Benefits of Peace

• Peace revitalizes, providing safety and respite from fear and worry.
• Peace rewards tolerance, granting approval and acceptance.
• Peace invites spirituality, seeking nothing from outside ourselves, rather only to live with what is within.
• Peace values, respects and sustains human life and of all living things.
• Peace yields creativity and productivity through inner tranquility and composure necessary for focus.

Acts of Peace in Everyday Life

• The Bible — The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was only permitted to be built by the hands of King Solomon, a man of peace. King David, arguably the greatest King of the Israelites was not permitted to build the Temple because of the blood he had on his hands.
• Mahatma Ghandi — Universally known as the Father of Peace and Non-Violence – known for developing Satyagraha, 'insistence on truth using non-violent non-cooperation', which he went on to employ successfully to win freedom, independence, reform and equality of all human beings.
• Prayers for Peace — No matter where you find yourself in the world, every religion, every culture prays for the time when peace will fill the land and take the place of hatred.
• Peace Corp — Organized by the United States Congress and established in 1961; its purpose: "To promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower".
• Positive Parenting — Since children usually have a strong love of animals, one of the best ways to bring love into a child's life, is to have them experience caring and loving a bet and having that pet love them in return.

Methods for Achieving Peace

• Transforming Human Attitude — Learn to look for the humanity that binds us together rather than the differences in beliefs, behaviors, customs and ideologies.
• Practice Compassion — Develop a kind heart – a feeling of closeness for all human beings.
• Embrace the Concepts of Non-Violence and Lack of aggression — Use words and exchange of ideas as the way to settle differences.
• Meditation and Prayer — By assuring a quiet, safe place within ourselves, we can find peace and serenity, which we can then learn to channel from within us out toward others.
• Self-Respect and Self-Love — By strengthening these in ourselves, we are better equipped to transfer these positive emotions outside of ourselves with other people.

Golden Mean

Quotes for Peace

I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed.

- Dalai Lama -

Peace is always beautiful.

- Walt Whitman -

When my heart is at peace, the world is at peace.

- Chinese Proverbs -

What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.

- Mother Teresa -

Recommended Reading

Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life — by Thich Nhat Hanh

With beautiful, inspiring stories and parables, meditations and practices, Thich Nhat Hanh guides readers through a wonderful journey to inner peace and serenity.

Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World — by Jane Breskin Zalben

Not just for children, this amazing beautifully written book brings out the purity and simplicity of true peace by telling the tales of those people who are best-known for their contributions to it throughout the world. Recommended for grownups whether they have children to share it with or not.