Seeking Inner Peace And World Peace
Through A Practice of Forgiveness
For fourteen years I was ill and disabled with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
CFS/ME.
I lived mostly in
a room.
I struggled with feelings of low self worth. What was I contributing to the world? Surely, I was even making a negative contribution, requiring the help and patience of others. I lived with inadequate care and was often frightened or angry – not knowing if a carer would turn up to feed me and unable to feed myself. Surely, through my fear and anger, I was contributing to world chaos, not world peace. Yet, over the years, I became convinced that I was contributing to world peace in a way I never would have done if I had been caught up in living a physical life. Early on in the illness, as my health deteriorated, I realised that if I wished to survive I needed to
learn to rest.
Rest at my level of health meant being able to lie or sit still without TV or radio. To rest at this level I needed my mind to be at peace, and so I developed a practice of forgiveness. I call this method of forgiveness,
The Release – A Practice Of Forgiveness And Acceptance.
Every day, faced with being vulnerable in a world which did not readily provide for basic care needs, I practised forgiveness of myself and those who “cared” for me. Research has shown that within our heads, many voices play. If we are lucky, we don't hear these voices, but the tapes are often triggered by the events of our lives. You probably know how it feels. Someone pushes your buttons and suddenly you are back to
feeling like a child
or an overbearing adult. Perhaps a single criticism replays in your mind, whilst all the positive things about yourself fade into the background. We are in a state of inner conflict. The times when we are triggered show us the areas in which we have further to go in seeking inner peace. Yes, someone said or did something that upset us, but we understand that our upset is out of proportion with their words or actions. We understand that if we didn't have the tape playing this message in our heads, perhaps we would not be upset at all. In this instance, instead of trying to change the other, the release leads us to take the first step of self acceptance and acceptance of the other. I call this
forgiveness.
We can then take the second step of making a new recording in our mind so as to move us towards greater inner peace.For example, if we react to a comment that implies we are stupid, we can take responsibility for practising
positive self talk
that reminds us of the many intelligent things we do. We shift our focus from the others words to our own. Instead of looking to someone else to change first, we take the role of
leadership.
We use our place of reactivity as a trigger to practise a new thought. With the intention of seeking inner peace, we find the discipline to literally re-program our mind. I am talking here about a personal journey of seeking inner peace. So what has this to do with world peace?
An enormous amount. World peace will not ultimately come about through people who are anti war. World peace will come about by people who are pro-peace.
When we experience inner peace, we find it easier to be at peace with others.
And if everyone is at peace, who is there left to fight? Established by a United Nations resolution in 1981, 21st September marks The International Day of Peace (Peace Day). 21st September is also a day of Global Ceasefire. I am so impressed with this wonderful initiative which is supported by all the UN nations. In Afghanistan one year, fighting literally stopped and food and vaccinations were able to reach those who needed them.
Click
Peace In Our Lifetime.
Listen to the radio show, download your own peace certificate.Finally to paraphrase the Buddha:
“There is no way to inner peace.
Inner peace is the way.” |
We go in peace,
Katherine Other Articles relevant to Seeking Inner Peace:
To read another article I wrote on Peace Day and find out more, visit
Enlightning Times.
Prayer for Peace of Mind - based on psalm 91
Postive Self Talk
Move from Seeking Inner Peace to the home page – A Practical Spirituality
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