Peace, Happiness, and a New Paradigm: Reflections on Our First UN Statement
By Luis Miguel Gallardo, President of the World Happiness Foundation
As I arrived in India in early May to begin my PhD and become a Professor of Practice at the Yogananda School of Spirituality and Happiness at Shoolini University, nestled in the tranquil foothills of the Himalayas and led by Saamdu Chetri , I was filled with anticipation. This academic journey, dedicated to spirituality and well-being, promised a life of study and inner growth. I had no idea that the arrival of my new campus would coincide with an outbreak of violence between India and Pakistan.
The peaceful welcome I had imagined soon gave way to a far more somber reality. Days before my program was set to start, my flight into the region was canceled as nearby airports were closed amid escalating tensions. India had launched Operation Sindoor, and Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyan Marsoos. With military planes roaring overhead, violence escalated rapidly, and the situation on the ground was becoming increasingly dire.
I had to travel to Shoolini University by car, winding through the mountainous terrain that separates Chandigarh from Dharamshala. Along the way, we could hear the rumble of military jets flying overhead, and the air was thick with fear. I had arrived in India with a sense of optimism, but this reality was a stark contrast to what I had envisioned for my time at Shoolini University.
In the days that followed, the conflict continued to intensify. India launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory as part of Operation Sindoor, hitting multiple locations across Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan Marsoos, and reports came in about missile interceptions and airstrikes along the border. As fighter jets flew low across the mountains, the region seemed on the brink of disaster. In this moment of crisis, I found myself reflecting deeply on the cyclical nature of violence and the lessons we’ve learned—or failed to learn—from history.
The India-Pakistan conflict, now decades old, seems caught in an endless cycle of retaliation. The root causes of this violence lie in complex geopolitical, religious, and historical issues, yet each new escalation follows a grimly predictable pattern. Both countries launch attacks against one another, each justifying their actions as retaliation for prior aggression. But this tit-for-tat strategy has failed to bring peace in the past and will fail to do so again.
As I listened to the drone of military planes, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that military actions rarely result in true resolution. History is filled with examples of cycles of revenge that only deepen the wounds of conflict. In 1965, 1971, and 1999, India and Pakistan fought full-scale wars, and while each side claimed victory in the short term, none of these conflicts resolved the underlying tensions. Even after the Kargil War of 1999, the two countries returned to a status quo of distrust that continues to define their relationship.
This pattern is an example of the failure of military strategies to solve political and ideological differences. Each round of conflict ends in temporary ceasefires, but the seeds of future conflict are always sown. It’s a cycle that leads nowhere and costs lives on both sides. I felt a deep sense of futility as I considered how no victory could truly emerge from this endless loop of violence.
As the war raged on, I found solace in the wisdom of the world’s great spiritual traditions. I had been in Dharamshala just days before, where I had the honor of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His blessing for my work with the World Happiness Foundation resonated deeply as I faced the conflict unfolding across the border. The Dalai Lama’s teachings emphasize the importance of compassion and forgiveness, virtues that seem in short supply when nations are locked in combat.
His message echoes through the Buddhist tradition: “Hatred is never appeased by hatred. It is appeased only by love.” The same sentiment is found in Hinduism, where Ahimsa (non-violence) is the highest moral principle, taught in the Bhagavad Gita and echoed by figures like Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi himself warned that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” In Islam, the Qur’an teaches that “whoever kills a soul, it is as if he has killed all of humanity” (Quran 5:32). This profound respect for life is echoed in Christianity, where Jesus teaches “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9).
These words are timeless reminders that peace cannot come through retribution or violence. Rather, peace is achieved through understanding, compassion, and forgiveness. It was a sobering thought to realize that the same religions that call for compassion are being manipulated by nationalism and hatred to fuel conflict. How far the world had strayed from these universal teachings was apparent in the violent rhetoric coming from both India and Pakistan.
At the World Happiness Foundation, we have long advocated for the importance of peace-building systems that prioritize compassion and dialogue over retaliation. The foundation’s core mission is to build a world of freedom, consciousness, and happiness for all, and we believe that this can only be achieved through systems that prevent violence before it begins.
This vision aligns closely with my studies at the Yogananda School of Spirituality and Happiness, where we are not only exploring spirituality and inner peace but also peace-building models that can be applied in the real world. We are developing new frameworks to foster cooperation and harmony in areas historically plagued by conflict. As I sat in the midst of this escalating situation, I realized that true leadership in times of crisis is not about responding to violence with more violence, but about seeking peaceful solutions through dialogue and empathy.
In light of the recent events, the World Happiness Foundation’s response to the ongoing conflicts is a powerful reminder of the need for such systems. We advocate for the renunciation of violence as a tool for conflict resolution and the creation of peace-building systems that can intervene early to prevent conflicts from escalating into violence. The recent declaration by both India and Pakistan to accept a ceasefire, brokered by international mediation efforts, is a glimmer of hope, but it is also a reminder that this should be the standard, not the exception. Ceasefires should not be temporary stops in cycles of war but lasting agreements that prioritize the well-being of citizens and future generations.
As we stand on the precipice of a new global reality, the lessons from India and Pakistan’s latest conflict should push us to rethink how we engage with one another on the world stage. Tit-for-tat military actions may seem like an immediate solution in the heat of the moment, but history shows that they only perpetuate the cycle of violence. Instead, we must turn our attention to preventive peace-building systems – systems that anticipate and address tensions before they erupt into violence.
The World Happiness Foundation believes that such systems must include education, diplomacy, and global cooperation. Peace education should be integrated into every school and institution, teaching the next generation of leaders the value of dialogue over warfare and of cooperation over conflict. Furthermore, we need stronger international frameworks for mediation and dispute resolution and a commitment from the international community to uphold the rule of law and respect for human dignity across borders.
The key to peace lies in transforming the way we think about leadership. The world needs leaders who are not driven by fear or nationalism, but by a desire to serve humanity as a whole. The Chief Well-Being Officer program, developed by the World Happiness Foundation, aims to cultivate this kind of leadership. By equipping leaders with tools to create environments of happiness, trust, and cooperation, we can begin to shift the global narrative away from war and violence toward one of sustainable peace and well-being.
At the Yogananda School, we are training the next generation of leaders to embrace regenerative leadership that prioritizes collective well-being. As I reflect on my journey and the lessons I am learning in the Himalayas, I realize that true leadership means working toward systems that promote understanding, not division; compassion, not cruelty; and peace, not conflict.
The recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan is a small but important victory for peace. But it is only a first step. The global community must hold all leaders accountable to the ideals of peace and cooperation, and work to build systems that prevent violence before it begins. As the president of the World Happiness Foundation, I see firsthand the transformative power of dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. Peace is not just the absence of war; it is the presence of understanding, trust, and collective care.
In this pivotal moment, I call on world leaders, spiritual guides, and global citizens to come together and embrace a new era of peaceful coexistence. It is time for a paradigm shift – one that values human life, dignity, and well-being over territorial disputes and revenge.
As the world watches the fragile peace between India and Pakistan, let us commit to creating a world where happiness, not violence, is the measure of progress. Let us honor the wisdom of our spiritual traditions and heed the lessons of history. It is time to move beyond tit-for-tat strategies and embrace the wisdom of compassion and dialogue as the true path to peace.
Sources:
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With all my light, Luis Miguel Gallardo, founder World Happiness Foundation & Academy Author of Unlocking the Hidden Light, Happytalism, Brands & Rousers, and The Exponentials of Happiness
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By Luis Miguel Gallardo, President of the World Happiness Foundation
As I sit on the banks of the Ganga in
As a coach, hypnotherapist, and educator, I’ve spent years walking
