“When one person resolves one issue, the whole of humanity moves forward.”
♦ H. Ronald Hulnick, Chief Executive Officer, Emeritus, University of Santa Monica

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Within a few days following the shock, grief, and terror of 9/11—now almost 25 years ago—Ron and I hosted a Gathering, open to our Community and the public-at-large, in the ballroom at 2107 Wilshire Blvd, the home of University of Santa Monica where the University’s Programs in Spiritual Psychology were offered in person for 40 years. The focus was “Heart-Centered Living in Challenging Times.” Every seat in the room was filled—an overflow crowd standing in the back.

The power and authenticity of sharing by those gathered that evening was courageous, vulnerable, and profound. Much pain, sorrow, judgment, grief, and fear were transmuted through coming together in the Spirit of Loving, Caring, and Sharing for which University of Santa Monica is known and highly regarded worldwide.

One particular sharing is etched forever in my consciousness. A grad stood with the mic in her hand and spoke from her heart: “Where is the violence in my consciousness and my own life even if it’s subtle and unintended… and what is it reflecting to me about dismantling the inner terrorist inside of me?”

She further shared that the events of September 11 had brought home the absolute necessity of disarming and transforming the inner terrorist within her own consciousness. Her profound words reverberated throughout the room. This young woman recognized the power of owning the projection her world was reflecting. Her realization became a portal of opportunity for those seeking to make sense of the events that had taken place and embrace the powerful, personal opportunities for radical, life-changing choices.

Now in 2026, the challenges facing humanity globally continue to accelerate and escalate… fires, floods, famine, and food insecurity, wars being waged with disregard for international humanitarian law—to say nothing of the Compassion of the Human Heart—economic challenges, gun violence, and political divisiveness. We are confronted by a culture of “me” at a time when coming together in the culture of “we”—cooperating with the Highest Good of all concerned—is an essential next step in the evolution of consciousness and the well-being of humanity and the planet at this time.

We can experience the Strength of Heart, Wisdom, and Unconditional Loving that are your inherent Divine, Loving Nature rather than being at the effect of the reactivity and againstness of the ego informed by the duality of right/wrong, good/bad, carrying the long gun of judgment and hatred. Make no mistake, emotional disarmament is not weakness. It is a doorway to Soul Awareness and residing in the Constancy of Divine Love.

For myself, I experience it as a personal call for not only surrendering the long gun of judgment but also for encouraging myself and others in answering Spirit’s Call to engage in the inner work of dissolving misbeliefs that blind us and healing the hurts that bind us.

The unresolved material within a human consciousness fosters armoring up in righteousness and seemingly justifiable againstness—even hatred. One of the greatest myths is the misbelief that inner disturbance signals that another person or external situation “should” be different from what it is. And further, that external situations are the cause of our disturbance.

The philosophy of “I’m upset because… ” is epidemic on the planet at this time. Individually, it’s called emotional suffering that is a byproduct of judgment and misunderstanding the nature of reality. Interpersonally, it’s called conflict and estrangement that is a byproduct of blame and projection. Internationally, it’s called war.

Engaging in emotional disarmament offers opportunities for residing in the field of infinite possibilities. After all, it is Rumi’s field: “Out beyond ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” We can choose to reside in the Infinite Love that is our Essential Loving Nature as we assist ourselves and each other in releasing the ties that bind us, laying down the long gun of judgment, grieving and healing the hurts that we’ve had no words for.

Yesterday morning, I had the privilege of participating in an initial Spiritual Counseling session with a woman living in Europe. Her readiness and willingness to address the unresolved material within her own consciousness offered an extraordinary gateway to a very deep exploration of family patterning revealing an exquisite opportunity for intergenerational healing. This session was just an hour, and afterwards, I sat in the family room in a place of deep Peace, Reverence, and Gratitude to Spirit.

When I closed my eyes, I was surrounded by a luminous, golden light. It was moving—almost like a gentle, golden rain falling upon me… infusing me… blessing me… offering me an experience of the Peace that surpasseth all understanding. This surely was an experience of the Constancy of God’s Loving—unconditional, neutral, and continuous. I experienced myself living Love as the flower lives Beauty… experiencing the Presence of Peace through the dove of the Holy Spirit.

I awoke this morning in awareness of Khalil Gibran’s beautiful quote, “I awake at dawn with a winged heart, and give thanks for another day of Loving.” As the kaleidoscope of my own consciousness shifted, what emerged was “Peace is present… Peace is possible.”

I heard the first lines of this song: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” I do not have the power to wave a magic wand transforming the Earth School to a planet of Peace. That’s not its purpose. Rather, it is a classroom within which we have the privilege and infinite opportunities for learning to live Love as a flower lives Beauty… learning to live Peace.

I can choose Peace. And… I can continue sharing the life-changing Principles and Practices of Spiritual Psychology—tools for emotional disarmament, practices for Spiritual Awakening, and practices for manifesting a life of health, wealth, and happiness; loving, caring, and sharing; abundance, prosperity, and riches.

We can transcend the illusion of powerlessness and “I am upset because… ” We are Divine Beings, Co-creators with God, conduits of God’s Love… Light… Sound… and Grace. We can know this reality experientially here and now. It’s still possible. I AM possible. Peace is possible. Global emotional disarmament is possible. I forgive myself for forgetting that I am Divine… and I forgive myself for judging my humanness and the humanness of others.

The truth is I AM the Presence of Peace. I AM the Presence of Love.

Dr. Mary R. Hulnick, Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer Emeritus, University of Santa Monica

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JOHN-ROGER’S FOUR PRINCIPLES OF PEACE

“We have discovered four principles that build a foundation for choosing peace
as an individual and functioning as a peacemaker in the world:

∗ Peace is present

∗ Peace is an inner process

∗ Peace is the cessation of againstness

∗ Peace is a choice, available regardless of any conditions.”

♦ John-Roger, USM’s Founder