________________
0 Mrs. Olgha Ghosh
Peace - Where art thou?
Even the make-belief screen Life full of show and glamour is not a happy and peaceful one. It is a life full of tensions, struggles and cut-throat competitions where only the fittest survive.
Sometimes peace and contentment is sought in drinking, gambling and taking drugs. Such people find a temporary sedative, a marvellous relaxation, a happy oblivion by having recourse to alcohol, smoke, gamble or drugs. Indulgence in such activities takes a person to the brink of existence and in most cases to a point of no return.
Yet there are many who seek peace and happiness in dishonest means. Today, dishonesty has crept into every system in the country. It has eroded the very fabric of social life. Honesty has become a rare virtue not found easily. Unfortunately, in our pursuit for power and position, lucre and lust we have lost sight of peace and happiness.
Another factor greatly responsible for driving out peace is terrorism. Terrorism is a very familiar word today. Religious intolerance and fanaticism have led to violence and terror. It has tom the world apart and robbed every bit of peace from the face of the earth. Man has taken up arms against man. People are killing each other without any qualms or compunction. In the turmoil of today, when there is so much of unrest do you often wonder just where the world is heading?
Does it mean life is meaningless and peace is nowhere to be found? It is elusive in life? No peace can be found in a clear conscience, true friendship, good health and character, we can discover peace in the beauty of Nature. Sunrise and sunset, singing of birds and the music of wind in the trees, laughter and gaiety of children bring great deal of happiness and sunshine in our lives
If you make a conscientious effort to be thoughtful of those around you will experience an inner joy and peace that money cannot buy and the world cannot take away. And more than that, you will begin to live in the thoughts of others because you have been thoughtful of them.
Classes need to bury their dissensions and find the mutual path of understanding. Hate and malice are detrimental to the growth of progress. If the world is to be saved and peace is to be restored it can only be on a basis of mutual understanding trust and friendship.
Let us all endeavour to build a better world, a peaceful world of co-operation, understanding and love. "Arise! Awake and stop not till the goal is reached".
Principal Shree Jain Vidyalaya, Howrah
What does the world need - particularly right now? The world's greatest need today is Peace and Peace alone. The world is hungry for peace and its relentless search is futile because peace and happiness do not seem to exist longer in true sense of the term.
This storm-tossed, war-weary, troubled world needs Peace-needs-it more than anything else. Every person is in search of peace and happiness. Peace is the motive behind everyone's quest. Search for peace impels our activities infect it is the driving force.
Hermits and sages have eternally sought peace and solitude to be far away from all petty meanness of humanity and everything else that could distract them from their high thinking. Nothing is more conducive to deep and noble thought than to be alone, surrounded by forests, mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers.
Where does Peace reign? With one it is power, with another riches, with a third social position, with many it is some insignificant thing like clothes, a piece of jewellery, a special kind of car.
In the long run we realize that these cannot bring true happiness and peace. Are politicians, who are in power, really happy and at peace? No, they know they have made too many promises they cannot keep. Once they are in power they forget commitments they made to the people. The rich man you envy is looking at you envying your health and contentment. While you envy his gold jewellery and automobiles, he is envying your energy, strength, courage and health. These are treasures which the world's wealth cannot buy.
शिक्षा-एक यशस्वी दशक
विद्यालय खण्ड/१५
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
