The meaning of शान्ति — peace
What it is! and What it is not!!
The gap between two wars, the pause between two battles is NOT peace. The quite between two bangs is not peace either. The passive phase between two active conflicts is not peace.
Elsewhere on Facebook I wrote the difference between the peace (Sam) and rest (Sram).
So, what is really the “peace”? — it is the state before any conflict ever started. It is the original state before the apparent disturbance.
We can’t achieve the peace by conflict. One conflict rises another or probably two or more. Hence the conflict can’t restore the peace.
Conflict arises in three layers like the waves in the calm surface of consciousness. Conflict rises within one’s own self (emotional, Adhi-Atmika), or from the external sources (physical, Adhi-bhautika) or due to fate (spiritual or causal, Adhi-daivika).
Temporarily suppressing the conflict by opposing force is not the solution to achieve peace. These two opposing forces will continuously overpower each other and give periods of rest and activity forming a complex formation of world view.
Real peace is achieved only when the source of all conflicts is permanently removed. The earliest philosophical thought called “sAmkhya darSana” starts saying this:
“atha trividha duHkha atyanta nivRttiH atyanta purushArthaH.” Which means “ultimate removal of three types conflicts is the highest purpose.”
The source of all conflict is the confusion between the permanent consciousness and the temporary modifications of it as waves of sattva, rajas and tamas called guNas.
Right understanding of all the modifications of gunas and disassociating them from the purusha (soul) and rightly identifying the purusha with consciousness leads to ultimate peace.
