Peace is a prize in itself

The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony took place on Dec. 10th. Here's a look at past awardees/nominees who incorporated mindfulness in their life and work. 

Congratulations to 2011's laureates: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, who were together recognized for "their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work." To watch a video of the 2011 award ceremony, click here.

From the Mindful.org archives:

Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and stopping the Vietnam War.

Surrendered to Love: Bell hooks explains how Martin Luther King’s vision of life based on a love ethic could heal our world.

Thich Nhat Hahn

Thich Nhat Hahn is a Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1967. He remains active in the peace movement, promoting non-violent solutions to conflict.

There is no path to peace. The path is peace.: Thich Nhat Hahn talks to U.S. Congress about changing our society's foundation of violence. 

Mahatma Gandhi

A pivotal figure in India's history, and one of the most well-known representatives of non-violence in the 20th century, Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1948, the year he was murdered. The omission has been publicly regretted by later members of the Nobel Committee. 

The Global Gandhi: According to Gandhi, inner transformation is the key to social change. Can it be applied to the climate crisis? An exploration by Diana Calthorpe Rose of the Garrison Institute.

Dalai Lama

His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama was named the 1989 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his nonviolent campaign over nearly 40 years to end China's domination of his homeland.