Nothing is more precious than peace. Nothing brings more happiness. Peace is the most basic starting point for the advancement of humankind.

Just as fire is extinguished by water, hatred can only be defeated by love and compassion.

From a healed, peaceful heart, humility is born; from humility, a willingness to listen to others is born; from a willingness to listen to others, mutual understanding is born; and from mutual understanding, a peaceful society will be born. Nonviolence is the highest form of humility; it is supreme courage.

We need to awaken to a common consciousness of being all inhabitants of Earth. This consciousness is not to be found in some distant place. It will not be found on a computer screen. It lies in our hearts, in our ability to share the pain of our fellow human beings. It is the spirit that says: “As long as you are suffering, whoever you are and whatever your suffering may be, I suffer also.”

Every war, when viewed from the undistorted perspective of life’s sanctity, is a “civil war” waged by humanity against itself.