Ken Hurley
Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away. – John Lennon (10/9/1940 – 12/8/1980)
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. – Jimi Hendrix (11/27/1942 – 9/18/1970)
IF ONLY THE RAPTURE were a reality, then the rest of us humans might have a better chance at external peace, after the Christian Nationalists have been joyfully sucked off the planet. Then I remember that wars and other external conflicts are not all religious. Anyone remember the first, second, or third Punic War? What a mess.
There are wars of independence, border wars, proxy wars, civil wars, invasions, jihads, cold wars, hot wars, lukewarm wars — of which each can be said, “War is not healthy for children and other living things.” A slogan coined by Another Mother for Peace, Lorraine Schneider, in opposition to the Vietnam war.
The word ‘peace’ is derived from the Latin word ‘pax,’ which means a pact, or an agreement to end war or any dispute or conflict between people, nations, or other antagonistic groups of humans.
Generally, peace is classified into two types: internal peace and external peace.
"Inner peace" is peace of the mind and body. It is a state of calm, serenity, and tranquility that arises when one is not suffering or in mental crisis such as worry, anxiety, greedy desires, hatred, ill-will, delusion, or other troubling human aspects of life. Internal peace is peace within oneself. When one lives a life filled with inner peace, one is less likely to support wars and other external conflicts.
According to Lao Tzu‘s famous saying:
If there is to be peace in the world,
there must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
there must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
there must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.
Peace is a state of tranquility, calm, repose, quietness, harmony, friendship, amity, concord, friendly relationships, public order, pacification, spiritual content, reconciliation, serenity, security, social justice, and bliss. Did I miss something?
Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, also known as Tenzin Gyatso; aka, Lhamo Thondup; known to the Tibetan people as Gyalwa Rinpoche; and you know him as the incumbent Dalai Lama, said, “Peace, in the sense of the absence of war is of little value . . . peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: It is the presence of justice.” said Rev. Martin Luher King, Jr.
According to Albert Einstein‘s view, “Peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, of law, of order – in short, of government.”
Justice is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, laws, fairness, or equity. Justice concerns itself with the proper ordering of things and people within a society. In America, justice is a process, not necessarily a result. When justice fails it can lead to civil disobedience, civil unrest, and civil war. In the words of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Without justice, there can be no peace.”
Peace is a lofty goal or hope that most people claim they wish to achieve personally, and expect to be created in society and throughout the world. The history of humans is a history of searching for ways to achieve lasting peace. Peace has been talked about, thought about, taught, studied, and even scoffed at.
A culture of peace is one where the definition of security will have changed from just national security to include human security, human rights, justice, and general welfare of people everywhere.
We do not teach peace well. Yet we have plenty of military schools that teach how to wage war. We do have The Peace Corps, which seeks to promote world peace and friendship by helping interested countries in meeting their need for trained productive people. The Peace Corps promotes a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served, and promotes a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans. A true cultural and educational interchange. The Peace Corps principles seek intercultural competence, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, which lend well to its name.
There are plenty of other organizations that work toward peace, including the World Peace Council and the United Nations.
Religions, such as most Christian denominations, offer a confusing, rocky path toward peace. The Prince of Peace said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.” Luke 12:51. And, in Matthew 10:34, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to earth.” And, “He who is not with me is against me.” (Luke 11:23). Sounds like President 45, whom the Christian Nationalists love and desperately need to agree with because they imagine a VIP ticket to Club Afterlife. It's not even their own imagination. They were told at some point in their life there is an afterlife. They choose to believe it, despite all evidence to the contrary. When I'm asked, “Is there life after death?” I answer, “Yes. Just not yours.”
To understand the complexities of seeking peace within the context of religious beliefs, one need only to look at the history of the Crusades, or all the trouble in the “Holy Land,” or the subversive Christians in American government, to see how religious fanaticism is used to justify discord, unpleasant outcomes, and violent conquests.
However, there are the Quakers who have often led the way toward many peace efforts. They have helped establish some of the earliest peace conciliations and conflict transformation programs. Quakers reject elaborate religious ceremonies, do not have official clergy, and believe in equality for men and women. They reject violence and embrace active pacifism.
Why is peace so difficult? It is the humans. It's always the humans. We are the source of conflict, wars, internal strife, and injustice. All of which arise from our innate and powerful instinct to survive and then, hopefully, thrive. The pursuit of peace is thwarted by our fundamental need for self-preservation, often cloaked within self-righteous religion. Too many humans get grumpy or worse when things don't go their way.
Inner peace is tranquility of the mind and body and is often at odds with external peace, which is the harmony of societies and nations. At the heart of this disparity lies the innate human instinct of survival, a primal force that has shaped the course of history and continues to influence our actions and decisions.
Ever get angry at someone who disturbs the peace? Ever shoosh a talker in a movie theater? Not easy nor pleasant to keep the peace.
The quest for external peace needs to begin with inner peace. Yet, external peace is hampered by the destructive impact of wars, driven by human aggression, desire for retaliation, a need for control, dominance, greed, and resources; spurred by political ideologies, religiosity, economic interests, and deep-rooted historical grievances,
and a want of perceived security.
Inner peace is constantly challenged. Ever have to politely deal with aggressive drivers, losing your parking spot, open-mouth loud chewers, interrupters, humblebragging, loud talkers, mumblers, long-winded non-stop talkers, gunfire in your neighborhood, intimidating or otherwise irritating people? To name a few nuisances that make booze so popular.
Suppose your loved one was kidnapped or killed during the never-ending middle east crisis? This would likely shatter all hope for inner peace and replace it with inner turmoil.
The peacemakers tend to have a great capacity to absorb the ill-will of others and gently redirect the vitriol hurled at them inwardly. Even the best peacemakers have their limit, when their capacity to absorb becomes saturated. Yet, there are those who will give up their life to save another.
Social injustices and systemic inequalities are forces that sow discord and unrest within humans who seek harmony and peaceful coexistence. Amidst these challenges there exists a glimmer of hope that the path towards peace is worth walking. Hope is found in the courage of individuals who dare to confront their inner demons, in the resilience of communities that rise above adversity, and in the vision of leaders who champion the cause of reconciliation and understanding.
The harmonious coexistence of individuals, societies, and nations, is a pursuit that continues to evade humanity; despite its universal desirability, peace remains elusive and difficult to attain unless we learn to transcend our instincts.
Ever wonder what peace smells like? Take a whiff. Do you smell peace? If not, find a newborn or lavender, vanilla, cinnamon, peppermint, ambrette, ylang-ylang, ginger, or your loved one. Inhale. Slowly. Relax. Shalom. Salaam. Peace.
