1
If we want to know the possibilities for
spiritual growth, value growth, or moral
development in human beings, then I maintain that
we can learn most by studying our most moral,
ethical, or saintly people (Maslow, 1976).

• CONFLICT RESOLUTION (ACR)
• SPIRITUALITY 3/18/05
• NANCY ERBE
• nerbe_at_csudh.edu _at_NancyErbe

2
HOW CAN OUR SOCIETIES NURTURE MORE SPIRITUAL
INSPIRATIONS WITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION LIKE
GANDHI, DR. KING, DESMOND TUTU..?

• It now quite clear that the actualization of the
  highest human potentials is possible on a mass
  basis---only under conditionsthat society is
  good which fosters the fullest development of
  human potentials, of the fullest degree of
  humanness. (Id)

3
Self Actualized Transcendent Human Beings

• Transcendence As Mysticism (Maslow)
• Transcendence As Beyond Dichotomies
• To Rise From Dichotomies to Superordinate
  Wholes (Politics Fused
• With Spirituality)/Integration

4
TRANSCENDING NORMAL DICHOTOMIES (MASLOW)
PREJUDICE, WIN/LOSE

• LEARNING TO OPEN EMBRACE COMPLEXITY
  Transcending Nation, Race, Class, Culture,
  Religion, Gender, Political Party to Be
  Inclusive and Integrative.

5
Gandhi Conflict Resolution

• If you need to build a
• nation you must start
• with the village.

• TOP DOWN
• MIDDLE LEVEL
• BOTTOM GRASSROOTS

6
My joy was boundless. I had learnt the true
practice of law. I had learnt to find out the
better side of human nature and to enter mens
hearts. I realized the true function of a lawyer
was to unite parties riven asunder. The lesson
was so indelibly burnt into me that a large part
of my time during the twenty years of my practice
as a lawyer was occupied in bringing about
private compromises of hundreds of cases. I lost
nothing thereby---not even money, certainly not
my soul (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) quoted by
Samadhan Delhi High Court Mediation and
Conciliation Centre. 
7
MEDIATION CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS
SPIRITUALITY (GANDHIS PRINCIPLES)

• Service Sacrifice Empathetic Listening
• Unconditional Love Unconditional Regard
  (Suspending
• Judgment)
•  Recognition of Impartiality
  All (Inclusive Power
• Balancing)
•  

8
Hate The Separate the People FromSin
Not Their Problems AttackThe
Sinner The Problem Not People
(Fisher) Studied Reframing
HostileChrists Party Language to
Teachings Pull Out the Love Your
Positive Need Enemies
9
CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

• Challenge Teaches Parties in Injustice Conflic
  t with Generous Tit Love for Tat
• (Forgiveness Math)
• Moral Other Disarmament Collaborativ
  e
• That Cannot Win-Win
• Be Moved

10
The more Good faith requiredtruthful
we including honestare the closer information
sharing. we are to God.

• My life is Walking our talk
• my message. moral congruence
• (essential for
• trustbuilding
• influence)
•  

11
Justice is often Party self-not to be
had determination/without capacitysome
show of (to negotiatestrength. on ones own
behalf)/ empowerment BATNA
12
Power of Persuasion  Negotiating
Asserting Process, Relationship
Communication NO HARM Parameters (Gr
ound Rules) No Personal Attack 
13
no human being Victim offenderis so bad
as to mediation be beyond restorative
redemption justice HUMANIZE THE
DEHUMANIZED OPPRESSED THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
OF HUMAN ENCOUNTER 

14
TRANSCENDENCE AS DESTINY

• To Yield To Ones Destiny Or Fate and To Fuse
  With It.To Embrace Lovingly (Maslow)

15
HELPING STUDENTS SEEK DISCOVER THEIR DESTINY

• STUDYING LIFE NARRATIVE DISCOVERING PATTERNS
• RECOGNIZING GIVEN TALENTS
• ASKING HOW TO HEAR THEIR OWN INNER VOICE?

16
NOTICING FRAMINGTRANSFORMATIVE
EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIESSHAPING OF PURPOSE,
CONTRIBUTIONGREATEST MEANING
17
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRYValuing the best of what
is moments of excellence, high points, proud
momentsReframing the hardshipsto find the
gold within
18
Transcendence as Being PeaceAmerican Youth
Hunger
19
LEVELS OF CONFLICT/PEACE (UNESCO ELISE BOULDING)

• National
• Inter
• Intra
• Systems (Complex Dynamics, Relationships)
• Group
• Inter
• Intra
• Person(al)
• Inter
• Intra

20
HOW DO WE BEST NURTURE AND ENCOURAGE OUR QUEST
FOR TRUTH, THE MEANING OF LIFE? 

• Nonviolence is not merely a tactic but a
  strategy(My) inquiry into nonviolent social
  change turned into a quest for truth and the
  meaning of life. (Cortwright)
•  

21
HOW TO PROMOTE IN THE MIDST OF CRAZY MATERIALISM,
DISTRACTION COMPETITIONPLACE OF DEEP
LISTENING/KNOWING/PEACE
22
MODERN BONDAGE?OPPRESSION?GOES BEYOND NATION
STATE TO INCLUDE TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS,INTER
NATIONAL FINANCE, OIL INDUSTRY, CORRUPT GOVT
SYSTEMS KEEPING CITIZENS HOSTAGEONLY MODELING A
MATERIALIST EXAMPLE FOR YOUTH?
23
WHEN HOW DID GANDHIS CONSCIOUS AWARENESS, OR
HEARING HIS INNER VOICE, OCCUR?

• DURING REPEATED HUMILIATION IN SOUTH AFRICA?
• NEVER SEEMS TO OCCUR WITH WEALTHIEST, MOST
  PRIVILEGED POWERFUL UNLESS THEY LEAVE THEIR
  WEALTH PRIVILEGE BEHIND BUDDHA, JESUS CHRIST,
  ST. FRANCIS
• GANDHI, TOO, EVOLVED INTO MORE MORE SIMPLICITY

24
See conquering anger with forgiveness ego with
humilityBUT WHERE ISconquering greed with
contentment?
25
STUDENTS WANT TO HEAR PERSONAL SPIRITUAL
STORY/SEEKING

• FOUR YEARS AGO UNDERGRADUATES ASKED ME TO TEACH
  THEM HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR INTUITIVE INTELLIGENCE

26
18 YEARS AGO AN AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEAGUE ASKED
ME TO PUT INTO WORDSWHAT I DO IN CONFLICT
RESOLUTION THE ANSWER IS SPIRITUALITY OR
INTUITIVE INTELLIGENCE
27
Passionate Christian childhoodMarried to
Buddhist priest meditated in Buddhist community
for decadeLeft Law Practice for Own Spiritual
Seeking Contemplative Franciscan Community,
Kripalu Ashram with Yoga Practice Birth of
Mediation-Teaching Current husband a Sikh who
teaches Breath Yoga
28
HOW TO HELP STUDENTS/CLIENTS WITH OWN SPIRITUAL
INQUIRY GROWTH?INTUITIVE INTELLIGENCE?
29
REFLECTIVE PRACTICE WITH SCRIPTURE IS A GOOD
START IF SELF CRITIQUE (TRUTH), HUMILITY OPEN
MINDEDNESS RESULT(SUSPENDING JUDGMENT)
30
THE LOG IN ONES OWN EYE

• Cognitive/Perceptual Distortions Trained
  Incapacities Like Many Human Beings Blame,
  Attribution Error/Self Serving Bias, In/Out Group
  Scapegoating

31
TOOLS OF CRE EDUCATION

• PROCESS OBSERVATION NOTICING THE SIGNS PAYING
  ATTENTION
• EXCELLENT INFO GATHERING
• GREAT QUESTIONS
• CURIOSITY
• THE GREAT MYSTERY
• DEEP LISTENINGOTHERSSELF