The war in Yugoslavia is a tragedy and at the same time an opportunity to learn that war is always present—whether it’s manifest outwardly or hidden within each of us and in our society. Violence is happening every day, every moment, everywhere, and we cannot wait for open conflict to see it. We must transform both our individual consciousness and the collective consciousness through the practice of nonviolence: mindful breathing, deep listening, loving speech, and mindful consumption (the Fifth Mindfulness Training). Every breath and every step becomes a positive element in helping to end present wars and prevent future ones.

Peace begins with ourselves and radiates outward, step by step:

1. Within the nuclear family—sign peace treaties with your child and partner, practice deep listening, water the seeds of compassion, use the bell of mindfulness or the “cake in the refrigerator” trick to halt storms of anger.
2. In schools and practice centers—organize them as families where teachers and students practice compassionate communication and support each other’s healing.
3. In communities, city halls and congress—invite mindful breathing at the start of each session, establish ethics committees, require deep listening and loving speech from elected officials, and meditate collectively so that governing bodies become havens of harmony rather than battlegrounds.