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Role of Religion in unity of Mankind and World Peace
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of peace will not fall in the grip of passions." While defining peace, Saint Thomas Aquinas has also rightly maintained the same view. He says, "peace implies two things first our self should not be disturbed by external factors and secondly, our desires should find rest in one i.e. the self.' This inner peace can also be explained from negative and positive viewpoints. Negatively, it is the state of the cessation of all the passions and desires. It is the freedom from the vectors of attachment and aversion. Positively, it is the state of bliss and self-contentment.
Now we turn to the external peace. Inner peace is the peace of our self while external peace is the peace of society or environmental peace. It is the state of cessation of wars and hostilities, among individuals, individuals and society, different social groups and nations on the earth. So far as this external peace or the peace of the society is concerned, it can also be defined in both ways negatively as well as positively. Defined negatively, it is the state of cessation of wars and hostilities whereas positively it is the state of harmonious living of individuals as well as societies and nations. It is the state of social cooperation and co-existence. But we must be aware of the fact that the real external peace is more than non-war. It is a vital peace. It is the state, free from mutual doubts and fears. So far as the doubts and apprehensions against each other exist, in spite of the absence of actual war, really, it is not the state of peace. Because where there is fear, the war exists. In modern world we term it as cold war. War is war, whether it is cold or actual, it disturbs the peace of society. Real external peace is only possible, when our hearts are free from doubts and fear and each and every individual has firm faith not only in the dictum 'Live and let live', but 'Live for other.'
According to Umāsvāti, "by nature livings being are made for each other (parasparopagrahojīvānām)20". So long as our heart are full of doubts and fear and we do not have full control on our selfish animal instincts as well as firm belief in mutual co-operation and coexistence, real social peace on earth will not be possible.
Real peace dawns only if our hearts are full of universal love, which was preached by all the religious of the world. This universal
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