From Inner Peace to World Peace: Buddhist Meditation in Practice

Abstract

The concept of 'peace' is defined and understood in various ways. Understanding peace as absence of violence is a limited vision. Peace encompasses happiness and harmony among living beings. In a wider understanding, peace is the nature and goal of every sentient being. Being peaceful is living in friendship with oneself and with every creature. Peace is indivisible but peril anywhere can be a threat to peace everywhere. Buddhism envisions peace as inner state of mental tranquility which spreads outward. Attaining a state of inner peace could be an inspiration to all. Buddha attained inner peace by the practice of meditation, which inspired him to work for world peace. In most of his teachings, Buddha has emphasized that the practice of vipassanā uproots mental defilements, which are, according to him, the causes of suffering and restlessness. Once a person overcomes suffering, he realizes inner peace. Inner peace projects itself outward, towards the family, friends and the larger society. This ensures peace and harmony in the outer world. Thus, world peace can be achieved through inner peace. This article presents the existing potential of this postulation based on Buddhist understanding. Buddha became a source of inspiration to all humanity as he attained peace of mind. This research talks about how mental defilements can be uprooted, how a person finds the peace of mind and how inner peace may lead towards world peace.