Inner peace, world peace, and you“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world. ~Author Unknown “
Glimpses of truth would periodically flash inside my mind during my first 6 hour meditation retreat on Saturday. Every time I'd exhale it felt as if tense mental knots in my mind are being loosened and straightened out. It's a feeling so difficult to put into words. It's like if I was to describe what a banana tastes like to someone who's never tried it before. It is something that has to be experienced for one's self. I sometimes thought of meditation as a selfish act. I thought that the only purpose of meditation was to help my mind, but I now realize that it is so much more than that. Achieving inner peace with a clear and open mind is not only beneficial to one's self, but to society as well.
Every interaction with a peaceful mind can transfer knowledge, happiness, and wisdom. Emotions are contagious, and spreading joy and happiness is a great contribution to society. I've learned that everyone in the world is essentially made out of the same dough. Our mind labels people differently based on their life experiences and sets of beliefs. Everyone is ignorant in their own way, and this ignorance and lack of an open mind is what causes so much conflict in the world. Understanding that one's is ignorant in some ways is a bold step to create peace amongst society. I'd like to think that I have a general love for everyone in the world, despite any differences and life experiences that causes my mind to label them differently. People don't always choose how they want things to happen. The fact that I am writing this article write now is based on my genetic code and life experiences in the same way that a murderer can justify killing someone. We didn't choose our selves.
All anger comes from within. Nobody can make me angry, but someone can sure cause me to generate anger from within myself. When confronted with anger and hatred towards me, I am now trying to understand what got someone to that position. If someone has hatred towards me, they essentially had no choice. Instead of encouraging negative behaviour, I am trying to use soothing words to replace those of anger and hatred. I see hatred as just another guise of ignorance. If I could always conduct myself in a loving manner for others, my shroud of ignorance would fade and the world would be a better place to live in.
I discovered that being immersed in the present moment is a key part of success and happiness, and it is something that many forget to do.
“I cannot wait to finish school so I can work. I cannot wait to buy my first house. I cannot wait to get married. I cannot wait to retire. I cannot wait to... die?”
Enjoy your current position in life, as well as each breath in every moment.
My mind always seems to be wandering in some direction at any given time. This wandering of the mind makes the task in front of me seem fade to gray and become insignificant. Many people worry for the future too much, causing them to never truly live there life the way it is currently. The past or the future exist only within the mind. If the mind is empty, the only thing existing is the present moment. Meditation is essentially practicing the ability to focus on one thing. It therefore silences the mind and makes it empty.
The more I meditate the more I realize how much I need to do it. I catch my mind wandering more often than I used to now that I know to look for it. Practicing meditation helps me maintain my focus in the moment and it brings out colour in a sometimes gray reality.
The teachings of Zen Buddhism are seemingly infinite, and they are a constant learning experience for me. My knowledge on the topic is still very shallow, and it is only truly internalized and understood when discovered within. So if you are curious, discover it for yourself. Learn to practice meditation for inner peace, and for the peace of others. Be the change that you want to see in the world.
