I learned so much from listening to all of you today and am quite excited about bringing this experience back to my school in September. The idea of “revolution” is one I am pondering.
For the past sixteen years, I have been dedicated to practicing nonviolence as much as possible. Yesterday, for me, was the end of a 20-day silent retreat in Shelburne Falls, MA. Each year, hundreds of thousands of individuals sign up for Vipassana Meditation courses to purify the mind from the seemingly bottomless bucket of negativities: frustration, irritation, annoyance, anger, ill-will, etc.
When someone made the comment today that there is no “nonviolence” I believe it was said because of the violence taken towards those using nonviolence as a tool for social and political change. The acts of violence are strong reactions to not wanting change. Change, however, is inevitable, just now always how we want it. My experience is that nonviolence is a choice, a life-style that is a very strong “tool” and inspires others. How others respond to nonviolence is their choice or reaction.
The “Lost Boys of Sudan” inspired me with their choice not to fight and not to die. Losing everything and everyone dear to them, they walked away from the violence; 27,000 of them.
I think this course is an inspiration to help bridge all cultures and people into a caring world by understanding how change can be positive, even if it’s one person at a time.
Deb Coy
3rd Grade, Meredith School
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