Two Stories:

Peace is cool

A 12-year-old boy who was a part of the first CPT in-school project was as convinced as his mother was that one day he would land in jail. He took pride in the prediction because it added to the 'tough guy' image promoted by popular culture and so carefully groomed by boys everywhere. He was the leader of schoolyard culture both as a bully and as a dynamic and charismatic fun-lover who had somehow acquired a love for fighting a long the way of his childhood. The principal of the school in her wisdom did not refer to his past record as an enthusiastic and accomplished fighter, nor his future ambitions of incarceration. At the end of our first program, the boy chose to carry on with the program and participate not only in our first Summer Peace Camp, but the Fall Session that followed. At an early stage of Peace Camp, the boy, now a youth decided that peace was 'cool'. The principal reported that the effect this had on the schoolyard culture in the fall was amazing. Others began following his lead and though schoolyard conflicts and problems were still wonderful opportunities for yelling, tears and histrionics, the fights were stopped. The boy's mother was amazed at the change in her son. She watched him go to high school.

What is Peace?

Hatred and fighting had broken out throughout the land. Territory fought against territory, city against city, neighbour against neighbour, husband against wife, child against child. The Emperor gathered the great philosophers, counselors and spiritual teachers and asked them, "What is peace?" so he could share the knowledge with the people and save the land from ruin. But after listening to long, well-reasoned discourses the Emperor realized that none had helped him understand what peace was. So he sent out a decree to all men and women to answer the question "What is peace?" so that he could save the land. But after listening to all who replied the Emperor knew he was still no closer to understanding what peace was and the hatred and the fighting continued. So he sent out a decree to all the artists of the land to paint a picture that would show all people what peace was before it was too late. He was presented with a multitude of paintings of skies, sun sets, rivers, mountains and valleys and yet there was not one among them that satisfied the question, "What is peace?" He had all but given up when a roll of paper was brought to him that had been left outside the palace gates by a child. When the Emperor unrolled it his eyes widened. The page was filled with swirls and scribbles and was torn in places by the furry of the child's strokes. In those disturbing lines, the Emperor saw a devastating storm that made him think of the wars and the fighting that were threatening his land. As he studied the drawing, he saw something among the lines of what looked to be the remains of a tree broken by the storm. He moved his face close to the page and he realized what it was. It was a small bird sitting on a branch. He saw its beak drawn open as if in song. His face began to soften and his heart, rejoice. He realized he was seeing an answer to his question. He called his envoys and told them, "Our land may be saved from ruin. Go and show this child's drawing to the people. If we look into the heart of the storm, we may find peace together."  (From a Chinese Folk Tale)