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The Metta Center for Nonviolence helps people around the world practice nonviolence more safely and more effectively. [source: metta-center] Nonviolence is described as a powerful force rooted in human dignity, unleashed when potentially destructive drives like fear or anger are converted into creative equivalents like love and compassion. [source: metta-center] When harnessed systematically and in an experimental, scientific spirit, nonviolence can be used as a force for realizing greater security, justice, and social unity. [source: metta-center]

The Center draws from research, lived experience, and global traditions to help individuals and communities deepen their understanding and practice of nonviolence. [source: metta-center] The organization emphasizes that nonviolence is more than putting another person in power; it is about awakening a different kind of power in people. [source: metta-center]

The Metta Center offers five things everyone can do to engage with nonviolence. [source: metta-center] First, unplug from commercial mass media and its low image of human nature, as there are alternative ways to receive information about current events that do not degrade human nature. [source: metta-center] Second, learn everything you can about nonviolence. [source: metta-center] Third, take up a spiritual practice if you don’t already have one, like meditation or centering practices, recognizing that we are mind, body, and spirit. [source: metta-center] Fourth, rehumanize by being more personal with everyone and reclaiming our common humanity. [source: metta-center] Fifth, get involved by finding where your gifts meet the needs of the movement and offering what you can give, while sharing the new story of nonviolence. [source: metta-center]

The Center quotes Gandhi, who stated that while amazing discoveries are constantly being made in the field of violence, far more undreamt of and seemingly impossible discoveries will be made in the field of nonviolence. [source: metta-center]

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A campaigner can use the Metta Center for Nonviolence as a resource to deepen their understanding of nonviolence as a constructive power rooted in human dignity. [source: metta-center] The Center’s framework helps campaigners convert destructive drives like fear or anger into creative equivalents like love and compassion, and to apply nonviolence systematically in an experimental, scientific spirit to achieve greater security, justice, and social unity. [source: metta-center]

Campaigners can also apply the five practical actions recommended by the Center to their work. [source: metta-center] These include unplugging from degrading media, learning about nonviolence, adopting spiritual practices, rehumanizing interactions with others, and finding where their gifts meet movement needs. [source: metta-center] By following these steps, campaigners can practice nonviolence more safely and effectively while sharing the new story of nonviolence. [source: metta-center]

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