War and conflict are the opposites of peace. Conflict takes place at three levels, between countries, between people and within each of us individuals. It starts within us as harmful negative thoughts directed towards others or ourselves. It is experienced as depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, fear, and guilt. A war, to start, may need only two people who disagree but can expand to involve many countries and millions of people. War causes violence, destruction and death.
Regarding war, this is what Yogananda said just before World War II, which is also valid now, since man has not learned to solve problems without killing each other:
“The whole world is at the brink of war. Do you know where God is leading you? Even now, new streamlined methods of killing are being devised. And when everyone is finally armed to the teeth, God will show you that armament will not stop the war. If I use a sword, my brother will use a bigger sword. If I show him a gun, he will show me a bigger gun.
Such principles can never bring peace. The countries involved don’t want to talk peace now; but they will have to talk peace sometime, when they have lost much of their wealth and have killed off all the young. If the politicians who sponsor war were required to go to the front lines to face the enemy, they would not be so quick to advocate war!”
Peace is a healing state of mind that also starts within us. It is caused by positive and loving thoughts and 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. Peace is a spiritual goal that striving for is the ultimate purpose of life. Peace causes happiness.
“Mutual respect, trust and concern for one another’s welfare is our best hope for lasting world peace.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Paramahansa Yogananda, World Crisis, “How-to-Live” Series No. 1700, 2017, Reprinted from Self-Realization magazine.