Our vision of peace

• 3L defines peace on earth as when all humans live free from aggressors and treat each other excellently. This will be achieved when all laws globally align with the Legal Principle, with all people equally adhering to this law without exception. Such freedom is the prerequisite for peace, but not enough - peace further requires a high standard of morality, including respect, generosity and honesty with each other. But such morality must be voluntary - it can never be forced otherwise we break the Legal Principle.

Definitions

• Peace means different things to different people, but is generally categorised in two ways:

  External peace

  • External peace refers to the harmonious relationships between humans in society. Freedom, the absence of aggression between people, is a necessary prerequisite for external peace, which is why the Legal Principle is essential. However, a peaceful society requires more than just freedom, which is why 3L incorporates the Moral Principle and its aspirational values. In this context, global peace entails eradicating aggression from society - this is the primary focus of the Live and Let Live Movement.
    • Even if external peace did have one universal definition, absolute peace between all humans on earth is unrealistic to expect, because ‘to err is human’. However, we can of course live in a vastly more peaceful and harmonious community on earth, so long as we identify and adhere to the essential principles that make it possible.
    • External peace is not just the absence of war, it’s the absence of violence, coercion, theft, fraud, the threat or substantial risk of harm and any form of nonconsensual initiation of force.

  Inner peace

  • Inner peace is our state of being when not holding onto the past, not resisting the present and not anxious about the future. Inner peace is ever-present to those with acceptance of their circumstances; without demands on their life or other’s lives.
  • The 3L Movement is compatible with inner peace, but our focus is achieving peace between humans; external peace.
  • One could argue there is no purpose in pursuing external peace because inner peace is the only goal, which can be achieved by simply accepting things and society as it is. The same argument could be made to the doctor saving lives, the farmer growing food or the teacher guiding children. What instead should we do with our time and energy? Why not pursue external freedom, peace and prosperity?!

  “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water" Zen proverb.

The relationship between internal and external peace

• Internal peace is possible even when society is not peaceful, and vice versa. However, internal and external peace can be supportive of each other, and both are worthy of our best efforts to achieve.