The Power of Good WillThe power of good will can bring peace and security to the world in countless ways. There’s a brief story from the time of the Buddha that illustrates this point. Once, a king was returning home with his troops after having engaged in a battle. On the way, they stopped off in a cool, quiet forest to rest and to find water to drink and to bathe in, and there in the forest they happened to come across a group of around 500 monks practicing good-will concentration. The monks’ quiet manner-they were not even making a sound-astonished the king. He said to himself, “Even in a single household of two or three people there are bound to be quarrels and commotion. But here these contemplatives are living together by the hundreds without any commotion at all. If our country could be at peace like this, there probably would not need to be any battles or war.”
Impressed, he went to the head monk, bowed down, and asked to be taught their contemplative practice. After listening, he sent his troops back to his kingdom while he stayed there in the forest, practicing goodwill meditation for twelve years. On his return, he made a practice of spreading thoughts of good will in every direction throughout his kingdom and to the neighboring kingdoms as well. His people came thronging around him: happy, joyful, and filled with respect for him. When he conversed with them to learn of their hardships and joys, he taught them to develop goodwill, compassion, appreciation, and equanimity for one another. Captivated by his words, his people listened to him with trust and respect, and followed his instructions. From that point on, love and kindness spread through every home and village, giving rise to a sense of friendship, fellowship, and cooperation that spread throughout the kingdom. There were no more wars with neighboring kingdoms, and he people lived in happiness and peace.
