Is Peace
Possible?
Yes, Peace is possible but it demands sacrifice, understanding of diversity
and respecting individuality. Peace in the world will be possible if we agree
upon the golden rule that “We are same but different”. In the present scenario of the world, we are
lacking peace, why? It is because we do
not understand the true spirit of being a human being. We forget the true
message of all world religions. All religions teach us peace, brotherhood and
humanity. I will quote some words from some religions about peace and
optimistically hope that will help us to understand what the religions teach
and how we practice them. Please read the following:
Christianity:
Jdt 3
“So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,” (Deuterocanonical
Apocrypha, Judith)
24
God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great injury, in
that ye have not required peace of the children of Assur. (Deuterocanonical
Apocrypha, Judith)
58
Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace with
them, and with their entire nation; (Deuterocanonical
Apocrypha, Maccabees 1)
50
Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the city
(Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Maccabees 1)
18
The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect
health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their
rejoicing that love him. (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Sirach)
13
Curse the whisperer and double tongued: for such have destroyed many
that were at peace. (Deuterocanonical
Apocrypha, Sirach)
14
My children keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a
treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both? (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Sirach)
14
Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that
thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of
the eyes, and peace. (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, The Book of Baruch)
Islam:
O ye who believe! Enter ye into the peace, one and all, and follow not
the footsteps of Satan; verily, to you he is an open foe (The Qur'an (E.H.
Palmer tr), Sura 2 - The Heifer)
There has come to you from God a light, and a perspicuous Book; God
guides thereby those who follow His pleasure to the way of peace, and brings
them into a right way. (The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura 5 - The Table)
We have brought thee a sign from thy Lord, and peace be upon him who
follows the guidance! (The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer
tr), Sura 20 - Ta Ha)
They shall hear no folly there and no sin;
Only the speech, 'Peace, Peace!' (The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr),
Sura 56 - The Inevitable)
Judaism:
3,31 'Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all peoples, nations, and
languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you (Kesuvim (Writings), Daniel)
' 2 18,16 And he said: 'I saw all Israel scattered upon the
mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and the LORD said: These have no
master, let them return every man to his house in peace.' (Kesuvim (Writings), Divrei HaYomim
(Chronicles)
9,30 And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and
seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
9,31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as
Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had
ordained for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and
their cry. (Kesuvim (Writings), Esther)
3,1 My son, forget not my teaching; but let thy heart keep my
commandments; 3,2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they
add to thee. (Kesuvim (Writings), Mishlei (Proverbs))
29,11 The LORD will give strength unto His people; the LORD will bless
his people with peace. {P}(Kesuvim (Writings), Tehillim (Psalms))
Hinduism
! And, in the hour when life is ending,
With mind set fast and trustful piety,
Drawing still breath beneath calm brows unbending,
In happy peace that faithful one doth die,- (Hindu, Bhagavad-Gita (Edwin Arnold tr))
Intellect, skill, enlightenment, endurance, self-control,
Truthfulness, equability, and grief or joy of soul,
And birth and death, and fearfulness, and fearlessness, and shame,
And honour, and sweet harmlessness, and peace which is the same
Whatever befalls, and mirth, and tears, and piety and thrift,
And wish to give, and will to help,- all cometh of My gift! (Hindu, Bhagavad-Gita (Edwin Arnold tr))
Who, unto friend and foe
Keeping an equal heart, with equal mind
Bears shame and glory; with an equal peace
Takes heat and cold, pleasure and pain; abides
Quit of desires, hears praise or calumny
In passionless restraint, unmoved by each;
Linked by no ties to earth, steadfast in Me,
That man I love! (Hindu,
Bhagavad-Gita (Edwin Arnold tr))
Buddhism
TO GIVE oneself up to indulgence in sensual pleasure, the base, common,
vulgar, unholy, unprofitable; and also to give oneself up to
self-mortification, the painful, unholy, unprofitable: both these two extremes
the Perfect One has avoided, and found out the Middle Path, which makes one
both to see and to know, which leads to peace, to discernment, to
enlightenment, to Nirvana ((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))
It is the Noble Eightfold Path, the way that leads to the extinction
of suffering, namely:
1. Right Understanding, 2. Right Mindedness, which together are
Wisdom.
3. Right Speech, 4. Right Action, 5. Right living, which together are Morality.
6. Right Effort, 7. Right Attentiveness, 8. Right Concentration, which
together are Concentration.
This is the Middle Path which the Perfect One has found out, which
makes one both to see and to know, which leads to peace, to discernment, to
enlightenment, to Nirvana.
((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))
8. The Thousands
Better than a thousand pointless words is one saying to the point on
hearing which one finds peace. (Buddhist,
Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))
