
“Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.”
The Art of Peace (1992)
As quoted in Inspire! What Great Leaders Do (2004) by Lance Secretan, p. 45
Context: The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all than you encounter.
“Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.”
The Art of Peace (1992)
Source: Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words (1982), p. 95 (1994 edition)
“Optimism, when applied to your life, develops strength and peace within you.”
“It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity.”
Nobel lecture (1989)
Context: Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness. That is very important. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of circumstances.
“You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings”
Eat, Pray, Love (2006)
Context: Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.