Peace

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