December 17, 2015: Discussion of "What Can Be Done About Terrorism?"

     This week was basically open. We had planned to talk about the upcoming holidays, but as sometimes happens with this group -- the discussion viered off into a quite intense consideration of terrorism, the fears that this country is under regarding this threat, and what we as individuals can do to deal with this fear. Some attendees thought that the practice of mindfulness in whateveer individual way we do this can only help. And perhaps with a larger group of people practicing there is hope for a change in our world that will preclude terrorism. However. a significant number of the group felt we can do little to change this threat. We have to just learn to deal with the fear in some ways. Buddhist ideology may help with that. A more in detail may follow about our discussions.

     After this meeting, Eric Olsen sent this link which adds to our understanding of this disturbing threat and how to deal with it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/scientists-propose-peacep_b_8710604.html

   
      After reading and listening to this short video, a few of the conclusions we reached in our discussion are supported. Indeed, when society grows restless and stressed (like an over population of rats in a colony) violence increases. But only the small number of 1% of this stressed population needs to practice meditation and the stressed society experiences decrease in violence, in war like populations, peace initiatives take hold. So basically this group that meets every Thursday morning is adding to the collective consciousness. We are peacemakers. We just need to spread our practices.