A Silent First Step Into Activism
Nowadays many individuals doubt that nonviolent actions, such as peaceful public demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience, can be effective in bringing about change. This is a misapprehension of the effectiveness of active nonviolent resistance: examples of success abound in human history. But people are really discouraged by our dysfunctional political systems: representative democracies that do not equally represent all people; politicians and segments of the media that shamelessly spread lies and divide us—and who are regally paid to do so by those who profit from our separation—and social media platforms and algorithms that feed us information that keeps us separated in our clusters. All this is a recipe for either violent social uprisings or mass apathy and resignation.
It certainly would be nice to have more people actively engaged in the work of promoting social justice, peace, and protection of the environment, so it’s fitting to ask ourselves, “What can we do?”
Our first responsibility is to wake up and live more mindfully. We need to do the diligent work that develops wakefulness, alertness, attentiveness, awareness, and appreciation. And as much as possible, we should encourage and support others to do the same.
Then we should get involved in making this a better world for all, and also come up with creative initiatives where people can practice how to publicly express themselves. We need to find ways to attract those non-engaged individuals and get them active by creating events where those more hesitant folks can feel safe to participate and publicly advocate for worthy causes: we need to offer non-threatening venues for the shyest among us to gather and collectively express their desire for a better world.
Enter the Silent Peace Walks, an easy-to-do, non-threatening, and gentle introduction to activism.
Silent Peace Walks bring people together to walk for good causes. They can be considered walking meditations that enhance appreciation for the world and develop inner peace, but they are more than that: they’re also a first step into activism, a way of bringing together a group of like-minded individuals who will meet and hopefully begin to work together for the betterment of the world. This initiative opens doors for inter-faith, cross-cultural, and political conversations, helping build a culture of respect and peace.
The Silent Peace Walks are nonviolent by nature. As we walk in nature, slowly, in silence, appreciating the beauty of the world, we calm down and become able to think clearer, and this calmness and clarity of mind bring about wiser words and actions.
The great peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh, taught us that we do not walk for peace, but we walk in peace, planting footprints of peace.
Pausing and practicing:
So, if you want to give it a try, before you begin your walk, close your eyes. Just stand wherever you may be with your eyes closed. Feel your feet on the ground. Feel the sensations in your body. Feel your body breathing. Feel the breeze on your skin. Hear the sounds.
Now, open your eyes. Look at what is near, and see the little things: really see them. Then look at what is far away. See the big things: really see them. Begin walking, and keep doing this again and again as you walk slowly. Connect with your body and your breath. Feel the breeze. Hear the sounds. Pause and look at the little things and the big ones, near and far. Observe your thoughts, and when you catch yourself distracted, criticizing, or condemning, come back to the here-now by connecting with your body and your breath, feeling the breeze, hearing the sounds, looking and seeing the little things and the big ones, near and far away.
Walk in peace.
Let go of all judgment, ill-will, anger, and hatred. Try not to add more animosity and discord to our world. As you walk, plant forgiveness, hope, and optimism with each step. And see yourself as the one who brings concord, harmony, unity, and peace to our world.
Piero Falci teaches Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Living and the acclaimed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. He leads Insight Meditation Silent Retreats and organizes Silent Peace Walks. Piero is an educator who believes that the inner work that leads to personal awakening and transformation is indispensable to create a wholesome world. He is a promoter of peace who believes in advancing the idea that Heaven is here if we want it to be. He is the author of "Silent Peace Walk: From Inner Peace to World Peace." His latest book is "A Better Life in a Better World: Can Mindfulness Save Us from Ourselves?" For more information, visit his website www.pierofalci.com