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Loading...Finding Inner Peace in the Middle of Chaos
- Ed and Deb Shapiro
- August 23, 2010
- 10:08 am
- 58 comments
Have you ever been in a crowded subway or busy street and felt like it was just too much, lost in a crowded marketplace in a foreign country, or caught up in an argument that was going nowhere?
A great meditation teacher once said that there should be no difference between meditating in a cave or in the center of a city as peace is inside us and is not dependent on external circumstances. Although this is undoubtedly true, it is definitely put to the test when our lives are full of chaos or anger.
Being in touch with your inner peace is not the same as being happy. When difficult or painful things happen, such as the loss of a loved one, you will not feel happy, that’s for sure. But it doesn’t mean you have to lose your peace. Beneath the tears and grief there can remain a steadiness, an inner stillness, independent of the circumstances.
Maintaining that peace, especially when confronted with difficult situations, means being able to let go all the time, constantly, in every moment. We say, “don’t even pick it up!” for as soon as you begin to hold on, whether to resentment, irritation, hurt or anger, you create suffering for yourself. Your mind gets caught up in the emotion and you lose your balance. Letting go does not deny your feelings. You can feel all sorts of things, whether sadness, joy, anxiety or laughter.
The difference is that you are not holding on to these feelings. They come and then they pass. Like birds in the sky of your mind, let them fly away.
One of the greatest spiritual teachings is the awareness that all things are impermanent, that all things come and go, that we cannot cling to anything, not even pleasure, without also creating suffering. As we integrate the truth of this teaching it is wonderfully liberating for it brings us back into the present moment. If everything is so impermanent, including ourselves and our feelings, then there is no purpose in holding on and trying to make those feelings last longer. Rather, there is far greater joy in releasing them and reconnecting to sanity and peace.
Next: Just Being Meditation
Read more: Blogs, Ed and Deb, Guidance, Inspiration, Peace, Self-Help, Spirit, consciousness, happiness, meditation, peace, stress
Ed and Deb Shapiro
You can learn more in our book, Be The Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors Marianne Williamson, Jane Fonda, Ram Dass, Byron Katie and others. Our 3 meditation CD’s: Metta—Loving kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi–Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra–Inner Conscious Relaxation, are available at: EdandDebShapiro.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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people are talking
Thank you!
Need to pick up some blueberries.....
Yammy thanks for sharing.
Sounds so delicious!!!
interesting
58 comments
+ add your ownDear Devaney Roberts :
My pleasure !
If you are serious about finding out more go to ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZX9nvhtfQQ
You will be able to borrow and return DVD's , free of charge, that will explain and take you step by step , at your own pace; on the most incredible journey within , inside .
thx for the article :)
Here is a link to a fantastic retreat centre that teaches people how to connect with their inner peace www.choose-again.com
Training my mind to use all upsets and distractions as teaching tools has been so helpful in learning to love.
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all of the barriers within yourself that you have built against it".
ACIM.
Peace to all,
amy.
I agree , Tori : real inner Peace , is a solid , familiar , experience on which , you have the most substantial foundation, to take a firm stand .
In my experience ; inner peace makes hard times easier and good times , better .
The depth of the experience is so simple , yet , so profound ,it would be impossible to try to explain or comprehend it with our finite minds but you can experience it , in all it's infinite , beauty and the more you experience it ,the more you recognize it and realize ; who you really are .
It's that exact , thing , you've always felt was missing , in your life .
There is another group on this site called : " PEACE IS WITHIN YOU ." I strongly suggest you check the clips you can access there and join in the discussion or ask any question you'd like . here's a lead :
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/SELFKNOWLEDGE
I agree , Tori : real inner Peace , is a solid , familiar , experience on which , you have the most substantial foundation, on which , to take a firm stand .
In my experience ; inner peace makes hard times easier and good times , better .
The depth of the experience is so simple , yet , so profound ,it would be impossible to try to explain or comprehend it with our finite minds but you can experience it in all it's infinite , beauty and the more you experience it ,the more you recognize it and realize ; who you really are .
Learning to be at peace with yourself is a tremendous source of inner strength and comfort. It will help one through the most difficult times in life. One will be stronger with this inner peace.
How i stay peaceful? Every morning i start with Do-In exercises followed by a short meditation. That helps me during the day when stress strikes to breath to my Hara (lower tummy) and just let it get by. Just take 3 deep breathes and feel your feet in the ground. It's not you thats troubled, it's your ego. Just go with the flow...
@ vijayan t. :
Propagation , can be a wonderful experience .
We can , perhaps , inspire others ; by example to aspire to meditate .
I , often find that , the people I think would enjoy and benefit from meditation are often , the people least interested .
Others I would never imagine , become aspirants and soon start meditating ; immediately .
I think the desire , to meditate , has to be awakened , in others ; by example , or by speaking from your heart , while in that inner experience .
I think of meditation as a mutual attraction .
We must teach our children how to meditate so that they can find the inner peace essential for a happy life.They will not go after drugs and the like when they are faced with problems, if they know how to regain the inner peace
very nice, i remember when holding on to thoughts and people, and material was used to make me feel human, but now i realize that when you release these feelings of attachment that everything becomes more connected to me, that everything around the world is apart of me as I am apart of everything around the world and universe.
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