FROM THE SPIRITUAL ALPHABET: P for Peace

I return, with the letter P, to the Alphabet of Good Spiritual Practices that I have been developing.

To illustrate the P, I choose to point out to my readers the need to be attentive to Peace – a theme, given the latest historical events, one of the most necessary.

Peace is built on the foundations of other spiritual practices of connection: empathy, compassion, justice, unity. It is a goal of all spiritual people.

Peace is an inner state of well-being and calm. It is also an external project to promote non-violence, conflict resolution and cooperation in the world. The root of the Hebrew word for Peace, “shalom”, means “all” (totality, completeness) and points to this double meaning: within oneself and among people.

Practice Peace by refusing to participate in violence directly or indirectly. Try to maintain your composure, no matter how agitated the people around you get. Face conflict with equanimity. Disarm yourself – let your guard down – as a first step towards disarming the world.

Is this practice for you? Yes, I know it is, for you and for everyone. Who among us does not need to strengthen (in that double direction indicated above) Peace? A good tip is to realize how the interior mirrors the exterior. Conditions that upset the balance of the world – anger, aggression, discord – also upset our Inner Peace. You need to deal with them on both levels. Encounters with violence — in contrast to peace — invariably demonstrate the importance of this practice.

Feeling worried, upset, enraged, or “crazed” can also cause you to start making peace. These states usually mean that your emotions have gotten the better of you, and practice is needed to restore your equanimity.

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Being at Peace, being balanced, spreads a sense of serenity. While hustle can drain your energy, inner calm builds your stamina so you can sustain your efforts to make the world a more serene place. Remember: the inside must support the outside.

Any practical tips? Modulate the tone of voice. Keep conversations, not arguments. Seek pacifying postures, think and act in peace. Soften your anger, don’t add to the sum total of violence in the world.

Blessed is Peace and the Peacemaker, peaceful guides to better steps in a more serene and balanced world.