LKPY: Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Right) aged 28
Auckland, New Zealand 1975

This idea came to me as a result of all the discussion which followed the Columbine shootings. You’ll remember how some years ago in the US, some young students carried guns into their school and killed many of their classmates and teachers.  People and politicians discussed for months and months whether to allow guns or whether not to allow guns. I never saw one person on TV talking about compassion. I was very surprised, for if you change the way your mind thinks, if you place focus on generating compassion, then you are far less likely to harm others in the first place.  I started thinking of ways in which compassion could be regularly encouraged in young people, and it was then that I visualized LKPY – an organization which focuses on educating both the heart, and the mind, with peaceful ideals.  I pictured this organization in many countries, especially those countries with a lot of violence, and understood that with a focus on compassion, we could help young people’s lives grow happier and more peaceful, and assist them in finding true fulfillment through the education of a good heart.

–Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2004

Started in 1999, LKPY has been organically sprouting into an organization. In 2006 five young people, inspired by Lama Zopa’s LKPY concept, gathered together in Australia to create it and are known as the originators of LKPY, (Shyla, Freeman, Poh Lin, Mike, Matt, pictured left). In early 2007 more people from all over the world jumped on board, and in June 2007 (to coincide with the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Dalai Lama’s Australian tour) LKPY launched with an event in Melbourne, Australia, then with events held in eight countries all over the world. 

The current team are pictured right – Julia Hengst, Kasia Beznoska (director), Craig Mackie, Fernando Romo Ledezma and Arya Cayton

 

The Concept

Here at LKPY we believe that peace isn’t just the absence of war… We believe that peace lies naturally within us all and is our primary reason for existence… LKPY is not about protesting wars, demanding weapon restrictions, creating borders and separation, making demands on politicians, going into war zones, or standing in front of tanks…

Its simpler, its starts with you and me… and that’s why it can work!

It’s about focusing on the positives not the negatives, and through cultivating the organic goodness within ourselves we can reduce the space for the weeds to grow. We do this with simple practices of breathing, slowing down, stretching, communicating and taking the time and space to regularly nourish our mind and body… From this space of feeling better and clearer within ourselves we can then best begin to help others…

The Vision

We believe peace is a constantly growing process: starting through ourselves and then emanating outwards to our families, neighbors and friends, to our community and our environment… We encourage peaceful communication through recognizing our similarities while celebrating our differences, no matter what our beliefs or appearances are.  We facilitate this through open discussions, through listening to inspiring people who have done amazing things, through learning about our environment and through volunteering, through getting up and getting out there, for doing what needs to be done to really benefit others.

We all want to make a difference. We all want to be happy. And we all what peace… LKPY just nourishes what is already within you and me!

Objectives

Our objectives are to engage in a range of projects, that specifically focus on:

• Peace building
• Education
• Positive dialogue
• Intercultural & interfaith understanding
• Peer-to-peer support
• Non-violent expression
• Environmental awareness
• Community commitment
• Celebration of creativity
• Personal integrity and empowerment
• Mindful living.

LKPY is for Everyone

LKPY is universal, for all people of all cultures, ages, colors, countries and beliefs. We are about organically cultivating people from the inside out. We encourage slowing down, contentment, breathing, volunteering, smiling, creativity, tolerance, moderation, kindness, supporting others and taking the time to nurture not only ourselves, but our community and the world around us.

We are a way of life.

LKPY utilizes the principles and tools of The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, as well as building on a variety of other resources.  We support people of all beliefs and cultures to develop inner peace; we wish to give them the skills and confidence to make a difference in themselves, their community and ultimately – the whole world!
 
LKPY places a focus on young people as in being the ‘next generation’ they are therefore in a prime position to create new concepts of peace.  Added to this, young people like to ‘think out of the square’, think ‘big’, and LKPY projects aims to nurture that unique quality within all young people and support their expression of it, so that they can make a difference.

So what’s a young person? Well, age is another boundary we are trying not to subscribe to, so by ‘young’ we mean ‘young minds’ – we want people who think big, with the energy, the enthusiasm and the courage to make a difference. We want everyone to be involved! 

LKPY recognizes that global peace starts with the individual, then through others recognizing this positive change, it will slowly have an impact on the larger community.  Ultimately LKPY aims to help create a peaceful world.

Projects

LKPY exists through projects that allow people to get involved in a variety of ways.  We are in the beginning stages of building ideas for projects. If you would like to get involved or share ideas, please get in touch!

This is currently the key LKPY project:

HABIT! 
HABITS are regular gatherings held at café’s or other chilled out venues. These is tea time for the soul… a chance to catch up with like minded people, slow down, change your thinking, workshop the way the world works, learn, listen, collaborate, and be passionate about making a difference.

How You Can Get Involved with LKPY
LKPY loves…. new ideas, advice, interesting stories, volunteers, new thoughts for LKPY projects, love letters, pictures, donations, your input! 

Look for LKPY on Facebook!

Director Kasia Beznoska