Against the backdrop of global terrorism and a growing lack of commitment to diversity, we propose that Jerusalem becomes a site of transformation and learning. We hope Jerusalem will open up its borders, not just to its present inhabitants, but to all and become a universal city, a city of learning, and laboratory for a new vision of Man.
It is only a question of time, where the entire world, not just Jerusalem, will seek a new paradigm of interaction, a paradigm not focused on the “Self” but on the “Other”, i.e., focused on compassion, focused on giving, focused of defining one’s happiness in terms of giving to the “Other”. A person’s image can therefore reflect the “Other.”
At the level of politics, we hope Jerusalem will open its doors to the amazing diversity of peoples from all over the world, and will allow people to enter its sanctuary to access healing and transformation.
While at the larger political levels creating change may take time, more immediately, as a stepping-stone, we propose a Museum of Non-Violence.
The museum’s learning programs will focus on the celebration of diversity, and the understanding that the recognition of differences is an essential first step for people to heal differences. Truth, therefore, is interpreted as a ‘mosaic of difference.’
Because Truth isn’t considered to be absolute, the practice of Non-Violence is an important tool. The museum will catalogue the world’s best examples of Non-Violence and its applications, and the coming together of diverse energies and points of view in creating shared artifacts: The works of Gandhiji, collaborative weaving of textiles, collaborative architectural styles, collaborative music making, and collaborative interfaces.
Taken together, the museum presents us a vision for the Re-construction of Man.
The museum’s learning programs aim to show applications of Non-Violence at multiple levels:
Non-violence, applied towards one’s mind focuses on the practice of mindfulness. At a physical level, the focus is on creating healing and well-being.
At an inner level, non-violence applied towards self creates compassion, forgiveness.
Non-violence applied towards Nature creates a new idiom for design and the environment: showing new research on designing with less, living with less, designing with natural materials, and designing materials that sustain and heal.
