24 STRATEGIES FOR PEACE ADVENT CALENDAR DAY 24: XYZero

It is being said we are born twice, when we come to this world and when we figure out why. 

Today is December 24th 2020 and the final day of Butterfly11 Movement 24 Strategies For Peace Advent Calendar. Across the world billions of people celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus who will later be born again to the new value: the triumph of love and life over hatred and death. 

This Christmas Day is unlike any other we experienced in our lifetime. In many cases it is a time of suffering and loss. It is a time of uncertainty about what the future will bring to us personally and to our loved ones, to our health, our livelihood, and to humanity as a whole. Many of us are lonely or separated physically from one another. Many of us are fragmented inside with stress and worry. 

We desperately want our lives to go back to normal, to the old, familiar and predictable. To the safety of the known. However this may not be possible. Our future might be different to what we know from the past. The main question is what future are we going to create?

Let's consider what we can learn from the experiences that 2020 brought to us so we can create a better future for ourselves and for the future generations. 

X is for EXIT

At some point in our life we go into some kind of crises. An identity crisis. Disillusioned by our circumstances we start asking who am I? why am I? what is the purpose of my very brief stay on this planet? During such a crisis Jesus became Christ, Siddhartha Gautama became Buddha and you and I can become that which we were always meant to be. We define ourselves by our own definition. Like a butterfly exits its cocoon to a brand new form so do we, if we hunger for a transformation of that sort, exit our past self concept which was defined by our place of origin, our upbringing, expectations, society, culture, habits and beliefs. 

We can use the experiences of the current year to become clear of what is truly important to us: our health, living within our means, our family, love and connection, serving and helping others, essential service workers, our planet. 

Y is for YOGA

Yoga emerged thousands of years ago as the art and science or teachings and practice of how to integrate all aspects of ourselves, our mind - body - soul with that of the Universal Mind. The art and science of attaining self-realization, bliss and happiness. None of the ancient books of yoga mention stretch and twist, instead they are devoted to mastering the activities of the mind (feelings, thoughts, emotions, sensations, beliefs) to attain the state of equilibrium and peace and the highest state of wisdom. 

During the pandemic we are forced to remain within our homes and to slow down. No longer pulled by the allures of the external world we have more time to introspect and to get to know ourselves better. While anxiety and depression is on the rise, so are the legions of people who are committed to making difference in the world, skilled helpers, social workers, coaches. We can use this time to help others and in the process define ourselves.  

Z is for ZERO

Mahatma Gandhi said "I must reduce myself to zero. So long as man does not of his own free will put himself last among his fellow creatures, there is no salvation for him. Ahimsa is the farthest limit of humility." 

When I saw the slaughterhouse for the very first time 9 years ago I reduced myself to zero. What I saw was unspeakable horror for which I was paying with my hard earned money. In that moment my mind opened wide to accept a brand new thought. I have realized that if I lived a majority of my life not knowing about the effect of my choices on the fellow creatures I know NOTHING about anything.

I reduced myself to zero. In the position of zero I am humbled but at the same time I derive great power because I do not have to protect my point of view anymore, I do not have to disturb my peace of mind in any way by the means of conflict. I know now that everything in the field of my awareness is always partial and incomplete. I am open to all possibilities. 

COVID19 pandemic just like other 400 viral events is zoonotic in nature which means we have created it by our maltreatment of animals whom we are squeezing into filthy cages and stinky windowless warehouses for life. Factory farming and slaughterhouses which “process” the lives of 70 billion innocent creatures every year are the breeding factories of viruses and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Harming others we are harming ourselves. 

We can use the present situation as an opportunity to end exploitation of fellow earthlings and to transition to a plant based lifestyle. 

Ahimsa means non-harming of any living being. It is the foundation of yoga philosophy. It is the foundation of Buddhism with its First Buddhist Precept which prohibits killing, both humans and animals. It is the foundation of Christianity with Thou Shalt Not Kill. It is the foundation of Golden Rule. Compassion and kindness are the defining values of our humanity.

Today we are going through the time of crisis which can inspire us to evolve from Homo Sapiens driven by survival instinct as expressed by competition and conflict to Homo Spiritus driven by conscience and expressed by collaboration and respect to all Life on this planet.

Are we ready to exit our past, integrate our own Self with the Universe and reduce ourselves to zero by respecting all and harming none? Are we ready to be born again to compassion, connection and kindess?

Peace is not just the absence of war.

Peace is a presence of justice.

Are we ready?