Guiding Light -1976-1980 Cultivate Peace

Guiding Light -1976-1980 Cultivate Peace

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 05:59 AM IST
article-image

HOW to find peace? Scriptures are full of descriptions. Contentment brings you peace. Renunciation brings you peace. Renunciation of ego brings you peace. Wisdom, vichara (enquiry), viveka (discrimination) bring you peace. Svadhyaya can give you all. Svadhyaya can give you viveka, can give you vichara, can give you contentment. It can awaken within you the light of higher understanding.

More than anything else, the peace within is not felt because our gaze, our stream of thoughts, is constantly directed towards things other than ourselves, things other than that which is within us. Our awareness is completely occupied by aneka (the many), and aneka is always asanti. And what is more, when the thought current is ever moving towards this and that, naturally it loses awareness of that which is in the source of its being. Peace dwells in the source where thought arises, and when thought occupies your attention that peace is bypassed. Therefore, it is necessary to turn the mind within. Practise the sadhana of turning the mental gaze within, not the physical gaze alone, but turning the thought current towards the centre of your being where peace abides.

Ever, ever moving onwards, day after day, hour by hour, every moment of our life, slowly and steadily, with peace within, we must keep on moving in the right direction. And we must keep an inner balance, not allowing ourselves to be influenced by everyone, everything, every event, every occurrence, every passing scene.

Thus cultivate peace. Look towards the peace that is ever-present, and try to cultivate the ability to become aware of the peace that is everywhere, that is ever-present, and in abundance. Sarvam brahmamayam (All is pervaded by Brahman); isavasyamidam sarvam (All this is indwelt by the Lord). Peace pervades this entire universe. Cultivate this ever-present peace through right vision.

The Upanishads say asantamanas (restless mind) is a barrier to the attainment of supreme enlightenment. They said sama and dama¬-inner serenity and control of the senses are inter-related, they go together. And prayer also puts you directly into contact with that great peace.

Swami Chidananda

RECENT STORIES

Zumba: Health Benefits Of The Dance Style That Helps You Embrace Fitness And Wellness

Zumba: Health Benefits Of The Dance Style That Helps You Embrace Fitness And Wellness

What you project is what you become

What you project is what you become

Guiding Light: Back to the Heart

Guiding Light: Back to the Heart

Guiding Light: What is Devotion?

Guiding Light: What is Devotion?

Guiding Light: Be the Space Influencer

Guiding Light: Be the Space Influencer