Representing a synthesis of the author's decades of multidisciplinary work in meditation, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and spirituality,Creating Peace by Being Peaceguides readers in creating peace on seven levels of engagement, from the body to the ecology to God. Author Gabriel Cousens addresses the increasingly urgent need to transform humankind with the ancient peace wisdom of the Essenes, a Judaic mystical group that flourished two millennia ago. He begins by explaining the Essenes and the lessons they can teach us as creators of peace. Individual chapters cover a wide range of possibility, from the personal ("Peace with the Mind") to the political ("Peace with the Community"). The final chapter, "Integrating Peace on Every Level," presents a comprehensive plan for peace with the body, mind, family, community, culture, ecology, and God as a pervasive experience in lifemoment to moment, day by day. Cousens blends documentary evidence with original interpretation to show that the Essenes actually did live this experience of peace. Most importantly, he transfers their gift to modern seekers as a breathing blueprint for realizing this reality as we walk in our lives; work according to our gifts, joys, and sacred design; and live the path of spiritual awakeningthe sevenfold peace.

Rebbe Gabriel Cousens, MD, MD(H), DD (Doctor of Divinity), Diplomate American Board of Holistic Medicine, Diplomate Ayurveda, is a world-recognized medical doctor and spiritual teacher who teaches in the U.S., the Middle East, Panama, Mexico, Ecuador, North Africa, and Europe. He is the founder and director of the Tree of Life Foundation, which trains Essene priests and coordinates international humanitarian aid programs. The author of Conscious Eating, Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine, and There Is a Cure for Diabetes, he lives in Patagonia, AZ.

FROM THE AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION

WE CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE TO CREATE PEACE BY BEING PEACE. One who is at peace brings harmony into every aspect of life. This book is about inner action resulting from the inspiration arising from the wisdom already within the reader, which transforms self (tikkun ha’nefesh) and the planet (tikkun ha’olam). It is not an attempt to prove a formula for peace.

What is meant by the word peace? Is it found simply by meditating in a cave? Is peace merely the absence of war? Will we obtain peace by preventing the destruction of the rainforests, by saving the whales and dolphins, by changing our economic or political systems, or by growing and eating only organic foods? The Sevenfold Path of Peace, based on the ancient teachings of the Essenes, takes us beyond narrow definitions of peace to a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the personal, social, and planetary dimensions of peace. Living this ancient, multi-leveled Sevenfold Path of Peace lays the foundation for the establishment of lasting planetary peace. This full peace is predicated on both the inner process of personal transformation and the outer process of planetary transformation.

The Sevenfold Path of Peace offers a modernization of ancient Essene wisdom so that we, too, can create peace within our lives, communities, and planet. This book is an expression of more than forty-five years as an active peaceworker from a variety of perspectives, as evidenced in the longer-than-usual biography, which shows the author is speaking from direct and heartfelt experience-based wisdom. The photos at the beginning of each chapter show the author in various expressions of the Sevenfold Path of Peace. Thus, this book is best experienced as a personal sharing rather than a documented essay with a lot of footnotes. To make the point that the ideas are more important than the supported “hard-fact” evidence, he has chosen not to footnote this book, but instead to give general references and reading for all the supportive information he cites. The real proof needs to be intuitively felt and then transferred into a life of living peace by being a feeling-based prayer of peace in every moment. Creating Peace by Being Peace is about becoming the essence of peace on all seven levels of one’s life. It is not a theoretical spiritual discussion of peace or a single-focus approach. It is a framework for inspiring each moment into a living prayer of peace in a way that activates the expression of that living prayer in all of creation. Peace is the natural expression of the Culture of Life and Liberation; the experience of peace is part of our natural awakened normality state. You are invited to walk this Sevenfold Path of Peace along with the millions of people who already are. And one day may this planet be blessed that this humble path becomes a superhighway of peace, love, and healing for the world.

Blessings, Love, and Peace to you on this wondrous journey,
—Rebbe Gabriel Cousens, MD

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Excerpted from Creating Peace by Being Peace: The Essene Sevenfold Path by Gabriel Cousens
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