Quest for Peace

Quest for Peace

Sri Swami Chidananda

We talk constantly about peace–it is one of the most popular topics of discussion in the world today. Peace between nations, peace in our societies, peace in our schools, peace in our families, peace within ourselves. Yet, although billions of dollars and millions of hours are spent each year on think tanks, brainstorming sessions and international conferences, this much-desired peace continues to elude us.

What is the secret of finding this elusive treasure? Let us discuss it. Because without peace both inner and outer–all is meaningless. We can spend millions of dollars building posh downtown centres in our cities, but if we are at war with another country, they will bomb that centre to ashes in a second. We can spend thousands of dollars building beautiful homes, but if our neighbourhood is our enemy, our windows will be smashed and our new lawns destroyed. We can work hard and successfully at our jobs, but if we come home to turmoil in the house, there is no joy in the success obtained at work that day, for there is no one with whom to share. We can devote ourselves to obtaining high education, top credentials and a beautiful figure. However, if we are miserable inside, no outer achievement will ever pacify us.

Recently in Chicago a woman came to see me. She told that she was stressed and tense. She said that in order to sleep at night she took a pill called calmpose. I told her that she did not need to take calmpose. “Just calm you pose”, I said “And you will sleep beautifully at night and be peaceful all day.” If we are peaceful inside, humble inside, then nothing outside can ruffle us. So, the first message today is, calm your pose and you will never need to take calmpose.

The obstacles and the solution are buried in this statement. Listen: I want peace. What do we have? An ‘I’, a ‘want’ and a ‘peace’. If you remove the ‘I’ and the ‘want’, what is left out? Peace. You do not have to look for peace, find peace or create peace. All you have to do is remove the ‘I’ and remove the ‘want’ and peace stands there in its full glory for the entire world to imbibe. It is the ‘I’ and the ‘want’ which obscure this treasure from our view.

So, how to remove these? First let’s talk about the ‘I’. ‘I’ is one of the greatest obstacles to peace. ‘I’ is our ego. ‘I’ is our sense of ownership, doership and pride. This ‘I’ says, “I want to be in the centre.” Isn’t it true? We always want to be the ones getting the glory, the appreciation, the prestige. Even when we don’t do anything still we want to be appreciated. That is our downfall.

We are so proud, this ‘I’ is so proud. It thinks, “Oh, I am so successful. I am so good.” But the truth is that we only go to work; God works. We can do nothing without His grace. One minute we are at our desks, acting like king of the world. The next minute, one nerve, just one microscopic nerve in our brain fails and we can no longer speak or write. One small blockage in one tiny blood vessel and we cannot even go to the bathroom by ourselves. We must be fed and taken care of for the rest of our lives.

So, what to be proud of? He works. We just go to work. As soon as we realise this, then we can take our little ‘I’ and merge it in the big ‘I’, the universal ‘I’, the divine ‘I’. Then we surrender our lives and our every action to Him. Then we say, “God, let my tiny drop of water merge with your great ocean. Let me be a tool for Your will and Your work.”

It is through this selfless surrender to Him, that the pain of the ‘I’ is removed and with that all our troubles and unrest disappear.

Remember, we said “I want peace”. ‘I’ and ‘want’ are the barriers of peace. If you remove them, then there is nothing left but peace. So, first we merge this individual, obstructing ‘I’ with the divine ‘I’, the universal ‘I’ and in doing so we become free of the pride, ego and tension which block our attainment of peace.

Then, we remove the ‘want’, our wants, our perceived needs, our desires. What obstacles these are to peace? The more we have, the more we want. People always think that if they attain something more, whether it’s more money, a better job, a degree, a good husband, then they will be happy.

It is not the having or not having that is the issue. The issue is the wanting, the yearning and the expecting. These external things never bring any lasting happiness.

We must give more and want less. Then, we will know true joy and peace.

Peace comes through prayer. It doesn’t matter what name you use for God or what language you pray in. You can pray to Allah in Arabic, or you can pray to Jesus in English, or you can pray to Adonai in Hebrew, or you can pray to Lord Buddha in Japanese, or you can pray to Lord Krsna in Sanskrit. It doesn’t matter what name or form you use. It doesn’t matter what language you pray in. Just pray. And then you will see the magic. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is devotion. The fruit of devotion is service. The fruit of service is peace.

Through this–prayer, faith, love, devotion and service–we will all, inevitably attain that sought-after state of inner peace. Then, when we are at peace inside, that harmony will radiate out to all those around us, bringing peace to our relations, peace to our communities, peace to our nations and finally peace to the world.

Sri Swami Chidananda

Sri Swami Chidananda was a great spiritual master whose life was dedicated to service, compassion, meditation, devotion, and the upliftment of humanity. His teachings on the Quest for Peace continue to inspire seekers around the world to discover inner harmony, divine wisdom, and spiritual fulfilment. According to Sri Swami Chidananda, the true Quest for Peace does not depend upon external wealth, power, or material comforts but upon purification of the mind and awakening of divine consciousness. Devotional India continues to preserve and spread the sacred teachings of Sri Swami Chidananda for the spiritual benefit of humanity.

The spiritual message of the Quest for Peace teaches that peace begins within the heart of every individual. Human beings often search for happiness and peace in external objects, relationships, and worldly achievements, yet lasting peace can only be attained through spiritual awakening and self-realisation. Sri Swami Chidananda explained that the Quest for Peace requires self-discipline, meditation, devotion, humility, and selfless service. Through sincere spiritual practice, seekers gradually overcome anger, greed, fear, jealousy, and restlessness. Devotional India inspires seekers to follow the sacred path of Yoga, meditation, Bhakti, and divine living.

The teachings of Sri Swami Chidananda emphasise that the Quest for Peace is closely connected with purity of thoughts and actions. A peaceful mind cannot exist where there is selfishness, hatred, pride, or attachment. Therefore, the Quest for Peace involves practising compassion, forgiveness, truthfulness, patience, and universal love. Sri Swami Chidananda taught that serving humanity is also a form of worship and an important step in the Quest for Peace. Devotional India spreads the eternal message that peace and spirituality are inseparable from righteous living and divine awareness.

In modern society, stress, anxiety, violence, and materialism have disturbed human harmony. Therefore, the importance of the Quest for Peace has become greater than ever before. Sri Swami Chidananda encouraged humanity to turn inward through prayer, meditation, and spiritual reflection. The Quest for Peace helps individuals discover inner strength, mental clarity, and spiritual wisdom. Through constant remembrance of God and practice of meditation, seekers experience calmness and divine joy. Devotional India continues to guide people toward inner transformation, spiritual growth, and higher consciousness through the timeless teachings of saints and sages.

The wisdom of the Quest for Peace also teaches that peace should not remain limited to individuals alone but should spread throughout society and the world. Sri Swami Chidananda believed that world peace can only be established when individuals cultivate peace within themselves. The Quest for Peace encourages humanity to rise above hatred, prejudice, selfishness, and division. Through universal love and spiritual understanding, people can live together in harmony and mutual respect. Devotional India inspires humanity to embrace compassion, selflessness, devotion, and divine values for universal welfare.

Sri Swami Chidananda repeatedly explained that the Quest for Peace is ultimately the search for God and the realisation of one’s true spiritual nature. The soul is naturally peaceful, pure, and divine, but ignorance and attachment create suffering and restlessness. Through spiritual discipline, devotion, selfless service, and meditation, seekers gradually attain the inner peace they seek. The Quest for Peace transforms human life into a sacred journey toward enlightenment and divine consciousness. Devotional India preserves the spiritual heritage of India and continues to spread the eternal wisdom of peace, Yoga, meditation, and divine life.

Ultimately, the Quest for Peace leads humanity toward self-realisation, universal love, and spiritual fulfilment. Sri Swami Chidananda’s teachings continue to illuminate the hearts of seekers who aspire for truth, peace, and divine wisdom. Through the sacred inspiration of Devotional India, countless individuals continue the spiritual Quest for Peace and move toward inner harmony, God-consciousness, and eternal bliss.

-Dwell in God-thought