PEACE IN OUR PRISONS

I’m amazed that even after all these years of sharing my peace message, that peace still seems to be, for some people, a distant and unattainable concept. Most people believe that peace is something that only happens on a global level, something brought about by our leaders or political treaties. In truth, peace is a choice that every individual must choose. It is also the most important choice one will ever make. If we choose peace, we will contribute to the peace of the entire world. Yes, that’s right.

We live on a beautiful planet which, in one way or another, we are harming every day. No one knows if there is still time to save it. But I do know this: If we are going to save it, the only way will be through our most valuable asset — our inner peace. After many trips around the world, I know we all have more in common than we think. We all share a common goal to find peace, happiness, freedom and love every day of our lives. This transcends all religions, races and nationalities. It is what unites us and makes us all a family.

On a visit to one of the largest men’s prisons in the city of Bogota, Colombia, I had a revealing experience. I knew I was going to show up and share a chat with the prisoners, j ustgive a small talk. Sometimes you don’t know what exactly is going to happen until you show up. You have to be flexible.