‘ to fake it until I make it’ 
going on my way of turning from a worrier to a warrior.
It is hard to stop accounts with the past and for me it is even harder to 
let go of the future but that is what gives me enough energy to be fully 
present and make a difference. As I see it, this is essential for peace 
making in war zone for two reasons: one is that you need yourself totally 
present to survive and the other is that because of the chaotic forces if 
you are fully present you have endless opportunities to try and make a 
difference. I know it is to some degree paradoxical but yet each one of us 
is one of the determinants of “whatever happens”. I can see a third reason: 
being totally present is the fullest way I can think of ”being alive” or 
‘doing living’ and that is a real necessity.

It is becoming very late and I am not sure how much sense I make at three 
o’clock in the morning so I will bring it to a stop here. If I didn’t make 
much I hope you will forgive me.

Tova

Tova -- You make great sense. And thank you for sharing. And for the rest 
of us -- How is our Practice of Peace progressing? And what to we have to 
share?

Harrison


Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm

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