Do
you really want World Peace? If YES, please give PEACE a chance.
We often talk about âpeaceâ after a
âwarâ has occurred but no matter how often you talk about âpeaceâ it cannot
stop the war thatâs going to occur, has occurred, or continuing. There was
someone who either has uttered these words or written down that âeven though
there are more than a million poems that had been written for peace, but the
wars in this world still continue. If this is so, the word âPeaceâ would only
be just another beautiful word that appear in speeches, statements , poems,
lyrics. Itâs not just a word thatâs been written in bibles for repeated
preaching. So where could peace be obtained? Everyone wants peace. Poor people
want peace because they still lack the necessities in living. Rich people call
out for peace too but their reason is because they are afraid of losing what
they already have. As a conclusion, everybody cries out for peace every day and
night, but is there anyone who really knows the origin of true peace?
The
cannibals Solomon islands believe that white men is a great source of protein
and vitamins and cannibalism is a tradition thatâs been passed on. This belief
caused the Solomons to be isolated from the rest of the world. Even so, the
terrifying past was changed when they experienced the inner peace and bliss
that arise from meditation practice according to Buddhist teachings. It started
with the arrival of Mr.Sungwien Kanchaiyapoom who had practiced meditation from
Wat Phra dhammakaya and taught the meditation techniques to the Solomon
colleagues. When they have gained the inner peace and study Dhamma (Buddhaâs
teachings) through Dream in Dream Kindergarten program taught by Luang Phaw
Dhammajayo which made them understand more about Dhamma till they stop killing
and consuming alcohol and turn to seeking the inner wisdom and peace instead.
In
Africa, wars between tribes have always been a big problem for a long time. It
is all Africansâ fortune to have a chance to know the word âtrue peaceâ in
another aspect. This is the result of Venerable PhraRajbhavanavisudh who has
sent a monk that would be a light for South Africa until the meditation centers
in Johannesburg and Cape Town have been established. The Middle Way meditation
program, which is one of Phrarajbhavanavisudhâs projects for peace, has also
been introduced to create harmony and peace in Africa continent. Those who had
participated in this meditation program had found bliss and peace from the
inside when the mind stop and they all said in one voice that mediation is the
only way to bring peace to South Africa and the whole continent.
As
a result, the project âPeace For Africaâ was created and Pretoria News, which
is the local newspaper in the capital city of South Africa, had given the
headline news on 20th October 2008 issue âGive Peace A Chanceâ. The news about Floating lanterns for peace
ceremony was conducted for the first time in the country was published. After
the media published the news, the project âPeace for Africaâ and the founder,
Phrarajbhavanavisudh, became big interests among the South Africans. Part of
the news that was published was about Phrarajbhavanavisudhâs vision in
peace-making â âThis project âĶ.
The
other person who has devoted his life working in creating world peace is Dr.
Michael Nobel. He was born and raised in Sweden and live most of his life in
Switzerland - two countries who have not had a conflict with their neighbors
for hundreds of years. His great grandfatherâs brother Alfred Nobel who was an
engineer founded the Nobel Peace Price. He himself has some experience and
background in work for peace and spent 12 years of his recent past as head of a
non-violence project which succeeded to reach out to over 2 million young
people around the globe to teach them non-violent behavior through various
programs in schools. He sits today on several boards of conflict resolution
foundations trying to make young urban children adopt a non-violent lifestyle.
Dr. Michael Nobel has participated in the Casting of Golden Image of Phra
Monkol Thepmuni (Sodh Chandrasaro) on October 10th, 2008 saying âthe wisdom of Dhammakaya, the key
to the enlightenment of the Lord Buddha, In order that these teachings may once
again announce to the world that the peaceful state of the mind is the secret
of success.âHe also mentioned of
Luang Phaw Dhammajayo, âOne
only has to think of the millions of people whose lives are devoted to teaching
children life skills, to fighting pain, disease and poverty, to protecting
lives and property and to promoting ideals of morality and truth. We have a
shining example here today, in the person of his holiness Luang Phaw
Dhammajayo.â Dr. Michael Nobel first started
meditation through Luang Phaw Dhammajayoâs teaching. He felt a strong inner
peace and relaxation and said, âThere is no doubt in my mind that if all of the
statesmen of the world, the military, the politicians and the corporate leaders
accepted the principle of meditation and agreed to assimilate the wisdom of
Luang Phaw Dhammajayo the world would surely become a haven of peace and
tranquilityâ
The
work of Venerable Dhammajayo which he
has dedicated and supported to bringing peace to the world has been brought
through bringing the inner peace through meditation in order to unite the
differences in race, religions and tribes with conciliation. Meanwhile he
supports all form of non-violence. He is a special person and his teaching
raises moral support and lead people to have beautiful lives, to live in a
better way. His good intention in bringing peace to the world has been recognized
all over the world, eg. the "Path of Progress" - Ethics Quiz Contest
- was honored as one of the "Programs of the Peace and Non-Violence of the
Century" by UNESCO.
Phrarajbhavanavisudh
has a right vision in creating world peace. Moreover, he has an idea to start a
project in restoring ethics and moral values in youth. This project is of great
value to the communities of the world. Phrarajbhavanavisudh also started a
television channel DMC which benefits the viewers from all over the world and
DMC has also won internationally well-recognized Telly Awards.
Besides
propagating Buddhism, Phrarajbhavanavisudh has also reached out to impoverish
people and those who face natural disasters. For example, he helped those who
suffered from floods, both in Thailand and neighboring countries like Cyclone
Nargis in Burma, those who suffered from wild fire in the United States and
Earthquake in China. He also helped the poor who suffer from cold winter in
Thailand, has given scholarships, started a campaign against alcohol, offering
alms to the monks residing in 266 temples in 4 southern provinces of Thailand
where violence prevailed and also Alms-offering project to 500,000 monks in 76
provinces of Thailand etc.
On
October 10th 2008, Dr.Michael Nobel had found out that the proof
which could be seen before cultivating peace through meditation was the sight
of 300,000 people with smiley friendly faces, no aggression, no assault or
conflict. This clearly showed the beneficial result of Luang Phaw Dhamajayoâs
thoughts and teachings. He was convinced that if meditation was extended
worldwide, a true peace and harmony would ensue. This could be achieved when everyone takes
their role and responsibility to expand these teachings, to the members of
their families, to their friends, to their business associates. Like the waves
from a stone thrown into the water the teachings of the blessings of meditation
will then sweep outwards and around the world and finally conquer violence.
From
now on, âpeaceâ will not be just another beautiful word heard and faded in just
a few minutes, like Phrarajbhavanavisudhâs sermon, âPeace is known when
the mind stops. Therefore, true peace price should be given to all those who
could do so, that is to stop their mind until itâs cleansed and purified.
Love and good intention for mankind will arise and they will become the center
of peace for the people around them like the sun shining warm light to big and
small stars, both near and farââĶ like Luang Phaw Dhammajayo.
