Within not without. . .
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
The idea that something or someone outside of yourself will give you the peace and love you’ve been seeking is not exactly correct. According to eastern philosophy, when you do that you set yourself up for eventual disappointment. This is because everything is fleeting; emotional happiness comes and goes like the wind. But real happiness comes from a state of being. That is, it flows naturally from within. You don’t need to add anything to it…it’s already there. Noticing that completeness within, you can truly offer something in a relationship. The whole world deserves our love and attention. Part of the problem we have today is the concept of “Us four and no more.” People think that only their family or friends are worth their time and effort. But imagine what would happen if we viewed the entire world as our family? Suddenly, we start to expand that circle of love, and we feel an obligation to help others. If everyone had that ideal, the world would be a very different place.
Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone is saying something hurtful or damaging, remember that there’s always an option in how we react. Choosing to come from a place of love rather than anger can not only save a relationship, but also help that person understand there is a better way to go about things. Not only that, but reacting with anger only gives more fuel to the fire. Be the very example of what you wish for others.
One of the most common things I see in people is we are each looking around to see if the grass is greener on the other side. There’s a constant subconscious desire to see if we can get something better, which is only harmful if left unchecked. Not having gratitude for others in your life can really set things up to fail. Recognize what you have! More often than not it’s better than we realize.
Peace and Love, Jim
#withinnotwithout
Buy Me A Coffee – A Easy Way To support The Daily Buddha!
