Most are confused between conflict and the method of resolving a conflict. We assume, incorrectly, that peace loving people must have avoided situations of conflict. Is this really case throughout history?

When Gandhi was thrown out of a train in South Africa he had a choice to make -- either to ignore the event and live in peace or enter into a conflict and face harassment, hardship and the possibility of getting physically hurt.

He chose the latter. Why? Did he not have a guru who had taught him that living in peace and tranquility was the ultimate objective of life and the best way to achieve this objective was to avoid situations of conflict? Why did he not walk away?

The Dalai Lama chose to live in exile rather than live in peace in Tibet. He is a spiritual master himself. He preaches peace around the world. Does he not know that living in peace requires avoiding situations of conflict?

Many assume that Gandhi, as a peace loving person, must have avoided situations of conflict. However, he faced conflict head on. Gandhi tried to employ peaceful means in situations involving conflict.

The duty of a scientist, artist or professor is also to engage in conflict against repressive regimes of knowledge. Any kind of limited knowledge is a form of bondage. Albert Einstein advanced the boundaries of scientific knowledge. James Joyce did the same in the world of literature. He flouted rules of writing as he saw them as restrictions on creativity. Picasso and M F Husain for example, explored realms beyond accepted rules in visual art. Mother Teresa redefined the concept of caring. Every one of them faced criticism and controversy, yet they remained convinced of the nature of their work and the methods they used to fulfill their vision. They remained engaged.

One can only conclude from this that people we admire and even those whom we worship have all rejected the existing as being adequate and have chosen to engage in conflict to expand the existing. They have redefined the purpose of our life.

The purpose of our life is not to live in passive acceptance but to engage with conflict in order to be creative. Creativity is the purpose of life. The purpose is to advance an individual soul and advance collective Consciousness. The only word of caution here is that we must first settle ourselves spiritually so that we know whether a conflict is justified or not.