On November 11 the armistices for WW I was signed at 11 o’clock (11-11 at 11 in 1918). This ended the fighting in what was billed as the war to end all wars; we now know the fallacy of that a hope. From the time Grog hit his neighbor over head for an extra portion of mammoth, there has been conflict and violence amongst mankind. It is a sad commentary on human development, and an enormous waste of lives and materials that could have been used to improve the lot of all. Instead, violence has been used in one way or another to beat each other over the head for much of our recorded history.
When we look at the earth there is enough, and more than enough food and materials for prosperity for all mankind; including leaving vast tracks of nature intact as natural habitats when all is intelligently used. This last year we drove around this North American continent and there were long miles of territory that was just as nature made it—excluding the road we were driving on. With a dedication by all for clean air and water, to treat nature as our essential partner and not just a product, we can have a very nice lifestyle and a healthy environment that will satisfy our Creator that we have been wise in our use of His gifts.
A very positive thing today is that the casualties of war have dropped. Measuring by this past decade, and comparing it to the cold war era the number of deaths from war is now three times lower, and by WW II numbers it is now one hundred times lower; that with a much larger population today. Each life is precious and is a child of God, so one is too many to lose to senseless violence. In addition to the violence of war there continues to be slavery, violence in homes and on the streets, and a lack of justice for many in this wide world. However, even with these problems that affect our dear brothers and sister in humanity, we may also take joy that war casualties are so reduced.
From Buddha and Jesus we have the examples of loving compassion as a hallmark of their lives and teachings. Looking at the world through their eyes we see all humanity, nay, all creation as intimately connected with our own, their welfare is not separate from ours. Papa Ramdas embodied this universal vision, Master and Mother gave the love of God to one and all. Surely the world has had teachings and examples enough for us to know what is right and wrong, yet human nature periodically wants to exert itself to dominate over its brothers and sisters; not lift them up.
In the face of so much of what we see and hear of selfish disregard for others, what are we to think? What are we To do? The most basic teaching is one that can be understood by all, it is called the Golden Rule: Do to others what you would have done to you—in other words, treat others exactly the way you want to be treated. There it is, a little thoughtfulness about what that means to each of us would make this world a heaven on earth. To start the ball rolling you start by embodying this principle in your own life from this day out—to be kind, considerate, truthful, and compassionate.
Sitting at the feet of one of India’s greatest God-men, Swami Satchidananda, I was privileged to see and hear him offer his wisdom to those who came to him. In one instance Swamiji was proactive in influencing an all-India situation that could have resulted in a war. There was a movement urging Hindu’s to travel to Ayodhya to tear down a Mosque built on Hindu holy ground 500 hundred years before. Even though there were those of Islam offering to move the Mosque, these firebrands were determined to have a show of force. Swamiji offered to give the leader of this movement time to speak at the Ashram. It was in Hindi, so I did not attend. Several of the Ashram walked away from his talk, saying they could not understand his logic.
After the man’s talk Swamiji met with him privately to reason with him, that his actions would lead to violence—but to no avail. Tens of thousands boarded trains for Ayodhya and a firebomb landed on a train car, killing over 40 people. A tragedy that lit a match in a tinder box of sentiment. An incident Swamiji had tried to avoid. It reminded me of Krishna mediating between the Kurus and Pandavas that would have avoided a tremendous war, and Rama who sent emissaries to Ravana to negotiate a resolution that would have made the ensuing war unnecessary. Even though these incidents did not avoid conflict, they are examples for us to follow in our working for peace.
Time and again I witnessed Swami Satchidnandaji counsel loving action in the face of difficulties. If someone in the family was misbehaving, then to serve that one with love was the proffered advice. It was sometimes a different approach than I would have thought of at the time, but always consistent with loving compassion as the highest principle. Today we celebrate Swamiji’s birthday (Nov. 12), and the two themes of peace in the world and Swamiji’s life of dedicated service for finding peace within, peace in families, communities and the world fit together perfectly.
One must not think that Swamiji lived in some “bubble,” insulated from life’s difficulties because he spent his years in an ashram. All the world’s problems came through the gates of the Ashram; he dealt with every sort of human trouble. In fact, in his early days at the Ashram he thought he should live in isolation, because he could not serve at the Ashram with perfect equanimity in the face of what he saw. God had other plans for him however, and after a time in which he lived in a hut next to the Ganges, he was called back to seva for Papa, and would never leave again.
Those of us who live in families with challenges, in work places that disturb our peace, or are made uneasy by world situations can take a page (even a whole book!) out of Swamiji’s life and strive for compassionate peace in all situations. Although he was quiet, he was courageous in standing up for principle in the service for peace. Swamiji was definitely a titan member of the Golden Rule Club, and each one of us may add our part to solving war and conflicts through our working for peace within and peace without, even as he so beautifully did throughout his life.