Practical Spirituality The Spiritual Basis of Nonviolent Communication

by Rosenberg, Marshall B.

• ISBN13: 9781892005144
• ISBN10: 189200514X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-01
• Publisher: Puddledancer Press

Summary

Illustrative exercises, sample stories, and role-playing activities offer the opportunity for self-evaluation and discovery. Brief, unscripted reflections on the spiritual underpinnings of non-violent communication inspire readers to connect with the divine in themselves and others in order to create social relationships based on empathy.

Author Biography

Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., is the author of Getting Past the Pain Between Us, The Heart of Social Change, Life-Enriching Education, Nonviolent Communication, Raising Children Compassionately, Teaching Children Compassionately, and We Can Work It Out. He is the founder of the Center for Nonviolent Communication, an international nonprofit organization that teaches peacemaking skills. He lives in La Crescenta, California.

Table of Contents

Q: How do we connect with the Divine through Nonviolent Communication?	2	(1)
Q: What does 'God' mean to you?	2	(1)
Q: What is your favorite way of knowing Beloved Divine Energy?	3	(1)
Q: What religious beliefs, teachings, or writings have had the greatest influence on you?	3	(1)
Q: Doesn't the influence of religion and spirituality promote passivity, or an "opiate of the masses" effect?	4	(1)
Q: So Nonviolent Communication evolved in part from spiritual origins?	5	(1)
Q: What do you mean by "giving of ourselves"?	6	(1)
Q: Nonviolent Communication came out of your desire to manifest love?	7	(1)
Q: How do you prevent Ego from interfering with your connection with God?	8	(1)
Q: Then you believe that the language of our culture prevents us from knowing our Divine Energy more intimately?	9	(1)
Q: Is this the spiritual basis of Nonviolent Communication?	10	(1)
Q: Is this lack of connection to Divine Energy responsible for violence in the world?	10	(2)
Q: How do we overcome this conditioning?	12	(1)
Q: We gain this connection to each other by knowing God?	13	(1)
Q: So exactly how do we gain this connection to Divine Energy, and to other people?	14	(1)
Q: How do we express what's alive in us?	14	(2)
Q: Do you suggest that simply telling people how we feel is all that's needed?	16	(1)
Q: What prevents people from just saying what they need?	17	(1)
Q: So what's next after feelings and needs?	18	(1)
Q: What keeps us from connecting to the life in each other as you suggest?	19	(1)
Q: Can you give an example of how to make an empathic connection with someone?	20	(2)
Q: How do you express your needs as requests without sounding like you're demanding something?	22	(1)
Q: What about discipline? What you're suggesting sounds like just being permissive	23	(1)
Q: How can I tell when I'm connecting to what's alive in someone else?	24	(1)
Q: Can you give another example of how you've actually used this process to connect with others?	25	(2)
Q: The process of connecting to the Divine Energy in others with NVC seems clear enough on paper, but isn't it hard to actually live by?	27	(1)
Q: How do you get enemies to recognize the Divine in each other?	28	(1)
Q: How basic is our need to give to one another?	29	(1)
Q: Have you encountered any cultural or language barriers to this process?	30	(1)
Q: Do you believe a spiritual practice is important for practicing nonviolence?	31	(1)
Q: Have you been influenced by past movements that have attempted to mediate between spirituality and social change, like Gandhi's or Martin Luther King, Jr.s?	32	(1)
Some Basic Feelings and Needs We All Have	33	(1)
About CIVVC and NVC	34	(2)
About PuddleDancer Press, NVC and CNVC	36	(1)
Trade Publications Available from PuddleDancer	37	(2)
Booklets Available from CNVC by PuddleDancer	39	(1)
CDs and Cassettes Available from Sounds True	40	(1)
Center for Nonviolent Communication Materials Order Form	41	(1)
About the Author	42
How you can use the IVVC Process	(back inside