Sometimes we nail it on the first try.  Such was the case in 1955 when Sy Miller and Jill Jackson wrote their much-beloved song, “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”  Within one short set of lyrics, they identified a profound universal truth: that peace on earth is possible only to the extent to which we each feel peace within ourselves.

“Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth,
The peace that was meant to be. . . .
With every step I take,
Let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.”

Excerpted from: LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH, by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
Copyright © 1955, Renewed 1983 by Jan-Lee Music, (ASCAP), All Rights Reserved.  International copyright secured.

It sounds so simple to “feel peace within ourselves,” yet the feeling of peace so often eludes us.  If we’re being honest, perhaps we should flip this phrase: we so often elude the feeling of peace.  We’ve all had the experience of deep peace, so we’re familiar with the feeling and know beyond a doubt that it’s possible.  Peace is not a fair-weather friend, sometimes present with us, sometimes running away.  Peace is always present deep within us—it’s a frequency, a vibratory rate, a feeling, a state of being, and we only need to attune ourselves to that frequency to experience it.  That too sounds simple.  Most students of the wisdom know from their studies that they not only have the capacity, but also the responsibility, to return to a state of peace as often as possible.  Still, gentle reminders and “how-to” methods can be helpful.

In one of the seminal books of the modern theosophical movement, “The Mahatma Letters,” one of the Mahatmas (“great souls”) described music as “the most divine and spiritual of arts.” [Letter No. 24B, Barker edition].  If that’s true, then music is easily one of the most pleasant and effective pathways to spiritual states of being, including deep peace.  Different types of music, of course, have different energetic effects on us.  We probably already know of songs that evoke the feeling of peace within us.  The song quoted above, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” is a likely contender for most people, but we each have our preferences.  Thus, we already know that when current events and daily life leave us feeling disharmonious, we have a playlist (at least mentally) to which we can turn for the ultimate solace, the feeling of deep peace.  Happily, enjoying music as a pathway to inner peace is a very practical application of theosophical knowledge.

Knowing that sound creates, we are not surprised that beautiful music can serve as a pathway to peace.  But what about other sounds?  The natural world contains many sounds that move us closer to a peaceful state: ocean waves, a babbling brook, a breeze through the trees, and birdsong, to name a few.  Even when we’re not able to be out in nature, we can turn to our favorite streaming service, search for “nature sounds,” and we’re on our way to a more peaceful vibe. 

In Mabel Collins’ theosophical classic, “Light on the Path,” the idea is taken further, and we are taught that what we call “Life” is actually one great Cosmic Song: “Life itself has speech and is never silent. And its utterance is not, as you that are deaf may suppose, a cry: it is a song. Learn from it that you are part of the harmony; learn from it to obey the laws of the harmony.”  Here we have a simple yet profound teaching: that we are part of and inseparable from the “Cosmic Song” and its harmony.  Archetypal qualities such as Peace, then, not only reside deeply within us, they ARE our truest nature.  We have only to attune our consciousness to the Peace that’s already deep within us in order to experience it.

Once we have arrived at a state of deep inner peace, we can’t help positively affecting the world around us.  As Dora Kunz wrote, “In times like these, when the world is shaken by doubt and anxiety, we can help to lighten the atmosphere of the whole Earth by sending out the energies of peace and love."  P. 190, “The Personal Aura”

Let’s put this knowledge to work.  As human notes within the Cosmic Song, we can attune ourselves to deep inner Peace whenever we choose.  Next, we can radiate this feeling outward, envisioning that it pervades and lights up all life on this Earth.  If the birds can do it, so can we—let’s radiate Peace without delay . . . the world is waiting.