Gender violence is now a world health problem to an epidemic level, that’s one of the reasons why we invite people -particularly men- to meditate.
Some men understand that “To Be a Man” is to be bold, strong, assertive, a seducer, a hunter. Some of us believe -nowadays- that this is changing. Feelings and values are important for human beings, it does not mater what sex or gender orientation you have. Anyway, the macho speech keeps being trendy “women don’t get attracted by wimps, if you give women what they ask for, you will be devaluated in front of her eyes and will lost your sex appeal.” “Be an immature, lazy men, that’s the way it has been for decades -Boys will be boys-“. “Be cold, build your success, live to the full, appear to be dangerous and mysterious”. “Be a man. Stop being such a fag. Grow a pair. You’re such a girl. Man up.” One of the awful consequences? Gender violence is now a world health problem to epidemic level, according with the World Health Organisation. http://www.who.int/en/ Do aggressive men respect women and children? Not usually, and that is why it is so necessary to raise different voices: “Dear sisters and brothers, now it’s time to speak up…We will speak for our rights and we will bring change through our voice. We must believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the world.” On October 9, 2012, young Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban insurgents while coming home from school in the Swat Valley, Pakistan. She survived. Today on her 16th birthday she she addresses the United Nations to call for their support of equal education around the world. http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/07/12/malala-day-speech-moves-world “Peace is necessary for education. In many parts of the world especially Pakistan and Afghanistan; terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to go to their schools.” “The extremists are afraid of books and pens… the power of women frightens them.” Luckily, there are voices working for a transformation. For example the Documentary The Mask You Live In, is about how most men in our cultureare encouraged to repress their emotions, express power through dominance and prove their masculinity. Pressures results in serious consequences. Boys are 30% more likely to drop out of school. They are also seven times likely to die by his own hand than girls.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/54105/the-one-thing-all-men-feel-but-never-admit
The director Jennifer Siebel Newsom interviewed men and boys across the country and what she found was jaw-dropping. She found that although men want to speak, they are taught to stay silent. They spend their life wearing a mask that they are taught to never remove. And talking about emotions and manners… one way to demonstrate that the person has respect for his own emotions and for the emotions of other persons, is manifested in difficult moments, such as ruptures.How to face conflicts without making such a mess? Even when the relation lasted a few days or several years, the way in which one handles the complicated moments, it is the impression that one leaves in the other person. Here comes the importance of courtesy and manners, which give us a guide of tact or diplomacy -as you like to call it-, in order to be kind with the feeling of those around us. For example: if it is a definitive break up, to respect that, and give space to the other person, (and stop calling her over and over). To look for the right time and space, in order to have a face-to-face good bye. Only if the relationship was a long distance one, it is acceptable to use the phone. This fact helps to both persons to go thought the experience of breaking up. As much as we need to be able to express our happiness, it is healthy to face -an in the case of a relation, to socialise- our feelings of sadness, stress, or fear. It is good to make closures with explanations of the reasons that lead to this, and this helps both persons to be honest, to learn from the experience and it is also a sign of respect for those who have been part of our lives.
http://www.eharmony.com/dating-advice/relationships/the-decent-persons-guide-to-breaking-up/#.UempWI75hjI
One of the tools we have to learn to be aware of our feelings, and to reduce stress, is to meditate. I am sure that all people can embrace it if we become conscience of the benefits meditation can bring them in order to have a better life. The American Heart Association shows that regular meditation twice a day was correlated with a 48% reduced rate of heart attack and stroke immediately. Blood pressure was reduced and anger decreased significantly among the meditation group. They also showed a trend towards reduced smoking. “It appears that Transcendental Meditation is a technique that turns on the body’s own pharmacy – to repair and maintain itself.” Said lead researcher Dr Robert Schneider, director of the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention in Iowa. Dr Schneider added: “Transcendental Meditation may reduce heart disease risks for both healthy people and those with diagnosed heart conditions.”Original study: http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/5/6/750.full Time Magazine publication: http://healthland.time.com/2012/11/14/mind-over-matter-strongest-study-yet-shows-meditation-can-lower-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke/ WedMd summary: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20121108/transcendental-meditation-may-lower-heart-risk
One of the international organisations which is working to teach energy healing is Pranic Healing. http://pranichealing.org/ It is a non lucrative organisation, the World Pranic Healing Foundation, which has the objetive of contribute to the spiritual development of human kind, thought the teachings of Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga of Master Choa Kok Sui. Those interested may Read a free copy of The Manual on Pranic Energy Healing http://www.pranicenergyhealing.net / Also, you can join the Online Free Meditations, for World Peace, Healing Meditations, Special Weekly Meditations and Full Moon Meditations http://ppmaudiostream.org/index.html In summary: It is not only about men learning to respect children and women, and expressing feelings in a documentary or being gently during break ups, or learning to meditate. It is a group of actions which favour the development of human beings -to be aware of our emotions, and to learn to express them with courtesy-. To achieve peace and equity, we need to participate all, to build a stronger future for all.
Love, grace and transcendence blessings
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Thank you.
Atma Unum 