According to a common dictionary, Peace is a state of mutual harmony between people or
    groups. But is that really what peace means? Any average person would describe peace as life
    without shouting or yelling, no violence and wars, and no quarrels with neighbors and relatives. Many
    of the greatest peace-oriented minds in history had their own views of peace. Peace, as said by
    Indian peace leader Mahatma Gandhi, is non-violence, and justice to all citizens of the world. African
    American rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. also shared these ideals of righteousness to everyone.
    But peace to me, is something totally different, and can be explained in a short story. Once there was
    a Prince, who quested for a glimpse of peace. So he ordered the best artists in the land to create
    pictures of peace. Finally, the Prince selected two that he liked very much. One had a beautiful
    meadow, a lovely sky, and fruit on trees. Many of the citizens thought this was truly an example of
    peace. The other portrait, however, showed a ghastly island with an erupting volcano, people fighting,
    and the earth trembling. But, in a small corner, there was a tree with a bird calmly making a nest. The
    Prince chose the latter painting, because he felt that peace is not living without worries. Peace is
    living with noise, quarrels, and hatred, and still being calm and relaxed in the entire body, which can
    radiate, and spread peace to everyone in the community.

    The Adin Ballou essay contest was sponsored by the Friends of Adin Ballou. Entries were limited to
    250 words. .                                                                
                                                             
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What does Peace mean to me?

By Jagath Jai Kumar