The Path to Peace

The Path to Peace

Compiled by Phramaha Sayan Lasanam

The world currently lives in the age of globalization and information technology.   Human beings have created modern inventions from the automobile, laptop, cell phone, subway, etc… all to create a more comfortable and convenient life.  Other developments within the communication and transportation sector such as Skype and subway systems intended to improve social communities appear to have made ‘staying connected’ easier than ever yet why do we feel increasingly disconnected?  As technology advances, we continue to see a rise in poverty, disease, environmental damage, economic crisis, conflict and war.  We have seen an increase in stress-related disorders and diseases in spite of scientific and medical progress as we struggle to maintain balance in our lives.  Presently, we face a critical need to address the environmental as well spiritual needs that have been neglected within a society of high consumption and mobility.

As an example, the Internet has promoted fast mobility of information across the world at the click of a mouse.  Information technology serves an integral role in our life as well as a central function in our personal and professional relations; thereby calling this period the computer age.  Human beings have invented spaceships and devices allowing us to explore the moon and distant planets, but we have not invented a tool designed to explore our mind.  Although all religions try to encourage their followers to avoid evil and to live ethically while promoting non-violence and compassion; misery and conflict persists.  Three main factors continue to produce tension in our human lives: desire, power, and narrow mindedness.

The first factor seen as desire, also called craving or ‘tanha’ is defined as having aspirations towards beliefs. The second factor of power, also called ‘mana’ or pride is categorized as humans craving authority and wanting to have others subjugated under their power.  Lastly, the third factor of narrow-mindedness called ‘ditti’ or false views identifies itself as religion and idealism refusing to accept one another. Thus three main factors that cause conflict are: craving, pride, and false views.

The right path leading to peace must first begin within each human being. We start with ourselves and work our way outward.  How can we bring peace to our family, friends, communities, and the world at large if we are at such conflict within?  In Buddhism, there is a Buddhist principle that goes: ‘attahi attano nato’ or “self-dependency” which is the true attainment instilled onto us.  In other words, we must accept responsibility for our individual lives before we seek help.  Buddhist monks instruct us to implement the great value of self-dependency into practice which can promote personal growth and spread like a wild flower from each person out into societies, nations and all of humanity.

The foundation of this path leading us to such peace consists of three levels: ‘Sila’ or moral conduct, ‘Samadhi’ or Samatha meditation through concentration of the mind, and lastly ‘Vipassana’ meditation through wisdom of insight.

The first level of the path leading to peace (‘Sila’ or moral conduct) encompasses the five following precepts:

1. To abstain from killing any being.
2. To abstain from stealing.
3. To abstain from sexual misconduct.
4. To abstain from wrong speech.

5.     To abstain from all intoxicants.

Buddhism classifies the technique of meditation into two concepts, the first being Samatha meditation and the second, Vipassanā meditation.  Samatha meditation consists of a calm and peaceful state of mind attained through concentration.  On the other hand, Vipassanā meditation studies deeper patterns of the mind, rooted in our subconscious to uncover the wisdom crucial for self transformation. Vipassana is an experiential practice that cannot be fully understood by reading countless books, memorizing rules, or listening to lectures.  As the Buddha said, “Find out for yourself what is truth, what is real… Don’t blindly believe what I say. Don’t believe me because others convince you of my words. Don’t believe anything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts. Don’t rely on logic alone, nor speculation.”

The second level of the path leading to peace, Samadhi or Samatha meditation is meant to calm both the body and mind, as it brings the mind into a state of perfect and gentle concentration. Conscious breathing focuses mainly on breathing by following the breath in and out of the body. By fully concentrating on the breath, it leaves no room for obstructive thoughts and produces a sense of relaxation. Breathing is everyone’s property; there is no need to buy it.  Nor can one steal it from you. The breath does not belong to Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, any other religion or individual. It is common property and therefore everyone can meditate on breathing.  Samatha meditation can be practiced at any place or time: morning, afternoon, evening or as one prepares to sleep.

The third level of the path leading to peace, Vipassanā or the wisdom of insight is the process of purification of the mind achieved through the wisdom of insight.  Vipassana means to see things as they really are.  The most important meditation in our life is ‘Sati’ or mindfulness. A man living without mindfulness faces a lot of suffering.  One can improve their mindfulness by practicing Vipassanā meditation and by being mindful of what one is doing at each moment. When insight meditation or Vipassanā Bhavanā is practiced, mindfulness is used to meditate on the characteristics of the feeling or concocted emotion that arises in the deep mind at the moment of contact.  We come to realize that every type, form, and duration of feeling is suffering, impermanent, and non-self. From this realization, we develop disgust towards attachment, and refrain from attaching ourselves to that feeling or concocted emotion. The mind is thus maintained in a void or neutral state as the result of non-attachment.

Upon embarking on this path leading to peace, we benefit initially by observing ‘Sila’ or the five precepts.  We then continue on the path by practicing Samadhi Samatha meditation.  However, to receive the highest rewards, we need to commit ourselves to training our minds and summon the courage to face our deepest and most painful or influential patterns through Vipassanā Bhavanā (the wisdom of insight). As the Buddha stated, “This is the way leading to purity, Nibbāna.”  The most fundamental knowledge regarding meditation is that the path leading to peace through Sila supports Samadhi Samatha meditation and Samadhi Samatha meditation supports the path leading to peace, Vipassanā.

When you follow the above three levels correctly, it is sure that you will act toward others through the three universalities shown below:

1. Universal human-being:  It is not important wherever you were born or wherever you reside-because we are all human. Nationalities such as Indian, Thais, and others are constructions based on alliances from former barbaric-tribal affiliations.  Racial information is only known to support narrow-mindedness and ignorance.  The way to treat and respect others is through wisdom.  We all share the common foundation of being human, as part of the entire humanity. This is required to begin from universalities as members of humanity. When we see that all people are our siblings as cohabitants in humanity, we become humane humans serving humanity as the greater foundation for everything.

2. Universal Love or Loving Kindness: Universal kindness illustrates humanity’s familiar loving-kindness towards all. We would like for people to give respect and express kindness or loving-goodwill towards anyone. Humans can live well enough together when we are consumed with kindness, willingness to perform favors, grant good wishes, and lend assistance without anger and deceitful intention to harm others. Presently though, people only give loving-kindness to their own associates, friends or give with the expectation of receiving something in return.  Some religions discourage the interaction with others, inhibiting greater humanity and community.

3. Universal Truth and Rule:  There are no social guidelines suggesting that if humans believe in a specific concept, only they will receive benefits, excluding others.  A universal truth demands anyone performing an action receive the same result regardless of place, time, and affiliation. This is a universal-truth. People cannot control this rule; nature has not determined divisions as indivisible. Natural truths are different from human-manifested regulations or divisions rooted from tribal beliefs. Therefore, we must expand rules to be universal. This natural fact is indivisible as universal. We are required only to behave compassionately universally towards humanity. For example: it has been mentioned that all wholesome people regardless of races or religions will venture into heaven. On the other hand, all unwholesome people regardless of races or religions will venture into a hellish realm.  No particular religion mandates that only its followers are granted access to heaven while others must go to hell, having lived an equally moral life.  Therefore, equality must correspond with universal truth. When society and humanity permeates with the three universalities, it becomes possible to create the peaceful world desired by all. No universality is divided, conflicted, or strife-ridden. These are the three main principles of universal human-beings; universal love or loving kindness; and universal truth.

In conclusion, although the era of globalization and information technology has distracted us from the intuitive voice within us; the path leading to peace is always accessible to anyone willing to put forth the effort.  The path cannot be lived or experienced from a YouTube video, seen at a Google presentation or read from a book. We must begin the journey with the observance of ‘Sila’ (moral conduct consisting of the five precepts), followed by practicing Samadhi or Samatha meditation, and finally by practicing Vipassana or the wisdom of insight.   These three levels of training will guide us to act correctly toward all human beings through the three universalities: universal human-being, universal loving-kindness and universal truth.  These tools will provide all individuals regardless of age, race, religion, gender, or background a guideline for moral and productive living, grounded in the foundation of compassion, respect, loving-kindness and understanding for all sentient beings.

 

“No one saves us but ourselves.  Not one can and no one may. 

We ourselves must walk the path.”

– Buddha