Harmlessness and the Harmlessness and the Invocation of PeaceInvocation of Peace

Dorothy I. RiddleDorothy I. Riddle

May 6, 2011May 6, 2011

riddle@servicegrowth.comriddle@servicegrowth.com

As the New Group of World Servers, we As the New Group of World Servers, we are called to behave harmlesslyare called to behave harmlessly

““May the Power of the One Life pour May the Power of the One Life pour through the group of all true servers.through the group of all true servers.

““May the Love of the One Soul May the Love of the One Soul characterize the lives of all who seek characterize the lives of all who seek

to aid the Great Ones.to aid the Great Ones.

““May I fulfill my part in the One work May I fulfill my part in the One work through self-forgetfulness, through self-forgetfulness,

harmlessness harmlessness and right speech” and right speech” (TWM:261).

““Practice that Practice that positive positive harmlessnessharmlessness that works out in that works out in

right thoughtright thought (because based on (because based on intelligent love), intelligent love), right speechright speech (because governed by self-(because governed by self-

control), and control), and right actionright action (because (because founded on an understanding of founded on an understanding of

the Law)” the Law)” (TWM:317).

What we consider harmful is changing ...What we consider harmful is changing ...

SlaverySlavery» UN Convention on the Abolition of Slavery (1956)UN Convention on the Abolition of Slavery (1956)

SmokingSmoking» Minnesota banned public smoking in 1975Minnesota banned public smoking in 1975

Gender-biased languageGender-biased language» APA Publication Manual mandated gender-neutral APA Publication Manual mandated gender-neutral

language (1977)language (1977) Killing whales (our highly intelligent relatives)Killing whales (our highly intelligent relatives)

» International Whaling Commission moratorium International Whaling Commission moratorium (1982)(1982)

Child forced laborChild forced labor» UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)

The human family is maturing ...The human family is maturing ...

1945 Nuremberg Principles1945 Nuremberg Principles

1948 UN Universal Declaration of 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human RightsHuman Rights

1993 Declaration Towards a Global 1993 Declaration Towards a Global EthicEthic

2002 Rome Statute; International 2002 Rome Statute; International Criminal CourtCriminal Court

2007 Avaaz2007 Avaaz

The cutting edge of our shift includes The cutting edge of our shift includes recognizing that . . .recognizing that . . .

Complicity in the commission of a crime is Complicity in the commission of a crime is also a crimealso a crime» Nuremberg Principle VIINuremberg Principle VII» Wilful blindnessWilful blindness

Those ordering criminal behavior are also Those ordering criminal behavior are also guiltyguilty» Lt Col Kibibi sentenced to 20 years for ordering Lt Col Kibibi sentenced to 20 years for ordering

mass rape (DR Congo, 2/21/11)mass rape (DR Congo, 2/21/11) Violence against women & girls isViolence against women & girls is the the

leading human rights violation worldwideleading human rights violation worldwide» 2006 UN position statement2006 UN position statement

We are responsible for preventing violenceWe are responsible for preventing violence

AssertionAssertion

We are so immersed in harmful We are so immersed in harmful messages and actions that we are messages and actions that we are

almost oblivious to them and have no almost oblivious to them and have no collective experience of collective experience of

harmlessness.harmlessness.

[The World Health Organization has [The World Health Organization has described the 20described the 20thth century as the most century as the most

violent in human history, though all spiritual violent in human history, though all spiritual traditions say “do no harm.”]traditions say “do no harm.”]

What does “harmlessness” What does “harmlessness” really mean?really mean?

#1 Harmlessness = Innocuous#1 Harmlessness = Innocuous

Not being able or likely to Not being able or likely to cause harmcause harm

““He looks harmless.” He looks harmless.”

#2 Harmlessness = Avoiding Harm#2 Harmlessness = Avoiding Harm

Causing no hurt, damage, Causing no hurt, damage, wrong, or evilwrong, or evil

AhismaAhisma (without violence) (without violence)

#3 Harmlessness = Golden Rule#3 Harmlessness = Golden RuleEthics of ReciprocityEthics of Reciprocity

Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.hurtful.

- Buddhism- BuddhismDo to others what you would have them do to you.Do to others what you would have them do to you.

- Christianity- ChristianityDo not do to others what would cause pain if done to Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.you.

- Hinduism- HinduismNone of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.brother what he wishes for himself.

- Islam- IslamWhat is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man.What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man.

- Judaism- Judaism

#4 Positive Harmlessness#4 Positive Harmlessnessin the Ageless Wisdomin the Ageless Wisdom

““Harmlessness…is not negative, or sweet or Harmlessness…is not negative, or sweet or kindly activity, as so many believe; it is a kindly activity, as so many believe; it is a

state of mindstate of mind and one which in no way and one which in no way negates firm or even drastic action; it negates firm or even drastic action; it

concerns motive and involves the concerns motive and involves the determination that the motive behind all determination that the motive behind all

activity is goodwillactivity is goodwill” ” (EH:670).

We practice positive harmlessness We practice positive harmlessness through . . .through . . .

Right thoughtRight thought» Positive psychologyPositive psychology» Omitting criticism, denigrationOmitting criticism, denigration

Right speechRight speech» Using inclusive, non-biased languageUsing inclusive, non-biased language» Appropriate silenceAppropriate silence

Right actionRight action» Consultative, collaborativeConsultative, collaborative» Setting limitsSetting limits» Destroying outmoded structures & practices Destroying outmoded structures & practices

that support violencethat support violence

We need to develop reflexive habits of We need to develop reflexive habits of harmlessness rather than harm . . .harmlessness rather than harm . . .

Harmlessness Scale™Harmlessness Scale™

Brutality Harassment Dismissiveness Defensiveness Abstention Supportive Nonviolence

Advocacy

1 = Brutality1 = Brutality

Overt physical harm to self or others – Overt physical harm to self or others – murder, torture, rape, incest, cuttingmurder, torture, rape, incest, cutting

Allowing self to release tension by Allowing self to release tension by battering anotherbattering another

Glorified in “honor killings” and in wan’niGlorified in “honor killings” and in wan’ni

2 = Harassment2 = Harassment

Verbal and psychological abuse, Verbal and psychological abuse, including bullying, belittling, demeaningincluding bullying, belittling, demeaning

Discrimination, sexual harassment, Discrimination, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, poisoned work abuse of authority, poisoned work environment, horizontal violenceenvironment, horizontal violence

Psychological violence is more prevalent than, Psychological violence is more prevalent than, and can be as damaging as, physical violenceand can be as damaging as, physical violence

3 = Dismissiveness3 = Dismissiveness

Stereotyping, shunning, treating Stereotyping, shunning, treating as invisible or of little worthas invisible or of little worth

Includes the use of racist or sexist Includes the use of racist or sexist language to demean or dismisslanguage to demean or dismiss

Common example: Non-parallel Common example: Non-parallel referents, such as referring to mature referents, such as referring to mature females as “girls” when mature males females as “girls” when mature males

would be referred to as “men”would be referred to as “men”

4 = Defensiveness4 = Defensiveness

Excusing the consequences of harm by:Excusing the consequences of harm by:• Justifying it (“soldiers need a release”)Justifying it (“soldiers need a release”)• Trivializing it (“what’s the big deal?”)Trivializing it (“what’s the big deal?”)• Blaming the recipient (“she was really Blaming the recipient (“she was really

asking for it”)asking for it”)

Perpetrator not held responsiblePerpetrator not held responsible

5 = Abstention5 = Abstention

Non-engagementNon-engagementLooking awayLooking away

““Not my problem”Not my problem”

Don’t initiate but don’t interveneDon’t initiate but don’t intervene

6 = Supportiveness6 = Supportiveness

Intervene but only privately, after Intervene but only privately, after the fact, to remonstrate and give the fact, to remonstrate and give

supportsupport

No public accountability for the No public accountability for the perpetratorperpetrator

7 = Nonviolence7 = Nonviolence

Refrain from violenceRefrain from violenceActively intervene in specific Actively intervene in specific

situationssituationsZero toleranceZero toleranceBear witnessBear witness

Stop or restrain the perpetrator with Stop or restrain the perpetrator with compassioncompassion

Challenge: To intervene without incurring Challenge: To intervene without incurring harmharm

8 = Advocacy8 = Advocacy

Actively seek ways to prevent Actively seek ways to prevent violence in the futureviolence in the future

Dismantle structural violenceDismantle structural violence

Learn peaceful ways to resolve conflict ... Learn peaceful ways to resolve conflict ... which will occur given free willwhich will occur given free will

But what are we, as an But what are we, as an esoteric community, doing to esoteric community, doing to eliminate the habit patterns eliminate the habit patterns

that make harm possible, that make harm possible, tolerated, and even tolerated, and even

expected?expected?

“The sense of responsibility is one of the first indications that

the soul of the individual is

awakened” (ENA:105).

““The constant practice of The constant practice of Harmlessness…involves harmlessness Harmlessness…involves harmlessness

in speech and also in thought and in speech and also in thought and consequently in action. It is a consequently in action. It is a positive positive

harmlessnessharmlessness, involving constant , involving constant activity and watchfulness” activity and watchfulness” (TWM:490).

We are called to We are called to action action . . . . . .

We need to remember who we really are We need to remember who we really are as part of an abundant whole . . .as part of an abundant whole . . .

by understanding the principles of :by understanding the principles of : InterconnectivityInterconnectivity ParticipationParticipation NonlinearityNonlinearity NondualityNonduality InterdependenceInterdependence AdaptabilityAdaptability CooperationCooperation

2011 Montaigne Medal finalist for 2011 Montaigne Medal finalist for “most thought-provoking book “most thought-provoking book

published in 2010”published in 2010”

... and focus on embedding key habit ... and focus on embedding key habit patterns, such as . . .patterns, such as . . .

Using inclusive languageUsing inclusive language Shifting our focus from pain to joyShifting our focus from pain to joy Eliminating outdated stereotypes Eliminating outdated stereotypes

that are dismissive & generate that are dismissive & generate hatredhatred

Addressing social injustices Addressing social injustices directlydirectly

http://esotericstudies.net/forumhttp://esotericstudies.net/forum

““The The willwill-to-good…is of more importance in -to-good…is of more importance in this world cycle than the this world cycle than the willwill-to-peace” -to-peace”

(EA:572)..

““Peace is Peace is notnot the goal for our race or the goal for our race or time....This is a cycle of steadily growing time....This is a cycle of steadily growing

activity, with the aim in view of establishing activity, with the aim in view of establishing right human relations”right human relations” (EXT:277)..

““If the will-to-peace is conditioning you, then If the will-to-peace is conditioning you, then you are still working on emotional levels” you are still working on emotional levels”

(EA:578)..

To invoke peace, we must be To invoke peace, we must be proactive . . .proactive . . .

. . . and harmlessness is the key. . . and harmlessness is the key

HarmlessnessHarmlessness, embedded in goodwill , embedded in goodwill and first invoking and first invoking right human right human

relationsrelations, is how we will eventually , is how we will eventually invoke peace.invoke peace.

““Peace and war are not a true pair of opposites. Peace and war are not a true pair of opposites. Peace and change, peace and movement are the Peace and change, peace and movement are the

real ones. War is but an aspect of change” real ones. War is but an aspect of change” (EXT:278).

““There is something greater than There is something greater than peace and that is peace and that is the good of the the good of the

wholewhole, and not just individual, , and not just individual, peaceful conditions or national peace” peaceful conditions or national peace”

(EA:572)..

Right human relations are a Right human relations are a prerequisite . . .prerequisite . . .

““HarmlessnessHarmlessness is the expression is the expression of the life of individuals who of the life of individuals who

realize themselves to be realize themselves to be everywhere, who live consciously everywhere, who live consciously

as souls, whose nature is love, as souls, whose nature is love, whose method is inclusiveness… whose method is inclusiveness…

““Let Let harmlessnessharmlessness, , therefore, be the keynote of therefore, be the keynote of

your life”your life” (TWM:103-104).