QUOTES
So
for me the question became, 'What are the forms in business, social action and
peacemaking that can help us see the oneness of society, the interdependence of
life?'
"Beautiful
surroundings inspire people to live more fully and to appreciate the preciousness
of our world and each other. The beauty of art and nature also reminds us of the
inner harmony and splendor that is every human being's birthright. The Japanese
understand this very well. Every house or noodle shop, no matter how humble, contains
a tokonomo — a niche to hang a painted scroll and exhibit a small flower arrangement.
It's a small thing, but it uplifts the spirit and adds dignity and grace to everyday
life."
"When
we bear witness, when we become the situation — homelessness, poverty, illness,
violence, death — the right action arises by itself. We don’t have to worry about
what to do. We don't have to figure out solutions ahead of time. Peacemaking is
the functioning of bearing witness. Once we listen with our entire body and mind,
loving action arises.
Loving
action is right action. It's as simple as giving a hand to someone who stumbles
or picking up a child who has fallen on the floor. We take such direct, natural
actions every day of our lives without considering them special. And they're not
special. Each is simply the best possible response to that situation in that moment.
"In
the Zen Peacemaker Order we commit ourselves to healing others at the same time
that we heal ourselves. We don't wait to be peaceful before we begin to make peace.
In fact, when we see the world as one body, it's obvious that we heal everyone
at the same time that we heal ourselves, for there are no 'others.
Sameness
is the fact that everything is unique just as it is. Each and every thing is different.
That difference is the only thing we and everything in the world have in common.
As human beings, we like to think that there's something we all share. For instance,
we often say that all people want the same basic things or care about the same
things. But the truth is, we're all different. In fact, the only thing we have
in common, the only thing that's the same about us, is that we're different."
