Conflict and all forms of war are the opposite of peace. They take place within us, between individuals, groups and countries. It starts as harmful negative thoughts directed toward ourselves or others. These thoughts are accompanied by feelings of anger, hatred, and fear, and experienced as anxiety and depression. A war in the beginning may need only two people who disagree but can expand to involve many countries and millions of people. War causes violence, destruction and death.
“War is outdated – non-violence is the only way.
We need to develop a sense of the oneness of humanity
by considering other human beings as brothers and sisters.
This is how we will build a more peaceful world.”
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama, February 28, 2022.
Peace is a healing state of mind that also starts within us. It is caused by positive and loving thoughts experienced as calm, tranquility, harmony, deep feelings of joy and love. Inner peace causes us to become a happy, creative and loving person, able to radiate these feelings out to others. A peaceful attitude makes power and strength available to us in all our undertakings. To strive for peace is a spiritual goal that is the ultimate purpose in life.
However, as I write this the people on this planet are experiencing anything but peace. It has become more and more difficult for us to feel calm, safe and have peace of mind, harmonious relationships and to look to the future without fear.
Our world is now changing at a very fast pace forcing us to enter into a survival mode. A spiritual teacher named Arten said that in this century “you can expect everything to be bigger, faster and scarier.” 1 And so it is. We are now dealing with serious traumatic global events and crises. Climate change now threatens every aspect of human life. The world is now a battleground where contradiction reigns, and opposites make endless war. 2
How can we now achieve lasting world peace?
“Mutual respect, trust and concern
for one another’s welfare
is our best hope for lasting world peace.”
HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama
But most importantly we have the White Light. Everyone of us can now contribute to a global transformation from war to peace by sending the White Light to families, friends and neighbors, to victims of trauma, to world leaders, to countries and around the whole world. Tremendous power is generated when millions of people use the White Light, with the result that darkness may disappear!
References:
1 Gary R. Renard, The Disappearance of the Universe (Carlsbad: Hay House Inc., 2005), 371.
2 A Course in Miracles (Mill Valley, CA: foundation for Inner Peace, 2007), Manual for
Teachers, 66.