The quest for peace is often an internal endeavour. While humankind has communicated a yearning for peace in every century and age, it is clear that we have not always known precisely how to achieve it.
Some of the most revered literature in contemporary times explores the concepts of love and hate, of life and death, of joy and grief. And yet, even, arguably, the most famous of these literary works, Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’, does not provide us with the tools we require to find the peace we so deeply crave.
We are all utterly unique. And we experience life, joy, love, conflict, fear and peace in our own ways. Some find peace at the peak of a mountain. Some feel most at peace in a crowded room. Others find it in the practice of yoga or meditation. And we are all drawn to different role models of peace. For many around the world, His Holiness The Dalai Lama is perhaps the most celebrated contemporary peace guru.
Religions have taught peace through the ages. However, despite this preoccupation with peace, they have been used to underpin countless wars; with religion performing an important role in the historic success of empires. “Empires need creeds to sustain their expansionist energies and provide them with a justification for domination.” (John Gascoigne, 2008)
In 1964 Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies, explored the differences between ‘negative peace’ and ‘positive peace’ (though the terms were first defined by Jane Addams in 1907). For Galtung, negative peace refers to the absence of violence, which is of course very important. Positive peace, however, goes further to encapsulate behaviours that enable the best environment for human beings to flourish. In recent years, the Peaceful Schools Movement has built on Galtung’s work with the creation of a four-level concept of positive peace, including: inner peace, peaceful relationships, peaceful communities, and peaceful world. These levels are all interconnected and further explored in ‘How to be a Peaceful School’ (Edited by Anna Lubelska, 2018).
Exploring peace through film
What is peace? Students (4-16 year olds) from The Khabele School in Austin, Texas, USA were asked a few questions about peace. Here’s what they said.
Students from McGraw Elementary recently celebrated International Day of Peace, and we were there to ask: “What does PEACE mean to you?”
The Art of Being Peace – Thich Nhat Hanh. Practicing Buddhism is the art of ‘being peace’ and the art of promoting peace in society and in the world. We should all learn this art. We all have elements of war in our body. Practicing Buddhism is recognising these elements so that we can then transform these elements.
The official trailer to the film; Road to Peace, featuring HH the Dalai Lama on the importance of dialogue.
Every year, children all around the world fold cranes to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Visit peacecraneproject.org to join or check out their other worldwide children’s creative projects at armedwiththearts.org
A book that gently teaches the true essence and workings of peace. WHAT IS PEACE? helps children to know that peace begins within ourselves, and that peace, and the happiness it gives, doesn’t depend on having things. A wonderful reading experience!