Inner peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Existing in this state of peace is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. Peace of mind is generally associated with bliss and happiness. In some cultures, inner peace is considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as meditation, Tai Chi or yoga, for example. Many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself.
By gaining inner peace, we can also achieve outer peace. Some people mistakenly think that the path of meditation is one of escapism. They feel that it requires one to sit in a cave or on a mountain top like a recluse. But meditation does not lead to escapism; rather, it makes us more alive. It is one of the most effective ways to actively work towards outer peace.
How to Attain Inner Peace
The solution to finding peace requires us to look at the problem from a new perspective. We cannot change the nature of the world or its problems. But we can add a new dimension to life that will give us peace. Lasting peace can be found within us. Enlightened luminaries throughout history have had mystical experiences which earned for them the existence of an inner spiritual reality.
Buddha found enlightenment by inverting within himself. Christ has said, “The Kingdom of heaven is within you.” The Muslim and the Judeo-Christian scriptures speak of prophets who communed with God. Mystics from every religious tradition have described their inner spiritual experiences. They have spoken of heavenly realms that co-exist with the physical world. These are realms of joy and love which are within us.
They are regions of eternal peace and bliss beyond time and space. We cannot change the fundamental nature of the world, but we can become attuned to the words lying within us. In order to find peace in the world, we must first find it within ourselves. We can do this only by changing our perspective in life.
We may not be able to eliminate all the problems of the world, but through meditation we can attain peace and happiness. We can make our family life more peaceful, loving, and caring, We can help change the society in which we live. We can be a source of peace to all those around us. By leading a life in which we are caring and loving to others, we will develop into ideal human beings.
