1) The document discusses the concept of harmlessness, which it defines as avoiding harming others in ways one wouldn't want to be harmed themselves (the Golden Rule). 2) It proposes a scale of harmlessness versus harm, ranging from brutality to advocacy, and argues we should develop reflexive habits of harmlessness. 3) The key message is that to truly invoke peace, one must first establish right human relations through positive harmlessness, goodwill, inclusiveness and addressing social injustices. Harmlessness is the essential quality needed to change human interactions for the better.

1. Harmlessness and the Invocation of Peace Dorothy I. Riddle May 6, 2011 [email_address]

2. As the New Group of World Servers, we are called to behave harmlessly “ May the Power of the One Life pour through the group of all true servers. “ May the Love of the One Soul characterize the lives of all who seek to aid the Great Ones. “ May I fulfill my part in the One work through self-forgetfulness, harmlessness and right speech” (TWM:261).

3. “ Practice that positive harmlessness that works out in right thought (because based on intelligent love), right speech (because governed by self-control), and right action (because founded on an understanding of the Law)” (TWM:317) .

5. The human family is maturing ... 1945 Nuremberg Principles 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1993 Declaration Towards a Global Ethic 2002 Rome Statute; International Criminal Court 2007 Avaaz

7. Assertion We are so immersed in harmful messages and actions that we are almost oblivious to them and have no collective experience of harmlessness. [The World Health Organization has described the 20 th century as the most violent in human history, though all spiritual traditions say “do no harm.”]

8. What does “harmlessness” really mean?

9. #1 Harmlessness = Innocuous Not being able or likely to cause harm “ He looks harmless.”

10. #2 Harmlessness = Avoiding Harm Causing no hurt, damage, wrong, or evil Ahisma (without violence)

11. #3 Harmlessness = Golden Rule Ethics of Reciprocity Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. - Buddhism Do to others what you would have them do to you. - Christianity Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. - Hinduism None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. - Islam What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. - Judaism

12. #4 Positive Harmlessness in the Ageless Wisdom “ Harmlessness…is not negative, or sweet or kindly activity, as so many believe; it is a state of mind and one which in no way negates firm or even drastic action; it concerns motive and involves the determination that the motive behind all activity is goodwill ” (EH:670).

14. We need to develop reflexive habits of harmlessness rather than harm . . . Harmlessness Scale™ Brutality Harassment Dismissiveness Defensiveness Abstention Supportive Nonviolence Advocacy

15. 1 = Brutality Overt physical harm to self or others – murder, torture, rape, incest, cutting Allowing self to release tension by battering another Glorified in “honor killings” and in wan’ni

16. 2 = Harassment Verbal and psychological abuse, including bullying, belittling, demeaning Discrimination, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, poisoned work environment, horizontal violence Psychological violence is more prevalent than, and can be as damaging as, physical violence

17. 3 = Dismissiveness Stereotyping, shunning, treating as invisible or of little worth Includes the use of racist or sexist language to demean or dismiss Common example: Non-parallel referents, such as referring to mature females as “girls” when mature males would be referred to as “men”

19. 5 = Abstention Non-engagement Looking away “ Not my problem” Don’t initiate but don’t intervene

20. 6 = Supportiveness Intervene but only privately, after the fact, to remonstrate and give support No public accountability for the perpetrator

21. 7 = Nonviolence Refrain from violence Actively intervene in specific situations Zero tolerance Bear witness Stop or restrain the perpetrator with compassion Challenge: To intervene without incurring harm

22. 8 = Advocacy Actively seek ways to prevent violence in the future Dismantle structural violence Learn peaceful ways to resolve conflict ... which will occur given free will

23. But what are we, as an esoteric community, doing to eliminate the habit patterns that make harm possible, tolerated, and even expected? “ The sense of responsibility is one of the first indications that the soul of the individual is awakened” (ENA:105).

24. We are called to action . . . “ The constant practice of Harmlessness…involves harmlessness in speech and also in thought and consequently in action. It is a positive harmlessness , involving constant activity and watchfulness” (TWM:490).

27. http://esotericstudies.net/forum

28. To invoke peace, we must be proactive . . . “ The will -to-good…is of more importance in this world cycle than the will -to-peace” (EA:572) . “ Peace is not the goal for our race or time....This is a cycle of steadily growing activity, with the aim in view of establishing right human relations” (EXT:277) . “ If the will-to-peace is conditioning you, then you are still working on emotional levels” (EA:578) .

30. Right human relations are a prerequisite . . . “ There is something greater than peace and that is the good of the whole , and not just individual, peaceful conditions or national peace” (EA:572) .

31. “ Harmlessness is the expression of the life of individuals who realize themselves to be everywhere, who live consciously as souls, whose nature is love, whose method is inclusiveness…

32. “ Let harmlessness , therefore, be the keynote of your life” (TWM:103-104).