Peace within is what we have
Peace within is what we’ve lost
Peace within is what we’ll find
If we look for it with Peace within
These were line
that came to me while on a walk about 5-6 weeks ago.Lest I forget it, I put it
down on facebook with a promise to elaborate on them later. Today, on
Shivaratri day, He’s given me the inclination to do that.
Childbirth is an
amazing event starting life on this earth. Those who’ve witnessed it will know
that for the first 10-15 seconds after being pulled out, the newborn is silent;
and then comes the first full-throated cry. This cry is a manifestation of its
sudden insecurity. During the 9 months and 9 days that the child was in the
womb, its security, food, relaxation, comfort etc were attended by the mother.
From the time the foetus developed life, about 24 weeks after conception, the
baby was in total comfort and suddenly on delivery, it is now thrown into new unfamiliar
surroundings.
This first cry
is a manifestation of that discomfort; which is relieved by the mid-wife /
nurses wrapping it up, providing it warmth and the mother feeding the baby.
This is the first act of desire manifestation by any human being and its consequent
gratification begins the entire cycle of desire fulfillment in this life. The
peace that we entertained in the womb is now challenged and we are suddenly
left disturbed, only to find comfort again in desire gratification. The peace
that was within us is lost at every moment that we get disturbed by desire
propelled action.
The kind of life
we led in our earlier form and name, prior to coming into the present
embodiment; coupled with the unfulfilled ‘vasanas’ of the previous embodiment (called
our old bundle), propels us into the atmosphere, surroundings, people and
experiences that we encounter in the present embodiment. Through education and
learning, we realize the importance of discarding this old bundle gradually and
re-discover the peace that was within us when we “landed” here.
For undertaking
this journey, of re-discovering the peace within, knowledge alone does not
provide the wisdom. Knowledge coupled with understanding on His Eternal Grace
is necessary. Through our learning we understand that desires alone are not the
cause of our unhappiness but it is our attachment towards their achievement as
well as loss of equanimity at the absence of our desired results. Through
courageous self-effort, offering all our successes and failures at His Feet,
without the identification of the “I” or “Me” in the actions that we perform,
we generate the serenity in ourselves and realize that the Peace within
ourselves that we lost, was none other than the Lord of our Hearts, the
Jagadeeshwara, who is always waiting for us to return to Him.
Once we are with
Him, our actions will only be for Love, Selflessness and Duty, all of which
lead us to our Inner Peace, that is for ours to keep till we leave this mortal
plane.
Prem & Om
Suresh
