Peace - Oneness with God - Virtue Is Peace Part 01

March 25, 2009

Peace is like a well channeled river. It does not rest in a staticstate; rather, it harmoniously adapts to change. Although a riverconstantly flows, it maintains an equilibrium with the shore. Fromobscure mountain origins, it plunges to the plains, assuming a name,and then it merges namelessly in the vast ocean. Peace also flows andgrows; it is the sign of God's creation working in harmony.Peace for spiritual aspirants is a state of equanimity based onunderstanding of and adherence to dharma (spiritual duty). When weunderstand the divine basis for creation and live in accordance withit, we can move unruffled by the currents of daily events.Recognition of divinity in all creatures and all objects grants uscourage and confidence. When we lead virtuous lives, leaving theresults of our actions

to God, we experience peace."When man thinks, speaks, and acts along virtuous lines, hisconscience will be clean and he will have inner peace. Knowledge ispower, it is said; but virtue is peace" BabaTo experience peace, we must master our unreasonable expectations.Agitation usually results from unfulfilled desires, not from externalconditions. The mind creates wrong desire when it loses control overthe senses. Virtue requires us to hold the senses in check. If wehold to material values, we lose our inner peace. If we livevirtuously, we grow into unbounded joy."What exactly is peace? It is the stage in which the senses aremastered and held in balance" BabaA controlled mind enables us to rest, content with the present, notdwelling on the past or expecting too much from the future. When

theendless progression of thoughts is controlled, the divine purity ofconsciousness shines forth. The mind should be a tool of atma,theinner divinity. The mind should not become our master, roamingunchecked among the objects of desire. The mind creates desire, so itmust be taught to remain quiet when it is not required for a specifictask. Like a small child, it must be taught to limit its reach and torest occasionally."There is some small confusion of terms, for there is no mind assuch. The mind is a web of desires. Peace of mind is no desires, andin that state there is no mind. Mind is destroyed, so to speak. Peaceof mind really means purity, complete purity of consciousness" BabaContinued..Peace - Oneness with God - Our Real Nature Part 02