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UNESCO Manifesto 2000 & Non-Violence
The Manifesto 2000, signed by millions including world leaders, and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence (2001-2010) provide a framework for transforming suffering. A manual for the practice of nonviolence offers practical suggestions for individuals, families, schools, and society to deal with the body and mind without violence. Central to this effort is the commitment to the six points of the manifesto, which include:
- Respect the life and dignity of every person without discrimination or prejudice.
- Practice active non-violence, rejecting violence in all its forms.
- Put an end to exclusion.
- Promote consumer behavior that is responsible and respect all forms of life.
Active non-violence, or avihiṃsā, means no-harming and not creating suffering for oneself or others. Violence is often an accumulated energy absorbed during childhood, creating a vicious circle of saṃsāra where victims become perpetrators. To stop this transmission, one must recognize the amount of violence within their own consciousness and abandon violent ways of dealing with the body and mind. This includes transforming physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and social violence.
Practicing inclusiveness and equanimity, or upekṣā, is the most effective way to abolish discrimination and the notion of self that lies at the base of violent behavior. Whether dealing with institutional violence in economic systems or the fear-driven violence found in social structures, the practice begins with the individual. By embracing anger and despair rather than suppressing them, and by protecting the most vulnerable, such as children and adolescents, it is possible to modify the heritage passed to future generations.
Part of the following collection
Cultivating Love Through Presence and Listening