What is Peace?

Desire and Fulfillment

One of the English translations of The Second Noble Truth of Buddha is “The cause of sorrow is desire.” A more formal translation:

"Now this ... is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there, that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination."

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11), trans. Bodhi (2000), pp. 1843-47.

Many would interpret this to mean that one should refrain from the objects of desire. This concept is not exclusively Buddhist. Many Christians, Hindus, and others practice monastic lifestyles to avoid things that humans typically desire such as relationships and material things.

Having listened quite a bit to Maharaji and having practiced the know-how that he teaches for going within to try to experience inner contentment, I’ve come to a simple but amazing realization. It is not about a monastic lifestyle or a Spartan discipline. It is the understanding that the things we desire cannot completely fulfill us, and that we must find that one thing that can.

The deepest desire in a human being, for lack of better words, is to be fulfilled… to be happy. There is a part of us that cannot be fulfilled by things corporal or material or by “seeking delight here and there.” That part of ourselves can only be fulfilled by something within which brings inner contentment and peace.

Once we have achieved inner contentment, then we do not try to find it in other things. Materialism is just materialism. Family is just family. Friends are just friends. Once we have found fulfillment, we can enjoy those things for what they are because we are no longer trying to make something out of them that they are not.

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”

Aristotle

The answers are not hidden. We just need a little light to be able to see them.

Phew! I just read some blogs about Clinton vs. Obama. Between those and the debates and the political pundits on TV, I think I need a break from this election. In other news, there are corrupt governments and human rights abuses and diseases and poverty and wars being waged and more wars brewing and vast human suffering. Oh, yeah, and everyone seems to have forgot that there are STILL thousands of nuclear warheads out there.

I don't think that politics holds the answers. I don't believe that any leader figure is going to make it all better. Sure, try to sort out the best candidate and vote, but don't make more out of that then what it is.

I think that a little bit of consciousness can make a big difference in this world. Not just consciousness of the issues and problems, but consciousness of what life is made out of. Maybe if human beings woke up to what exists within them, things could become more balanced. Turning on a light can make a lot of difference when it's really dark. I'm not just talking about some flaky spiritualism or group hugging movement. I'm talking about genuinely becoming more awake and aware. Becoming more conscious.

I guess I have to start with myself.

Fresh Understanding

I recently went through something. Something internal. It’s probably impossible to even begin to put into words, but here goes.

I was experiencing anguish and frustration. I was dissatisfied with my situation. I wanted things that were out of my reach. I fell deeper and deeper into the frustration until it bordered on despair.

Now that’s what was happening on a superficial level in my mind. What was really happening at a deeper level was that I had lost touch with my inner contentment. That to me is a very serious matter. It’s like loosing my oxygen supply. I began to really long for that feeling once again. It was a heartfelt longing.

I regularly practice something called "Knowledge" which consists of techniques taught by Maharaji which enable me to go within and feel the sweet contentment within me. However, to be honest, it takes some effort. It takes sincerity and an understanding. This is not a fad meditation. This Knowledge is for those who are serious about fulfilling this life. This is the real deal.

I spent some time listening to some DVD’s that I have of Maharaji speaking. I listened a little more carefully than I had been. He reminded me yet again of what’s important. He clarified things. He simplified things.

I began to practice Knowledge in earnest. I realized that I had been sort of drifting too much into my dreams, and that I had to make a little more effort to focus on that inner reality.

Everything started to fall into place. The bliss is returning. And it is sweet. Better than my expectations. Better than my dreams.

I love this stuff.

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Maharaji in Dallas

Last weekend I saw Maharaji in Dallas. It is really special for me when I get to listen to Maharaji. This is not some kind of psychological thing. This is not a placebo. This is not a "faith" experience. This is rather an exploration into understanding. A certain understanding. The understanding of the preciousness of this time I have. Precious because there is so much experience to be had.

Maharaji spoke in a ballroom in the Hyatt Regency hotel near the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. I saw him briefly in a hallway on his way to the event. He even looked at me for a moment before he stepped into the elevator. It was a really good feeling.

I don't want to give birth to any concepts about Maharaji. I don't want to try to create some kind of mystical hype or spiritual testimonials. This is not about anything mystical or spiritual.

However, Maharaji is very special. I find that I can be influenced by the presence of others. When I’m around lively people, I can become more lively. When I'm around angry people, I can become angrier. The same for jovial, depressed, cynical, optimistic, and so on. When I'm around Maharaji, I become more conscious.

There are many things to be conscious of. What Maharaji helps me to become conscious of is myself... what exists within me. Something that I can't put into words, but feels really good.

That's not a very good sales pitch, but that's OK because there's nothing for sale here. I'm also not doing a very good job preaching because there's nothing to preach. Plain and simple: life can be fun. Really fun. Every day.

Emptiness, mediocrity, and a mundane existence are no longer necessary. The joy and wonder of a child... a childlike heart... are possible... even for an old grouch like me. This is wonderful.

I hope I get to listen to Maharaji in person again soon. Until then, there's the CD's and DVD's. ;-)
http://wordsofpeace.org

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Maharaji

There's a lot of stuff about Maharaji out there on the Internet. I suppose that people have the right to express their point of view, but frankly I think that some of the people making these comments are very misinformed. That being said, I'd like to express my own experience of Maharaji and what he teaches.

In addition to giving very clear explanations about the preciousness of this life, Maharaji has shown me techniques (he calls "the Knowledge") for going within to experience the source of life within. That may sound conceptual, but practicing this Knowledge brings me a real experience. An inner experience. Not thoughts. Not beliefs. Not concepts. An experience.

Furthermore, when I try to focus on that experience and grow in that experience, it gives me an incredibly good feeling. For lack of better words, I call it "contentment" or "peace. "

For me inspirational talk is not enough. I need something real. This inner experience is as real as could possibly be. I love this experience and the way it makes me feel. I hope to enjoy this for the rest of my life.

We can all talk and talk and talk, but only those who have that inner experience for themselves can understand what Maharaji is really teaching. Don't have a second-hand, third-hand or fourth-hand opinion. Get your own experience and decide for yourself.

http://www.wordsofpeace.org

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