War And Peace
Why is there no Peace?
Man has forgotten that he has a heart. He forgets that if he treats the world
kindly, the world will treat him kindly in return.
We are living in a world of really amazing contradictions. On the one hand,
people are afraid of war; on the other hand, they prepare for it with frenzy.
They produce in abundance, but they distribute miserly. The world becomes more
and more crowded, but man becomes increasingly isolated and lonely. Men are
living close to each other as in a big family, but each individual finds himself
more than ever before, separated from his neighbour. Mutual understanding and
sincerity are lacking very badly. One man cannot trust another, however good
the latter may be.
When the United Nations was formed after the horrors of the Second World War,
the heads of Nations who gathered to sign the charter agreed that it should
begin with the following preamble: 'Since it is in the minds of men that wars
begin, it is in the minds of men the ramparts of peace should be erected.'.
This very same sentiment is echoed in the first verse of the Dhammapada which
states: 'All[mental]states have mind as their forerunner, mind is their chief,
and they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts, with a defiled mind, suffering
follows one even as the wheel follows the hoof of the draught-ox'.
The belief that the only way to fight force is by applying more force has led
to the arms race between the great powers. And this competition to increase
the weapons of war has brought mankind to the very brink of total self-destruction.
If we do nothing about it, the next war will be the end of the world where there
will be neither victors nor victims, only dead bodies.
'Hatred does not cease by hatred; by love alone does it cease'. Such is the
Buddha's advice to those who preach the doctrine of antagonism and ill-will,
and who set men to war and rebellion against one another. Many people say that
the Buddha's advice to return good for evil is impracticable. Actually, it is
the only correct method to solve any problem. This method was introduced by
the great Teacher from His own experience. Because we are proud and egoistic,
we are reluctant to return good for evil, thinking that the public may treat
us as cowardly people. Some people even think that kindness and gentleness are
effeminate, not 'macho'! But what harm is there if we settle our problems and
bring peace and happiness by adopting this cultured method and by sacrificing
our dangerous pride?
Tolerance must be practised if peace is to come to this earth. Force and compulsion
will only create intolerance. To establish peace and harmony among mankind,
each and everyone must first learn to practise the ways leading to the extinction
of hatred, greed and delusion, the roots of all evil forces. If mankind can
eradicate these evil forces, tolerance and peace will come to this restless
world.
Today the follows of the most compassionate Buddha have a special duty to work
for the establishment of peace in the world and to show an example to others
by following their Master's advice: 'All tremble at punishment, all fear death;
comparing others with oneself, one should neither kill nor cause to kill' (Dhammapada
129) .
Peace is always obtainable. But the way to peace is not only through prayers
and rituals. Peace is the result of man's harmony with his fellow beings and
with his environment. The peace that we try to introduce by force is not a lasting
peace. It is an interval in between the conflict of selfish desire and worldly
conditions.
Peace cannot exits on this earth without the practice of tolerance. To be tolerant,
we must not allow anger and jealousy to prevail in our mind. The Buddha says,
'No enemy can harm one so much as one's own thoughts of craving, hate and jealousy'
(Dhammapada 42).
Buddhism is a religion of tolerance because it preaches a life of self-restraint.
Buddhism teaches a life based not on rules but on principles. Buddhism has never
persecuted or maltreated those whose beliefs are different. The Teaching is
such that it is not necessary for anyone to label himself as a Buddhist to practise
the Noble Principles of this religion.
The world is like a mirror and if you look at the mirror with a smiling face,
you can see your own, beautiful smiling face. On the other hand, if you look
at it with a long face, you will invariably see ugliness. Similarly, if you
treat the world kindly the worldly will also certainly treat you kindly. Learn
to be peaceful with yourself and the world will also be peaceful with you.
Man's mind is given to so much self-deceit that he does not want to admit his
own weakness. He will try to find some excuse to justify his action and to create
an illusion that he is blameless. If a man really wants to be free, he must
have the courage to admit his own weakness. The Buddha says:--
'Easily seen are other's faults; hard indeed it is to see one's own faults'