APRIL - Nonviolence & Sustainability

                                                                            Illustration by Miki Howenstein
​
……. Both within the self as well as in the physical world, the opposite of non-violence, i.e. violence, diffuses bitterness and creates a threatening environment that necessitates an aggressive spirit. It drives living beings (or the variant aspects of the self) apart, and is most often caused by the lack of empowerment ... 
(From page 114 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

Author’s Comment: When violence is seen as the result of a lack of empowerment and, let me add, an infringement on people’s dignity, we can see that empowering and respecting others is something any of us can do in our everyday lives to create a more non-violent environment. The violence being perpetrated by countries and militaries around the world, and the fear being instilled by authoritarian figures seeking to increase their power can make you feel overwhelmed, but creating more nourishing relationships (through empowering & showing respect) and, thereby, a more peaceful community makes you an agent for peace, much needed in today’s world.