If you look up wikipedia, you'll find many definitions of peace attributed to various wiseacres down the ages dependent upon the point of view they were wishing to further.
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of 'peace' is absence of war, or at least violence of some kind.
This is often extended to justify the reason for war: we must 'fight for peace'. George Washington said, "There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy." And this is the maxim which it is claimed, maintained 'peace' throughout the so called 'cold war'.
Both sides, US and USSR, maintained an enormous stock pile of nuclear weapons as a deterrent (- perhaps the most classic oxymoron of all time!). The policy was named 'Mutual Assured Destruction' or 'MAD' for short (are you surprised?): 'as long as mine's at least as big as yours, peace will be maintained.'
Is this the sum total of thousands of years of human mental and emotional development? Is this the best we can be?
This kind of peace is uneasy, it is fragile, it has no substance, and can easily be destroyed.
Similarly people confuse 'power' with might, military force; this too can be easily removed and overcome.
True power, and true peace comes from within.
Mahatma Gandhi said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Buddhist patriarch, Maha Gosananda was more specific, "When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world."
The message is clear, if you want peace in the world, you must be peaceful within yourself.
So 'peace' becomes harmony, contentment, it is an inner peace, and equilibrium within our body, mind, and soul. The world without reflects the world within.
We then 'live' this peace, it manifests in all our dealings - family, friends, business, government, local, national, international, universal.
Make a start right now, add your support to the Petition4Peace - http://petition4peace.net
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." Jimi Hendrix
Tuesday 16 September 2008
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