In this age of modernization and mechanization, we seem to have lost sensitivity to a collective awareness regarding the welfare of our surroundings, people, animals, microbes, and plants. We seem to encounter systemi...In this age of modernization and mechanization, we seem to have lost sensitivity to a collective awareness regarding the welfare of our surroundings, people, animals, microbes, and plants. We seem to encounter systemic problems of corruption, moral bankruptcy, and spiritual decay. This leads to a rise in violence at various levels： individual, familial, societal, global, environmental, and biological. In order to combat these problems, it is necessary to examine the diverse semantics of the concept of peace： positive peace, negative peace, world peace, socio-cultural peace, and individual peace. The semantics of peace changes according to the context, for example, ＂May he rest in peace,＂ is quite different from： ＂His beautiful memories will give you peace.＂ Since society is constituted of a group of persons, an individual becomes society＇s substantive foundation with his/her conscious self, made of mind, body and spirit. The individual with creative power can become an agent of positive change. Using the interdisciplinary socio-linguistic/semantic and humanistic-philosophical approaches, this paper analyzes the ＂all-inclusive＂ and ＂interdependent＂ nature of life and the role and power of the individual （self） in the creation of peace at diverse levels： personal, community, the globe, and the cosmos. The paper draws heavily from India＇s spiritual worldview and humanistic techniques in resolving conflicts and attaining freedom from ill-health for peaceful living.展开更多
文摘In this age of modernization and mechanization, we seem to have lost sensitivity to a collective awareness regarding the welfare of our surroundings, people, animals, microbes, and plants. We seem to encounter systemic problems of corruption, moral bankruptcy, and spiritual decay. This leads to a rise in violence at various levels： individual, familial, societal, global, environmental, and biological. In order to combat these problems, it is necessary to examine the diverse semantics of the concept of peace： positive peace, negative peace, world peace, socio-cultural peace, and individual peace. The semantics of peace changes according to the context, for example, ＂May he rest in peace,＂ is quite different from： ＂His beautiful memories will give you peace.＂ Since society is constituted of a group of persons, an individual becomes society＇s substantive foundation with his/her conscious self, made of mind, body and spirit. The individual with creative power can become an agent of positive change. Using the interdisciplinary socio-linguistic/semantic and humanistic-philosophical approaches, this paper analyzes the ＂all-inclusive＂ and ＂interdependent＂ nature of life and the role and power of the individual （self） in the creation of peace at diverse levels： personal, community, the globe, and the cosmos. The paper draws heavily from India＇s spiritual worldview and humanistic techniques in resolving conflicts and attaining freedom from ill-health for peaceful living.
