How can I attain an inner sense of peace?
-
Dr. Dean Ornish answered:This is often why people become monks and swamis and nuns and other types of renunciates in various religions and cultures. While some may be doing this to avoid the world, the true renunciate understands that the more he or she can let go of, the more joy, power, and peace he or she will maintain.
I'm not advocating that you renounce your physical possessions, move to the Himalayas, live in a cave, and have a begging bowl. You can be just as attached to that begging bowl and just as unhappy. What really frees us is letting go of the idea that these things are going to bring us lasting happiness. When we do, we can enjoy our material possessions without being bound by them.
Paradoxically, the more grounded we are in an inner sense of peace, the more we can accomplish in the external world, and with less stress, anxiety, fear, and worry. We can focus on the task instead of being too concerned with how well we are doing. We don't have to give up our jobs - we can perform them even better.
There is an old Zen proverb: "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." In other words, our outward actions may not appear very different-we may still go to work every day, raise a family, etc.-but our motivations are different because our perceptions have changed.
That is, to the degree we are inwardly defined and inwardly content, then we do not need to tell ourselves, "If only I had __, then I'd be happy." We have that already. We can act for the joy of it, not because it's essential to our happiness.
Find out more about this book: Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scie...
This is often why people become monks and swamis and nuns and other types of renunciates in various religions and cultures. While some may be doing this to avoid the world, the true renunciate understands that the more he or she can let go of, the... More -
Ellen Whitehurst answered:Try a powerful mantra called 'The Mouth Secret’ in Taoist Feng Shui. This secret is the fourth of the Mystic Codes or a Taoist method of prayer. The Mouth Secret uses sound to send out messages. It is based on six syllables known as the ‘Greater Enlightenment Six Character Words of Truth’ (try to say that six times fast!) that form a powerful mantra that harmonizes the emotions. Repeat the following six words out loud to yourself at any time of the day when you wish to gain more composure or COURAGE:
“OM MA NI MA OM YO.” This is the translation from the Sanskrit which I believe is a language that holds its own powerful vibration atop the influence expressed inside these six words. That said, the Taoist version that expresses the same invocation and sentiment is: “Bu Tan Tsao, Bu Shi Mi.”
All his life, the great philosopher Lao Tze sad these same six words. All his life. The Taoists explain that this mantra helps to clear your mind of worry and fear. They say these words remind you that there is a whole life to be LIVED and LOVED and that we aren’t just along for the ride as we watch one day blend into the next. These words invoke opportunities and energies to remind us that we are ALL here for a reason and that we ALL hold TRUE power in our hearts, in our spirits and in our minds. The Mouth Secret is an incantation that calls to our aid all of our own inner forces and then unites them to Uber powerful Universal ones!
And that’s certainly something worth talking about.
Pass this information along to anyone who can use some calm and some courage. And who doesn’t know how to keep a secret. Because, you know, the more the merrier!
Try a powerful mantra called 'The Mouth Secret’ in Taoist Feng Shui. This secret is the fourth of the Mystic Codes or a Taoist method of prayer. The Mouth Secret uses sound to send out messages. It is based on six syllables known as the... More
