THE PEACEFUL WAY

From The Walking People . . . counsel came from Daughter of Wisdom to the People . . . they did indeed have much that might be taken with them from the many lessons that had been learned about life and the nature of organizing themselves.

(Pg. 75)

Take with you

. . . she counseled . . .

The habit

of ordered purpose . . .

Decide and Do

an early morning song . . .

Nor leave behind

the need for ordered council,

a careful ear

to hear your brother's heart.

Do not let sorrow

be your only gathering.

Arrive at purpose

in even pleasant times.

Define some task,

and let the People answer it.

Do not let skill in easefulness

slip away.

SO THAT YOUR CHILDREN,

AND AFTER THEM THE CHILDREN,

WILL FIND A PATH

MORE EASILY DEFINED . . .

THEIR CONSTANT JOY

AN ORDERED WAY OF LEARNING

FROM ALL THEY SEE

AND EVERYONE AROUND.

The People had learned many valuable lessons along their journey from Walk By Waters, across a vast and beautiful island, arriving at last on the shores of Lake Ontario. They came to understand the nature of war and peace, and the People's preference for peace. The legacy left for all Earth's children is aptly described in the following passages. It is simply known as The Peaceful Way. What may we learn from them? . . .

(pg. 309)

IT WAS LEARNING FOR US,

BUT ONE WE HAVE REMEMBERED EVER SINCE.

Those who resist information . . .

however improbable

in the context of their own perceptions . . .

limit themselves to those perceptions,

greatly reducing their own learning.

Perhaps a People

for whom little changes

can live easily within such limitations.

BUT A PEOPLE

WHOSE DAILY SONG IS CHANGE

CAN ILL AFFORD IT.

(pg. 766)

Let no self interest

enter into any judgment.

Neither let any interest

of your own People

cloud your eyes.

Weigh with even hands

the benefits to all parties.

SEEK THE PEACEFUL WAY.

(pg. 789)

NOW CAME THIS TIME

When the Keepers of the Peaceful Way

were listened to with great intent.

FOR

AS THEY HAD LEARNED THE WAYS OF WAR . . .

SO THE PEOPLE NOW PURPOSED

TO LEARN THE WAYS OF PEACE.

AND DURING THIS TIME

MUCH LEARNING WAS ACQUIRED.

Stripped of the necessity of War,

much energy and purposefulness

was available for other tasks,

and one of these was learning.

Coherent delegations

went out to more and more distant Peoples,

so that their nature

and general way might be learned.

(pp. 762-763)

AND SO IT WAS

That this one and that stood forward,

explaining their stronger feeling

for the gentler way . . .

and accepting responsibility for it.

AND THESE ONES WERE RESPECTED . . .

AND HONORED

FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS

TO MARK A DIFFERING PATH.

Let us remember the wisdom of each

. . . someone said.

For surely

the Ancient Way merits patient attention.

And yet

continuance has some value also

. . . he went on.

So that those who defend the People

and find that vigorous stridence

possible for them . . .

THESE ONES MERIT RESPECT ALSO.

For surely

they equally enable

the keeping of an Ancient Way.

Let us have the Wisdom

. . . he concluded . . .

To respect Both Ways . . .

To value them,

and to remember . . . from time to time . . .

to consider

which may be the appropriate path . . .

TODAY.

LET US BE SO WISE.

LET US RESPECT EACH PATH.

LET US CHOOSE THE BALANCE BETWEEN THEM . . .

WITH A CAREFUL EYE.

SO BE IT.

_