This is a rather peculiar question; perhaps it would be more fitting to ask, “Why do we engage in wars?” or “What causes a war?” or even “When does a war start?” Therefore, it may seem strange to ask, “Where?” Wars occur everywhere, and according to human history, they have always existed. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Germans, Indians, and Africans—all peoples of the earth—have waged wars to defend themselves, to attack, to seek revenge for real or perceived wrongs, and for various other reasons.
Given these premises, it might seem trivial to answer my question.
“Where?” Well, everywhere in the world; it’s obvious, isn’t it?
It’s actually not that simple. This question is at the heart of the issue and the main point of the discussion: “Where does war originate?”
This inquiry is uncomfortable and unconventional. If it is evident that wars have always happened everywhere and for countless reasons, whether true or constructed, then it means that this “where” exists in a different context. If it is not a geographical location, then where should we search for its origins?
At this point, if we exclude the possibility of it being an original geographical location—meaning it cannot be traced to a specific area or outside our planet—there is only one possibility left to consider, and only one place to look for it.
This place is familiar to all of us, one we have frequented throughout history, yet we often choose to avoid confronting it, as doing so can be so painful and horrifying that we prefer to look elsewhere.
So, this “Where?” is found inside each of us. Yes, it truly is! We should take a moment to reflect and ask ourselves if we feel at peace within. Are we living in a constant state of inner calmness?
Deep down, each of us feels wronged in some way—whether by our parents, a sibling, a friend who turned out to be untrustworthy, a colleague, or a superior. This leads us to believe we have a valid reason to feel resentment, seek revenge, or pursue justice.
Aren’t these feelings also the root causes that justify war on a larger scale? We often find ourselves in a constant state of internal conflict, ready either to attack or defend, and perpetually on alert.
For instance, since our society is built on the fundamental value of competition, we continually live in a state of alarm, always prepared for battle, lest we fall behind or are defeated.
This persistent inner turmoil often gets projected onto the outside world—our households, neighbourhoods, countries, and even the global stage. Our internal state of armed conflict translates into a world in perpetual war, where for millennia, we have continued to live in and wage war.
Breaking free from this cycle is neither easy nor simple; it may even feel unnatural, resembling a dead-end or a labyrinth where we feel lost.
The first step, no matter how unbelievable or unlikely it may seem, is to recognise and accept that we are not only at war with our parents, relatives, and others, but, even more challenging to accept, we are at war with ourselves.
As we feel we are unable to resolve a situation, change a condition, or assert our own principles, we fight against what we perceive as our shortcomings, waging war against the parts of ourselves that we feel are inadequate.
This struggle makes us angry, irritated, and violent, pushing us to eliminate the problem in a desperate attempt to achieve peace. Unfortunately, this so-called peace often turns out to be merely a temporary ceasefire—fake and illusory.
So, when we ask, “Where does this war originate?” we need to confront the painful truth we’d rather avoid: this non-place is inside ourselves and becomes real -an omnipresent space that follows us every step of the way.
Acknowledging this reality is the first step toward making peace with ourselves—our limitations, inadequacies, faults, and resentments—to find an inner place where we can feel a small, beautiful relief, and where we can pause without fearing that someone will overtake or exclude us.
Thus, we could seek peace with others (husbands, wives, parents, children, friends, and so on) if we first find peace within ourselves. Certainly, this alone may not be enough, but it would be the crucial first step. Let me conclude with an obvious statement: if we do not take the first step, how can we expect to get anywhere?