HWPL Peace Education
Lesson 2. Reasons Why All Things in the Natural World Can Live in Harmony

As seen in Lesson 1, the original state of all creation, which achieves harmony and balance based on unity and diversity, is the original form of peace that humanity wants to achieve. Therefore, if the principles of harmony in the natural world are applied to the human world, humanity will be able to get closer to peace. Lesson 2 of Peace Education covers the reasons why the natural world is harmonious, which are summarized in three parts below.

Section 1. The natural world is harmonious because it is interconnected
The first reason why the natural world is harmonious is because it is interconnected. All things in the natural world are organically connected and interdependent. On the earth, there is no entity that can exist on its own. Likewise, different countries and peoples in the global community are connected to each other. The global community needs to recognize that its relationship is not of dominance or competition but of interdependence.

Section 2. All things in the natural world have their own intrinsic value and thus are harmonious
The second reason why the natural world is harmonious is because all things have their own intrinsic value. Each of them is valuable and necessary in its own way, and they coexist with each other. Because all things in the natural world have a different value, cooperation and coexistence are essential. In the human world, on the other hand, there has been continuous competition among races, ethnicities, and nations to assert superiority and dominance over others. Now, humanity should also recognize and respect each other’s value.

Section 3. All things in the natural world are harmonious because they carry out their roles and responsibilities
The third reason why the natural world is harmonious is because all things carry out their roles and responsibilities faithfully. Like parts of a machine that work together smoothly, every component of an ecosystem works incessantly to achieve harmony and balance. For the international community to achieve peace, each country should do their duty and preserve order. In the same sense, members of a society should also carry out their roles and responsibilities.

Human history is a continuation of war. In many aspects, war has been glorified to the point that the word “war” is associated with things such as wealth, honor, courage, and heroes. However, the reality of war is not so beautiful. Soldiers go through the pain of losing their limbs and face tragic deaths. A war inflicts pain – emotional wounds of losing family members and physical wounds on soldiers – upon both winning and losing sides. After witnessing such reality of war, humanity is aspiring for peace and pursuing peaceful ways. What humanity truly needs is sustainable peace. If peace is created based on the principles of harmony in the natural world, which has been sustained over billions of years, that peace will not be unstable or incomplete, but it will be sustainable peace that ensures happiness and safety of all humanity.