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.
_