If thou canst but thither, There grows the flower of Peace, The Rose that cannot wither, Thy fortress and thy ease.
Interpretation
The quote expresses the idea that true peace is a timeless and unchanging quality that brings comfort and security.
Henry Vaughan's quote reflects the belief that achieving inner peace is essential for a strong and secure life. The 'flower of Peace' symbolizes a serene state of being that remains unaffected by external turmoil, akin to a fortress providing safety and ease to those who possess it. The imagery of a rose, which is often associated with beauty and tranquility, reinforces the notion that inner peace is both precious and enduring.
In practice
During a meditation session, I shared a thought on finding peace in our hectic lives using Vaughan's quote.
Man hath still either toys or care: But hath no root, nor to one place is tied, but ever restless and irregular, about this earth doth run and ride. He knows he hath a home, but scarce knows where; He says it is so far, that he has quite forgot how to go there.
We have the ability to achieve, if we master the necessary goodwill, a common global society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by the ethnic, national and local diversities that enrich our lives.
Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be acheived unless we first establish peace within our own minds. We can send so-called 'peacekeeping forces' into areas of conflict, but peace cannot be oppossed from the outside with guns. Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.
As they used to say 'What if they gave a war and nobody came?' How worthwhile if they declared a day of peace and everybody came.
Peace is a day-to-day problem, the product of a multitude of events and judgments. Peace is not an 'is,' it is a 'becoming.'
Negotiation and discussion are the greatest weapons we have for promoting peace and development.
Peaceful coexistence cannot be limited to the powerful countries if we want to ensure world peace.
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