In our collective search for enlightenment, what is the most important question that we should ask?

"How to attain peace" is the only question.

And the answer?

The answer is "renounce desires of the world."

Many of the great scriptures have war as the context.

That's the big teaching: that the macrocosmic-microcosmic battle is going on all the time as we are trying to purify ourselves. What is war? Struggle with oneself. Non-acceptance of others and yourself creates war within and without.

If it is accepted on the inside?

Peace is attained.

So if a collective of people is working towards peace, they can really have a big affect on the macrocosmic level?

Gods and anti-gods are in everyone. They always fight because there is non-acceptance from both sides. In the cosmic land, the gunas are against each other. Collectively people working towards peace will work if those people have made peace within ourselves. Otherwise they will disagree with each other and war will start.

So it's a grand battle!

It's a way of creation. Destruction brings construction. In nature destructive forces are as important as constructive forces.

...

Is physically defending yourself a form of violence? 

 Violence is in human nature. We are fighting for existence at all times. If we are not pushing others physically, we do it mentally. Why all religions fight when they all preach the same thing? Because the violence is inside, it comes out for no reason. Defending yourself is natural instinct. In defending, we get angry and try to harm others.

Is it possible to transcend that?

Yes, that's why we are here in the world, to work out those evils.

There's a vast amount of fear growing in the world. Fear of more terrorist activity. Fear for our own safety. How can we reduce our own personal fear?

The world is the same. The human race becomes violent at times and at times peaceful. Individually we can't stop terrorism. If all human beings accept that terrorism only harms the human race, then it can change. We have grouped ourselves according to religions, races, cultures, skin colors, languages. There are so many divisions in human race, so naturally every group wants to rule over others.

continue

(from Talks with Babaji (Baba Hari Dass), Pathways, Hanuman Fellowship Newsletter, Santa Cruz, Dec.2001/Jan 2002)