A friend asked me to attend an anti-war rally in LA a few years ago. I went out of curiosity and was stunned at the immense negative emotional energy you could feel in the place. In addition to war protesters, there were anti-Nafta protesters, greens, labor organizers, pro-Gore supporters, conspiracy theorists and even UFO believers who actually believed that Bush was a reptile from some other planet!! I have never seen anything like it! From now on, when asked to go to these things, I just use what Mother Theresa said when someone asked her to attend an anti-war rally; "No, I won't go to a protest against the war. But when you have a rally FOR peace, I will be there."

I don't think Eckart is in any way implying that humans should not take part in expressing their opinions...just make sure you bring your heart, peace to the enterprise. For example, if the person who was able to perceive the negativity being expressed at an anti-war rally were able to bring his or her own sense of peace/presence to the rally, couldn't that bring consciousness to the situation, environment? I have known many activists personally who bring a deep sense of peace and a committment to nonviolence to such an event. Think of Gandhi, Dr Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama who themselves "participated" in "protests" for their causes. And, of course Jesus had his moments...for example turning the tables over in the marketplace...I don't know the details of that story specifially, does anyone else?

Great points everyone. I think this is what Tolle was saying last night when he spoke of the creativity that comes from presence. When Doing comes from Being, there is an inspired creativity that arises. When you are no longer identified with the role of it, such as an activist or a protester, whatever you do in presence comes through you not from you. Imagine what a world it might be if the creativity in whatever we do were inspired by presence!

I was pondering how people were able to use non-violence against terrible abuses of human rights and violence inflicted against them. People like Martin luther King and others, people in Tibet just now.

In a documentary last night it was suggested that the people in Tibet will be tipped over into fighting back and I was reflecting on how on earth those like the followers of MLK or Ghandhi could remain non-violent against such outrages.

It is so amazing that they can bring that peace while acting against oppression and brutality but i think that it's easy for me to advocate non-violence while sitting here in safety and not suffering or watching children and other adults suffering.