“In human life sometimes one cannot refrain from misunderstanding and conflict. But one should not indulge in it and think that conflict is unavoidable and cannot be resolved. The ancient sages advocate adopting a conciliatory attitude.”(I Ching, p. 356) “dispute should be carried out only if it is worthwhile.”(I Ching, p.87)
“When people are at war, they are not thinking clearly…”(OI, Mohawk, 55) What the Okanagan peoples call the en’owkinwiwx process – “It’s hard to give words to it.”(OI, Sam, 41) “It is a powerful tool to be used in this way, it is a peace technology; it is a traditional Okanagan form of conflict resolution.”(OI, Sam, 41)
“ancient methods of keeping the peace, of keeping the communication flowing in their society…”(OI, Biesele et.al.,75) “they have honed this very carefully and organically from their ancient traditions.” (OI, Biesele et.al.,75) “These are the obvious ways that human beings should behave.” (OI, Biesele et.al., 75) fairly
“That’s the power of our traditional teachings.”(OI, Sam, 41) “We’ll have peace with the earth only when we have peace with each other.”(OI, Ausubel, 2007, xxi) “There is a healing process that happens…”(OI, Sam, 41) “It is through these stories, that we were shown how to settle disputes and how to get along with one another, and to do this in a manner that makes both sides comfortable, a process whereby each feels that they had an equal say in the resolution process.”(OI, Sam, 40) “It’s an empowering experience!”(OI, Sam, 41)
“their most important natural resource is themselves, the mutual understanding and cooperation they can maintain among themselves… one of the oldest and most important human technologies for survival.” (OI, Biesele et.al.,83)
“When people communicate sincerely and truthfully, harmony is created, and things will be achieved easily and smoothly.”(I Ching, p. 121) The Law of Nature “sets the example for mutual communication between human beings.”(p.121)
Unworthy people will sometimes worm their way into favor, but a wise “strategy of eliminating evil forces was to show not animosity but to act without tolerance.”(I Ching, p. 356)”take resolute action to eliminate negative forces,” by not letting them influence us, and using our positive virtue to influence others.(I Ching, p. 357) “Walking the central path will create no cause for blame….no cause for regret.”(I Ching, p. 352) And “’Walking the central path’…denotes being just and fair-minded.”(I Ching, p. 345)
Hawaiian sages who practice the art of huna call this hoponopono – the process of making peace with those with whom one has put themselves at war. And this may require balancing ones inner scales, resolving one’s inner conflict, before one can make things right with others.
What's more, they warned against the Effects of Rewards and Punishments on Human Character:
“The ancient way of correcting a child rarely employed punishment.”(I Ching, 75) Punishment may sometimes be necessary, but “should not be used lightly,”(p.198) and “should be based on justice…[and] carried out with a compassionate attitude and educational purpose.”(I Ching 196) Because punishment can backfire, teach the wrong lesson, and make a bad situation worse.
(*connect Alfie Kohn)
“Punishment should not be employed,” rather, whenever possible, “a norm of proper behavior should be set up.”(I Ching, p.70) Because “the best moral education is achieved through setting examples. Confucius…advocated ‘education without words,’ believing that the most powerful influence of teachers, leaders, and parents.”(I Ching, p.71) “Confucius believed that the inner virtue and the outer actions of a king, a teacher, and a parent would influence people, students, and children. Likewise, their karmic deeds would influence their descendants for generations.”(I Ching, p.51)
“Enlightening cures incorrectness…the purpose is to lead the ignorant on his way to the right path.”(I Ching, p.70)
“The spiritual side of the natural world is absolute…. Our instructions, and I’m talking about for all human beings, our instructions are to get along. Understand what these laws are” telling us. “If you do that, life is endless. It just continues on and on in great cycles of regeneration great powerful cycles of life regenerating and regenerating and regenerating. If you want to tinker with that regeneration, if you want to interrupt it, that’s your choice, but the results that come back can be very severe because again, the laws are absolute. Either you do or you don’t. If you don’t, you pay. It’s quite simple.” (OI, Lyons, 24)