By: Bill Simo
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/1684/the-daily-guardian/14
Dated: November 23, 2024
It must be obvious to most, that life has become complicated, noisy and full of more information that we can take in. It should be clear then, that a state of calmness will not be found out there – but needs to come from within. It is our inner calmness that refreshes us and helps us to enjoy each moment. Even though a state of peace is a quality that is intrinsic to the soul, we need some practical help to rediscover that. There are three keys that may help us unlock that inner state of peace and calm.
The first key is - recognize that peacelessness is of the mind. I am the creator of my thoughts – not the victim. It is a very simple thing to understand but it is in realisation that we are then able to re-educate our own minds to think in a more peaceful way. We have to observe the self and the thoughts we have. Habits of criticising, analysing, and judging play out automatically in our minds, and we can learn how to change these habits. Meditation, of course, is a key practise to focus and train our mind. It is one of the ways, but we also need to take hold of the reins of the mind and learn how to guide the mind, and change the direction it is taking. We need to slow down during the day and even stop completely for a few seconds. A very useful practice, and something we can do anytime during the day, is simply say to the mind - ‘stop’! Then we can do this simple exercise – As we breath we can inhale with the thought, ‘peace’, and then exhale, and think ‘silence’. Our thoughts immediately slow down.
The second key is – address the source of agitation – find out where the peacelessness is coming from. The two main sources are attachments and desires. Those desires that concern the outer world, based on the idea that the desires will make me internally fulfilled, will always cause agitation. For example, engaging sensual pleasures, or trying to gain emotional satisfaction through recognition, praise, appreciation - these desires will fill the mind with peacelessness, depending on how strong the desire is. Living a simpler life, while counterproductive for the consumerist society, brings a sense of calm, because we have fewer desires.
The third key is - inner strength and power. This comes from deep meditation. Through connecting with the deeper spiritual self that I am, and my innate inner qualities, I become deeply peaceful. We also need to connect to the source of all spiritual power and strength, the Supreme Soul. To be able to open the mind to the stream of that supreme spiritual energy and power, gives us the capacity to practice the first two keys with success. It is the power of silence that can be achieved by deep meditation, distancing the self from the ‘noise’ of the mind, that brings deep inner calm. Silence does not mean a blank mind – but in meditation, all the noise of mundane external thoughts is discarded and the focus is on very powerful, elevated, spiritual thoughts that nurture the inner self. For example, the thought that ‘I am a spiritual being of light and peace’, is a thought for contemplation, not for analysis but for experiencing, and experiencing this brings powerful inner calm.
Bill Simo is a coach and trainer,
and teaches Rajyoga with the Brahma Kumaris,
based in Madrid, Spain.
