29.0 Inner and Outer Peace

29.1 What is "Inner and Outer Peace"?

Peace, subjectively, can be referred to a state of harmony where people from all walks of life co-exist with maximal agreements and minimal disputes. Achieving inner and outer peace not only encourages people to be accepting their root culture and respecting other's root culture, but also enables the possibility of people being multi-cultured. So, the question goes: how can we achieve inner and outer peace? We will discuss this through two inter-related approaches: the concept of true and fair, and the power of empathy.

29.2 The Concept of True and Fair

True and fair is the main concept in achieving inner and outer peace. Why? True symbolizes an individual being true to his/ her personality and root culture, whereas fair symbolizes an individual being fair to other's personality and root culture. The next question arises: How can one be true to his/ her personality and root culture while at the same time being fair to others whose personalities and root cultures may contradict to theirs?

The answer lies in the cores of empathy - acceptance and understanding. Acceptance and understanding come via two perspectives - internal and external.

29.3 Internal Acceptance and Understanding

Internal acceptance and understanding are all about the self. It regards on the individual accepting and understanding about him-/ herself at firsthand. Acceptance in the self is when he/ she is content. Common examples of acceptance in self are:

1. Accepting the self's natural physique
2. Accepting the self's past and current personality and behaviors
3. Accepting the self's cultural practices and limitations

Understanding in the self is when he/ she questions and the answers are realized. Common examples of understanding in self are:

1. Questioning why the self's physique is so?
2. Questioning how the self's behaviors can be changed?
3. Questioning where the self's cultural practices and limitations are rooted from?

It is through realizations of countless acceptance and understanding of the self, then can he/ she be content and happy with him-/ herself. The next part: what can be done to achieve contentment and happiness with others whom are different?

29.4 External Acceptance and Understanding

External acceptance and understanding are all about them - the circles of connections. It regards on the individual accepting and understanding about others. Acceptance in others is when he/ she respects others. Common examples of acceptance in others are:

1. Accepting other's natural physique
2. Accepting other's personality characteristics
3. Accepting other's cultural practices and limitations

Understanding others is when he/ she questions for better understanding. Through understanding others, it gives the opportunity for an individual to embrace and practise others' culture. Thus, giving birth to multi-cultural people. Common examples of understanding others are:

1. Questioning what made others become their current selves?
2. Questioning how others respond to a pressuring situation?
3. Questioning why others' cultural practices and limitations are rooted for?

Through realizations of countless acceptance and understanding of others, then can he/ she communicate openly and live in peace with others.

I hope this topic benefits you as much as it has benefited myself, wa la hawla wa la kuwatta ila billah. Insha'Allah, the next topic will be posted in the near future.