What Prevents Us from Feeling Peace?
Summary
TLDRSteven from Switzerland shares his journey of realizing he lacked a valid passport to attend an event, leading to feelings of desperation and peace. His acceptance of the situation unveiled an innate sense of peace, transcending the need for external events. He emphasizes that peace is not a mental state but a natural condition, often obscured by desires and projections. His experience illustrates the power of embracing the present moment to uncover our inherent tranquility.
Takeaways
- π Steven from Switzerland experienced a profound sense of peace and joy despite facing a crisis with his passport.
- π« The initial frustration of not having a valid passport led to a deeper realization about the nature of peace and being present.
- π Steven's journey was filled with chaos, including a traffic jam and waking up early, but he found peace amidst the chaos.
- π The concept of 'peace' was explored as a natural state of being, not just a fleeting mental state.
- π Steven's realization that peace is the background of the mind, always present like the sky, even when obscured by clouds of thought.
- π« The discrepancy between our current experience and our desires creates tension, pulling us away from our innate peace.
- π Acceptance of the current situation, as Steven did with his passport issue, can lead to a cessation of projection into the future and a return to present peace.
- π± The retreat was initially seen as a means to achieve peace, but Steven discovered that peace was already within him.
- π The key to experiencing peace is to be content with what is, eliminating the gap between what we have and what we want.
- π§ββοΈ Steven's story illustrates that true peace is not found externally but is an internal state that can be accessed by embracing the present moment.
Q & A
Why did Steven from Switzerland feel a sense of desperation?
-Steven felt a sense of desperation because he realized he did not have a valid passport to attend an event on Saturday.
What triggered a change in Steven's emotional state from desperation to peace?
-Steven's emotional state changed when he accepted his current situation and stopped projecting his desire for peace into the future.
What does Steven describe as his 'natural condition'?
-Steven describes 'peace' as his natural condition, which is the background of the mind and is always present, even if sometimes covered by the 'clouds' of mental states.
What does Steven refer to as the 'clouds' in the context of mental states?
-Steven refers to the temporary mental states that come and go as 'clouds', which can cover up the constant 'sky' of peace.
How does Steven relate the concept of 'peace' to the state of the mind?
-Steven explains that peace is not a state of the mind, but rather the natural condition of being, which is the background against which mental states occur.
What does Steven suggest is the reason we often do not feel peace?
-Steven suggests that the discrepancy between our current experience and what we desire prevents us from feeling peace.
What does Steven believe we truly seek when we think we want to attend a retreat?
-Steven believes that what we truly seek is not the retreat itself, but the peace that we already possess innately.
How does Steven describe the experience of accepting one's current situation?
-Steven describes accepting one's current situation as a moment when there is no longer a discrepancy between what one has and what one wants, allowing the background of peace to shine through.
What did Steven experience during his journey that led to a profound realization?
-Steven experienced a profound realization during his journey when he accepted his lack of a passport and stopped projecting his desire for peace into the future.
What does Steven suggest is the key to experiencing peace in the present moment?
-Steven suggests that the key to experiencing peace in the present moment is to be happy with what one has now, eliminating the projection of peace into the future.
How does Steven describe the feeling of being 'home' or knowing 'the way'?
-Steven describes the feeling of being 'home' or knowing 'the way' as a bubbling peace that is with him all the time, suggesting a deep sense of inner knowing and belonging.
Outlines
π Embracing the Present for Inner Peace
Steven from Switzerland shares his journey of arriving at an event after realizing his passport was invalid. Initially filled with desperation, he found peace and joy in managing the situation. He emphasizes the importance of being present and accepting one's current circumstances as the key to experiencing innate peace. He discusses the concept that peace is not a state of mind but the natural condition of being, often obscured by the mind's desires and projections into the future. The acceptance of the present moment, without the tension of wanting something different, allows one's inherent peace to shine through.
π Discovering the Ocean of Peace Within
In the second paragraph, Steven reflects on his realization that the peace he sought was not something to be found at a retreat but was already present within him. He describes the moment of acceptance that led to the discovery of this inner peace, which he had been unknowingly seeking. The narrative concludes with the understanding that true peace is not an external condition but an internal state that is always available, once the mind's focus is shifted from future desires to the present reality.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Desperation
π‘Peace
π‘Discrepancy
π‘Projection
π‘Acceptance
π‘Innate Peace
π‘Retreat
π‘Natural Condition
π‘States of Mind
π‘Catastrophies
π‘Current Experience
Highlights
Steven's arrival in Switzerland and the realization of not having a valid passport.
The feeling of desperation and the desire to be present despite the obstacle.
The experience of peace and quiet joy while managing the situation.
Driving through a traffic jam at 6 a.m. after waking up early.
The realization of being 'always here' and the sense of belonging.
The rush of experiences and the feeling of thankfulness for the 'catastrophe'.
The concept of losing and gaining as part of the experience.
Observing people at King's Cross and feeling a shared sense of being.
The description of a 'bubbling peace' that is constant and not a state of mind.
The explanation that peace is the natural condition and not a fleeting state.
The idea that peace is the background of the mind, always present like the sky.
The identification of the discrepancy between current experience and desires as a barrier to peace.
The insight that what we truly seek is not a retreat but peace itself.
The importance of accepting the current situation to stop projecting peace into the future.
The moment of acceptance leading to the revelation of innate peace.
The realization that the retreat was not the source of peace, but a catalyst for its recognition.
The final thought on the omnipresence of peace and its revelation through acceptance.
Transcripts
um hello um I'm Steven from
Switzerland um and I arrived uh some
some hours
ago uh because on Friday I realized that
I don't have an valid passport uh to
come on Saturday and
um yeah that just triggered so much so
much things and that there was so much
desperation to not be able to come
here that at one point there was this
but I
never cannot be
here I'm always here
and and then there was there was so so
so much peace
and like quiet Joy over all these days
of managing different things and then uh
driving in the traffic jam last morning
at 6: a.m. woking up at 3:00 a.m. and on
full fire and and and every time
I that there came this but I'm I'm I'm
just here and and all the experiences
they they they rush through all of this
and so yeah I'm I'm I'm so thankful for
for this
catastrophe uh it was the best that that
could happen and and and all the things
you you spoke about these days it's like
uh you you all you you lose you you gain
it was
like
yeah yeah it was just just beautiful to
be in this midday on King's cross and
and see all the people moving and and
really feel
that that we we share our being it's
it's just we are all just this this
one
heess
so and now there is this I I can report
this I can describe like this this
bubbling peace that is that is with me
all all the time
and also like a feeling or a thought
of I'm I'm home or finally I I know the
way and then then
it's whose voice is this so and if I can
report of the pieces is it
just is it just a state of mind or do I
making this all up no no the the peace
isn't a state of the
Mind the your mind can your peace is
your natural condition it is the nature
of being it's not a state of the Mind
states of the Mind come and go peace is
the background of the Mind states of
Mind are like
clouds peace is like the sky it's always
there sometimes covered up by clouds but
it's still always
there so what is it that prevents this
piece from being felt it is the
discrepancy between
um a current experience and what we want
when when when there is a discrepancy
between what we
have and what we
want that discrepancy propels us into
the future I don't like what is present
I want what is not present
that creates a tension which propels us
into the future seeking what we want
what we really want is not to attend a
retreat what we really want is peace
but as long as we we don't want what we
have now and we project what we want
Into the Future then we turn away from
our innate peace and we imagine that
we're going to find peace when we get to
the retreat but when what we have and
what we want go inside then there's no
projection into the future we don't
leave for now and as soon as we come
back to the now our inate peace the
background of Peace shines well that's
what happened in your experience there
was to be with there was this resistance
I don't want what I have now lack of a I
want a passport and you felt frustrated
you wanted to get to the retreat so
there was this frustration that
frustration veiled your innate peace
then at a certain stage spontaneously
you accepted your current situation the
moment you accepted your current
situation you stopped projecting peace
into the future you're you're happy with
what you have there's no discrepancy
between what you have and what you want
the moment you're happy with your
current you you you say yes to your
current circumstance the background of
Peace shines you find this ocean of
Peace behind you it just floods into you
and you thought that that's what that's
why I wanted to go to the retreat for
that but it was it was there in the
background all the time
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