Peace is a Practice

Ask anyone, and they will tell you they want peace. The question each of us must answer is what we’re prepared to do to attain it. Many of the worst tyrants in the world have justified their actions as necessary to achieve peace. Unfortunately, peace achieved through violence in any form inevitably leaves its residue, so that sometime later, pain and resentment rise to the surface and the cycle of violence in the name of peace continues.

From a Vedic perspective, each of us has opportunities on a daily basis to either contribute to or disturb the level of peace on earth. Most people do not commit regular acts of physical violence, but still express themselves in ways that are hurtful to those around them. Only about 15% of communication is the actual language we use. The remainder is the non-verbal information transmitted through our tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. Sarcasm and condescension are forms of verbal aggression, leaving subtle wounds on hearts and minds. Paradoxically, in our ego-based struggles to fill our needs for control and approval, we create enemies who feed our sense of insecurity. 

Acts of peace and violence have ramifications in the world. Thoughts of peace and violence have ramifications within our bodies. Today, see if you can maintain a state of witnessing awareness in which you consciously choose to express peace in every thought, word, and action. As you are preparing to go to sleep, review your words and actions, and see if you added to peace today. If you recognize that in your need to defend your self-importance, you contributed to turbulence in some way, see if there is a commitment you can make to contribute to peace tomorrow. Peace is worth the practice it requires.