Walk with the world to help the world

Believing that peace can be brought about through war is not only a common view, but also a counterproductive one. It’s not through hatred that we can bring about harmony and peace. It is not by entering the world with angers, indignations, and ideologies that we bring peace to the world. Buddha, the patriarchs, and Zen masters say that it is by entering the world with a peaceful, clear and open mind, free of prejudice, that we bring peace.

In Buddhism, we talk about turning the foundation upside down: descending into the deepest layers of being, beyond all formulations and mental constructions, we find silence, light and peace. It is with this mind that we must enter the world. Conversely, we usually enter the world armed with our convictions, ready to fight against those who are “wrong”, without seeing that we are arrogant and warbringers.

Everything that spreads rumours, everything that remains on the surface of things, everything we hear on TV or on the radio, none of this brings peace. It is not by adding our anger, indignation or ignorance that we bring peace. To reverse our vision, to overturn the foundation. To put first that which is deep, that which is clear, that which is peaceful, that is to say, our original mind, before it was tainted, before words appeared. It is with this mind that we must enter the world, to help the world move towards peace.

This is the teaching of the Buddha.

This is how, in the midst of samsara, we can live nirvana.

It is not by howling with the wolves that we bring peace, brotherhood, equality, and freedom.

It is not by denouncing the mistakes of others, it is not by giving ourselves the right to accuse others; it is much more by turning the gaze inward, seeing ones own mistakes, deciding to go beyond ones own mistakes that we attain peace. This is what we must teach our fellow human beings: peace within each person, peace in the world.

It is not enough to walk the streets with placards, proclaiming that peace is better than war, proclaiming that harmony is better than disharmony; it is not enough.

The mind is the root of all things. It is when our mind is at peace, open to others, that we can—without putting ourselves above others—walk with the world and respond to the world’s demands. Everyone must reflect on what the Buddha’s teaching implies in reality. We must not remain at the level of words alone.

Its not enough to consider yourself a respectable citizen, to be politically correct.

It is important to have a spiritual practice, one that takes us beyond everything, that leads us to a broad mind, to a vast perspective that includes all aspects of reality.

To attain a broad perspective, beyond all ideology, with an open, clear and peaceful mind. It is with this mind that we must walk in the world. It is in this way, without knowing it, that we help the world.

Taiun JP Faure, June 2025