The power of PEACE

Ishara Jayawardane

It has been almost a year since Sri Lanka won peace from the clutches of evil. Violence has its sinister ways of leaving its scars behind, long after the war heals. Many paid the price for it with their precious lives. War is a game where the victim is no other than a human being. Its not man against animal. Its man against man. War is a horrendous word splattered with blood and cruelty. War is evil no matter who wins or loses. Its peace that we break in to smithereens. It takes time to mend people. It takes lives to bond peace.

Peace doesn’t only mean peace between countries, religions and races. Keep aside the big universal picture. What about peace among people in our small circle of family, neighbours, relations and friends? What about peace within us? I had to find out how others responded to this abstract feeling of peace. I took the time to speak to international and local network of my friends to find out just what they think of peace and what we youth can do to achieve this marvellous intangible-substance people call peace.

“I believe that, to be able to contribute to world peace, we youth must first work on establishing peace within ourselves and our small community. Only then can peace grow and spread worldwide,” said Lisa one of my e-friends from USA. I guess peace is contagious and spreads faster than influenza. If we youth make up our minds, we can do all within our capacity to establish it and go that extra mile to maintain it. Peace. That’s the buzz word. That is the calling of the moment.

“People should start respecting each other’s religions and beliefs. It is personal. Nothing should be argued but simply respected!,” said Manoja one of my high school buddies. Respect. Toleration. Appreciation. Are these alien words to today’s new generation? Or are they words belonging to another era? How do we get these in to our vocabulary, use it practically and live it? It might be tough and we might sound like geeks! Never mind. Lets get down to first steps. Prioritize peace-driven action.

“I think, its always good to have a peaceful mind. I am in the software industry where we are under a lot of stress and pressure, most of the time. Its always nice to be cool. Having a peaceful mind can ease off a lot of your pressure at work and it can lead to enhanced productivity’ said my cousin Supun. So? Be cool. Stay cool. Live cool. That’s the in cult.

“Peace is a word that brings to mind the absence of war, hatred, anger. We will never know what peace really is because it does not exist in reality. If you can show me a place there is 100 percent peace I will be shocked. Peace in the environment we live in, rises from within, just like war and other complicated situations.

I perceive that peace is a reality that we must make possible by first changing our attitudes. We must first change ourselves and only then can we hope to change others, leading by example. Humans are a great species and we only need someone to lead the way. Many have come forward such as Buddha, Jesus and Lord Mahavira. They have opened wide the door to peace. But it is not easy to make up our prodigal minds, to walk through. Yet, the middle path beckons us. To yield to peace or not is still within our territory to decide.

With the strength of self-governing free will we must make our own free choices and take responsibility for the consequences it has on our lives. Peace. Or fall to pieces. You have the power to decide.