Throughout this series I have stressed the idea that “peace begins with me” and so long as I am not at peace with myself how can I see peace in others or be a part of a community of peace. I remember someone saying that some of the most un-peaceful people he had ever met were at a peace rally!
Thanissaro Bhikkhu writes in this wonderful book MEDITATIONS2 , “The Buddha said that the mind can be at peace only when it’s one, but for most of us there are two, three, four, five, six voices going at it, with all their different values and preconceptions… (page 150)”[1] You see we can be at war with ourselves as easily as with other individuals, groups, religions, countries and in the future maybe even worlds!
Peace is an elusive thing. One minute I have it and the next minute I don’t. It can be as simple as hearing something on the news that will yank me right out of the peaceful state I’ve been in. Or maybe it is the ringing of the phone in the middle of my meditation. Or perhaps a judgmental or critical thought pops up about a friend or relative. One minute I am practicing mindfulness while eating and the next minute my mind has moved out of peaceful contemplation on the plate of food before me into criticism or jealousy or pain.
Why oh why is peace so hard to maintain? Thanissaro Bhikkhu goes on to say, “We hold onto so many things not because we like them but because we’re afraid that if we don’t hold onto them something even worse is going to happen (page 150).[2] And thus these thoughts pop up at any time and in any place! The power of the mind is incredible and will draw us away from the most beautiful meditation for what seems to be no reason at all. So what is the solution?
He gives us some simple advice to deal with the rambling persistent voice in our head!
If anything gets in the way of concentration, put a question mark next to it. Do you really believe that? Is that kind of thinking really right? Is it really useful? When you start asking yourself this question, you begin to see how much you’ve been holding onto things you’ve never really examined in the past. You just accepted them because other people said they were true, or they sounded right, or maybe they worked once, and then you held onto them as a habit. So you have to make it a rule within yourself: An unexamined voice isn’t worth listening to (page 150-51). [3]
Thus it is important for us to learn how to examine our beliefs about the things that are drawing us away from our peace.
He goes on to say:
You need to learn how to see through those voices. That’s what they are: just disembodied voices floating around there in the mind. Learn how to put a question mark next to them saying, “I wonder if that’s really true? Maybe I can look into it some other time.” Then put the issue aside and go back to work, focusing on the breath (page 151).[4]
What appeared to be that elusive peace can return easily and you can regain your composure and focus and simply: be peace. Let’s try it now. Close your eyes, take three deep slow breaths, and count one on the in breath and two on the out breath. . .be one with your breath.
AHHHHHHHHH that felt great! Peace at last in mind, body, and spirit. Keep it up—I think you’ll like it if you do!
[1] DeGraff, G (Thanissaro Bhikkhu), Meditations2 Dhamma Talks, The Abbot Metta Forest Monastery, Valley Center, CA
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
I am so glad to read these helpful meditations. I’m married to a Lutheran pastor, and so often during church our prayer time involves someone saying a prayer out loud. On the rare occasions when we do have designated times for silence (like during evening/Compline services), my instinct is to look around and wonder why the next part of the service isn’t happening– as though silence isn’t a place where I can find the peace I need so much. My hope is to take this blog entry as an inspiration to meditate regularly. Thank you for sharing these empowering ideas!
I am so happy that you have enjoyed the ideas put forth in the blog post about peace and that they have helped you set a goal of sitting and meditating regularly. I know you will find the time helpful and that it will be a place of peace for you to reside wherever you are and in what ever situation you may be in. I hope you’ll share the idea with others at your church and maybe even start a small meditation group where silence is the key and words are minimal. Good luck with that, in gassho Shokai