A Practice of Peace (Tova Averbuch)

Sat Apr 13 11:57:15 PDT 2002

To Harrison, Judi, Joelle and others...........
In the space in which I move and the clients/ groups with whom I work, the word "peace" isn't used much. Nevertheless, I think that is what I - and so many others on this list - do. By opening space for conflict to be aired and held, for dialogue to open up, for unheard voices to be heard and new, transforming conversations to happen, we create space for the flow of spirit. In my case, of late this means helping cancer researchers to move beyond their original institutions and form a co-operative network and share research resources; for a bank to foster the development of "communities of practice" and knowledge sharing; for  mid-level managers to come into their own power (empowerment). Not to say the ongoing work of parenting two teenagers!!

And yes, it begins in my own being, with as much acknowledgement of and non-resistance to all that I see in myself as I can manage [the good, the bad and the ugly!] and than naturally extending that out to others - close.. further.. further still. Being able to provide a container for peacefullness in myself helps me to provide such a container for others too. Some of these "others" are clients; but it is also children, family, friends.... ultimately and hopefully everyone we come in contact with. For me peace is not just the feeling of peacefulness, kindness, friendliness. It is the place which is able to contain that AND it's "opposite" - anger, fear, jealousy.. and hold them until a resolution naturally appears.
.................Easy to say, life-long task to do!!
Best to all - will be with you in spirit for 3 pm meditation!

Meg Salter

MegaSpace Consulting
416/486-6660
meg.salter at sympatico.ca
www.megaspaceconsulting.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Harrison Owen 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 3:46 PM
  Subject: A Practice of Peace (Tova Averbuch)

  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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