We all want peace in our lives, yet it is so elusive. If I were a student of history, I could easily be forgiven for thinking that we have returned to the nineteenth century. The Russians, the French, and the British are poised to be locked in conflict, while the burgeoning power of America flexes its muscles. Even Islamic nations assert themselves. Militarism is once again “de rigueur.”
Harsh lessons have not been learned: At the beginning of the twentieth century, we witnessed a bloodbath that no one truly believed possible. (1) There remained, at that time, a belief in the nobility of an honorable fight between men — the war ethos, if you will. (2) This illusion was soon shattered, and the dignity of combat expunged, on the battlefields of Gallipoli (1915), Verdun (1916), the Somme (1916), and Passchendaele (1917), to name but a few. We now know the horrific details associated with these events, and yet we persist with our warmongering. We have even carried this tendency into the atomic era, have we not? We continue to resolve diplomatic crises through war.
The First World War (1914-1918) led to the destruction of much of the British elite, allowing American dominance to emerge in its wake. Now, in the twenty-first century, the game has changed again. America sits in a kind of Diocletian era (284-305), attempting to forcefully stabilize its empire. This did not ultimately work for the Roman Empire, and is unlikely to save the American one.
We must therefore pause and question the way we live and the desires we pursue. Within the Judeo-Christian tradition, Jesus came to bring peace to the world. Carl Jung, in fact, describes him as the archetype of the perfect man (3) — one who is always oriented toward peace. What, then, is going wrong?
Our modern approach to life has brought us material well-being, but not the spiritual and philosophical peace we seek. We live in society, and so the question arises: how can we contribute to meaningful change and the Common Good while forging a peaceful existence?
Peace — which is essentially, my peace — must begin from within. It emanates from me. When one begins to think in this way, one starts to view all situations as if they are subtly infused with a kind of pacifism. This may not be as naïve as it sounds.
Capitalism has produced a level of material success that is almost incomprehensible. What does it mean to possess a trillion dollars? (4) It becomes nearly impossible, with sincerity, to tell an eighteen-year-old student that if they simply work hard, they will be successful. This is, in many cases, untrue. The pursuit of success, as currently defined, often leads instead to sadness and depression. We indeed need a sufficient income to live well. However, an endless pursuit of ever greater wealth rarely ends well. Given that our time is limited, we must ask: what would we truly do with our lives?
This is the question young people should be asking before entering university or committing to further training. What would your life’s mission be, if you truly had a choice? Answering this requires deep introspection and thoughtfulness. Capitalism and ambition are natural human traits, but like all desires, they must be tempered — guided by morality and infused with a sincere desire to live in a peaceful world that returns value not only to ourselves, but also to others. Unchecked ambition does not create peace; it consumes it. The philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson (5), leaves us with a thought: Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
A closing thought: Much can be achieved in life, given one’s circumstances. Yet goals must remain flexible; they are not fixed. Sometimes a goal is not truly one’s own, but something that must be experienced before it can be discarded in favor of a higher or more authentic path. Life unfolds in layers, and to discover — or uncover — the real self, the Self in the Jungian sense, takes a lifetime. Yet it is there, waiting, for every thoughtful individual.
Aristotle tells us that we possess the potential for happiness in this lifetime, and why should we not aim for the Good? (6) Happiness and peacefulness are, in many ways, companions in the creation of the self — the beautiful self, if you will.
It becomes clear, then, that peace is not a fatuous dream of the idealist. It is real and attainable, but only if we are willing to reduce our purely economic ambitions and deepen our spiritual ones. Such is the longing of the Spirit — the Geist (7) — which, at its core, truly seeks peace.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about finding peace in our lives.
To be noted: From the Dalai Lama — Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQnPU17yqIQ&list=RDpQnPU17yqIQ&start_radio=1&t=13s
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjBKP56ywPM
This week, on your mindful walk, please think about what a peaceful existence means for you.
Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Peace is necessary for freedom
Footnotes:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zi2FnQVVK8
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warrior_Ethos
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLGbBxc1mw
5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b04zs6QHuWM&t=14s
6) https://philolibrary.crc.nd.edu/article/the-good-life-how-to-live-it/