Posted on Aug 24th, 2006
by 
Nancy
Gang,
I just received this e-mail from the President and Vice President of the university where I received my Masters in Spiritual Psychology.
It's a little long, but very powerful. Definitely worth the read.
Take a read and I'd love to hear any thoughts you have below.
Much love,
Nancy
------------------
World Events: A Message From Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick,
President and Academic Vice President of the University of Santa Monica
If you are not finding the answer you seek, as the Zen saying begins,
try asking a different question. Just this week, we had an experience
that made that saying very real. While talking about the current
upsurge in conflict around the planet, a question came forward that
led to a shift in the very nature of the conversation itself.
"I wonder what it is," we were asking, "that is at the heart of this
current increase in global conflict?" In an instant, the same answer
came to us both--not to the question, but about the question. We smiled
at each other, seeing that we were having the same inspiration at the
same moment.
There is no heart in conflict. Literally. And that's the challenge!
We realized that the greater opportunity is gained by turning the
question on its head. Rather than asking what is at the heart of the
conflict, how about asking what can we do to bring heart into areas of
conflict?
How can we bring heart into a conflict: into a town; into a country;
or into political, theological, or economic systems? It's not
something that we can drop from an airplane, impose through laws
and resolutions, or sprinkle like magic dust. If only that were
possible! We can't even bring heart to people.
What can be done, however, is to assist people back inside, back
into their own hearts. Home, as another saying goes, is where the
heart is.
Over the course of 25 years, we have learned that before
any of us can even consider the possibility of leading others to
make this journey home, we must first make that journey
ourselves. It is only from the peaceful side of the mountain
that we have any hope of influencing our warring neighbors that it is
more profitable in every way to drop their arms and surrender,
not to us, but to the peace that dwells within their own hearts.
We have recognized that outer experience is a reflection of
inner reality. Therefore, the most effective place--in fact the only
one where we truly have the dominion to leverage change--is within
ourselves. Our work is to acknowledge, work with, and resolve any
conflict that is present inside of us. Whether it's with our selves,
our family members, our co-workers, other drivers on the freeway, or an
entire nation, change has to start with us.
The concept that if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to
repeat it, is not new. Nor is it accurate. History does not repeat
itself. It is we who repeat ourselves, which is a rather accurate
indicator that we have not learned from our past experience. Rather,
we insist on making the same choices again and again while expecting
a different result. Another word for that is "insanity."
Now, more than ever, is the time for asking different questions and
making different choices. No matter who or where you are, the same
opportunity is present: You can go inside right now and find one place
where you harbor againstness pertaining to anything.
Dare to go inside and identify one area in your life where you are
condemning someone or something, regardless of how righteous you think
you are, and simply choose peace. It might sound something like this,
"Regardless of how right I believe I am and how wrong I believe they
are, I'm choosing to sacrifice my judgments and position. I'm choosing
to give it up! I don't need to hold onto it any more. I'm choosing
peace over righteousness, and I forgive myself for judging those other
people and situations."
Global peace happens one person at a time. And it happens through
the process of each of us letting go of pieces of againstness that we
hold inside of ourselves. We literally restore ourselves to a place of
peace through Compassionate Self-Forgiveness. And we do this important
work one person and one piece (or peace) at a time.
While this is simple work, it is by no means easy. The hardest part
is being willing to get off our position of righteousness. And it is
not necessarily easy to learn how to do it consistently and to make
that quality of commitment to yourself.
Yet this is the only path to peace. It is also the foundation of
what students at USM learn to foster in the Master's Program in
Spiritual Psychology--and why it is a two-year Program. It takes that
long to transform information into understanding through the crucible
of experience.
Perhaps you would take a moment right now to answer a simple question.
Before you answer, be careful that you are honest with yourself and
consider that each and every thought you think is an energy
transmission that goes out to the Universe. So taking your thoughts
as well as your actions into consideration, here's the question:
"ARE YOU ADDING TO THE SUM TOTAL OF PEACE OR HOSTILITY ON THIS, OUR EARTHLY HOME?"
May blessings of peace, loving, and compassion enfold you,
Ron and Mary
Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick
President and Academic Vice President
University of Santa Monica
2107 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 829-7402
www.gousm.edu
Providing Soul-Centered Graduate Education. Founded 1976.
For more information on USM's Graduate Programs in Spiritual
Psychology, as well as other exciting upcoming events and
workshops, please visit our website at http://www.gousm.edu.
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