What Does it Mean to Live Peace?
“There is no way to peace. Peace is the way” - Gandhi
What Does it Mean to Live Peace?
There is a Yiddish saying that translates to something like this: If not now, when? If not you, who? That is the substance of Byron Katie’s quote (see the 2nd sidebar). It is up to you and me; we are the only ones able to move peace forward.
When shall we begin? When the Iraqi war is over? When Israel and Palestine reach a permanent peace fire? When India and Pakistan begin a peaceful co-existence? No, we’ve been waiting for a current war to end for hundreds of years. Wars will not end until we practice peace; peaceful approaches to disagreement, peaceful viewpoints toward the differences among humans, and peaceful acceptance of all beings. Wars will continue until our population, including our leaders, recognizes that war is not a viable path to peace.
The time is now. And we can each begin by building a peaceful environment in our homes, at work, and in the community in which we live. It’s very easy to do. No funding is required, no legislations is necessary, and no one else must be convinced. Just you and me.
Living Peace does not require total obedience to the desires and behaviors of others. Disagreement among humans is literally guaranteed by our uniqueness. The human practicing Living Peace approaches disagreement with the foundation belief that solutions are available which harm no one. They simply must be uncovered. There is a peaceful solution to each potential conflict.
If not now, when? If not you, who? If you and I preach peace but treat others abusively and disrespectfully, we are supporting war. If you and I believe conflict is the fault of the other guy, the other nation, and the other race, then we are not only supporting, we are encouraging war.
Jerry