How easy it can be for each of us to say, 'Of course I want Universal Peace, but
there is nothing much I can do about it. After all I am only one person and what can
one person do to bring about something as vast as that? I'll leave it to the
governments and the politicians and peace marchers. Someone else can do
something about it. I would be like a voice crying in the wilderness.' When we think
this way, we end up hiding away in our own little shells like snails and allowing
awareness of the state of the world to fade into the background because we as
individuals feel we are unable to do anything about it. 

What can each one of us do? Let us ask ourselves where our sense of
responsibility toward Universal Peace lies. What we do, how we live and how we
think can help or hinder the peace in the world. 

We can talk about Universal Peace, but that won't bring it about. We can write
about it and send out pamphlets about it, but that does not create peace. What we
have to do is find that deep peace and harmony within ourselves. That is what will
help. We can become part of the answer instead of part of the chaos and confusion.
This is a time of creating, of building up, of linking up, and there again it starts
within each one of us. We can start doing this now. We don't have to wait for
someone else. 

Why don't you turn within and seesyhere you can start? So often it is very simple.
What is happening in your family, in your home, with your next door neighbour?
How about the disagreement you had with your friend last week? This is where
peace breaks down, right here in our lives and everyday living. Until we can find
peace and harmony right here within ourselves and learn to love one another, how
can we hope to bring Universal Peace to the world? It is love, understanding and
tolerance that bring peace. 

There is so much negativity around. All you have to do is pick up a newspaper or
listen to a radio and there you will find yourself being bombarded by negative,
destructive thoughts. What you do with those thoughts is up to you. Your reactions
to them are vitally important. You can absorb them and allow them to weigh you
down until you become part of the negativity, or you can rise above them and help
transmute and transform them. You can become part of the disease or part of the
cure_it's up to you. The quicker you realise this the better. Negativity is like a
dark cloud which can envelop you if the light within you is not strong enough to
dissolve it. Let your light shine forth at all times so the darkness is dispersed
instantly. The more of us who do this and see the importance of it, the quicker will
all negativity and darkness disappear. So let there be light and more light within
each one of us. 

Peace is Divine Energy manifested, bringing assurance, confidence, clarity of mind
and blessings. Peace is positive, it is God manifested. 

We all long for peace and yet we go about it the wrong way. Instead of starting at
the top we need to start with the foundations. 'As we think, so we are.' As a nation
of people thinks, so it is. If its outlook is aggressive it will surely create war. No
amount of talking about peace will bring it about. We can achieve peace when we
learn to love one another and live for each other instead of just for ourselves. From
that rock-like foundation we can then take peace into the world. 

To understand the true meaning of peace, to find that peace which passes all
understanding, look away from just the outer appearances. Close your eyes and be
still. Still the senses and breathe deeply. Without a peaceful heart and mind we are
merely existing as if in a dream. Practise peace by starting the day in a peaceful
frame of mind. Allow peaceful thoughts to flow into your mind upon waking and
carry them out into your everyday living. 

We can create peace only by a change of consciousness. It cannot be brought about
by lecturing people or criticising governments. It is not other people who need to
change, it is ourselves who have to be transformed. 'Be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind.' There is a way to do this: it is by ceaseless inward prayer. I
am a great believer in prayer. This is the inner work all of us need to do, not just
now and again, but constantly. That is what will bring peace. 

Think about unity - unity in all things and under all conditions, unity in diversity.
There cannot be unity without a thread of love running through it, for it is love that
unites. Two people can be on entirely different paths and living entirely different
lives, but when there is love flowing between them they can become one. In
individuals, in groups, in communities, in the world there can be this wonderful
peace, unity and oneness when there is love flowing. It has to start somewhere, so
why not let it start in our own hearts? We cannot make ourselves love someone but
we will find that if we keep our hearts open and allow love to flow in and through us,
we will become less and less judgemental. Eventually we will know what it really
means to love someone no matter who he or she is, no matter what colour, creed or
religion. 

It is love that unites. Love is the key that opens all doors. Love is the balm that
heals all wounds. Love is the light that lightens all darkness. When we love one
another we will no longer stand back and criticise other people's way of life,
behaviour, religion, rituals and~ E>eliefs. When we are at peace within we no
longer need to spend our time trying to change others. We simply learn to Be, and
in Being create a sense of oneness with all life. Peace reigns supreme. We know we
are indeed all one in God's sight. For God is love. Let us remember that as we
think so we are and as we think so we create. We are indeed co-creators with God.

Eileen Caddy