The world is still divided and at war, as evidenced by the situation in Ukraine. When will true peace be realized? Where should we start? Our effort may be a mere drop in the ocean, but it starts with each one of us building peace within our hearts. From there, however we need to gradually expand the radius, and for that, this is what we need to do.
Instilling Sincerity within One’s Work
I heard the following tale concerning a doctor. He always bowed before entering a patient’s room, although the patients were unaware of this. Even so, the doctor’s attitude was clearly an expression of respect and esteem for the patient, no less than a gesture of sincerity on his part.
This tale evoked within me the phrase, “Medicine is an art of benevolence.” Specifically, “Medicine is the path of benevolence that saves lives.”
The root of Confucian thought is Jen (namely, benevolence/humanity/kindness). According to Confucius, jen is the most significant of all virtues. Nevertheless, however, he does not clearly enlighten us as to what jen is. That is to say, he does not provide us with a definition. Rather, he speaks of specific types of individuals who either learn it or embody it.
Zēngzǐ paraphrases this jen as “chung-shu (consciousness and altruism).” Chung-shu is said to indicate “sincerity,” but on analyzing it a little more closely, we realize that “chung” denotes sincerity towards oneself, while “shu” signifies sincerity towards others.[1] Or, it is possible for us to consider “chung” as one’ own sincerity, and “shu” as the consideration for others that arises from that sincerity.
Life and Peace
Whenever each life is cherished as an individual entity, true peace arises, and we without exception, are invited to that peace. At its root, peace is undeniably a blessing, and yet, at the same time, it is something we ceaselessly need to build.
True peace is not merely a situation where nothing happens. Neither is it an unstable relationship fraught with the tensions of power and might, nor a government controlled by a dictatorship. It is imbued with a much more positive meaning. After his resurrection, Jesus the Prince of Peace declared, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19, 21, 26). The “peace” he spoke of is a greeting exchanged in everyday life, but it also signifies that God is with us. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; through rivers, you shall not be swept away. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you” (Is 43:1-2). It is indeed this that was, is, and always will be God’s unchanging heart and promise, and it is from here that true peace is born.
Cultivating Peace within Ourselves
If we wish to build peace, where do we begin? We desire peace both within our society and our world, which also happens to be the desire of all people. The smallest unit constituting our society is none other than each one of us, and this being the case, what we should first aim at is peace for each one of us.
The Imitation of Christ, the so-called “Second Gospel” penned in the 15th century, presents us with many hints or revelations regarding peace, as revealed by the following sentences.
First, keep yourself in peace, and then you will be able to bring others to peace. The peaceable person does more good than one who is very learned. The passionate person turns even good to evil and readily believes evil. The good, peaceable person turns all things into good.
Those who are in perfect peace suspect no others. But those discontented and disturbed are agitated by various suspicions; they neither have rest themselves nor permit others to rest. Many times they say that which they should not say, and leave undone that which it were best for them to do. They consider what others ought to do and neglect what they are bound to do themselves. Have, therefore, a zeal in the first place over yourself, and then may you justly exercise zeal toward your neighbor. (II, 3, 1).[2]
From Silence to Peace
In contemplating peace, the words of the following two personalities present us with a self-effacing perception of it. Before her death, Mother Teresa offered a note to all she met containing the following words:
The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace.
True peace begins with silence, and this is precisely what she seeks to affirm. Silence does not signify merely a refusal on our part to utter words. Rather, it is a state of mind and heart, that enables us to listen to the voice of God.
The other personality I wish to mention is Padre Pio Pietrelcina, who lived in the 19th century and was honored as a saint even prior to his death. He uttered the following words:
Peace is the simplicity of spirit, the serenity of conscience, the tranquility of the soul and the bond of love.
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[1] Tu Wei-ming, Centrality and Commonality: An Essay on Confucian Religiousness, rev. ed. (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1989), 34. Analects, 4:15.
[2] Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ: with reflections from the documents of Vatican II for each chapter (New York: Alba House, 1995), 106-107.