How do I integrate my vow of non-violence in my daily life, while I am faced with so much violence in our society?

It is amazing to live in a day and age when technology can be used as a tool for healing and peace. We live in such interesting times and having computers to spread peace messages globally is an awesome device. We create our world.

This is such a wonderful website, and wonderful movement, sparked by Deepak Chopra, and touched upon by many of us, that it actualizes just what it intends: to extend our global human family in the art of peacemaking in the world and in our homes.

Having studied The Art of Spiritual Peacemaking beginning in 2006, I was then ordained as an interfaith minister by James Twyman in June 2007. My journey as a peace minister, however, began long before that, when I was a child artist, discovering my energy, and having parents who encouraged and nourished my creative expression of art and music thru their compassion and sharing.

I have always been an artist, since childhood, and I have used music, art, poetry, and my prayers and meditations to help me convey thoughts of peace. As a teenager, I would stay up late at night and draw or write poetry at my desk, aware of keeping my thoughts peaceful and loving because I was aware that thoughts are energy and I wanted only peaceful loving energy to be part of any of my creations, so that when shared, people could feel the healing energy.

Whatever we do, whether it is art, science, education, sports, truckdriver, janitor, housekeeper, or a stay at home mom, etc., we are powerful beings who create peace in our lives and our homes, within ourselves and with each other.

Human beings are endowed with the ability to create, which is why we have the capacity to Imagine. Let us use our Imagination. Image Peace Always. John Lennon said it in his song, Imagine. And the world will be as One. As Jesus is recorded as saying in some sacred texts, You can do as I do. And he was a healer. We are created in God's image (God/Goddess). That is who we are. Creators of our world. This is so beautiful.

As I always say, "World Peace Begins At Home."

Thank you, Deepak Chopra. Thank you everyone! We are touching each other's lives every day! In so many ways.

Love and blessings,
(rev.) lisa roma
www.myspace.com/electrikgoddess
www.myspace.com/poeticnotionchorus
www.myspace.com/thehalfmoontheatrecompany
www.creativewomensnetwork.com
www.sonicbids.com/lisaroma

I want to thank God All Mighty Father through the conduct by which He is bringing about this conciousness for the benefit of all life on planet earth and the universe itself, for crossing this my way and allowing me to take the vow, I trust in his strength and guidance, which for me is Jesus the Christ energy conciousness that has always been with us, to help me pursue this vow and by example , as well as by invitation bring more people into taking this wonderfull vow, that by allowing us to change our conciousness will change the human conciousness for the magnificent change that we are all witnessing in this human bodies.
From my heart, thank you very much for this oportunity.
lots of love
Ruth Maria Ramirez Alvarez

Thank you, Deepak, this is bringing tears of joy and gratitude to my eyes.

I appreciate this response.

Interesting. :)

I love taking this vow because it is a way of reminding me to not take things personally, to stop being critical of myself and others and to bring non-violence into my life. Now, when I watch TV for example, I do not want to watch movies that give me nightmares, or are just violent for the sake of being violent. For some time now, I had the thought to not watch violent movies, but there was a part of me that enjoyed it, so I kept on watching. Now I realize that in order to change my thoughts to non-violence, I want to watch uplifting movies. I want to be a peaceful individual and although I know there will be times when an angry, or violent thought pops into my mind, now that I have taken the vow, I can remind myself, "not today thank you--today I am working on my vow."

Hello!
I have read the book by M. Rosenberg "Nonviolent Communication" - this is the best book ever! To understand the nature of violence and understanding what kind of feelings I actually have is the most important! Suppressing anger or hate is not the way! Self-reflection and understanding, that the outside can never be the cause of my "inappropriate violent feelings or thoughts" helps to keep this kind of vow!!

I think anytime we align ourselves with the spirit of peace and goodwill toward ourselves and others that we have taken the first step to achieving this goal. And a vow is a commitment - it binds us to our promise to be ever mindful and heart-full so we stand in the light of our collective truth - that peace is our essence - and that we can choose to be fearless in the face of violence and love-full in the face of hatred.

As more and more of us plant these seeds of peace, despite the violence we perceive around us and even inside of us, these seeds of peace will grow, blooming the love we are, whose scent is powerful, awakening hearts, inspiring minds to engage fresh visions of one world where we truly care about each other as family - no matter where we come from - no matter who we are.

Then we will understand that we truly are one family, one world, one love. Only in our diligent service to peace will we be the catalysts for this wondrous future that we each hold in our hands to mold and shape. It is ultimately up to us - for everything we behold - we have created, from our thoughts and actions. Together, we can create another world where we are finally free because we love - because everywhere we look, inside and out, all we see is peace lighting our way.

Diane Manilla Miller