64 Days of Non-violence

Unity Temple of Truth, 511 Prescott St. S,
St. Petersburg FL 33712

Each week, we end our service at the Unity Temple of Truth with the Peace Song. You know the one that starts with “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” How much of those lyrics are we carrying into the world in our daily lives.? If this is a challenge for you or you just want to reinforce this concept in your life, read on.

The Reverend Linda McLeod is kicking off The Season of Non-Violence, a program that was launched at the United Nations in 1998. It starts today, January 30, 2022 and ends April 4, 2022. The dates are significant because today is the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and April 4 is the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For these 64 days, we commit ourselves to the principles advocated by these two great leaders.

We start by learning how to be less violent and more compassionate with ourselves. We build the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being. The very first lesson is on courage. Eleanor Roosevelt urged us “to do the things you think you cannot do.” Today, light a candle and accept the courage to practice the 64 ways to live non-violently.

Pictured above: the Rev. Linda McLeod, Deidre Lines, Omaka Zhenji, Nancy Neely, J Monique Baker

I continue to be inspired by the character of the people I’ve met at Unity Temple of Truth. Today’s meditation was led by Omaka Zhenji of the Sanctuary of Holistic Love Healing Center. Omaka is a Zen Master and a devotee of the Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Sneak peek of Day 2 lesson from Thich Nhat Hanh: “if in our daily life, we can smile, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.”

So you see the lessons are easy, but it helps to have a structure to follow. Rev. Linda has provided the following link for a workbook to help us practice these principles in our daily lives. https://www.agnt.today/_files/ugd/92c24a_ecd0cdd7b7de444fa36712f597d8055e.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1f7po0HwOuBIq50JDEy15dDLJH0-e2S_5zM8aAumfBbBD9ae-khxLve3M

Please join us as we work together as a community. You can find us on Facebook under Unity Temple of Truth Church. Sunday Service is at 10am at 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.

For more information on the Season for Non-violence you can also visit http://www.agnt.org or gandhiinstitute.org.