Theme: Connecting the Dances of Universal Peace to the Walk for Peace
Sky opened by drawing a parallel between the recent Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace (a ~2,300-mile, 110-day walk from Fort Worth to Washington, DC, led by roughly 19 monks and a dog) and the Dances of Universal Peace. Both, she argued, share the same core teaching from founder Murshid Sam: peace begins within the individual and radiates outward into the world — echoed in the closing dance chant “May all beings be well, may all beings be happy, peace, peace, peace.” She noted Murshid Sam also began sessions with focused “walks” (planetary walks, elemental walks, the “Toward the One” walk), directly paralleling the monks’ walking meditation practice.
Discussion highlights:
- Shivadam noted the Dances are formally called “dances and walks,” reflecting the same mission as the monks but expressed through many spiritual traditions rather than one.
- Mary Ellen shared a moving encounter with a visiting Tibetan monk radiating present-moment peace, reinforcing the value of being “right here, right now.”
- Shivadam described using body sensation (feet on the ground, breath) as an anchor to bring people into the present during opening walks — since sensation only exists in the present moment.
- Ren shared how she personally reworked Hazrat Inayat Khan’s peace prayer from a request (“send thy peace”) into a present-tense affirmation (“I am that peace”), drawing on Ramadan practice.
- Sky mentioned a beautiful meditation called “Waiting for Your Peace” by one of the walking monks (link shared in chat, only available as a Facebook reel).
- Ayesha raised a concern about circles losing their sense of presence and “beginner’s mind” — falling into rote routine rather than真正 embodying peace.
- This led to a broader, heartfelt discussion about how to handle people who disrupt or don’t align with the group’s values. Sky introduced the idea of a “social contract”: phrases like “live welcoming to all” don’t mean tolerating harmful or disruptive behavior — being a doormat isn’t the same as radical welcome. When someone acts outside shared values (honesty, compassion, gentleness), they step outside the protection of that contract, and leaders can address it directly rather than passively enabling it.
- Menar shared a mentor’s saying about vocal balance in the circle, and reflected on how synchronized walking (even without verbal explanation) creates felt unity — tying into a mini-debate about “Toward the One” vs. “In the One” phrasing, referencing a past talk by Wali Ali on the invocation.
- Eliana gave an emotional, vulnerable share — comparing her personal struggle (homelessness, conflict with a landlord, needing to set a boundary and take legal action) to the monks’ endurance through hardship, and asking how to hold peace in the heart while still protecting herself. This drew warm, validating responses from Sky and others, emphasizing that the practice isn’t about perfection but ongoing commitment, and that dance leadership is as much about the leader’s own inner growth as it is about teaching others.
- The group closed reflecting on gratitude for having this practice and community, noting how many people drawn to the Walk for Peace community are hungry for exactly this kind of practice and belonging, even without adopting Buddhism formally.
Closing: Sky named a palpable stillness in the group, comparing it to the silence at the end of a dance, and closed the session with a blessing (“Until we meet again, may your day be blessed and peaceful”).
