Chapter 1 - Front Page

We suggest several ways to get the most out of this Peace Education Manual:

1) Which 7 verses in each chapter are your favorite? Why?
2) Which 5 verses in each chapter apply most to your current life situation? Why?
3) Which 3 verses in each chapter do not apply to your current life situation? Why?
4) Which verses in each chapter do you disagree with? Why?
5) How do you rate each chapter on a scale between 1 (dis-like), 5 (like) & 10 (really like)? Why?
6) If you were to add to this peace manual, what insights would you add? Why?
Would they be mostly Mental insights, Emotional insights, Physical (health) insights, Spiritual insights, or Enlightenment insights? Why?
7) Which type of insights are most important to you? How much could you benefit from learning more about the other types of intelligences currently available to the human race? (what types of intelligences do you see in our future?)
8) Between 1 & 100, how would you rate this peace education information: 1 being poor, 50 being average & 100 being excellent? Why?

. . Table of Contents - Printer Friendly Chapters
Chapter 0 - Peace Building Outline, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 0 - click here
Chapter 1 - Front Page, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 1 - click here
Chapter 2 - Ancient Insights, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 2 - click here
Chapter 3 - New Insights / Enlightenment Insights, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 3 - click here
Chapter 4 - Recent Insights, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 4 - click here
Chapter 5 - Not-so-Recent Insights, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 5 - click here
Chapter 6 - Stages of Life, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 6 - click here
Chapter 7 - Good Day / Bad Day Checklist, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 7 - click here
Chapter 8 - 10 Rules for Success, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 8 - click here
Chapter 9 - The Seven Stages of Grief, ... Printer Friendly Chapter 9 - click here

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - July 17, 2011
These first 9 chapters linked above are the only ones that have education numerals assigned to each verse for "International, Congressional, Local, Classroom, Family, Freinds and Individual" reflection, discussion, education and printing purposes.
Chapters 10 thru Chapter ?? to be included with numerical index online soon. We appreciate your patience.
The rest of this web page consists of the entire World Peace Newsletter website, with minimal graphics (printer friendly) without the assigned numerics to each verse. We hope both these versions prove helpful to you.

1.1- "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." - Mahatma Gandhi

1.2- "I have come to realize that people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

1.3- I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of your being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world. - Tao Te Ching: 67

1.4- A wise person creates a harmony between the head, the heart, and the body. In this harmony comes the revelation of the source of one's life, the very center, the soul. - OSHO

1.5- The doorways to the realm of heaven (Brahma) are right here on earth and they are four in number: we enter the highest heavenly abodes through loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), sharing joy (muditha), and equanimity (upekkha). It is through service in this world, not by abandoning this world, that we attain to heavenly realms or spiritual fulfillment. - Buddha

1.5A- If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there. - Mother Teresa

1.5B- Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - Jesus (John 14:27)

Printer Friendly Version - Entire WPN text with Minimal Graphics - click here

1.6- There are many ways to promote peace in the world but perhaps the best way is to promote it within ourselves. Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy of peace! Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well-being, but this is merely one of the many bonuses that come from sharing our kindness with our fellow human beings. Did we mention that is better to give than to receive? :)

1.7- Peace, like reading, writing, mathematics, drawing, emotional intelligence and enlightenment ("understanding/comprehension/compassion/meditation/intuition"), are learned skills that improve our knowledge, maturity, health, happiness and longevity. Peace is probably the most important lesson we should learn during our lives and the sooner the better. The advent of the world wide web may just provide the boost in knowledge & peace humankind has been waiting for. Improved communication may be the difference between extiction and survival. Through knowledge, Peace will evolve. Knowledge is power. Knowledge combined with enlightenment leads to wisdom. Wisdom is Peace!

1.8- Blessed are the peacemakers (those actively working to reconcile alienated persons) for they shall be called the children of God.

We believe that every person ought to have the opportunity to find peace. That being said, who are the ones who are most likely in the position to help those who cry out for help? Probably those who have already found peace and have the resources to reach out to those in need. Now that we are truly a global village, maybe it is time we became our brother's keeper. Please help in any way you can. The rewards to the entire world will be almost unimaginable. (Paradise on Earth?) Peace be with you!

1.9- As this newsletter grows and improves (thanks in large part to your comments, suggestions, and guestbook entries) we envision contests, educational programs and ways that we as individuals (and groups) can make significant advances towards real peace in the world. We believe the peace process must start as a grassroots movement and create the "trickle-up" process.

[Sign Our Guestbook / Announce World Peace Events & Organizations]
Please keep "Events & Organizations" announcements brief.
You may also send private feedback.

[View Our Guestbook]

1.10- Example Guestbook Comments:
Ghulam Mustafa PhD

Dear sir /Madam
The highest virtue is to preach peace. This is the secret of morality, ethics, humanity and civility. Peace is the process of progress and prosperity however interest is natural instrinct of every man and nation, but thinking faculties and rationalism mediate between peace and interest to avoid conflicts, tensions, frustration, violence and wars. The entire philosophy of life may be summarized as peace is at the beginning and it is at the end, between them is interest.

1.11- The main goal of World Peace Newsletter is to promote World Peace as a viable possibility by breaking it down into small steps (we realize that many people believe peace is impossible). Step 1: Find Peace within. Step 2: Teach others the ways of Peace. Step 3: Help those less fortunate than yourself (even those that you may be at "war" with). Step 4: Strive to Evolve (Human Evolution).
The steps keep going until we reach paradise: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All!

. Visitors to World Peace Newsletter since December 1996.

World Peace Newsletter "Front Page" :

1.13- Peace is not merely the absence of war and hatred (negative peace / cold war) but also the presence of cooperation, compassion and worldwide justice (positive peace / hot peace).

1.14- Freedom and Peace. What is the relationship between these two conditions? Can you have one without the other?

1.15- "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and under a just God, can not long retain it." - Abraham Lincoln

1.16- "It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

1.17- The means we use to reach our ends are extremely important. Hopefully your "means" are kindness-centered and non-destructive. Often (maybe always) being kind is more important than proving you are right. When it is critical that you prove your point, remember to intertwine wisdom with kindness.

1.18- What is war? It is a state of hostility between nations (or within nations; or within individuals) characterised by fighting, destruction and bloodshed. Wars are often caused by real/perceived injustice, hatred, poverty, and the desire for power.

1.19- What is perhaps the best way to prevent war? Conflict prevention and Conflict resolution/transformation requires that we eliminate the nature of the hostilities and attempt to create harmony and equality between the various parties. Restorative justice implies that the perceived injustices must be resolved through either negotiation, mediation, arbitration, community conferencing, community meditation, negotiated rulemaking, collaborative/international law, or as a last resort, military action. Trauma recovery / Indentity renewal can help prevent war torn areas from falling back into further fighting. Youth development strategies can help our future adults from repeating the mistakes we have made that have lead us to war. Philosophy suggests that nations that have found peace should help less peaceful nations by sharing knowledge, food and other resources. Our conscience tells us that we should treat others the way we want to be treated, with dignity and respect.

1.20- How can we achieve Peace on Earth? First and utmost, we must find it within ourselves. By sharing our inner peace with others, peace will spread. By raising our children properly and teaching them to respect and love their neighbors (didn't someone say this before? :) they will learn the joy of peace. The peace process should be a predominantly preventative measure. A gram of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure. (see conflict prevention & resolution in previous paragraph)

1.20a- Peace should likely start as a grassroots movement, thereby creating a "trickle-up" process. Not only can we teach others about peace but we can suggest alternatives to governments and political candidates that continue to advocate war as the main solution to civil and international conflict. Along the way, some form of world "Planning and Lawmaking" committee probably needs to be established that includes all nations. One nation's problems are problems for all of us. We must learn to see ourselves as one small planet and not be so concerned with our nationality, race or religion. When it comes right down to it we are all human, and we should work together for human rights and justice for all. Shouldn't we?!

1.20b- Think what we could accomplish if we all worked together to create a true world economy. We could end starvation, reduce poverty, create jobs and work towards common goals such as worldwide justice, peace education, pollution control and planet management.

1.21- Finding peace is not just about learning how to obtain it, but also learning how to hold onto it without slipping back to angry ways.

1.22- If you want to achieve Peace, do not talk only to your friends, talk to your enemies.

1.23- Blessed are the peacemakers (those actively working to reconcile alienated persons) for they shall be called the children of God.

1.23a- Guide our feet to the path of peace.

1.24- An eye for an eye just makes for a world full of blind people. - Mahatma Gandhi

1.25- World peace (in our lifetime) may not mean that evil goes away, rather that good so overwhelms evil that evil cannot ruin the peace shared between all peace-loving beings.

1.25a- There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good. Romans 2.9

1.26- There has been a book written titled "The Art of War".
When will we see a book with the title "The Art of Peace"?

1.27- The farther we are from peace is proportional to our distance from happiness. The closer we are to hatred is proportional to our distance to ill-fortune.

1.28- Evil is not conquered by just power (power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely) but rather evil is conquered by love and wisdom because through the combination of these two qualities, evil becomes exposed. Love is also very powerful .)

Inner Peace, The path to World Peace

1.29- Enjoy the here and now. It is a gift called the present. (it is also a dominant aspect of Enlightenment)

1.30- The Internet has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. Consider this: Communication is probably the most important aspect of a happy relationship, especially in a marriage. How important is communication in regards to world peace? Is there any other medium at this point in time that provides more freedom to communicate than the internet? Didn't someone once say "The Medium is the Message"? :)

Inner peace (or peace of mind) refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy (homeostasis) and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. Peace of mind is generally associated with bliss and happiness.

1.32- Peace of mind, serenity, and calmness are descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress. In some cultures, inner peace is considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as prayer, meditation, T'ai Chi Ch'uan or yoga, for example. Many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself. Finding inner peace is often associated with traditions such as Buddhism and Hinduism.

1.33- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, emphasizes the importance of inner peace in the world:
"The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet."
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1.34- The power of positive thinking when combined with the power of positive deeds creates positive results and happiness (Enlightenment). On the contrary, negative thoughts combined with negative deeds tend to be a very destructive force and leads to misery, pain and suffering (See Buddha & Dalai Lama in "Ancient Insights" below).

1.35- Be mindful not to get so caught up in making a living that you forget to make a life.

1.36- What is the tie that binds almost every human being on the planet? . . . . We all want peace.
We all have so many differences : race, religion, nationality, gender, height, weight, age, etc.
One of the key aspirations that almost all of us share is the desire for peace and happiness (inner, local, and global).

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1.37- Confusism & World Peace - From Wikipedia

The "Great Learning" is the first of the Four books which were selected by Zhu Xi during the Song Dynasty as a foundational introduction to Confucianism. It was originally one chapter in Classic of Rites.

The book consists of a short main text, attributed to Confucius and nine commentaries chapters by Zeng Zi, one of Confucius' disciples. Its importance is illustrated by Zeng Zi's foreword that this is the gateway of learning.

Some of the terms within the text form an important part of both classical and modern Chinese political discourse. For example, the concept of world peace has been the stated goal of Chinese statecraft from the Zhou dynasty to the Kuomintang and to the Communist Party of China, as well as of philosophers like Tan Sitong or Liang Qichao. Another term used in the text, "qin-min" which James Legge, following Zhu Xi, amends to "xin-min" and translates as "renovating the people" instead of "loving the people", is the name of the People First Party, one of the minor parties in Taiwan.

1.38- The main text reads:

The Way of the great learning involves manifesting virtue, renovating the people, and abiding by the highest good.

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the world, first ordered well their own States.
Wishing to order well their States, they first regulated their families.
Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons.
Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts.
Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts.
Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.
Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things being investigated, knowledge became complete.
Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere.
Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified.
Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.
Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated.
Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed.
Their States being rightly governed, the entire world was at peace.

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.

The Great Learning is significant because it expresses many themes of Chinese philosophy and political thinking, and has therefore been extremely influential both in classical and modern Chinese thought. Government, self cultivation and investigation of things are linked. It links together individual action in the form of self-cultivation with higher goals such as ultimate world peace as well as linking together the spiritual and the material. By defining the path of learning (tao) in governmental and social terms, the Great Learning both links the spiritual with the practical, and creates a vision of tao that is radically different than that presented by Taoism. In particular, the Great Learning sets Confucianism as being this-worldly rather than other-worldly. Instead of basing its authority on an external deity, the Great Learning bases its authority on the practices of ancient kings.
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1.39- Try to put yourself into situations that evoke your higher nature, not your lower nature. Situations that involve harming others are seldom (if ever) your higher nature.

1.40- UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS - The 100th Monkey Effect?

The Hundredth Monkey Effect is based upon the principle that after one monkey on an island discovers how to wash a coconut in the water to remove sand and dirt, the rest follow suit until the last, or "hundredth" monkey, finally learns this improved method. At that point, monkeys on other islands become aware of this knowledge without "direct" communication. This same effect has happened repeatedly in human history, where inventors have simultaneously discovered inventions that others around the world were contemplating at the same time, or where mothers somehow know when one of their children is in pain hundreds of miles away. The thoughts become energy that is available to others that tune into this energy field, or universal consciousness. It may occur more often when we are sleeping or in "hypnotic" or meditative states than during our normal waking state. If we already tap into this energy field without being consciously aware think what we will be able to do if we exercise our minds and use this incredible resource to our best advantage! When you stop and think about it, you are adding to the energy field right now by merely reading this information on peace. Thank you, this is how it will spread. We are investing our time, money, energy and dreams in this principle in order to help World Peace become a reality. Who will be the 100th Monkey for Peace? It might be you!

Quote from Peace Center, Theosophical Society in the Philippines

1.43- It seems that in the past, and possibly the present, it has been much easier to "make war" than to "make peace". This is because we have been well trained on how to make war and poorly trained on how to make peace. How can we change this reality and create a peaceful future? Teaching peace, compassion and empathy are obvious solutions. Helping to reduce poverty, pain, suffering and injustice are other ways. What other ways can you think of?

1.44- When attempting to determine what is the best direction for your life (and that of your family) remember that happiness is more important than money! You may think that money is more important but what you are most likely "trained" to think is that money will bring you happiness. That is not really true. The pursuit of money may bring riches but that does not mean happiness. Those who are smart enough (or lucky enough) to seek peace are those most likely to find happiness!

1.45- "It might seem that some people have more intuition than others but it is potentially available to everyone. Some people choose to develop it, others do not." - Francis Vaughan, Awakening Intuition

1.46- "Intellect is the functioning of the head (the mammalian brain), instinct is the functioning of the body (the reptilian brain), and intuition is the functioning of the heart (the spiritual/inspirational brain). And behind these three is the master, your being, whose only quality is witnessing. A wise person creates a harmony between the head, the heart, and the body. In this harmony comes the revelation of the source of one's life, the very center, the soul. We all have a past, present and future. Instinct is what belongs to our animal past. Intellect is human. It is our present. The intellect is fallable because it is new, a recent arrival. Intellect lives through prejudices; it is never fair. And the third thing, which is our future, is intuition. So these three words have to be understood. Intuition opens it's doors through meditation. Meditation is simply a knocking on the doors of intuition. Intuition is your consciousness. Intellect is your mind. Instinct is your body. To understand enlightenment you must understand that intellect is a tool. It is a servant, not the master." - Osho, Intuition. Knowing Beyond Logic

1.47- People often wonder how we will someday change and put an end to war and hatred. Many enlightened individuals believe that intuition is the key to our future. Intuition enables us to advance beyond our animalistic instincts and beyond our human intellect to a realm of higher consciousness (a meditative/spiritual/compassionate existence). For enlightened individuals that reality already exists. They have already found Peace on earth.

1.48- You can lose your money, you can spend your money, and if you work real hard you can earn it all back, but if you waste your time you'll never get it back.

1.49- People often talk about turning "knowledge" into "wisdom". What does this mean?
Does it mean that logic merges with emotion / humanism / intuition?
Another thought : What is wisdom, and why do so few of us actually discover and utilize wisdom to the fullest extent?
Is it possible that many of us waste too much of our time pursuing money instead of wisdom?
We've all heard that "time is money" but have you ever considered that wasted time is what causes us to sacrifice wisdom and happiness?
What is more important, money or wisdom (peace)?
How do you achieve "self-actualization"? Is it by making money or by making peace? :)

1.50- Another key to enlightenment and happiness is keeping a "Gratitude Journal". Whether you write your daily blessings down or just record them in your mind, it is important to focus on positive events in your life. Most of us have many things we should be thankful for.

1.51- A gold medal (or a million dollars, or a championship ring) may be a wonderful thing, but if you are not enough without it, you will not be enough with it. Be who you are before you acquire the things that you think will make you who you are.

1.52- Thanks to all for visiting and caring about Peace. The funny thing about caring about peace is that peace provides a reward not only for those who care about it and hopefully discover it, but also for those that seek it. Seek and you shall find!

World Peace Newsletter has always been searching for peace but this year in particular we have attempted to discover the true meaning of happiness and how we and others can truly "live" in happiness, regardless of our current life situation.
What we seem to be discovering is that the search for enlightenment (which we started many years ago) and the search for happiness seem to be inter-related. It seems you can be happy without being enlightened but it may be more difficult to be enlightened without being happy.