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On Faith Swami Bhaskarananda |
World peace begins by
changing one’s own
thoughts and actionsLove for mankind, nonviolence, forgiveness, establishing peace in the world -- these are all wonderful ideas.
Can they be practiced by us that easily? How can I love one who is harming me?
How can I be nonviolent while every time I breathe I become responsible for the death of thousands of invisible life forms? How can I survive without destroying the lives of others? Each food grain I eat has life in it. The vegetables and meat I eat cannot be obtained without the destruction of the lives of animals or plants.
How can I practice nonviolence while my physical survival depends on acts of violence done directly or indirectly by me? All that I can do is to develop a nonviolent attitude of mind and avoid committing unnecessary violence.
As regards forgiveness, it may be possible for me to forgive someone who has harmed me. But is it easy to forgive someone who has deliberately killed my innocent child? Isn't such forgiveness simply condoning vicious crimes? In the societal context, is it right to encourage criminals?
Then again, to think that I have the right to forgive a criminal who has harmed others is a most hypocritical thought. Who am I to forgive someone who has harmed others immensely but not me?
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, once was asked, "How can we have world peace?"
He replied, "That may happen only when everyone in the world starts thinking of peace."
Theoretically this solution is correct, considering that every conscious action is always preceded by a thought. But will there ever come a time when everyone in the world will be selfless, and therefore good? Will there ever come a time when everyone will seriously and truthfully think of world peace? That does not seem to be a realistic expectation.
If we analyze the scheme of the world, we find that at any given point of time, whatever is best is always the least. One gallon of milk gives only a small quantity of butter; roses contain very little perfume; flowers have very little nectar. In short, the best is always the least. The same principle applies to human beings. Truly good human beings -- those who are unselfish -- are always in short supply.
The rulers think that punishing the peace-breakers will bring peace.
The oppressed think that eliminating the oppressors will ensure peace.
Nations think that destroying or subduing the enemy nations will create peace.
But ever-enduring peace can never be obtained through external means. Those who have found inner peace have indeed found the peace that abides forever. Through spiritual disciplines alone can this inner peace be acquired. Those who have found peace within transmit peace to others by example. Therefore, I, too, should try to find peace within before trying to create any temporary or superficial peace in the world through external means.
The solution of all the problems depends on myself. Whom else will I change?
There is only one person who is always under my control, and that is myself. Let me try to transform that unit by transcending the limitations imposed by selfishness. When the barrier of selfishness is removed, whatever love, peace and joy I have will expand a thousandfold and include the entire world. To that extent the world will be transformed and will be a better place to live in.
Swami Bhaskarananda, of Seattle, the spiritual guide for the Vedanta Society of Hawaii, will give free public lectures at the YWCA, 1040 Richards St., at 11 a.m. tomorrow on "Worldly Duties and Spiritual Life," on May 16 on "Quest for the Ultimate Truth" and on May 23 on "The Conquest of Death." His most recent book is "Life in Indian Monasteries."
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