PRACTICING SILENCE AND LEARNING TO BE PEACE

Silent Peace Walks is a secular and participatory movement of silent walks and gatherings to encourage peace using the universal language and practice of silence. As a non-sectarian and non-political project, the vision encompasses, and moves beyond, specific agendas or movements for change. Silent Peace Walks are for all people, from all world views, who want to co-create inclusive spaces to practice being peaceful amidst all we do, and bring that quality into positive action in the world.

 

Silent Peace Walks nurtures stillness and centeredness with movement and action.  It supports transformation among individuals, relationships, and communities using the universal language and practice of silence.

 

Silent Peace Walks consists of 3 basic elements:

 

People

Silent Peace Walks can be gatherings of ten or 100,000. All you need is a group of people who are willing to practice the principles of practicing inclusion, staying agenda-free, and maintaining silence. Grab your friends. Invite your entire university. Take your congregation. Put an ad on Facebook. Tweet the event. Invite your neighborhood. Join with the office down the hall.

 

Format

A Silent Peace Walk may be led by one person or a committee. It usually will have an introduction, a walk through a set route, and a concluding sharing period. Silent Peace Walks events may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the event, number of participants, and length of walk. There is only one sign, that says Silent Peace Walks, at the front of the single file line of walkers.

 

Place

Silent Peace Walks can start anywhere! Such as someone’s home, community hall, school multipurpose room, or stadium. We encourage Silent Peace Walks to honor the value of inclusivity so that walks are not held in spaces that would restrict others from attending.

 

Click here for the complete kit.