Being Peace

I have been reading this book called Being Peace and there is a meditation in the first chapter that I have been doing this week that I love. It seems to be perfect at any point of the day whether I am walking along the beach, staring at the horizon or sitting in the meditation room. I think it is a nice one for beginner’s who are new to meditation and would be a wonderful way to start the day or renew during a stressful part of your day. All you need to remember is four things:

Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment.

Or, more simply put: Calm, Smile, Present Moment, Wonderful Moment

Inhale, calmimg. As you inhale, let the air fill your lungs and sit or stand a little taller while relaxing the body and letting go of the stress and tension in your neck and shoulders. Think about how you feel when you have a nice cool glass of water or lemonade on a hot summer day. Let the calmness and peace permeate every cell in your body.

Exhale, smiling. A smile makes you the master of yourself. When you smile, you realize the wonder and power of a smile. In a moment you can change your mood and your outlook, you can change someone else’s mood too. It is such a simple act and it relaxes so many muscles in the face and the entire nervous system.

Inhale, dwelling in the present moment. Don’t think of somewhere else, of the future or the past. Know exactly where you are at this moment in time. This is very important because so often we live in the future. We tend to think we will be happy when… when I get this job, when I find a partner, when I have this money. We postpone being alive until the distant future and as a result we merely exist instead of truly being alive. Be aware of the fact that right here, right now, the present moment is the only moment to be alive.

Exhale wonderful moment. Life is short and the only constant is change. You never know what will happen next, but in this present moment you are not only alive but calm and smiling - this is truly a wonderful moment.

Keep repeating for as long as you would like!
This is such a simple meditation that can leave you feeling lighter so quickly. I encourage you to use it during times of stress and as a beautiful way to wake up each day.

Thich Nhat Hanh

If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society will benefit from our peace.

Happiness is found externally, bliss is found within...

This morning we went on a silent meditational walk along the beach as the sky changed shades of pinks and blues. The water was very still and became a mirror making the sky and the ocean the same color with no horizon in sight. It was a beautiful way to start the day. Kanti Devi brought her guitar and as we were singing hymns and chants the birds lined up on the shore in front of us in silence - not the typical squawking you hear from them. It was as if we were all at one with nature, with God and we were all at peace. Occasionally for our morning lesson we open up one of Swami Sivananda’s books, the Upanishads, to a random page and read a letter he has written somebody in the past. Today’s letter was on page 273.

“You have wasted much of your life. A little time is left. Make the best use of it. You too can realize God and be ever happy.”

“Fear not. The mind is no doubt extremely turbulent. Through repeated attempts you can perfectly subdue it. You are the master of the mind. By constant practice and non-attachment assert your mastery. Feel the power, bliss and splendor that results from Self conquest. Curb the mind ruthlessly. Annihalate desire. When desire dies, the mind is your slave. Become desireless and be victorious. May you rest in your pristine freedom!”

I am glad this message came up today because I have been very introverted these past two days trying to figure out what I am experiencing here. I think I am feeling the non-attachment we keep learning about, it is a step on the spiritual path, but it feels very strange. I am so used to being goal and career-oriented, always wanting to do more and be more and now all of a sudden I am just happy where I am. I have everything I want in life and I have no attachment to any physical location, material things, job, goals, etc. This doesn’t mean I am going to just sit here on the beach and meditate for the rest of my life but I am learning to let go, to be at peace and be happy in the present moment. I don’t have to wait until I achieve a goal in the future - I am blissful just to be me, right here, right now.