Please do so before reading on...
A few more, this is heavy stuff...
Ok, welcome back. What thoughts or emotions arose in you? Did you picture something concrete or was it more of an ideal? Could you really wrap your hands around it or was it tough to grasp? Was your perception more internal or external? Where does internal begin and external end? Did you encounter any doubts or did you truly embrace the notion of peace? Who was involved: just you, family/friends, or was it more universal? Did you feel more connected with your mind or your heart? Did you enjoy the exercise or was it frustrating? Do you think what you experienced is possible?
It is interesting to ponder where the idea of peace came from. Who was the first person to use the idea and in what language? How was the thought generated? Did the person or group make a comparison to the peace found in nature, like a flower? Are we not part of nature as well? Is the world at peace right now? If not, has it ever been in peace or will it be in the future? What does that look like? Perhaps this modern notion of peace only exists today because of a heightened awareness throughout the world. For example, even the "peace symbol" is just 50 years and was created to promote nuclear disarmament of Great Britain.
For me, it seems that all of these questions are not to be answered on the global level...because I bet if we were to document 6.5 billion (world population) answers to these questions, no two sets of responses would be the same. Even if the words are the same, were the intended meanings behind them identical? How could this be measured? If this is the case, then how do we come to an all-encompassing consensus on what to strive for?
I have spent considerable time trying to answer these questions. At one point, I thought I had some answers, but then realized I was fooling myself. The only outcome I now arrive at is "I don't know." At first, this may seem to be a let down. However, why have we deemed "not knowing" a bad thing? What kind of expectations do we have of ourselves? Are we trying to figure out a mystery that is not meant to be solved? Who knows!
This is what I know:
I have made it may practice to completely surrender to this unknown and through this have found a beautiful internal peace. I have no expectations or goals of solving anything. I realized that setting these goals for the future made me unaccepting of the present...thinking that it could somehow be improved and that it was not perfect. When would I finally reach the point that I could say "I AM THERE. I AM AT PEACE."? Well I have found that point to be this moment...and this moment...and forever remaining constant.
I have found that in this surrender, I am now able to greet my entire self and the world with an open heart full of love...unconditional, compassionate, pure, and fearless.
What is peace to me? Peace is RIGHT NOW. Peace is in my heart, in your heart, and everywhere in between.
This is why I have made Red Lotus Society my life's purpose because our mission is to promote this peace. We do not claim to have any answers or the ability to unlock any secrets. We simply believe that by creating a safe and comforting space that allows people to explore their minds and their hearts, they will find their own sense of peace thus promoting peace in the world.
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