Peace... Do we have a definition that satisfies us? or do we have an amorphous cloud of ambulating feeling that seems to defy being compressed into mere words? In Sanskrit the ancient mantra "OM Shanti shanti shanti" pronounced more like "A U M Shantihi, Shantihi, Shantihi" invokes the divine to bring down Peace Peace Peace. Peace has to be repeated 3 times to give it all its mantric power and influence. It must surround us, descend onto and into us, penetrate us, take us over and overtake our vibrational energy. Peace is a positive energy. It is not a lack or absence of disturbance. It is not a stillness or inertia into homeostasis. It is a positive force that exists, can be felt, experienced even generated and invoked. It can be dynamic and not just a static repose, though it can be a repose pregnant with potential energy.
Stillness is not peace. One can be stunned or so engrossed in anger that one can't or doesn't move. And clenched fists of anger try to hold back the raging energy in a stillness, but this certainly is not peace.
Peace is not weakness. It is not inability to move or act or even feel. Peace is very powerful and dynamic. It can cure disease, settle disorder, save wasted energy, calm chaotic flying abouts, soothe human nature and even Mother Nature. I have seen a very consciously concentrated peaceful person come into a space with whirling winds and dust and leaves flying around in circles to meet us, a waiting group of souls in thirst of what she had brought for us to drink in, and the entire space was overpowered by her peace. The wind stopped swirling, the dust settled, the leaves were at rest and all of us and everything seemed to look up to her with hands and hearts cupped opened and reaching out to be filled by her presence of peace.
When we say "we are angry" we are identifying ourselves with anger. But we are sparks of the divine, we are not anger. We need to identify ourselves with our true essence, our inner divinity, our souls. Yet anger can bring energy and strength. But without the peace in the background, as the base, we lose our wisdom and ability to control and use properly the energy that the anger brought up or generated in us. We need not identify with the anger to use its force. We can intelligently or intuitively use the force from our base of peace, dynamic peace, and inner connection with our higher selves, our souls.
But even though this is one way to use anger for positive effects, one need not rely on anger for energy and power. Peace by itself is a powerful force and can be directed and used for powerful effects. It takes inner strength and will. Like when someone slaps or hits you, is it easier to strike back or to keep your hands in your pockets? It takes much more energy, inner strength and will to overcome the instinctive reaction, the natural reaction to strike back. It takes work from the mental plane as well as the vital and emotional planes all overcoming the lower human instincts. But as in Eastern Martial Arts it is the most powerful mastery and arts that don't give anything to be hit upon by the opponent( as in tai chi) or can even stop the attack before it starts as in chi gong. The inner chi is built up over long time, concentration and discipline so that the peace is impenetrable. In the Jukoda, the opponent and their energy is taken in as a partner in an energy dance.
So peace is more than a physical state. The body can be at peace all the way from the body as a whole to the parts the organs the blood and cells themselves. It is not sleep, nor stillness, nor ease. Remember peace is dynamic energy. It radiates out from its source. Peace also energizes the vital energy of things. It can change the energy around it to being more peaceful and more concentrated. It effects the emotional energy and consciousness as well. It opens our consciousness to more awareness of its surroundings, to other’s energy and feelings and consciousness, to beauty and noble thoughts. In peace one is not held down into a survival consciousness, an us or them or me and them world. Peace also affects the mental plane of consciousness opening us to higher ideas and ideals, opens us to intuitions and inspirations and "the small voice within". It allows the inpourings of genius and solutions. It can open us to more compassion through a knowledge/feeling of oneness and identity.
But where does peace come from and how do we find it? Not just mentally try to define it?
Peace may seem subtle and abstract to us but it is a real vibrational energy. When our energy is in harmony with this universal peace, when we vibrate to its vibrations in a resonance, like one dominant string on a Sitar making numerous smaller strings vibrate that are in a resonance relationship with it, we make beautiful music in the world. This dominant vibration, sound, energy wave, comes from a universal cosmic source. Ok some may not like that idea so let’s say it comes from within your heart of hearts. It comes from your soul, from your inner divine spark. It is built in to everything, human, animal plant and mineral. Which is why great peace can affect all these things in the world. But we aren't tuned into the wavelength of peace and aren't taught how to sense it, be sensitive to it, to create and re-create it, to amplify it and radiate it out. We may be taught to defend our selves or our things, our ideas or ego sense of who we are, but we are rarely taught how to get in touch with the peace inside us and everyone and everything else. How to send it to others and to situations, how to increase it, amplify its wavelengths, surround ourselves and immerse ourselves in it, make it less abstract and make it an important part of our lives and the life of the Earth. Teach it, show it, share it, exhibit it, manifest it, invoke it, sing it, hum it, think it, speak it, act it, BE IT. To our children, in our schools, in our homes, in our neighborhoods, at our work places, while were driving, while were shopping, when were talking and when we are listening.
You can live only a few minutes without breathing or blood circulation. You can live only a few days without water, You can live only a few weeks without food. You can't stay healthy without peace. Eventually it affects your mental, vital, emotional and finally your physical being. Living with less than adequate peace drives us to perverted ideas and actions that we have seen in the world throughout history and at a frenzied pace in today’s world. More domination by power of money, weapons, coercion, etc. doesn't bring healing peace as is so obvious today. Peace comes from an inner connection and that connection is universal. It is in each and every one of us and we connect to the same universal peace source. No one can own it or control it, take it away from you or withhold it. It leads us to experience the oneness of everything and the brother/sister hood of all members of the human race. Every time you connect to that peace you are bringing the world together. It is important and meaningful for our survival as well as our well being and being well, our quality of life and our progress. So give peace a chance. Make yourself feel better and make a better world, one that also feels better. For everyone.

Thanks for reading. comment freely, but please be gentle.