“The human mind can create conflicts, and it can also create peace. To find peace in the world, we have to find peace in ourselves.”
– Jack Kornfield
Perhaps it may feel difficult to feel peace in a world that seems to be full of suffering and darkness. Or perhaps it may seem an indulgent to find our own inner peace when the outer world’s sufferings seem so present and intense. However in times like this, each one of our own inner peace is especially important to cultivate and share. Just like how fire cannot be put out by more fire, suffering cannot be eased by more suffering. There would be no peace out there if there’s no peace in here. We can each make huge differences in our own lives and other around us by cultivating our own inner peace and sharing that quality with others.
Peace is not an absence of change or recognizing life’s difficulties, it is not be confused with withdraw or indifference to life. We’ve been talking quite a bit about the spaciousness this practice cultivates. Peace can be seen as a quality of this inner spaciousness. Peace is being ok with witnessing whatever arises within and without, gently allowing with compassion, and flowing through life with ease.
Episode 10
