A Call to Action:
A Worksheet to Initiate Thought

(download this as a Word Doc.)

 

ARE YOU PRACTICING NONVIOLENCE?

"We need a new heroic ideal:  the brave, truthful, nonviolent individual who is in the service of humanity, (who) resists injustice and exploitation, and (who) leads by appealing to our ideals and our spirit". 
--Keshavan Nair, A Higher Standard of Leadership.

 

1. HIGH REGARD FOR LIFE

In what ways do you or your organization practice a reverence for Life by treating people as valuable and precious resources?

How do you nurture the talents and well-being of each person, and promote healthy relationships based on mutual appreciation?

2. COMMUNICATION AND CONCILIATION

In what ways do you or your organization encourage and facilitate the principles of nonviolence (respect, understanding, compassion and reconciliation) as a foundation for interpersonal communication and conflict resolution?

How do you or your organization resolve conflict?

3. AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE

In what ways do you or your organization promote non-violent choice and action as an "alternative" response to violence (violent words, violent action, injustice and oppression)?

4. A WAY OF LIFE

How do you or your organization encourage commitment to nonviolence through a personal/spiritual/philosophical/ethical or moral practice?

In what ways do you or your organization support the growth of the "whole" individual (which includes their psychological and spiritual well-being)?

5. ADVOCACY

In what ways do you or your organization use nonviolent means to advocate for basic human rights--justice, equality and opportunity for all human beings?

6. SERVICE

In what ways do you or your  organization build community through service?

 

PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE

Nonviolence  Is...

Honoring  the  dignity and inherent  worth  of every human being.

Believing that  our lives are linked  together,  that what  we do impacts  the lives of other people.  Therefore, we are responsible  to and for one another.

Dedicating  ourselves  to guaranteeing the fundamental  rights of every  human  being (justice, equity and equality).  It means using our talents to empower  others as well as ourselves.

Courageously  choosing to practice  compassion with  our  apparent adversaries.  We oppose injustice,   not people.

Recognizing Love as the power of the human spirit to triumph over injustice, social inequity, suffering.  This is the hero's journey.

Choosing "non-violence" as a way of life by practicing peace daily.

Embracing  the  God of our heart  in our own personal  and reflective  way

Enlarging our capacity to embrace  differences and appreciate the value of every human life.

Strengthening our resolve to be compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions.

Practicing compassion and forgiveness for ourselves and others

Making choices that honor the sacredness of Life.

Cultivating moral strength and courage through education and creative, non-violent action.

Using our talents to serve others as well as ourselves.

Finding a goal that serves humanity (a service to vision greater than our selves) and dedicating our life to it.