April, 2008
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Vol 1, Issue 1 |
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Explorations of
Kindness
with Knowledge
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Dear friends and colleagues, |
Welcome to the new MettaKnowledge for Peace newsletter, "Explorations of Kindness with Knowledge." I am glad to include you in the unfolding development of my work reaching out to organizations, people and animals striving to alleviate suffering and to foster peace in family, community and the world. In this newsletter, I will provide you with a combination of the best knowledge from the western sciences about PTSD, Secondary traumatic stress, and other effects of stress and violence in our world along with the best ways to rebuild our strengths, restore resilience, and find healing from many healing and wisdom traditions worldwide. Do let me know if you don't wish to be included in my mailings and for those of you who do, stay tuned!
Yours warmly,
Rachel E. Mann
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Article Headline
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The most common question I get is what does "MettaKnowledge" mean? Metta is a word from Pali, the root language of Buddhism. Many Buddhist sacred texts are written in Pali. Metta means "friendliness" or "lovingkindness". There is a meditation practice in Buddhism to cultivate metta towards self and others. To read more, click here.
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Article Headline
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 Those of us who work in fields where we deal with the causes and
effects of violence on a daily basis often do so because we care deeply
about others' well being. We wish to act with compassion and kindness
and to have a positive impact. However, the realities of facing the
effects of war, sexual and domestic violence, genocide, racism, and
myriad personal and collective traumas can wear away our reserves and
our faith in humanity and the world. We may find ourselves frustrated,
numbed out, burned out, angry, grief-stricken, or worn down. The
insistent question of "Why?" in the face of so much suffering seems to
remain unanswered. MettaKnowledge for Peace offers workshops and support groups for professionals and volunteers who wish to find ways to guard against and recover from what is called Secondary Traumatic Stress, compassion fatigue, or more simply, burn-out. For information about our Spring workshops in Charlottesville and Norfolk, VA, click here. Or if you'd like MettaKnowledge for Peace to tailor a workshop to the needs of your profession or organization, contact rachel@mettaknowledge.com. |
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Article Headline
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The Art of Play: Finding Wholeness through Creativity
A Lecture and Workshop Series
 Come and explore the art of play in healing, community-building, and self-care. In
this three-day event with artist and international consultant Marta Sanchez and
Rachel Mann, owner of MettaKowledge for Peace, we will rediscover the
gift of play in our daily lives as a way to maintain balance and
wholeness using creative tools such as storytelling, art, writing,
meditation, and movement. This is an excellent way for professionals
working with problems of violence to explore how to use creativity with
clients and to address burn-out or for anyone who wishes to have a
rich, fun and fulfilling day! No experience with any kind of art needed. For more information or to register, click here.
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I have come to understand that regardless of our messy human histories, we must in the end follow our hearts. I love what I have been taught by both my indigenous and western teachers. And paradoxically, my engagement with the terror of violence as a scholar, teacher and spiritual practitioner has shown me that the work of the spiritual is always the path to a radical, powerful love-a love that heals.
Warmly,
Rachel
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