Inner Peace Outer Peace

[icy]

Everybody loves to talk about calm and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context. But without inner peace how can we make real peace? World peace through hatred and force is impossible. Even in the case of individuals, there is no possibility to feel happiness through anger. If in a difficult situation one becomes disturbed internally, overwhelmed by mental discomfort, then external things will not help at all. However, if despite external difficulties or problems, internally one's attitude is of love, warmth, and kind-heartedness, then problems can be faced and accepted.
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The necessary foundation for world peace and the ultimate goal of any new international order is the elimination of violence at every level. For this reason the practice of non-violence surely suits us all. It simply requires determination, for by its very nature non-violent action requires patience. While the practice of non-violence is still something of an experiment on this planet, if it is successful it will open the way to a far more peaceful world in the next century.
--from The Pocket Dalai Lama by the Dalai Lama,

[icy]

His Holiness Kyabje Ling Rinpoche reminds us, "When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities and so on. When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace."

[Tenzin K]

“Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be acheived unless we first establish peace within our own minds. We can send so-called 'peacekeeping forces' into areas of conflict, but peace cannot be oppossed from the outside with guns. Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.”
~ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Transform Your Life: A Blissful Journey

Buddhism teaches people that the real source of happiness is inner peace. If our mind is peaceful, we shall be happy all the time, regardless of external conditions, but if it is disturbed or troubled in any way, we shall never be happy, no matter how good our external conditions may be. External conditions can only make us happy if our mind is peaceful. We can understand this through our own experience. For instance, even if we are in the most beautiful surroundings and have everything we need, the moment we get angry any happiness we may have disappears. This is because anger has destroyed our inner peace.

"Mind precedes all things; mind is their chief, mind is their maker.
If one speaks or does a deed with a mind that is pure within,
happiness then follows along like a never departing shadow.
~ Dhammapada 1"

We can see from this that if we want true, lasting happiness we need to develop and maintain a special experience of inner peace. The only way we can do this is by training our mind through spiritual practice - gradually reducing and eliminating our negative, disturbed states of mind and replacing them with positive, peaceful states.
Some people may believe that Buddhism is rather selfish because it seems to be concentrating only on inner peace. This is not the case, however; Buddha’s main purpose in teaching people how they could achieve inner peace was so that they could then go on to share that experience with others. Buddhism teaches that this is the most effective way in which it is possible for them to benefit others.

Entangled by the bonds of hate, he who seeks his own happiness
by inflicting pain on others, is never delivered from hatred.
~ Dhammapada 291"

Buddhists understand that without inner peace outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless people first establish peace within their own minds. Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.

[Jessie Fong]

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, emphasizes the importance of inner peace in the world:

The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet.



Inner peace or generally called peace of mind describes us being mentally and spiritually at peace. Many people consider it to be a healthy state, as opposed to being anxious or stressed out.  We can associate it with happiness and contentment.

[Big Uncle]

It's almost common sense that Outer Peace comes from Inner Peace. Inner Peace is not just a calm mind but more like a balanced mind where one is able to react positively in the face of adversity. Spiritual practice and meditation are some of the techniques used to develop this inner calm and strength. It has been said many times and in many ways that how we react in the face of adversity reflects our true self and the level of our spiritual practice.

If we crack easily and depend upon others to always support and console us, then it reflects the level of our spiritual practice. It's worse when we have created the problem and we become upset because things didn't go the way we wanted and we become more upset with people for not being sympathetic towards our cause. How we react reflects our level of practice and perhaps, even our true underlying thoughts behind the fake niceties and grand motivation.

Inner calm and inner peace comes with acceptance, perseverance and a healthy dose of self-esteem. Good self-esteem cannot be programmed by an external person but can be established through our conduct, how we keep our promises and our honesty. Being ethical and accountable makes for a healthy self-esteem. All these contributes towards healthy relationship between our mind and our body,

[Midakpa]

When the United Nations was formed after the Second World War, the heads of Nations who gathered to sign the charter agreed that it should begin with the following preamble:

"Since it is in the minds of men that wars begin, it is in the minds of men the ramparts of peace should be erected."

The first verse of the Dhammapada expresses a similar sentiment: "All (mental) states have mind as their as their forerunner, mind is their chief, and they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts, with a defiled mind, suffering follows one even as the wheel follows the hoof of the draught-ox."

The statements mean that we cannot fight force with more force. This will only lead to war. The Buddha said that "Hatred does not cease by hatred; by love alone does it cease." The Buddha's way to world peace is to return good for evil. This is from his own experience. It is our pride and ego that prevent us from settling our problems peacefully. We must practise tolerance if we want peace to reign in this world. To establish peace among mankind, everyone must learn to practise the ways leading to the extinction of hatred, greed and ignorance (the three poisons). If mankind can eradicate these evil delusions, tolerance and peace will come to this world.

[angelsherfield]

Inner peace create outer peace. Without inner peace, here come with inner negativities, emotions frustration and negative actions which hurts others. To achieve inner peace, we can practice meditations and mantra recitations. When time passed, you or your friends will notice your inner change during the interaction or communications between you,your friends and family.

When we achive inner peace, it will lead us to achieve outer peace. With inner peace, we will see things clearer and think deeper before talk to others and react accordingly.  No inner anger anymore. We also able to help those people that looking for inner peace by sharing our experience and positive point of views.

Inner peace achivement will change a person's attitudes and mind transformations. No negative action been take place means outer peace is achieved.

[pgdharma]

Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.’
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Transform Your Life

Because happiness and suffering are states of mind, the real source of happiness is inner peace and cannot be found outside the mind.  If our mind is peaceful, then we will be peaceful, regardless of external conditions, but if it is disturbed then we shall never be happy, no matter how good our external conditions may be. We cannot wish for world peace unless we establish peace within our own mind.

[diablo1974]

When i hear people saying they've acquired peace ...thru some form of spitiruality. Questionarises whether if this "peace" is considered a form of attachment to our senses....when we feel good => we get peace??

I would see 'peace' as a state of mind, for instance, if there's a trigger to our negative emotion by means of body and speech which we detests and dislike. In this moment, our state of mind would be put into test. If we are caught in anger and other emotional afflictions, peace is lost, but rather if we could control our state of mind and be aware of what is happening, we got some form of "Peace".

[apprenticehealer]

We can see from this that if we want true, lasting happiness we need to develop and maintain a special experience of inner peace. The only way we can do this is by training our mind through spiritual practice - gradually reducing and eliminating our negative, disturbed states of mind and replacing them with positive, peaceful states.

I agree with Tenzin K that the only way to inner peace and hence happiness and joy , we need to train and develop our mind. To change our mindset, our attitude , to recognise what are the factors that are creating this inner turmoil within us and then to work to eliminate these issues from within us.

I personally find doing my daily prayers, reading Dharmic texts, positive affirmations and of course reaching
out for guidance from well versed and wise friends , truly helped me to 'switch ' that turmoil to firstly ; denial then to indifference, then to acceptance and finally peace. Peace within WILL manifest to outer peace. With inner peace comes forgiveness, gratitude, loving kindness , compassion and happiness ! And this is something so precious that one carries within him all the time and that sense of peace from within radiates outwards and touches the people around him.

Doesn't one feel the peace and happiness when one sees a monk / a nun ? They have no material possessions but they are always so happy and always so at peace.

[RedLantern]

Inner peace at the individual level is essential for the outer peace to happen.People dream of a world in which we all live in harmony,while simultaneously doubting that such a place never exist,peace seems elusive.
Most of us have such notion of peace,compassion,and understanding,but these notions are crushed by a
single violent act,a harmful word,or even an insulting glance.Yet,the simple truth is that any faltering of our ideals has less to do with others than it does with each of us to do with others than it does with each of us as an individual.All of these feelings and traits can be distilled into one truth:lack of self awareness.
If humanity is ever going to achieve harmony,it must start with the individual.Outer peace will only be found by first achieving and striving for inner peace.It's a choice,we always have a choice.A choice to examine our values.