What would be the most universal terms for peace among all religions and nations as well as in our own experience? Be truthful. Be harmless. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Just two or three things.
THERE IS A SANSKRIT WORD, SABHYA, which means civilized, a maturity of human nature where we have genuine respect for others, not just courtesy. Civilized persons are those who have control of their minds, who are harmless, peaceful, patient and understanding. One who has self-control, atma samyam, has the patience to wait and see a situation before they act. Except in dire conditions requiring defense, under no provocation will they be infuriated. If we judge ourselves using this yardstick, each one of us will see where we are. The world is waiting for that change, that maturity of human nature and thought, where we will not bend our principles under any challenging circumstances. We do not have to be educated for this maturity. We have seen illiterate peasants who patiently listen, think it over, correlate with their own experiences and then decide the best way to act or react. Once we achieve this civilized nature, peace will be very easy.The seeds of war are in our minds, not just in the battlefield. Our collective vibrations project the world outside us. If we fight with our spouse or children or parents or neighbor or roommate or colleague or co-disciple, whether psychologically, physically or verbally, we are contributing to the global manifestation of war. We are so interconnected that we cannot isolate ourselves, even if we cut ourselves off from a situation. Vibrations can penetrate a fifteen-foot concrete wall; they can travel to other galaxies. If we have any negative thoughts, we are contributing to the overall atmosphere of our planet.
© 2007 TRUTH CONSCIOUSNESS