Live in peace or rest in peace?

“Who are you?” When someone asks you that question, what is your answer?

At different stages of life, we adopt different identities and approach life accordingly. Just as a child is told that he is a boy, “a brave boy”, “boys don’t cry”, “boys are strong”, etc. For the first time, the child considers himself ‘a gender’, and that then transitions into being a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and so on. When you are a ‘gender’, you look for the opposite gender. When you are an ‘age’, you feel the number of years for which you have lived should get you more respect and so on.

We see that none of these identities contain everything that can make us fulfilled. There is always a thirst for ‘something more’. What is that missing piece that will complete the jigsaw of various identities? In this search, we keep on adding more identities to the list. As we adopt different identities, we and with every identity we face different conflicts. All these changes consume energy that we start waiting on life ‘to be settled’ so that we can be at peace. Gradually, we see Living in Peace seems improbable so then we wait to Rest in Peace.

HOW TO CULTIVATE PEACE

At the eye of the storm of all conflicts, lies an un-anchored identity crisis i.e. missing realization of who you really are and what is your true nature. What are your resources, powers, virtues, and sense of being beyond all roles you play and all you’ve achieved!

You are the eternal being, a pure energy who is in charge of your inner world, the director of your mind. When you step out of the identity crisis, you realise that peace is your original nature. Every interaction in this world drama is a fair play of energy exchange. Beyond all the emotional turmoil, there is a state of stillness from where you can see that everything is perfect. In this stillness, you feel empowered, enabled to look through interactions and see everyone for who they are, beyond their doings.

Enriched by this experience of stillness, when you step into your roles and responsibilities, you experience liberation, free from the bondage of expectations and emotions. Then you are at peace with all differences, knowing that things are perfect as they are. Such a liberated experience of Life is ‘Living in Peace’, as there is nothing to tire up the mind and wait on to Rest in Peace. Live in peace for that is why you are here.

Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Center, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Email: kingston@jm.brahmakumaris.org. Or follow them on Instagram: rajyoga_meditation_jamaica