PACE UNIVERSITY “BIOETHICS FORUM X111 “The Dynamics of Non-Violence” OCTOBER 7, 2008 – PLEASANTVILLE, NY “How Your Thought and Speech Contributes To a Culture of Violence” 1 By Leonard Burg October 2008
The following remarks were presented at an annual Bioethics Forum at Pace University. Negative thoughts and words directed at others awaken or abet the capacity of violence in others, and boomerangs back to the sender, as the fruits of the “violent” seeds one has sown. This is why my work as a member of A Centre for the World Religions at the United Nations, and as a Holistic Educator, promotes the idea that peace begins within, one person at a time. At the UN we Conduct peace forums and meditations, and present disarmament proposals. The idea is that world disarmament requires personal disarmament in thought, word and deed. The objective in the practice of what I call “Soul Therapy” is to ferret out the thought patterns at the root of clients’ psycho-physical conditions. By now I’m sure that many of you realize that a culture of violence not only impacts on the biology, chemistry and ethics of human beings, but the thoughts and emotions vibrated by human beings impacts their own biochemistry and the biosphere around us. Therefore, no matter how bad the violent actions of the enemies of mankind, negative thinking directed back at those who perpetuate physical violence only magnifies and reinforces the havoc that their aggression wreaks. If the “Secret” Law of Attraction2 is true – that you attract what you think - then you and I can either help or hinder a culture of violence by the personal and collective thoughts we harbor. It is well known in the science of Psychoneuroimmunology3 that emotions are related to the biochemistry of hormones and other substances that have both a causative and affective role in the 1
Over the last 37 years "Len" Burg has worked professionally as an international spiritual activist, educator, and community program director. Currently he is working actively as a co-founder of the USA branch of an international interfaith organization working with the United Nations, and Student Success Administrator of the Office of Student Success at Pace University, NYC campus. 2 The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, Hardcover: Publisher: Atria Books/Beyond Words (November 28, 2006)
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