Peace, what does this commonly used word mean to you?

• The normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.
• An agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism:
• A state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors.
• The normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.
• Cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.
• Freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.
• A state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace.

 The term ‘peace’ originates most recently from the Anglo-French pes, and the Old French pais, meaning “peace, reconciliation, silence, agreement” (11th century). But, Pes itself comes from the Latin pax, meaning “peace, compact, agreement, treaty of peace, tranquility, absence of hostility, harmony.” The English word came into use in various personal greetings from c.1300 as a translation of the Hebrew word Shalom, which, according to Jewish theology, comes from a Hebrew verb meaning ‘to restore’. Although ‘peace’ is the usual translation, however, it is an incomplete one, because ‘shalom,’ which is also cognate with the Arabic Salaam, has multiple other meanings in addition to peace, including justice, good health, safety, well-being, prosperity, equity, security, good fortune, and friendliness. At a personal level, peaceful behaviors are kind, considerate, respectful, just, and tolerant of others’ beliefs and behaviors — tending to manifest goodwill. This latter understanding of peace can also pertain to an individual’s introspective sense or concept of her/himself, as in being “at peace” in one’s own mind, as found in European references from c.1200. The early English term is also used in the sense of “quiet”, reflecting calm, serene, and meditative approaches to family or group relationships that avoid quarreling and seek tranquility — an absence of disturbance or agitation.

In many languages, the word for peace is also used as a greeting or a farewell, for example the Hawaiian word Aloha, as well as the Arabic word salaam. In English the word peace is occasionally used as a farewell, especially for the dead, as in the phrase rest in peace.

“World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”  Dalai Lama XIV

“For a day, just for one day, Talk about that which disturbs no one
And bring some peace into your Beautiful eyes.”  Sweet Poems of Hafiz

“Peace begins with a smile..” Mother Theresa

“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.” Virginia Wolf

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.” John Lennon

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” Albert Einstein

“If someone thinks that peace and love are just a cliche that must have been left behind in the 60s, that’s a problem. Peace and love are eternal.” John Lennon

“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” Mahatma Gandhi

“Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without.” Gautama Buddha

“You have peace,” the old woman said, “when you make it with yourself.” The Five People you Meet in Heaven

“The Simple Path ,Silence is Prayer, Prayer is Faith, Faith is Love, Love is Service,The Fruit of Service is Peace”  Mother Theresa

“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” Albert Schweitzer

“It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” Aristotle

“As long as Man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.” Pythagoras

“You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.” Eckhart Tolle

“If you love me as you say you do,’ she whispered, ‘make it so that I am at peace.” Leo Tolstoy -Anna Karenina

“Peace is the only battle worth waging.” Albert Camus

“How come we play war and not peace?” “Too few role models.” Bill Watterson

“Instead of hating the people you think are war-makers, hate the appetites and disorder in your own soul, which are the causes of war. If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed – but hate these things in yourself, not in another.” Thomas Merton

“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that its center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.” Black Elk

“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.” Gautama Buddha

“Peace is the number one beautiful ornament you can wear, I really believe that. They say you should always wear a smile, but I don’t believe that you should “always” wear a smile, seriously, you’re going to look stupid! But peace, you should always carry peace within you, its the most beautifying thing you could ever have or do. Peace makes your heart beautiful and it makes you look beautiful, too. You want to have perfect physical posture when you stand, sit, and walk, and peace is the perfect posture of the soul, really. Try perfect posture outside as well as inside. Peace creates grace and grace gives peace.” C.JoyBell C

My Dear Friends,A few samples of what ‘Peace’ means to some individuals. For me, Peace is within, we strive to find it everywhere we go, we wish for it to be there as a reality for everyone, but ‘Peace’ is within everyone of us and unless we can find that inner peace then we cannot wish for there to be ‘Peace on Earth’ simply because to have World Peace, WE ALL NEED TO FIND IT, IN OURSELVES!

I wonder how often the word ‘Peace’ is spoken each day? Peace to you, Peace and Love, May your life be filled with Peace, May they Rest in Peace, Peace Be With You, What a Peaceful Day, etc

All I know is, I can find Peace within; and that allows me to try and promote this well kept secret to others, I know Peace can be found in meditation, I know Peace is available for everyone, all you have to do is ‘Want It and search inside, because your Soul is waiting to share with your physical body….

……Go on my friends and as John Lennon once said…

Give Peace A Chance J

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark