The Peacemaker's Circle Foundation, Inc. conducted a "DISARMAMENT of the HEART", an Interfaith Reflections on the Challenge of Violent Extremism. This was held at PhilDHRRA Partnership Center in Quezon City last October 24, 2017. Some participants shared about their obstacles in the pursuit of Peace and they threw these negative thoughts, emotions and experiences into the center of the circle where there's brightly lit candles. Many reflections were shared to address these challenges. One shared about being aware of negative thoughts and emotions so there's this need to observe these thoughts and emotions from a distance. After all, we are not the thoughts nor emotions but souls inside a body having a brain to think and a heart to feel. The soul is divine and must connect with the source to be strengthened during troubling times. Another shared about rising up from a fall. One peacemaker can be killed or maybe even another and another but as long as we have more than enough peace makers to fight off the forces of darkness, then goodness will win. According to Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." There is this need therefor to continue what the fallen peacemakers have started and start from there. The enemy is fear and fear can be conquered. Another shared about the need to re-arm ourselves should we discharge somethings within us that are troubling us. It is just like breathing. We can exhale all the hurts, all the pains, all the hatred, all the anger and all the sufferings and begin to inhale positive emotions like love, joy and peace. So as we discharge all of the negative things in life, we should also, at the same time, re-arm ourselves with what is good in life. Lastly, another shared about the pursuit of enlightenment. One cannot have enlightenment if one is not at peace. One cannot have peace if one is not joyful. One cannot have true Joy if one does not have love. Love is therefore the door to enlightenment. However, in our goal to love others, we sometimes hurt them unexpectedly by using the wrong words or a wrong emotion and we begin to suffer inside. They can also be the ones hurting us. If we experience this, we can talk to this person or maybe approach God in prayer saying "I love this person and I appreciate the love I received from him or her. I forgive this person and I hope that he or she will also forgive me." This can be a nice prayer for it will give us that bridge towards love that will lead us to have joy and to have peace. Regarding fear, when Jesus died and the apostles were forced into hiding for fear of their lives, they were able to address their fear and start to proclaim the good news because of the power of the holy spirit. Relying on our own strength and understanding will not make us love or will not make us an effective peace maker. It is only with the grace of God and the holy spirit that is within us that we can do a lot of great things for Peace. In our gathering that night, religion may have divided us but spirituality always unites us and we will continue to share this spiritual unity in the days to come. May Peace prevail on Earth!
After the event, members of the Mandala Peace Arts Initiative (Mhaddy, Oscar, Gabby and Rocky), went out to have dinner and to further plan their activities for November and December. If ever you may want to join us in our mandala writing workshop, there will be one this coming November 18. Please contact us so that we'll know that you are coming. Contact Toots (09209836271) for more information. The workshop is free. Thank you and see you soon. :-)
