Q&A: Tord Dellsén, Daily Metta App Volunteer

Tord Dellsén lives in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest (and incredibly picturesque) city. He is our volunteer coordinator for the Daily Metta App project, which he also serves with his programming and documentation skills.

“I was (and am!) glad that I could contribute to an organization doing important and intelligent work,” Tord says. “I’ve been doing a lot of the design so far, but we now need help from someone with real expertise in this area.” (Hint hint: Any designers out there looking for an opportunity to serve? Please see our listing on Idealist.org.)

You also volunteer for The Mindfulness Bell, “a journal of the art of mindful living.” How do you serve that magazine?

I’m helping them with the more technical aspects of building a website. Lately I’ve been working on presenting a world map with all the sanghas in the Plum Village tradition of Buddhism. There are over 600 of them! [You can see the result of Tord’s work on the map at The Mindfulness Bell.]

Outside of volunteering, how do you enjoy spending your time?

I like spending time with my dog, Siiri. We often take long walks in the forest. Other than this, I also spend time reading. The book I’m currently reading is Behind Bars (Inburad in Swedish). It’s written by Swedish peace activists about their experiences in prison after having been arrested for their civil disobedience, disarmament work. Although I may not agree with 100% of what they write, it’s interesting for me to see another side of our society and also inspiring to see the amount of effort the activists are willing to make to raise awareness about weapons exports.

How did you first learn about nonviolence?

Through Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and Marshall Rosenberg. I found video material online, and after this I was stuck :). NVC offers a very different way of thinking about people and actions from what I had been used to: focusing on needs instead of thinking in terms of right/wrong, good/bad, etc.

Which practices help you stay aligned on your path of nonviolence?

My Buddhist background helps me a lot. In very practical terms, my breathing works as an anchor so I don’t lose myself in my thoughts or emotions. Also, I try to be aware of what “spiritual food” I take in every day from our culture. For example, I try to be conscious of (and, if I can, I avoid) commercials, filling my head instead with things I believe will bring peace and joy.

Where do technology and design fit in your vision of a nonviolent future?

I really want to use my technical skills for something I believe in, so the Daily Metta App is a very good fit for me. As with many things, technology can be used in a constructive or not-so-constructive way. I hope it can help us develop new habits of thinking and acting, which is how I believe we can contribute with the Daily Metta App.

Tord has also been working on the KindMind app for Android, which is available at Google Play.

Photos courtesy of Tord’s father, Torgny Dellsén, whose work can be seen on Zenfolio.