Noah Counte

Peace

It has been elusive, eh? The history of mankind is not a peaceful record. Even what should be the most peaceful of institutions, our religious bodies, have long records of violence against those with varying beliefs. Even the Buddhists and the Hindus, ostensibly the most peaceful of all religions are not immune from wreaking violence upon others (see, for example, the civil war in Sri Lanka over the past 20 years or so).

Surely we can (and should) do better? It cannot be that our purpose as countries, cultures, religion, etc., is to wage war on each other. That is certainly not the world in which I want to live. It’s not the world I want to leave to our kids.


What then?

I have been thinking that I cannot affect world peace in any meaningful way. I can vote for leaders whom I hope will rise to the challenge, but mine is but one vote.

And yet, I know that every stone I cast ripples outward. Every harsh word, every ugly thought, every pleasant gesture left unmade impacts not only the people with whom I come in contact, but the people with whom they come in contact, and more ripples are created. Who knows how far these ripples might spread? It is important, then, that the stones we cast do not send ripples of negativity and despair. That they do not send ripples of indifference or worse.

Rather, the stones I cast must shine light into the lives of those with whom I come in contact. A kind word, a door held, an angry gesture not made. My destinations are no more important than those of anyone else. My needs are no greater. We are all cut of the same fabric, after all.

Inner peace

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself -- Leo Tolstoy.

I do not know if my preamble suggests my conclusion: that inner peace is the key to world peace; that, until people are at one with themselves, they cannot be at peace with their neighbor; that we focus so much on doing, at the expense of our being. What is called for is not a phone conversation while walking from the car to the office – what is needed is a moment to smell the flowers. The driver who pulls out in front of me does not need to be shown the finger, for surely he did not put us both in jeopardy on purpose.

Abandoning all desires and acting free from longing, without any sense of mineness or sense of ego one attains peace. -- Sri Krishna BG II, 71

I know that I will never divorce myself fully from longing and desire for objects, for love, for companionship, or for many other things. Yet, I can aspire to be better. I can take a break from the world and reflect on the blessings in my life, blessings that upon reflection, lessen my desire for more worldly things. And, with lessened desire, comes greater peace. And my peace casts its ripples. And those ripples create new ripples.

Perhaps the mark we make in the fight for a more peaceful world is not on our leaders, but on our neighbors.

Peace my friends.