Peace: Factors to be considered ( Ifa's perspective)

According to chambers 20th Century Dictionary, Peace is given a simplistic definition as a state of quiet, checkeedom from contention, ease of mind or conscience. 

While peaceful means enjoying peace or tending towards peace. In Ifa, peace is further explained and described as a state of physical, Mental, social and spiritual well-being which in a balanced, accepted and peaceable form with the human and non human environment (animate and inanimate).

According to ifa, peace is a much broader term that require balance and equilibrium with everything. The maintenance of peace actually begins first from within an individual which later permeates through the family and the society at large. For instance, the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of a person are essential in the maintenance of peace in the society. If peace within oneself is not achieved, it will not only affects t the quality of life of that person but also society at large.

Factors to be considered with respect to the attainment of peace

Food:
   Ifa reiterate in Otura-ika how food is very essential for survival on earth. Without food, man cannot be at peace either within himself or within the society in which he lives.

Rest :
   We should all observe adequate rest including sleep and its timing. Ifa enjoins all to work when its time to work and rest when its time to rest as overwork and anxiety can produce such tensions which later transfers to the physical body and thus results in ill-health.

Mental Health:
    This is an important factor to be considered with respect to attainment of peace. maintenance of mental health involves having sound mind, mental alertness,good dreams, etc. Absence of mental health means loosing control over one's objective and subjective functions which could have a fatal result.

Fear of Olodumare:
  A peaceful society should have the fear of Olodumare at heart and always remember that there is nothing under the heaven that is beyond the knowledge of God. What seem to be secret to earthly mortals are all open to Olodumare.

Brother's keeper:
  A society must always be their brother's keeper; it must be a trouble free society that is devoid of envy, malice cheating, injustice, violence and all other social vices.

Good Governance:
  A peaceful co-existence will always be a mirage in a situation of bad governance. A bad governance is the one which inequality and thrive injustice and where those at the helms of affairs shy away from their responsibilities to the generality of the people.
The state should cater for generalised interest and provide for the various vested interest through its machinery .

Good governance will definitely provide peace in the society if the society has good and credible leaders .

Contrary to all what stated above there are other factors that threatens the peace in any society such as treachery, lying, backbiting, cheating, stealing, injustice, provocation, violence, force,  ingratitude, discrimination selfishness and intolerance. The keynote of the basic principles of the tenets of Ifa is that of the oneness of the human race, therefore should be no discrimination among mankind on the score of race.

In conclusion, we should not be malevolent or do evil to one another because we shall all give accounts if our deeds on earth to the almighty Olodumare. Let us not be in habit of getting rich quick or acquiring instant wealth so as to enjoy and live a life if bliss. We should all love one another because when there is love peace within the society is so much certain.