Buddhism and Peace

Inner Peace is something that can be achieved within oneself by thinking in a positive and spiritual way. For world peace to be achieved, individuals must attain inner peace. This is a basic principle of Buddhism. Buddhists believe that Inner Peace is obtained by being peaceful in action and behaviour and this involves making ethical decisions to produce calm and peaceful results and outcomes. These views are further expressed through Buddhist sacred texts the Sutta Pitaka and the Dhammapada. These texts consist of the teachings of the Eightfold Path, the Five Precepts and the Four Noble Truths.
The Eightfold Path is a set of instructions for each Buddhist to reach Inner Peace and enlightenment. Part of the process of living involves making ethical decisions to speak, act and live in peace. The Eightfold Path helps adherents to be aware of the Three Poisons; greed, ignorance, and hate, and sends them on the right path to overcome them. The key to pacifying all these quarrels and conflicts is to overcome these selfish, blind passions that are their underlying cause. Within Buddhism, peace is not just the goal, it is the way and method for oneself. Everything Buddhists do and believe is designed to give its adherents Inner Peace and therefore peace throughout the community. If everyone had Inner Peace, World Peace would follow, "Victory breeds hatred. The defeated live in pain. Happily the peaceful live, giving up victory and defeat," Dhammapada: 197-201. This can relate to the last of the Five Precepts as "Restraint regarding such products leads to a healthy mind, clarity of thought and hoinest expression of love."
The Five Precepts are guides for Buddhists on how to live while they follow this path and give them an understanding of how a true Buddhist acknowledges Inner Peace, peace within a community and peace throughout the world. These Precepts are not commandments nor rules but statements of guidance; and Buddhists train to reach the level where they can...