Roberto Assagioli highlights the pressing need for inner peace in a world filled with turmoil and conflict.
By Roberto Assagioli, Doc.#21634 Assagioli Archive, (Assagioli Archive – Florence). Original Title: La Pace. Translated and Edited With Notes by Jan Kuniholm
Abstract: In “Peace,” Roberto Assagioli highlights the pressing need for inner peace in a world filled with turmoil and conflict. He emphasizes that cultivating peace is essential not only for personal integrity but also as a duty to others. Drawing on spiritual teachings from various traditions, Assagioli illustrates that peace has been a central theme in the teachings of figures like the Buddha and Christ. He suggests meditation as a means to achieve peace, recommending a broadening of perspective to recognize our spiritual essence and the insignificance of worldly disturbances. He provides imagery, such as calm waters and the calming of a storm by Jesus, to aid in meditation and evoke a sense of tranquility. Ultimately, he encourages individuals to connect with a deeper, eternal peace.
Perhaps never before has humanity been so deprived of peace. To see this, we need only look at what is happening around us: everywhere there are open or hidden struggles, repercussions of war and threats to the future: struggles between nations, races, classes, and parties—but also, and no less importantly, struggles, agitation, and storms within the soul, which manifest themselves in many ways: emotional, moral, and religious crises; dissatisfaction with ourselves and others; rebellion against society, against the family, against God himself and against life.
In such a world, cultivating peace is not a spiritual luxury, but a daily necessity for all those who want to maintain their inner integrity and not be swept away by the collective currents of agitation and frenzy. And cultivating peace is also, and no less, a duty towards others. Those who know how to be a living center of peace at this time, those who know how to radiate it powerfully and unceasingly around themselves, bring to poor humanity the blessing of which it is perhaps most deprived and in greatest need.
Let us see how this can be done most effectively.
Let us remember first of all, as a warning and an incentive, that all the great spiritual teachers have placed particular emphasis on Peace. Indian religious texts begin and end with the formula: “Om – shanti – shanti – shanti” (“Om – peace – peace – peace”); or with the other: “Peace to all beings.” The Buddha taught, by word and above all by example, the sublime peace of the spirit. It is said of him: “The Awakened One is peace unto himself and brings peace to the whole world.” In descriptions of the different degrees of Buddhist contemplation, one of the most emphasized notes is the serenity of the contemplative soul.
In early Christianity and then in its highest and purest manifestations throughout the centuries, the note of peace also resounds frequently. The figure of Christ is surrounded by an atmosphere of peace. Already the announcement of his birth by the angel contains the promise of “peace on earth to men of good will.” He often worked as a peacemaker; he calmed the storm, tirelessly quieted the spirits of his disciples, who were often fearful and arguing among themselves for primacy; or, like Peter, were violent in their reactions. Finally, he left them a message whose profound meaning usually escapes us: “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (Gospel According to John, 14:27 RSV).
In Christian mysticism, perfect inner peace, which is called “quietude” or “quiet prayer,” constitutes a well-defined and very high stage in the soul’s ascent to God. That peace, that inner silence, in which all thoughts and feelings of the personality are silent, is considered an indispensable preparation for mystical union, for the full communion of the soul with God.
Let us recall the beautiful description of Peace given in the Imitation of Christ: “solid peace without trouble, peace within and without, on every side steadfast and sure.”[1]
In other spiritual writings, too, the value of peace is often highlighted. One of the precepts of Light on the Path says:
“Desire peace fervently” (1. 14) — and another declares: “The peace you desire is that sacred peace which nothing can disturb, and in which the soul grows as does a holy flower on the still lagoons.” (1.16) [2]
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Let us see how we can meditate to achieve peace.
It is useful to begin by broadening our inner horizon as much as possible, turning our thoughts and our whole being to the consideration and contemplation of the infinite and the eternal.
Let us remember and realize that we are spiritual beings and that our spiritual essence is indestructible. Let us also think of the great cosmic cycles, of our long evolutionary pilgrimage, of which earthly life is only a short day.
This broadening of perspective will help us to realize and reestablish true proportions, to see the relative insignificance of so many contingent things that usually disturb and agitate us. Thus, little by little, we will begin to truly feel “the Peace of the Eternal, the Peace of the Spirit,” the Peace that Christ calls “My Peace.”
For those who find such meditation difficult, we can suggest another method based on the use of concrete images: after all, the two methods can be combined appropriately, forming two stages of the same meditation.
Various images can be used for this purpose and, depending on different temperaments and psychological types, one may be more evocative and effective than another.
- The first is evoked by the phrase from “Light on the Path” just quoted: we can imagine a great expanse of water, a blue sky, a shining sun, and on the calm surface of the water, myriads of white lotus flowers opening to the rays of the sun.
- Another evocative image is that of the scene recounted in the Gospel of St. Mark, in which Jesus calms the storm: “On that day, when evening had come, said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care if we perish?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be Still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark, IV, 35-40, RSV).
- A third suitable image may be that of our globe in the infinite vastness of the heavens, as evoked by the magnificent verses of Federico Amiel,[3] which with their calm and solemn rhythm constitute an excellent mantra for evoking peace:
“In the eternal azure of unfathomable space
our troubled globe is enveloped in Peace.
Man, thus envelop your days, a passing dream
In the calm firmament of your eternity.”
With the help of these images, raising our souls toward the radiant supreme Reality, let us set out to feel and realize Peace.
[1] Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, Book III, Chapter 48, n. 3, page 148 of the translation by Richard Whitford, Peter Pauper Press, Mt. Vernon, facsimile of 1556 edition edited by Wilfrid Raynal in 1872.
[2] Light on the Path: A treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence, was written by M. C. (supposedly Mabel Collins, a.k.a. Mrs. Keningale Cook [1851-1927]) and published in 1885. It is still in print. —Ed.
[3] Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881) was a Swiss moral philosopher and poet, best known for his Journal Intime or Intimate Journal (1884). —Ed.
