A woman dreamt that she entered a shop with God as shopkeeper. She asked God: “What do you sell here?” God replied: “Everything which your heart desires!” Delighted, she decided to ask God what everyone longed for. “Give me — and everyone else in the world — perfect peace!” Smiling, God said, “My child, I think you’ve got me wrong. I don’t sell fruits here, only seeds.”
Today, we celebrate “International Day of Peace” with the UN proposing a special theme: “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All”. Who doesn’t long for peace? Yet, doesn’t it seem so elusive to us and others? It’s convenient to point accusing fingers at Presidents and politicians, arms’ dealers and armies for today’s glut of genocides, wars, violence and bloodshed. But, what can I, and you, do?
It’s great to greet someone with a “shanti” or “salaam” or reflect upon “peace” in our religious scriptures. Moreover, the repetition of “Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi!” at prayers is not only soothing to our ears but suffuses our spirits with peace and serenity.
The ancient Sanskrit lexicon Amarakosa defines “shanti” as “kamakrodhadijaya”: a victory over desire, anger and lust, and the Chandogya Upanishad speaks of “shantahrudaya” — “of peaceful heart” seven times stressing the need to uproot negative passions from our hearts and sow seeds of love, mercy, forgiveness, humility, understanding and tenderness.
The root of the word “Islam” and “salaam” is the same, meaning, to make peace or build a safe, tensionless environment. Indeed, one of the 99 names of Allah is “Salaam”: peace. Likewise, one of the titles of Jesus Christ is “Prince of Peace”.
External peace is possible only if all of us cultivate an inner peace; and an inner peace engenders action in favour of ensuring peace for everyone, worldwide. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” says Jesus, “for they shall be called children of God.” This would demand, first, dispelling all negative thoughts and emotions from our minds and hearts. Second, the UN’s “together for peace” motto urges us to join hands with all peoples of goodwill to say a resounding “No!” to hatred and violence.
One group that endures hatred, hostility and homelessness today is the refugees — specially from West Asia and Myanmar. It’s perhaps difficult to open doors of our houses to those we hardly know; but, couldn’t we open our hearts and extend a helping hand to just a handful of needy neighbours who lack the peace and security most of us enjoy?
Today, uniting our hearts and joining hands with peacemakers, worldwide, let’s sow seeds and saplings of peace, praying together: “May there be peace upon all! May all attain fullness! May all be happy and prosper! Shalom! Salaam! Shantihi!
