our villages our cities our states our countries are becoming more diverse
countries are becoming more diverse
countries are becoming more diverse communities our communities are filled
communities our communities are filled
communities our communities are filled with people who speak many languages who
with people who speak many languages who
with people who speak many languages who celebrate out of many different
celebrate out of many different
celebrate out of many different spiritual traditions who use practices
spiritual traditions who use practices
spiritual traditions who use practices and rituals that come from many
and rituals that come from many
and rituals that come from many different cultures and sometimes when we
different cultures and sometimes when we
different cultures and sometimes when we face all of those differences we respond
face all of those differences we respond
face all of those differences we respond in fear or at least apprehension so in
in fear or at least apprehension so in
in fear or at least apprehension so in order to celebrate all of the
order to celebrate all of the
order to celebrate all of the differences of our diverse communities
differences of our diverse communities
differences of our diverse communities we also have to understand how we are
we also have to understand how we are
we also have to understand how we are connected with each other how we share
connected with each other how we share
connected with each other how we share the same principles that help us make
the same principles that help us make
the same principles that help us make wise decisions in whatever community we
wise decisions in whatever community we
wise decisions in whatever community we are part of over the last few
are part of over the last few
are part of over the last few generations we’ve been trying to change
generations we’ve been trying to change
generations we’ve been trying to change our fundamental metaphor for
our fundamental metaphor for
our fundamental metaphor for understanding community from the melting
understanding community from the melting
understanding community from the melting pot where we boil away all of the
pot where we boil away all of the
pot where we boil away all of the differences to get to one monoculture
differences to get to one monoculture
differences to get to one monoculture one way of thinking to the metaphor of
one way of thinking to the metaphor of
one way of thinking to the metaphor of the salad bowl where all of those
the salad bowl where all of those
the salad bowl where all of those delicious flavors are mixed together
delicious flavors are mixed together
delicious flavors are mixed together they’re all present there in their
they’re all present there in their
they’re all present there in their uniqueness but in the mixing we find
uniqueness but in the mixing we find
uniqueness but in the mixing we find that we have
that we have
that we have a richer community a more flavorful
a richer community a more flavorful
a richer community a more flavorful community than if we try to boil away
community than if we try to boil away
community than if we try to boil away the differences but in order to live in
the differences but in order to live in
the differences but in order to live in a salad bowl community where we truly
a salad bowl community where we truly
a salad bowl community where we truly appreciate all of those differences
appreciate all of those differences
appreciate all of those differences again we must try to understand the ways
again we must try to understand the ways
again we must try to understand the ways in which we share fundamental principles
in which we share fundamental principles
in which we share fundamental principles in about 40 years of teaching world
in about 40 years of teaching world
in about 40 years of teaching world religions and cultures I’ve begun to
religions and cultures I’ve begun to
religions and cultures I’ve begun to understand some of those foundational
understand some of those foundational
understand some of those foundational cross cultural cross religious cross
cross cultural cross religious cross
cross cultural cross religious cross ethnicities cross races commonalities
ethnicities cross races commonalities
ethnicities cross races commonalities and I’d like to share with you three of
and I’d like to share with you three of
and I’d like to share with you three of those this afternoon
those this afternoon
those this afternoon the first you might have heard of before
the first you might have heard of before
the first you might have heard of before respect all persons we’ve heard this in
respect all persons we’ve heard this in
respect all persons we’ve heard this in several other talks today it is so
several other talks today it is so
several other talks today it is so foundational if you look at the Great
foundational if you look at the Great
foundational if you look at the Great Eastern traditions of the world Hinduism
Eastern traditions of the world Hinduism
Eastern traditions of the world Hinduism and Buddhism and Jainism Taoism you find
and Buddhism and Jainism Taoism you find
and Buddhism and Jainism Taoism you find the principle at the core of those
the principle at the core of those
the principle at the core of those traditions the principle of ahimsa
traditions the principle of ahimsa
traditions the principle of ahimsa non-harming non-violence but that’s the
non-harming non-violence but that’s the
non-harming non-violence but that’s the negative way of stating it what it
negative way of stating it what it
negative way of stating it what it really means is respect the dignity the
really means is respect the dignity the
really means is respect the dignity the preciousness not only of every human
preciousness not only of every human
preciousness not only of every human being but every sentient being we’ve
being but every sentient being we’ve
being but every sentient being we’ve heard about the Golden Rule and the
heard about the Golden Rule and the
heard about the Golden Rule and the Platinum rule we find over all of our
Platinum rule we find over all of our
Platinum rule we find over all of our cultures and religious traditions of the
cultures and religious traditions of the
cultures and religious traditions of the world expressions of this fundamental
world expressions of this fundamental
world expressions of this fundamental rule to treat others the way they want
rule to treat others the way they want
rule to treat others the way they want to be treated to treat others with
to be treated to treat others with
to be treated to treat others with dignity to treat others like they matter
when we begin to see that this is a
when we begin to see that this is a shared principle a common principle that
shared principle a common principle that
shared principle a common principle that is part of all of our traditions then we
is part of all of our traditions then we
is part of all of our traditions then we begin to use it more fully in our own
begin to use it more fully in our own
begin to use it more fully in our own decision-making process whether that’s
decision-making process whether that’s
decision-making process whether that’s in our civic communities or in our
in our civic communities or in our
in our civic communities or in our workplaces we call in all of the
workplaces we call in all of the
workplaces we call in all of the stakeholders we intentionally invite
stakeholders we intentionally invite
stakeholders we intentionally invite those who are at the margins whose
those who are at the margins whose
those who are at the margins whose voices don’t always get heard those who
voices don’t always get heard those who
voices don’t always get heard those who are disenfranchised and we listen deeply
are disenfranchised and we listen deeply
are disenfranchised and we listen deeply to those stories and then in making the
to those stories and then in making the
to those stories and then in making the best decision we decide not what’s good
best decision we decide not what’s good
best decision we decide not what’s good for me or what’s good for my group or
for me or what’s good for my group or
for me or what’s good for my group or what’s good for my tribe but what’s good
what’s good for my tribe but what’s good
what’s good for my tribe but what’s good for the common human community I learned
for the common human community I learned
for the common human community I learned this in a unusual way as a child from my
this in a unusual way as a child from my
this in a unusual way as a child from my grandpa bull holler
grandpa bull holler
grandpa bull holler I learned that every story of a life is
I learned that every story of a life is
I learned that every story of a life is a precious story that every person might
a precious story that every person might
a precious story that every person might be thought of as a unique and individual
be thought of as a unique and individual
be thought of as a unique and individual story
story
story my grandpa bull Howard was Dutch he came
my grandpa bull Howard was Dutch he came
my grandpa bull Howard was Dutch he came from the old country some people thought
from the old country some people thought
from the old country some people thought of him as kind of a recalcitrant
of him as kind of a recalcitrant
of him as kind of a recalcitrant stubborn too serious kind of ornery guy
stubborn too serious kind of ornery guy
stubborn too serious kind of ornery guy he liked to do things his own way and he
he liked to do things his own way and he
he liked to do things his own way and he never actually learned English he
never actually learned English he
never actually learned English he learned a few words he got along but he
learned a few words he got along but he
learned a few words he got along but he mostly spoke Dutch and somehow even
mostly spoke Dutch and somehow even
mostly spoke Dutch and somehow even though I never learn Dutch he and I got
though I never learn Dutch he and I got
though I never learn Dutch he and I got along just fine I love to watch him work
along just fine I love to watch him work
along just fine I love to watch him work and work
and work
and work he did almost every day of his life
he did almost every day of his life
he did almost every day of his life until he died at a hundred and one he
until he died at a hundred and one he
until he died at a hundred and one he worked in his tar paper tool shed in the
worked in his tar paper tool shed in the
worked in his tar paper tool shed in the back yard and one of the things he did
back yard and one of the things he did
back yard and one of the things he did best was sharpen things everything had
best was sharpen things everything had
best was sharpen things everything had to be sharpened his axe head his Spade
to be sharpened his axe head his Spade
to be sharpened his axe head his Spade tip his hole and he grew amazing
tip his hole and he grew amazing
tip his hole and he grew amazing vegetables in his garden but every
vegetables in his garden but every
vegetables in his garden but every couple of weeks he would hold those
couple of weeks he would hold those
couple of weeks he would hold those implements of his work against that hard
implements of his work against that hard
implements of his work against that hard grinding stone and the sparks would fly
grinding stone and the sparks would fly
grinding stone and the sparks would fly off like splinters of lightning but then
off like splinters of lightning but then
off like splinters of lightning but then there was one day when he wouldn’t let
there was one day when he wouldn’t let
there was one day when he wouldn’t let me in when he was sharpening our skates
me in when he was sharpening our skates
me in when he was sharpening our skates to their most graceful edge it was a
to their most graceful edge it was a
to their most graceful edge it was a cold day in January and he left me
cold day in January and he left me
cold day in January and he left me standing outside the shed and I heard
standing outside the shed and I heard
standing outside the shed and I heard those shining skates sharpened he
those shining skates sharpened he
those shining skates sharpened he wouldn’t tell me why he wouldn’t let me
wouldn’t tell me why he wouldn’t let me
wouldn’t tell me why he wouldn’t let me in but mother told me after he came to
in but mother told me after he came to
in but mother told me after he came to America his youngest child a daughter
America his youngest child a daughter
America his youngest child a daughter was born like a promise in this new land
was born like a promise in this new land
was born like a promise in this new land but when she was four she became quite
but when she was four she became quite
but when she was four she became quite sick she was sick on Christmas and yet
sick she was sick on Christmas and yet
sick she was sick on Christmas and yet he gave her shining skates just like the
he gave her shining skates just like the
he gave her shining skates just like the ones he wore in the old country skating
ones he wore in the old country skating
ones he wore in the old country skating on the canals but she never put her feet
on the canals but she never put her feet
on the canals but she never put her feet in them she died on a cold cold day in
in them she died on a cold cold day in
in them she died on a cold cold day in January and that told me something more
January and that told me something more
January and that told me something more about grandpa bull holler and how he was
about grandpa bull holler and how he was
about grandpa bull holler and how he was and how he reacted to things you see
and how he reacted to things you see
and how he reacted to things you see each one of us is a special precious
each one of us is a special precious
each one of us is a special precious unique story it’s never repeated ever
unique story it’s never repeated ever
unique story it’s never repeated ever again in the whole universe and when we
again in the whole universe and when we
again in the whole universe and when we begin to treat each other that way even
begin to treat each other that way even
begin to treat each other that way even if we don’t know the whole story we make
if we don’t know the whole story we make
if we don’t know the whole story we make room for it all then we become the kind
room for it all then we become the kind
room for it all then we become the kind of community we really want to be a
of community we really want to be a
of community we really want to be a second principle that we share in common
second principle that we share in common
second principle that we share in common over the cultures and traditions of the
over the cultures and traditions of the
over the cultures and traditions of the world is to appreciate the wholeness of
world is to appreciate the wholeness of
world is to appreciate the wholeness of being human if we look at the great
being human if we look at the great
being human if we look at the great wisdom figures of the world the Saints
wisdom figures of the world the Saints
wisdom figures of the world the Saints the sages the heroes the priests the
the sages the heroes the priests the
the sages the heroes the priests the prophets they are people who embody the
prophets they are people who embody the
prophets they are people who embody the wholeness of being human they are people
wholeness of being human they are people
wholeness of being human they are people often with tremendous abilities physical
often with tremendous abilities physical
often with tremendous abilities physical abilities so they’re able to sustain
abilities so they’re able to sustain
abilities so they’re able to sustain themselves over great difficulties but
themselves over great difficulties but
themselves over great difficulties but they are also people with tremendous
they are also people with tremendous
they are also people with tremendous intellectual skills with great acuity
intellectual skills with great acuity
intellectual skills with great acuity and insight and almost always they are
and insight and almost always they are
and insight and almost always they are people who have spirit however you
people who have spirit however you
people who have spirit however you understand that term they are people who
understand that term they are people who
understand that term they are people who are connected to some higher power to
are connected to some higher power to
are connected to some higher power to some transcendent vision to some divine
some transcendent vision to some divine
some transcendent vision to some divine reality we find this again in every
reality we find this again in every
reality we find this again in every tradition of the world so that for
tradition of the world so that for
tradition of the world so that for instance in Islam prayer is something
instance in Islam prayer is something
instance in Islam prayer is something that is done five times a day it becomes
that is done five times a day it becomes
that is done five times a day it becomes an integrated aspect of a whole human
an integrated aspect of a whole human
an integrated aspect of a whole human being in the Catholic tradition the
being in the Catholic tradition the
being in the Catholic tradition the great religious orders had something
great religious orders had something
great religious orders had something very much like this where prayer was
very much like this where prayer was
very much like this where prayer was something done at the beginning of the
something done at the beginning of the
something done at the beginning of the day
day
day mid morning and afternoon and into the
mid morning and afternoon and into the
mid morning and afternoon and into the night because the spiritual aspect
night because the spiritual aspect
night because the spiritual aspect became a whole part there was prayer and
became a whole part there was prayer and
became a whole part there was prayer and work and study again we could look at
work and study again we could look at
work and study again we could look at this principle throughout the wisdom
this principle throughout the wisdom
this principle throughout the wisdom traditions of the world but when we
traditions of the world but when we
traditions of the world but when we start to use it then we use all of our
start to use it then we use all of our
start to use it then we use all of our ways of knowing right when we’re making
ways of knowing right when we’re making
ways of knowing right when we’re making a decision we don’t just use our mind
a decision we don’t just use our mind
a decision we don’t just use our mind which is usually what we do in our
which is usually what we do in our
which is usually what we do in our Western society reason is something that
Western society reason is something that
Western society reason is something that we’ve put sort of as the top priority
we’ve put sort of as the top priority
we’ve put sort of as the top priority but what about questions of how do we
but what about questions of how do we
but what about questions of how do we feel what does our heart
feel what does our heart
feel what does our heart tell us here’s a challenge next time
tell us here’s a challenge next time
tell us here’s a challenge next time you’re in a really difficult meeting and
you’re in a really difficult meeting and
you’re in a really difficult meeting and there’s a difficult discussion about the
there’s a difficult discussion about the
there’s a difficult discussion about the decision that has to be made ask
decision that has to be made ask
decision that has to be made ask everybody just to take two minutes of
everybody just to take two minutes of
everybody just to take two minutes of silence two minutes of silence and I
silence two minutes of silence and I
silence two minutes of silence and I guarantee you that the conversation will
guarantee you that the conversation will
guarantee you that the conversation will change we need to use all of our ways of
change we need to use all of our ways of
change we need to use all of our ways of knowing
knowing
knowing in order to make really wise decisions
in order to make really wise decisions
in order to make really wise decisions in our communities and when we do then
in our communities and when we do then
in our communities and when we do then we choose what brings integration what
we choose what brings integration what
we choose what brings integration what brings wellness we don’t just focus on
brings wellness we don’t just focus on
brings wellness we don’t just focus on one aspect of who we are but we look for
one aspect of who we are but we look for
one aspect of who we are but we look for ways to continue to be whole human
ways to continue to be whole human
ways to continue to be whole human beings body mind and spirit a third
beings body mind and spirit a third
beings body mind and spirit a third principle recognize the
principle recognize the
principle recognize the interconnectedness of all reality here
interconnectedness of all reality here
interconnectedness of all reality here again this is a principle that we find
again this is a principle that we find
again this is a principle that we find throughout the wisdom traditions of the
throughout the wisdom traditions of the
throughout the wisdom traditions of the world if you look at indigenous peoples
world if you look at indigenous peoples
world if you look at indigenous peoples on every continent there is a deep
on every continent there is a deep
on every continent there is a deep sensitivity
sensitivity
sensitivity not only us two legged ones but the
not only us two legged ones but the
not only us two legged ones but the four-legged ones the winget ones the
four-legged ones the winget ones the
four-legged ones the winget ones the swimming ones
swimming ones
swimming ones all of them are understood as my
all of them are understood as my
all of them are understood as my relations all of my relations if we look
relations all of my relations if we look
relations all of my relations if we look at the Abrahamic traditions of the world
at the Abrahamic traditions of the world
at the Abrahamic traditions of the world Judaism Christianity Islam we find that
Judaism Christianity Islam we find that
Judaism Christianity Islam we find that there is this deep recognition that all
there is this deep recognition that all
there is this deep recognition that all reality comes from the divine and bears
reality comes from the divine and bears
reality comes from the divine and bears the mark the beauty of the divine this
the mark the beauty of the divine this
the mark the beauty of the divine this idea that we are all interconnected is a
idea that we are all interconnected is a
idea that we are all interconnected is a fundamental realization across the
fundamental realization across the
fundamental realization across the cultures and traditions of the world and
cultures and traditions of the world and
cultures and traditions of the world and when we start to use that sensitivity
when we start to use that sensitivity
when we start to use that sensitivity when we’re making decisions when we’re
when we’re making decisions when we’re
when we’re making decisions when we’re in that process of weighing things we
in that process of weighing things we
in that process of weighing things we not only look at individual events and
not only look at individual events and
not only look at individual events and individual persons but we look at
individual persons but we look at
individual persons but we look at systems we look at our educational
systems we look at our educational
systems we look at our educational system and the difficulties were having
system and the difficulties were having
system and the difficulties were having with opportunity gaps not because
with opportunity gaps not because
with opportunity gaps not because individuals aren’t able to do the work
individuals aren’t able to do the work
individuals aren’t able to do the work but because we have a system that
but because we have a system that
but because we have a system that doesn’t actually treat people fairly we
doesn’t actually treat people fairly we
doesn’t actually treat people fairly we look at policing systems where we’ve had
look at policing systems where we’ve had
look at policing systems where we’ve had great difficulty over the last few years
great difficulty over the last few years
great difficulty over the last few years we must ask ourselves not just about
we must ask ourselves not just about
we must ask ourselves not just about individuals we must ask ourselves about
individuals we must ask ourselves about
individuals we must ask ourselves about the systems of recruitment and training
the systems of recruitment and training
the systems of recruitment and training we must ask ourselves about our own
we must ask ourselves about our own
we must ask ourselves about our own culture our propensity for competition
culture our propensity for competition
culture our propensity for competition for violence when we begin to use this
for violence when we begin to use this
for violence when we begin to use this sensitivity to the interconnectedness of
sensitivity to the interconnectedness of
sensitivity to the interconnectedness of reality then we choose not only what
reality then we choose not only what
reality then we choose not only what supports one part of the bottom line
supports one part of the bottom line
supports one part of the bottom line which we often talk about profit
which we often talk about profit
which we often talk about profit prosperity but we recognized that the
prosperity but we recognized that the
prosperity but we recognized that the bottom line is really triple right it
bottom line is really triple right it
bottom line is really triple right it includes people the spirit of people the
includes people the spirit of people the
includes people the spirit of people the Wellness of people and includes our
Wellness of people and includes our
Wellness of people and includes our planet on which we depend without which
planet on which we depend without which
planet on which we depend without which we cannot go on now grandpa bull Howard
we cannot go on now grandpa bull Howard
we cannot go on now grandpa bull Howard taught me one more thing you see one day
taught me one more thing you see one day
taught me one more thing you see one day this surly old guy called us all to his
this surly old guy called us all to his
this surly old guy called us all to his backyard and he had set up two flower
backyard and he had set up two flower
backyard and he had set up two flower stands almost 20 feet apart and on one
stands almost 20 feet apart and on one
stands almost 20 feet apart and on one balanced on a pivot was a spoon holding
balanced on a pivot was a spoon holding
balanced on a pivot was a spoon holding half a potato and on the other was a
half a potato and on the other was a
half a potato and on the other was a wineglass glinting in the sunlight and
wineglass glinting in the sunlight and
wineglass glinting in the sunlight and with one flick of his finger he sent
with one flick of his finger he sent
with one flick of his finger he sent that potato flying through space and it
that potato flying through space and it
that potato flying through space and it fell round and down in the waiting
fell round and down in the waiting
fell round and down in the waiting wineglass and he I mean it wasn’t just a
wineglass and he I mean it wasn’t just a
wineglass and he I mean it wasn’t just a little laughs it was glee bubbling out
little laughs it was glee bubbling out
little laughs it was glee bubbling out of him and you know some of the
of him and you know some of the
of him and you know some of the difficulty of his story well only once
difficulty of his story well only once
difficulty of his story well only once then shovel on his shoulder back to his
then shovel on his shoulder back to his
then shovel on his shoulder back to his garden leaving us standing in the green
garden leaving us standing in the green
garden leaving us standing in the green grass with all of our questions after
grass with all of our questions after
grass with all of our questions after that it was the first and the last time
that it was the first and the last time
that it was the first and the last time that I heard my grandpa giggle but after
that I heard my grandpa giggle but after
that I heard my grandpa giggle but after that everything was possible and I
that everything was possible and I
that everything was possible and I believe that as a human community it is
believe that as a human community it is
believe that as a human community it is possible for us to recognize the
possible for us to recognize the
possible for us to recognize the preciousness of each person it is
preciousness of each person it is
preciousness of each person it is possible for us to be brothers and
possible for us to be brothers and
possible for us to be brothers and sisters of one human family it takes a
sisters of one human family it takes a
sisters of one human family it takes a recognition that we have common
recognition that we have common
recognition that we have common foundational principles yes we are one
foundational principles yes we are one
foundational principles yes we are one family thank you
family thank you
family thank you [Applause]
”
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