Choose Peace....

 

Choose Peace....

We often talk about peace in the world, peace in relationships, peace of mind, body, and heart. We know that air, water, and breath are essential requirements for survival, but many highly evolved individuals who have understood the deeper meaning of life say that peace is one of the most fundamental requirements of human existence. When your mind is at peace and your smile carries peace within it, life becomes more beautiful. First, you choose peace, and then peace transforms you. They say this because when you find peace within yourself, you begin to find peace around you in the world. In the chaos of scientific advancement and modern living, we have somewhere lost both peace and the true meaning of peace. Peace comes with calmness, and many may wonder whether calmness is possible in today's fast-moving world. It is certainly debatable, but if you can achieve calmness, you can find peace even in the middle of a storm.

Recently, I visited a temple, a place where people generally go to find peace. This year, being Adhik Maas, an extra month in the Hindu calendar, along with the holiday season, there was an overwhelming rush of devotees. Everyone was eager to have darshan of the Almighty. Having faith in God is one thing, praying to God is another, and praying with true devotion is something that is becoming increasingly rare. Amidst the crowd, many people were worried about being pushed, hurt, or bumped into by others. At one point, instead of focusing on darshan, a few individuals started arguing and even physically fighting with one another. It was surprising to witness conflict in a place meant to inspire peace and devotion.

While many people were disturbed by the rush, some were calmly offering their prayers despite the chaos around them. After my darshan, I happened to meet a mother and her school-going son. The boy was extremely upset and said to his mother, “Why did you bring me here? I can hardly breathe. There is so much rush and confusion. This is completely unacceptable.” Today's generation already finds it difficult to connect with faith and often questions the existence of God. In many ways, we are responsible for creating that distance. The boy had accompanied his mother only because she insisted during his holidays, and he was clearly frustrated by the entire experience.

The mother looked at me and said, “See how upset my son is because of the crowd.” I gently told the boy that if he was uncomfortable, he need not come again, but he should allow his mother to have her darshan peacefully. He immediately replied, “There is no system here. People keep pushing each other. There is too much heat and rush.” I quietly asked him, “Do you go to watch matches in a stadium? Do you attend music concerts?” He replied, “Yes, of course. I go with my friends sometimes.” I smiled and said, “There are often even larger crowds there, and similar chaos exists, yet you enjoy those experiences. Why not look at this place with the same mindset? If you change your perception, your experience will also change.” Sometimes, it is not the situation that needs to change, it is our perspective.

Perception changes everything. We can find peace even in chaos when our purpose is clear. I was recently reading about mountains and rivers. Mountains may differ in height, colour, and appearance, and rivers may travel through different routes with varying speeds and sizes, yet their ultimate destination remains the same. Every river begins its journey from somewhere and eventually merges into the ocean. That union is its peace. Similarly, we are born into different families, religions, communities, and countries, yet our ultimate purpose is to discover our true path and move towards inner peace through devotion to the Almighty. The journey may differ, but the destination remains the same.

I have been working with special children for many years, and despite the challenges they face, they possess remarkable faith in the people who support them. They trust that with guidance and encouragement, they can overcome their difficulties. For many of them, jealousy, comparison, and unhealthy competition hardly exist. They naturally prefer peace over arguments and acceptance over conflict. When given the right opportunities, support, and treatment, they often develop a level of confidence that inspires even so-called normal individuals. One of the finest examples of peace with a smile is Lord Krishna. Despite facing constant challenges, conflicts, and attacks from evil forces, he never lost his calmness, wisdom, or innocent smile.

It is undoubtedly difficult to find peace in today's fast-paced world, but peace is still possible if we consciously choose it. As I mentioned earlier, if we can remain calm even during a storm, we can experience peace anywhere. Through good karmas, self-awareness, and sincere efforts to understand ourselves, we move closer to inner peace. As human beings, we all make mistakes, but when we accept our imperfections, surrender our worries to God, and genuinely strive to become better people, life gains greater meaning and purpose. That is where we discover that we have chosen peace against all odds.

How, during high tide, waves crash against the shore with great force and noise, yet eventually surrender themselves back to the ocean from where they came. They know they are a part of the ocean and understand their boundaries. No matter how turbulent their journey may seem, their ultimate destination remains the same, to merge with the vastness of the sea. Human life is very similar. We may experience challenges, disappointments, conflicts, and uncertainty, but when we remain connected to our values, faith, and purpose, we can find peace even amidst life's storms. We should choose peace, discover our true identity, and focus on the goodness around us. Gradually, we will find that many things begin to fall into place positively. Peace is not the absence of problems; it is the ability to remain centred despite them. Let us choose peace every day and allow positivity to guide our lives, because positivity always rocks.