Peace and Harmony represents an ideal that is shared by all of mankind. Every religion, every sect, in some way or the other, accepts peace and harmony as a desired and valued state of being. This ideal manifests itself in several dimensions – physical, mental, spiritual, and on several levels – at the individual, interactional, collective, and societal. This ideal has been described both in negative terms (i.e. absence of conflict), and in positive terms (i.e., the presence of a ‘state of peace and harmony’). This ideal has also been described as a goal (peace as an end-state), and as a means for achieving the goal (peace as a way of doing things).
The methods and pathways to realize this ideal are also numerous. The broadest highways are provided by spiritual practices, music, literature, sports, work, etc. But within each of these highways lie several distinct pathways to the ideal. These include the different religions and the different practices prescribed by these religions. They include the numerous forms of arts. They include the several human endeavors wherein individuals bury their collective differences and work to a common goal. Furthermore, they include the different mechanisms to alleviate pain and suffering and emotional/ psychological levels.
Thus we see that the ideal of peace and harmony is vast – manifesting itself both in the innermost recesses of human hearts and in the outermost workings of a complex society. Furthermore, we see that the pathways to this ideal are many – as many as there are dimensions of human expression. Some of these pathways negate the pain and disharmony that human beings undergo, thus leading to peace; some create different states of peace and harmony arising from different forms of human endeavor and fulfillment.
In this vast symphony of human striving for peace and harmony, there is a special place for each one of us – both as co-creators and as the enjoyers of this peace and harmony.
As co-creators, we share in the responsibility for this ideal – there is no peace until each of us chooses peace. As enjoyers, we share in the fruits of this ideal – the value of peace is in the space it creates for an even greater manifestation of human possibilities.
