..续本文上一页 and the many different types of outer and inner violence we now experience. This will be very important for the next generation, who will face worse difficulties than us. I believe, Inner Peace is the most solid foundation for World Peace and global Harmony.

　　 As we have more or less lost the psychological side of our education, we need non-formal education, to teach us the inter-personal skills that are missing in modern urban life, such as love, compassion, harmony, inner peace and inner space so we can learn how to create a harmonious environment around us. These skills increase our positive emotional states and help us to deal with the stressful and difficult situations confronting us, such as lack of traditional social networks, stress, unemployment, uncertainty, ageing, sickness, bereavement, competitiveness and the alienation of modern city life.

　　 We need to develop a peace culture within our institutions and collectively make a big effort to overcome the culture of violence. Our media could be used to provide more positive and constructive information that could contribute to a more harmonious society, especially for entertainment. We also need more empowerment of women within our societies, both socially, and economically. Non-violent education is a long term investment for the psychological health of our society.

　　 Recognizing and Taking Care of the Five Elements - Ancient Wisdom on Environmental Care

　　 By taking care of the elements, we can have a healthy body, a healthy mind, a healthy life and a healthy world, both in this and future lives. To come to this point we have to learn about and understand the interdependence between our bodies and minds, the five elements and the environment, which we inhabit. We must re-discover that which is important and precious in life. We have forgotten our ancient values and ideas on nature. Consequently the environment, as well as ourselves, is becoming increasingly sick and tired because of so much suffering. Machines and development are beneficial, but the environment and natural things are also true. My opinion is that now we should put more energy into learning how to live in harmony with the environment.

　　 If we understand that our Earth is precious and lovely, we will develop a special feeling towards all the five elements. This is Self-Healing. Relatively few people in modern society practice Buddhism, but everyone needs to recognize the preciousness of the five elements.

　　 Siddharta, Gautama Buddha, 2500 years ago deeply researched the nature of our human existence and discovered many profound truths such as the interconnectedness as well as the impermanence of all phenomena. He was an inner scientist and today scientists begin to understand that his discoveries about reality are very much in tune with those of modern science. Hence also many modern scientists, doctors, psychologists etc find that Buddhism is very easy to relate to and that it provides many very useful insights, methods, and applicable views independently of being a believer or not.

　　 According to Buddhism everything is interconnected and hence outer and inner conditions are intimately related and produce inpidual and collective results. Everything is woven into this web of interdependence and we live in circumstances that are the outcome of inpidual and collective karma. But we also have part in creating the world we live in and the future generations will live in, by generating positive or negative influences that contribute to the health our environment.

　　 Through understanding tendrel, or ecological interdependence, we are able to comprehend the positive and negative results of our actions on the environment. Through this understanding we gain a lot of feeling and e…

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