There is a saying that "Peace begins at home". I believe that to be true.
We must begin our search for peace within ourselves.
When we fully understand our own strengths as well as weaknesses,
then we can be sensitive to the talents and needs of all others.
When we can be at peace with our own beliefs and not feel threatened by the beliefs of others,
then we can begin to understand the spiritual vastness of our soul, and its position in the universe at large.
When we can clearly discern between good and evil within ourselves,
then we can look with empathy upon the deeds of others.
When we can see all of the world's people as our own family;
mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters,
then we can be at peace with our own position.
Then we can be of assistance in the world. - Sarah. A. McUmber-House
The Golden Rule:
"Do unto others as you would have done unto you." This wisdom is represented in ancient teachings and religions throughout the world:
Hindu Faith "This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain." - The Mahabharata
Jewish Faith "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary." - The Talmud
Zoroastrian Faith "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." - Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29
Buddhist Faith "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." - Udana-Varga 5:18
Christian Faith "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." - The Gospel of Matthew Matt 7:12, Luke 6:31
Muslim Faith "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." - Hadith
Baha'i Faith "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself." - Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 30
TAOIST "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." - T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien
BRAHMAN "This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." - Mahabharata 5:1517
CONFUCIAN "Surely it is the maxim of lovingkindness: Do not unto others what you would not have done unto you." - Analects 15:23
ZOROASTRIAN "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." - Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5
JAINISM "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self" - Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
SIKHISM "Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." - Guru Arjan Devji 259, Guru Granth Sahib
And yet some other sources:
"Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others." Isocrates 436-338 BCE
"And it harm none, do what thou wilt." Wiccan Rede
"Tzu-kung asked, 'Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one's life?' The Master said, 'It is perhaps the word "shu." Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Analects, 15.24
In my experience, the best thing we can teach our children is how to appreciate others' knowledge, beliefs and feelings without necessarily taking on those beliefs themselves. Thinking for yourself necessitates finding out about *what* others believe and *why* they do so.
A couple of great sites to have for reference...
Check out the Religious Tolerance site. Very good, thorough explanations of just about every religion you've ever heard of, and some you may have never known existed.
Teaching Tolerance pages.
Sassafrass Grove's Geography Page see the Recommended Reading Section
Paths of Learning - Suggested Books on Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance Magazine
Teaching Kids Tolerance
Writings on the spiritual quest...A Comment on HistoryHome
Homeschooling? Why?! Find out here
Peace links around the Web:
Peace Peeps be sure to read the wonderful folktales
United Communities of Spirit an interesting place I recently discovered
Indigenous Peoples Literature
A World Citizen's Homepage There is some wonderful stuff here!
The Dogma-Free Zone Opens with a wonderful story of the different paths we take
Common Ground "Ours is a neutral space...our shared belief (is)that every culture and every era has much to offer to the collective wisdom of the planet."
The Interfaith Alliance a non-partisan organization with a faith-based agenda - "TIA is a diverse group - as diverse as America. And its members have come together for the purpose of standing up to the Christian Coalition and other radical right wing groups and individuals who wrap themselves in the language and symbolism of religious faith." -Walter Cronkite
Jewish World Review JWR is a free magazine published five days a week on the World Wide Web of interest to people of faith and those interested in learning more about contemporary Judaism from Jews who take their religion seriously.
Open Heart's World Peace Experiment
PeaceLink's Resource Directory Many Paths To Peace Can Be Found Here
The Nonviolence Web home to many of the US's most dynamic peace groups
The Shrine of Wisdom The Simple Way of Lao Tzu
The Willendorf Pages Dedicated to fundamental human dignity and worth, nurturing, loving, embracing, bonding, birthing, breastfeeding, human development, non-violence, anti-oppression, peace, acceptance, the human condition, empowerment
EarthStewards a nonprofit international organization devoted to bringing positive change to our planet.
Women's Federation for World Peace a wonderful place! - please join
Education for Peace
World Peace 2000 Club
Kids 4 Peace
World Peace Net
World Citizen
World Peace links
Worldpeace World Peace Page
Teaching Tolerance How do we teach children not to be prejudiced?
Religious Tolerance Getting to know more about each other.
The Biblical Doctrine of God, The Names of God, Old Testament Names (part 1) by James E. Bordwine, Th.D.
The Complete Listing of the Names of God by Dr. Rick L. Patterson.
Invocation of the Names of God
and the Ascended Hosts of Light
"Basic Belief" poll
Y? The National Forum on People's Differences - communication experiment - interesting...
The Cellist Even a seemingly futile gesture can have astounding impact on the
heart.....I think you will enjoy reading this short story.
Here's a really wonderful book for kids (and adults!)- "My Wish For Tomorrow" - Words and Pictures from Children Around The World. A collaboration between Jim Henson Publishing and The UN. Tambourine Books - New York
ones to come!
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