Peace Revolution

Not to be confused with Peaceful Revolution.

Peace Revolution is an online meditation platform aimed at young adults. The platform's primary focus is on the teaching of Samatha meditation but is also involved in other activities and events related to mindfulness and peace-building.^[1][2][3] Although the platform has a secular orientation, it does draw on principles of Buddhism. Buddhist monks from Thailand are often invited to lead meditation and mindfulness activities.^[4][5]

Peace Revolution

Type of site	Online meditation platform
Owner	World Peace Initiative Foundation
URL	peacerevolution.net
Commercial	No
Registration	Required for most features
Launched	2008

The idea the platform is built on is that sustainable world peace can only be established by first achieving mindfulness, or "inner peace", at the individual level; after which peace can be achieved at the community level and greater.^[6] This is expressed through Peace Revolution's slogan Peace In, Peace Out (PIPO).^[7]

Peace Revolution offers a number of offline and online activities and programs to facilitate this goal.^[3]

History

Peace Revolution was established in 2008 by the World Peace Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization which operates mainly from Thailand.^[3][8] The initial idea for the creation of the website was that with current developments in modern education, the focus on mental well-being had become less important. With a growing availability of Internet connections throughout the world, meditation could be easily introduced in this way.^[9][10] The platform is known for introducing meditation as a secular hobby for people in regions where meditation is not widely known.^[11][12] The World Peace Initiative and Peace Revolution have partnerships with several organizations internationally, including the European Commission.^{[13][14][15][16]}

As of 2016,^[update] the platform had 87,521 participants, from 235 countries and territories and had organized 104 events worldwide.^[2][7] Peace Revolution's operations are maintained by a worldwide network connected through their website.^[3]

Activities

 

Presentation being given during the European Peace Summit 2016

Online meditation program

Peace Revolution runs a forty-two-day online self-development program based on its "Peace In, Peace Out" philosophy, which focuses on meditation, daily self-discipline to deepen meditation experiences, and other activities for self-reflection. Subject matter discussed include incorporating meditation into one's daily life, the relation between body and mind, the training of habits, karma, a culture of peace and conflict resolution.^[17] Meditation, referred to as Inner Peace Time on the platform, makes up the central theme of Peace Revolution's activities.^[3][18][19] The meditation technique used on the platform is Dhammakaya meditation.^[20]

Several online meditation resources are available on the Peace Revolution website, including a written walk-through on meditation and guided meditations in various languages.^[20][21] Optional offline components of the program include special assignments which the participants complete in their own surroundings, called Special Ops. Such activities include inviting others to meditate, and collaborative art or community service projects with the theme of inner peace.^[22]

Other activities

 

Participants meditating at a Peace Revolution Peace on Demand event in Iran

Peace Revolution offers numerous fellowships hosted around the world.^[23][24] Peace Revolution Fellowships typically range from three to fourteen days and include a meditation retreat.^[7]

The platform is also active in various Peace Summits across the world, often in partnership with local organizations. Summits typically last four days and feature numerous guest speakers from the World Peace Initiative Foundation, as well as speakers from different like-minded organizations from the region. The topics typically discussed in the peace summits include peace-building, specific issues related to the region, and the benefits of meditation in these peace-building processes.^{[25][26][27][28]}

 

Participants meditating at the 2016 African Peace Summit

In addition to these summits, Peace Revolution also sponsors events for participants who wish to organize their own meditation events and workshops in their local areas, providing meditation instructors and assisting participants in organizing their events. Instructors provided include Buddhist monks and certified meditation instructors of different backgrounds. Such events are referred to as Peace on Demand events (also called a PIPO event).^[29]

Peace Revolution's first Peace on Demand event was held in Egypt in 2010 during the International Day of Peace.^[29] In the following years, numerous local events have been organized worldwide, with events being held in forty-six different countries in 2015.^[update][30] Peace Revolution sponsored events have been held in various settings, such as for companies to provide training for its employees, and in universities, schools and prisons.^[5][31][32]

Notable events

Some events that Peace Revolution has sponsored or helped coordinate are meditation workshops in refugee camps for African children^[33] and a broadcast on Albanian national television.^[34] Other examples are a vigil in Muea-Buea, Cameroon, to commemorate victims after a bombing of the Boko Haram in 2015,^[35][36] and guided meditation that took place during a film festival emphasizing human rights in Barcelona.^[37][38] Peace Revolution volunteers have also organized peace walks to promote their message.^[39] From 2018 onward, a yearly meditation week was organized in Argentina, in which guided meditations were organized in public spaces, educational institutions, hospitals, companies and prisons. This was done in cooperation with the New Future Society, based in the USA and Argentina.^[40][41] Branded as the "#MEME Marathon de la Calma" ('Marathon of Calm'), the event is organized in cooperation with government officials from the province and municipalities.^[42]

Structure

Although Peace Revolution and its programs are run by full-time employees based at its headquarters, the organization relies heavily on a large network of volunteers worldwide to organize its programs and events.^[43] Online members are referred to as "Peace Rebels", which according to the website, is because every revolution is made up of rebels and the participants make up the Peace Revolution.^[6][44][43] Participants are connected through the website's online networking platform, the Rebel Hub, where Peace Rebels can communicate and plan mindfulness-based projects and ideas, and an online forum where they can discuss their meditation experiences.^[6] Questions about meditation are answered online by "Peace Coaches".^[45] Active members who meet certain requirements can undergo training to become certified meditation instructors, known as "Peace Architects".^[46][47]

See also

• Ānāpānasati
• Buddhist ethics
• Dhammakaya meditation
• Dhammayietra, annual peace walk in Cambodia
• Sacca-kiriyā
• Samatha & Vipassanā

References

1. Varela, Daniel Rodriguez (2014-01-07). [Meet the only Peruvian artist who won the Peace Revolution scholarship and will travel to Thailand]. La Republica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
2. "Samathi nai ngan sin" สมาธิในงานศิลป์ [Meditation used in art]. Bangkok Business (in Thai).
3. Hardy, Samantha; Thangsurbkul, Worakate; Dhanissaro, Phra J.P. (2013). "Peace Revolution's Online Social Platform: From Inner Revolution to Global Evolution of Ethical Media Production". The Journal of Media Literacy Education. 3 (2). doi:10.23860/jmle-3-2-3. S2CID 154154057. from the original on 2017-05-07.
4. "Kak da preodoleem stresa?" Как да преодолеем стреса? [How to manage stress]. Денят започва (The Day Begins) (in Bulgarian). 8 April 2014. Bulgarian National Television. 1. from the original on 2016-11-26.
5. [Ven. Pasura: We have forgotten how to wait]. Urban Tales (in Bulgarian). 11 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-04-21.
6. "Peace Revolution made me a Peace Agent". Thunderbird School of Global Management. 21 June 2016. from the original on 30 June 2019.
7. Riveria, Silvia (11 May 2016). "Peace Revolution: promoviendo la paz en el mundo" [Peace Revolution: Promoting Peace in the World]. La Prensa Grafica (in Spanish). from the original on 2016-11-25.
8. "World Peace is Possible". World Peace Initiative. from the original on 2017-04-19.
9. Fernandez, Maria (2014). "La gente joven se alejado de la meditación" [Young people moved by meditation]. El Comercio (in Spanish).
10. "Yawm jadid – altaamul wa'ahamiyatuh aljasdiat walnafsiat mae 'usil nsar" يوم جديد - التأمل وأهميته الجسدية والنفسية مع أسيل نصار [Meditation and its physical and psychological importance, with Aseel Nassar]. New Day (in Arabic). 8 March 2016. JRTV. from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2017 – via Youm Jadded [account of host show].
11. Noone, Yasmin. "How meditation is helping the Middle East achieve Zen". Special Broadcasting Service. from the original on 2017-04-01.
12. "Murgj budiste per Tiranen" [Buddhist Monks at Tirana]. Top Show Magazine. Episode 4 (in Albanian). 16 December 2016. Top Channel. from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
13. "Join the Peace Revolution Summit 2017 in Thailand". European Youth Portal. from the original on 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
14. Isadore, Abah (20 September 2016). "DO, State Security Chief Honoured Ahead Of International Peace Day". Cameroon Postline. from the original on 2017-04-05.
15. "Chandigarh: At youth festival, delegates talk world peace". The Indian Express. 30 September 2015. from the original on 2016-11-25.
16. "Peace Partners". peacerevolution.net. from the original on 2017-04-01.
17. See Romanello, Carla (31 May 2016). "Viaje de autoayuda: se fue a Tailandia con una beca para meditar" [Self-help trip: he went to Thailand with a scholarship to meditate]. Los Andes (in Spanish). from the original on 29 August 2018 and Jessica, Almeida (17 July 2015). "A qualquer hora e lugar" [Anytime, anywhere]. O Tempo (in Brazilian Portuguese). from the original on 2017-04-04. For karma, see "Taizemes budistu mūks Džons novembrī un decembrī aicina uz bezmaksas meditācijām Latvijā" [In November and December, a Buddhist monk of Thailand organizes free meditations in Latvia]. Veselam (in Latvian). 23 October 2018. from the original on 10 December 2019.
18. "Mind your mind a Lecce" ["Mind Your Mind" in Lecce]. Channel 8 Puglia (in Italian). 4 March 2016. from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
19. Ali, Shereen (16 March 2016). "Peace Revolution in the Savannah". The Trinidad Guardian. from the original on 2016-11-25. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
20. "Inner Peace Time". peacerevolution.net. from the original on 2017-02-25.
21. Almeida, Jessica (13 September 2013). "Mente Sã" [Healthy mind]. O Tempo (in Brazilian Portuguese). from the original on 2017-04-04.
22. "Special OPS". peacerevolution.net. from the original on 15 February 2017.
23. Liusuwan, Nicholas (2017-02-16). "Getting into the Habit of Meditating". Huffington Post. from the original on 2017-04-04.
24. Seçgi̇N, Sezen (25 June 2016). "Sezen Seçgin yazıyor: Peace Revolution" [Topics by Sezen: Peace Revolution]. Turizm Haberleri. from the original on 2016-11-25.
25. "Report of 1st European Peace Summit 2016: Connecting Minds, Unleashing Potential". Europe for Peace. 27 April 2016. from the original on 20 April 2017.
26. "1st European Peace Summit Connecting Minds, Unleashing Potential". Inspiration Unlimited eMagazine. from the original on 2016-11-25.
27. "African Peace Summit". africa.peacesummit.net. from the original on 2017-04-20.
28. Efeobhokhan, Ezekiel (13 November 2016). "World Peace Initiative mentors youths, gives award". The Guardian (Nigeria). from the original on 2017-05-01.
29. "The Peace On-demand". peacerevolution.net. from the original on 2017-04-01.
30. "Monje budista ofrecerá talleres sobre meditación este miércoles 11 y el jueves 12" [Buddhist monk will offer workshops on meditation this Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12]. Diario Hispaniola (in Spanish). from the original on 2017-04-27.
31. "Alumnos practican la meditación para evitar la violencia" [Students practice meditation to avoid violence]. La Razón (in Spanish). from the original on 2017-04-04.
32. [RAP staff receive meditation classes to reduce work stress]. La Tribuna (in Spanish). 1 Jun 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
33. Strizzolo, Nicola; Vujacic, Lidija (2014). The role of new media as a means of building of new (supranational) identity and conciliation in the Balkans: the example of ex-Yugoslavian space. 11th Prato CIRN Conference. from the original on 2016-11-25.
34. "Rudina: Perfitimet qe vijne nga meditimi dhe sushi, nje ushqim jo vetem i shendetshem!" [Rudina: The benefits of meditation; Sushi, not only healthy food!]. TV Klan (in Albanian). from the original on 12 December 2019.
35. Okumb, Macdonald Ayang. "Peace crusaders commiserate with far north bomb victims". Eden.
36. Mbah, Nche J (28 September 2015). "World Peace Day in Buea: Youths enjoined to be peace-loving". Times Journal (Cameroon).
37. Nieto, Frans (27 November 2015). "Festival de Cine y derechos humanos de Barcelona" [Barcelona Film and Human Rights Festival]. Nueva Tribuna. from the original on 2017-04-04.
38. Okariz, Elena (3 December 2015). "Festival de cine y Derechos Humanos en Barcelona" [Film and Human Rights Festival in Barcelona]. Blasting News (in European Spanish). from the original on 2016-11-16.
39. "Residents, women, artists to join peace fest". The Times of India. from the original on 2016-10-13.
40. Oyhenart, Felicitas. [Meditation for all, "Marathon of Calm" in Mendoza]. Mendoza Online (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.
41. "Una maratón de la calma para Mendoza" [A Marathon of Calm for Mendoza]. Mendoza Online (in Spanish). 20 February 2019. from the original on 12 December 2019.
42. "Regresa la Maratón de la Calma a Mendoza" [The Calm Marathon returns to Mendoza]. El Ciudadano (in Spanish). 15 March 2019. from the original on 12 December 2019.
43. Hardy, Samantha; Thangsurbkul, Worakate; Dhanissaro, Phra J.P. (2013). "Peace Revolution's Online Social Platform: From Inner Revolution to Global Evolution of Ethical Media Production". The Journal of Media Literacy Education. from the original on 2017-03-14.
44. "Our business". peacerevolution.net. from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
45. Sodré, Rachel (13 March 2014). [Sites and applications offer online meditation techniques]. O Tempo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 December 2019.
46. "Peace Architect". peacerevolution.net. from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
47. Kusina, Linda (13 April 2016). "Pagātnes ēnu gūstā: Agnijas Kazušas romāns "Bruno"" [Past shadow captivity: Agniya Kazuša's novel "Bruno"]. Latvijas Avīze (in Latvian). from the original on 4 April 2017.

External links

• Official website