More on Inner Peace (May 29, 2007)

Infinite Peace!

Sans our favorite facilitators (both Shakun & Marites were out of the country) our usual Inner Work Circle session took place at the Peacemakers’ Circle last May 29. We decided to continue with sharings and discussion on Inner Peace as most of those present were not able to share--and the rest were absent--last time.

After the usual body relaxation exercises and the meditation/silencing, the session proceeded with sharing from each of us around the circle. We shared about our own views of Inner Peace, what is its significance for us, and what inspirational teachings lead us to it or keep us at it.

Interestingly, one Christian shared that the concept of inner peace is unfamiliar to him. He said he always considered peace as something relational, something found while being in a relationship with others-- not found within just oneself. Perhaps he meant something like “What is peace if not shared with others?”

Indeed, how can one meditate peacefully in one’s own room when a lot of work needs to be done for peace and justice to prevail outside? This was another point raised.

The discussions then led to peace as likened to the breath. As in the breath, there is an inhale as well as an exhale. Just as there exists an outer world, there is also an inner world. There is a self which is not alone as there is the other. Two parts of the whole. two sides of the coin, two complimentary opposites. One is as important as the other. Both are interdependent to each other.
Inner peace is like inhaling and working on the self. Compassionate action is the exhaling and sharing of the peace you have cultivated within you to others and the world around. Someone called it the marriage of meditation and action. For action without meditation is a blind automatic conditioned reaction—that’s not too helpful. Meanwhile, meditation without action is an “unholy indifference.” Therefore, we should strive more for what could be termed as a “consciously compassionate response” which is a balance between inward & outward peace.