Words for Word Peace, a transcript of the words I read for the BBC as a morning reflection about world peace, enjoy and feel free to leave a comment. Namaste, Noel
Tuesday 10th January 2012
Good morning. I begin this week, by sharing the exploits of my 2011 holiday with you. No sun and surf, more adventure and purpose. In October I flew to Nepal and walked to the Mount Annapurna base camp in the Himalayas, which is about 14,000 feet above the sea level at Bournemouth. It was a lovely trek, warm by day, but bitter at night, wearing thermals and woolly hats in our sleeping bags to stay warm. The altitude made me dizzy, breathless and at times quite grotty, even putting my socks on was an effort.
Why did I do this? Firstly I love once in a lifetime adventures, but secondly and more important to this morning thought, I wanted to make a contribution towards world peace. So the purpose of the trip was to carry words which family, friends, colleagues and even complete strangers had given me and said “please read this out to support world peace”.
My personal hope was that reading the words may reduce the violent thoughts and actions we see daily in the UK and around the world. Perhaps one less word of anger, one less bullet fired from a gun or even one less fist punched into a child in our often abusive world.
A number of the words came as emails, which I read to the world on the 9th
November, some came on pieces of cloth which I strung together to make a peace flag, which I left behind So a little closer to home I felt it would be good to spend time this week talking about world peace, how to achieve it, where does it begin and end and what might bring us all closer to peace? So tune in again tomorrow and I will continue this peace journey.
Wednesday 11th January 2012
Good morning. What words describe the way in which world peace can be achieved? I found these words written fourthousand years before the birth of Christ by Lao Tzu
“If there is to be peace in the world, There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities, There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours, There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,There must be peace in the heart.”
These are powerful and wise words. If I ponder them it makes me wonder whose job is to bring peace to the world? Is it the United Nations, powerful governments, large bodies of rich people opposed to the world arms industry. Or is it much closer to my home, is it ME?
Can my words or actions of peaceful living affect those around me? If I am peaceful within MY life can I show peacefulness to others and then the seed of peace can be sown into everyday life? But more about that tomorrow.
In the meantime ....be peaceful.
Thursday 12th January 2012
Good morning. What is it to feel peaceful? Is it to wake in the morning and be grateful for all that we have, rather than fretting about what we do not possess?
Can we go to work or school or shopping and view all that we see as being OK and not needing to criticise or judge the actions of other people? Or do we act wounded at every little thing the world throws at us, do we shut down to the world so that we cannot see the beauty in so many simple things like a sunset? Are we grateful that we live in a democratic country of peace, where bombs and explosions, violence and death are not a daily occurrence?
So does awareness of other people and their needs help create peace in the world, being prepared to listen to the problem of another, offering to help in some small way? Last week I bought a local Big Issue vendor a cup of hot coffee on a cold day. She looked as if she had been given a £1,000; peace was on her face for a very simple and basic reason, because she could be warm.
When we are motivated we can all support a brother or sister we have never met. The Live Aid concert of 1985 showed that, but unfortunately many of us stopped giving to such causes, saying we had doneenough. Many of us switched off to giving .
However the absence of peace in the world shows the need to keep our TV sets switched on and make efforts on a daily basis to change the news stories of agony and violence to those of kindness and peace. Our positive daily acts of compassion will bring more peace. But it takes dedication and commitment..... are you able to make a change to someone’s world today and in turn make your own life richer for knowing you have acted kindly in a cruel world?
Friday 13th January 2012
Good morning. What were the Words for Word Peace that I recited at the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal at over 14,000 feet in November 2011? Here are a selection of mixture I was sent from around the world, some based in religion, some in humanism and some in nature;
“May Peace on Earth Prevail”
“That all individuals experience the Lord’s unfailing, intense and lasting love in their lives”
“May all Humanity fall in love with our bountiful Mother Earth. When we violate our dependency upon her, we feel pain as our own.All peace comes from knowing this.”
“Best wishes to the world”
“Peace in, Peace out”
My own words come from my book The Five Word Legacy, which is about living a joyful life of peace. The words were for everyone, everywhere, to live a life of Love and Joy, to be Happy. To use Compassion and show Kindness to others.
I felt excited and privileged to be able to recite all the words I was sent. It was a once in a lifetime experience.
To all listeners of this programme, may your weekend be peaceful, may the people you meet know that you are peaceful and may those people you have met be peaceful to others that they meet. And so the wave of peace will cover the entire world; if we want it! That is the choice we face in 2012, be peace full or see a world that is peace less.
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