Toward a New Dharma of Peace, Health, and Global Well-Being

Peace is generally seen as absence of conflict, like health is seen as absence of disease. However, when we review Vedic literature, peace, and health both are constructs in themselves, not in relationship with the contrast. Peace is an emotion and state of being. Health is a positive state of mind, body, and spirit. Also, peace and health are interconnected-peace creates health, health creates peace. In all Vedic prayers, the completion is established by chanting of Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. The recitation of Shanti, which means peace, three times is very significant. The first Shanti is at individual level. The second one is at Rashtra or Nation level. The third is at World level. There are different causes at all three levels that need to be addressed to establish peace. When we review the modern Positive Psychology and Peace Psychology literature, similar constructs are seen. The modern literature on Peace is in relation to conflict or violence. In contrast, the Vedic literature speaks of Peace as a positive construct. Vedic literature has guidelines and rituals to achieve this peace and this paper will elaborate them. This paper will also review literature on Aesthetics from ancient India that has elaborated in depth on emotions and peace as the Ninth emotion in Natya Shastra, added by Abhinav Gupta, Kashmiri scholar. Modern insights by neurosciences, especially the works of Candace Pert, “The molecule of Emotions,” throw light on how emotions work in our body and mind. HeartMath, USA, has done much research in the field of Emotions and the relationship with Heart. Mechanisms to instill Peace in oneself, and the world around are possible through Yoga, Ayurveda, and integration of Neuroscience. Heart seems to be emerging as the Space to explore expansion of consciousness and peace. These insights collaborate with Vedic literature and Abhinav Gupta’s work. To establish peace as Dharma, the journey has to begin with Self and deep work needs to be done before we can achieve peace at society or world level. This paper will explore rituals and practices to be incorporated through which peace can be experienced and established. The above tapestry of ancient and modern, insights and research, east and west will generate better understanding of SDG and SDG+. Real victories are often small, and internal. This paper will expand on how we begin our dharma from swadharma and connect with vishwa dharma.