World Peace
World peace is a concept that just about everyone is in favor of. The challenge is: how do we achieve world peace?
Before I address that issue, I think there is another important question to ask: how do we know that world peace is attainable, or that it is part of God’s plan? (if you believe God has a plan)
In other words, perhaps we are not supposed to achieve world peace on this earthly plane. Before you dismiss this as absurd, consider this: the earthly plane is a world of duality, consisting of a number of polar opposites. Thus, we have Up/Down, Dark/Light, Cold/Hot, Good/Evil, Peace/War.
These opposites always seem to be operating on earth. What makes you think that the rules will change and Peace will exist with no opposite to Peace? Part of the richness of human experience is dealing with these opposites. We learn from them; we grow from them. Perhaps it is God’s Will that these opposites remain. How can you know for sure what God has intended?
You might argue that even if God does not intend for us to bring about a state of world peace, God wants us to work toward that goal. That is quite possible.
Let’s assume that world peace is attainable, or at least that we should be working toward it. How do we achieve world peace? As I see it, here are some strategies that WON’T work. We won’t achieve world peace by trying to convince everyone to follow our religion and to give up their current beliefs. We won’t achieve world peace by trying to convince people to adopt the form of government we advocate and to give up the system they prefer.
We won’t achieve world peace through “peace movements” or “peace marches” in which we seek to enlist an army of followers to spread peace. If we gather in one place to pray for peace, or hold hands around the world, what happens when the “event” is over? Peace is over, and we go back to living as we lived before. Even while the “event” is taking place, there are those around the world who are not participating and who don’t believe the participants stand for peace.
These kinds of collective solutions, in which we try to persuade others to join our cause, are doomed to fail. Here’s why: those attempting to “sell” others on world peace are not themselves at peace.
The vast majority of the “peace” advocates are at war with something. They may be angry at their neighbors who make too much noise. They may condemn the gangs in their city, or resent the meddling of their in-laws. There are many areas where they are “at war” with themselves. How can someone filled with hatred or anger ask others to be peaceful? It is the height of hypocrisy. And yet we all do it.
We’re going at this issue backwards, seeking to change things from the outside. There is no need to convince anyone else on earth to be more peaceful. What would work better is an inside-out approach. Thus, the best thing I can do to promote world peace is for me to be more peaceful. No one else has to do anything. My challenge is to BE peace. To BE love. That will affect the world more than anything I can convince others to do.
What’s more is that this strategy, although very challenging, is something we can embrace immediately, and it is guaranteed to have a positive effect on ourselves and on others. I don’t know if it will ever yield world peace, but it helps to move us in that direction.
You’d have to admit that the current strategies for world peace, used for thousands of years, have not worked at all. The world is not at peace, or even close to it. In our hearts, we know it’s not a matter of trying harder, praying more, or begging others to embrace peace. If you want to keep doing those things, I respect your right to do so. Be my guest. My spirit won’t let me go down that path any longer.
We need to be concerned only with ourselves. As Mohandas Gandhi said, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Be peaceful and loving with yourself and with everyone you encounter. That’s the most valuable contribution you can make to world peace.
– Jeff Keller
© 2008