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.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND what constitutes peace, otherwise we become depressed, pessimistic, complaining and grumbling, as if whole world has gone to pieces—and never asking ourselves what we have contributed toward the peace. Have I lived in such a way that I am contributing to the peace? Peace has to be on its own terms. It is human nature to want peace on our terms but if we could have peace on our terms, long back we would have had it. Since we didn’t get peace on our own terms, our terms must be wrong.
      Peace on its own terms looks intangible or abstract to us. That is why most people fall back on their own terms, losing peace and still crying for peace. Our egos are living on those terms. This is where we are trapped and therefore peace remains elusive, a dream. We think God will send peace; politicians will send peace; Swamis will send peace, or social workers or money or ambitions or accomplishments will give us peace. Therefore, if there is no peace on the earth or in our lives, it is no wonder.
      Very seldom do we start with ourselves. Nobody wants to give in but that is why we lose our peace. I would say humbly: peace is at our feet if we want it—when we are civilized in the truest sense of the term. Where honesty and truthfulness will be our true nature. Where there is innocent, child-like behavior. Where there is no hiding, avoidance, jugglery, dishonesty, escape, complexity or games of mind.
      If you raise your consciousness and uplift yourself just a little bit, many points of dissension or separation will not even exist. See if you can forgive your friends—leave aside your enemies. Can you forgive your neighbor, your divorced spouse? We fight under the pretext of politics, religion, philosophy, business, sports, the different channels of the TV. We even fight on the ideal of peace. This is not just my message; it is a universal message. If my God is one and your God is one, it is the same one God, isn’t it? Both are saying God is truth, God is love, God is almighty, God is all-pervading, God is omnipotent. Then why are we fighting? If we analyze it, you and I are fighting for something else in the name of God: prestige or territory or money or position or competition—some kind of tug-of-war, including religion.