Abode of Peace

ABODE OF PEACEtc "Abode of Peace"

PEACE: What is it? It is “Tranquility; Mental calm; Serenity”. It is an Experience of the Mind. No one can have “Peace of Mind”, unless he ‘feels’ or ‘experiences’ it. True: Peace of Mind has become a very rare ‘Commodity’ in the present day modern world.  Unfortunately, it can neither be purchased, nor can it be hired. It can only be experienced. In this ‘Jet and Space Age’, we cannot live without Stress and Strain. They have become integral parts of our Living. Right from morning till late in the night, we face innumerable problems. We are, virtually, on the ‘run’ always. We have no time even to pause and think. We are like machines and we act like automatons. It is but natural, that such a Life, depriving us of Peace of Mind affects our Physical and Mental health. Unable to cope up with such an Environment, we run about in ‘Search of Peace’. Some visit Temples, some their ‘GURUS’ and some others, Holy places. They say, they had Peace of Mind during such sojourns. Some others prefer lonely places and go to Holiday resorts, mountains, forests etc., far from the maddening crowds of urban areas. They too say, that they felt relaxed, happy and peaceful. So, it is the change of Environment, that is making them feel Peaceful, for a short spell. But is this a real solution to the Problem? I doubt. It is only a palliative measure and not a remedy for the malady, because, when they come from their ‘outings’, to their old Environment, the Problem starts again - ‘No Peace of Mind’. In fact in a few cases, there may be even a ‘rebound phenomenon’. After a short spell of relaxation, when they are exposed to Stress once again, they may feel it worse. Further, do they really forget their Problems during these spells of the so called relaxation? I think not.

If we carefully analyse this phenomenon of ‘Wander lust’, we find that essentially, it is a sort of ‘Escapism’. Unable to ‘Confront’ with the Realities of Life, we try to avoid them by ‘running’ away from them. It is a proved fact that such ‘Avoiders’ of stress-causing situations, frequently land in greater troubles. With fear and anxiety, always hovering over them, ‘Avoiders’ are prone to develop serious and not so-easily- curable Psycho-somatic disorders, whereas, the ‘Confronters’, who cooly and boldly take up the challenge of facing such situations, get over them easily, by developing minimum Pathological trauma. Further, through such repeated exposures to Stress, these ‘Confronters’ try earnestly to change their ‘mental attitude’ towards Life itself. It is this change of ‘Mental attitude’, that is far more important than the ‘change of Environment’, in dealing with Stress and Strain in our daily Lives. Escapism is no solution to any situation.

Bhagavad Gita says, that one of the qualities, a Gnani has to imbibe, even before he attempts to go in ‘Search of TRUTH’ is VIVIKTHA DESA SEVITHVOM i.e. ‘Resorting to a quiet secluded place’. Obviously, I am sure, Lord Krishna would not have advocated this quality, as a ‘route of Escapism’ or even for purposes of ‘Temporary relaxation’. In Solitude, we get an opportunity of having a deep ‘insight’ into our own ‘SELF’, which helps us in accepting Life’s Problems, as natural and normal events and that we have to face them, with a Cool, Calm and Composed Mind, if we desire to have Peaceful and Happy Life. Such short spells of ‘Solitude’ also help us, to make a thorough Enquiry into “Life and its Purpose”. This knowledge provides us an impetus to lead a Peaceful, Happy and Purposeful Life, since we ourselves discovered the Purpose of Life.

Bhagavad Gita also says -

Siddhyasiddyoh Samabhutwa Samathvam Yoga uchyate

Here Siddhi and Asiddhi, I think, do not mean merely Success and Failure. They embrace the whole gamut of ‘Ups and Downs’ (Pairs of Opposites) in Life, These, we have to face and experience with YOGA of Equanimity. A Cool and Calm Mind alone helps us in solving Problems of Life. An Agitated Mind is like a “Boat without a rudder”, on rough seas. It floats aimlessly, hither and thither, reaching no destination. The same is the case with the Agitated Mind too. It wanders aimlessly, unable to face any Stress-causing situation. Serenity and Tranquility alone help us in dealing with Stress in Life, and not ‘Wander lust’.

Why then go in ‘search of Peace’? when the Abode of Peace is within us? None else than ourselves, no Environment other than our Mind, can offer us Permanent Peace, in any adverse situation. Let us, therefore, practise Analytical Introspection, along with YOGA of Equanimity, Equipoise and Even-mindedness, in every Stress-causing situation - both Pleasant and Unpleasant - in our daily Life. True. It is not an easy task. But with a Strong Will and Determination, with Self-discipline, and Sustained efforts, there is no reason, why we cannot succeed in finding such much-coveted PEACE, and lead a Happy Life.