I have a simple personal story which I think could possibly have larger ramifications for the planet at this time.
I was asked to care for two dogs for a few days. When the couple was orienting me to the needs of the dogs and to the details of their home, I was told that sometimes (or often) their two beloved dogs get into a fight with one another. When that happens, I was told, just turn away so they don’t have an audience.
After four and a half days with these two sweet dogs, they’ve only had one fight, and the fight stopped with my immediate intervention. (It was in my car and I obviously couldn’t ignore it!) Mostly, I have noticed that they enjoy being together and I’ve even occasionally seen them sweetly licking one another.
Why am I having a different experience with them than the owners? Generally speaking, I am a pretty calm person. I am also very affectionate with my charges. I often get down on the floor with them to pet them. I frequently tell them that I love them. So my theory is that they reflect back to me my calmness and love. On the other hand, I noticed during my orientation that the couple were bickering quite a bit. They seemed to be quite impatient and annoyed with one another. I suspect that the dogs feel that tension and it impacts them. They unconsciously act it out. They mirror what they are experiencing in their environment.
I wonder if this is happening in our world today. I know many people who, in the face of our recent elections, are feeling great anxiety, fear, and even anger. Even, perhaps, hatred. I wonder if the conflict, agitation, and aggression we’re seeing in our country and world are a reflection of our own inner world. If we are lacking in inner peace, we cannot create a world of peace.
In 1993, an experiment was done in Washington, D.C. A large group of meditators gathered to ascertain whether there would be any positive correlations in the immediate environment when large numbers of people sat in stillness and silence. The study was designed by a quantum physicist and was conducted between July 7th and 30th, a period during which the crime rate was generally at its highest. After the study was complete, it was discovered that violent crime in the city had decreased by 23%. That’s quite a remarkable discovery.
During this time of high stress, can we find ways to enter into stillness and practice quieting our minds? Don’t we benefit from such a practice in multiple ways? And will the world around us be more peaceful when we cultivate peace within ourselves? We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
World peace through inner peace.
