Lesson #9: Pathway of Peace
Introduction
The Pathway of Peace is the way we can make a difference and change the world. Peace is built on the foundations of compassion, connection, justice, and unity. It is a state of unwavering tranquility, calmness, and serenity. Peace also includes respect and right- relationship with all things and beings. We know when peace is in our lives because we can feel it. The Hebrew word for peace, “shalom,” also means wholeness and completeness, which expand the meaning of peace towards a more spiritual foundation.
Peace begins with each individual and expands to others and then out into the world. Every thought, word, and deed for peace is important and makes a difference. Imagine the entire world being overwhelmed with peace because each person is practicing peace. Peace is a state of being of consciousness, an emotion, a thought, and an action. Peace allows us to think more clearly and be more open to creative solutions to challenges. Being at peace helps keep us from worrying and stressing. Every religion and spiritual path teach us to be at peace and to share that peace with others. Peace is the ideal state of being and living as “humans being.”
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” – Aristotle
“You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Peace is not something you wish for, it is something you make, something you are, something you do and something you give away.” – Robert Fulghum
“World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just a mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.” – Dalai Lama XIV
“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” – Albert Schweitzer
“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.” – Buddha
“Peace is always beautiful.” – Walt Whitman
“Peace begins with a smile.” – Mother Teresa
Prayer for Peace
Most Sacred and Divine Spirit, grant me the presence of unwavering inner peace so that I may bring peace to my family, my friends, and to the world. Make me an instrument of peace so that I may find wholeness and a stronger connection with You. May I learn to “let go and let God” lead me into peace. And so, it is. Pau.
Affirmation for Peace
I build my life on a foundation of peace. I am calm and serene in every situation. I am the peace that I wish to see in the world.
Meditation: Feel at Peace
Sit in the quiet and close your eyes. Breathe deeply for a few minutes. Pray that peace is in your life right now. Then being to focus on your feet. “I bring peace to my feet.” Focus on each part of your body and bring peace to that part. Be mindful of any part of your body that is hurting and flood it with peace. Continue until all parts of you feel at peace. Do this meditation at least once a week for this month of Peace.
Spiritual Practices
Week 1 - Peace: Peaceful Thoughts. Be mindful of your thoughts. Ask your Inner Self to help you recognize when your thoughts are not peaceful. When you realize you are having an unpeaceful thought, stop and take a deep breath, let this thought go, feel it moving away from you and dissolving. Take another deep breath and think of something peaceful. Visualize this peace in your mind and notice that your emotions are aligning with the peaceful thought. If someone upsets you, take responsibility for being upset and send blessings to that person until you are no longer feeling upset and at peace again. Make a commitment to carry this peace with you the rest of the day.
Week 2 - Peace: Talking Peace. In your Journal, write down all the things that upset you. Make a comprehensive list. Be mindful of situations that occur throughout this week that are on your list. Check the item and write down an alternative action and alternative words you can use in the future to bring peace to that situation and to your life. Do this every day this week and beyond if you have not checked off every item on your list and created peace for yourself. Words have power and peaceful words bring the power of peace into the world.
Week 3 - Peace: Taking Peaceful Actions. Slow down this week. If you find yourself in overdrive, take a breath and consciously slow down, move slower, walk slower, breathe more slowly. Nothing needs to be done in a hurry. There is always plenty of time. When you have slowed down, think of a peaceful action you can take. Set a goal of doing 8 peaceful actions this week. Keep track of them in your journal or on your cell phone or on your refrigerator so you can count them.
Week 4 - Peace: Bringing Peace Into the World. Begin and end your day with a peace prayer that includes thoughts, words, and deeds. Each day, set your intention to find a way to bring peace into the world. Perhaps it is comforting someone in trouble or helping a neighbor or a homeless person or your favorite cause to change the world. Perhaps it is changing your own thoughts to peace. Be at peace before you start your day and bring that peace with you when you go out. Radiate a feeling of peacefulness. Note in your Journal how peace made a difference in someone else’s life and in your own.