We were discussing this at work today and it got pretty interesting, so I thought I would bring it here.
Do you believe in "Inner Peace"? If so, how do you define it?
I believe that someone who has inner peace is at peace with the truth of their place in the universe and their impact within it. Someone at peace with themselves could die today and be perfectly happy with who and what they were.
You know, I can mostly agree with that definition as that individual in that case has found a real true sense of self that isn't so easily shaken.
If I were to add onto it or even give my own definition I would say that inner peace is a state of being able to let go of the world around you and see things for how they truly are, things like not getting wrapped up in social politics or concerning yourself with what other people do with their lives (workplace crap, popularity contests, what religion or sexual orientation people you know are, etc) Your sense of self would allow you to pretty much ascend past that rat race because to you it would all be so trivial and meaningless in the grand perspective, all those trivial things would be water off a ducks back. One with that sort of peace would be most all but untouchable and be able to maintain such a state because they would either be able to block out most of the bad things around them or at least be able to deal with them in a way as not to become all wrapped up in it.
Kind of a way of having a bit of a protective aura to ones self, in a way that they can still perfectly interact with the world and most people, but without those things being able to effect them and leave some bad mark.
I'll tell you when I get back on the 4th from the meditation course I'm taking ;)
I would define "inner peace" as one's ability to realize that bad shit is going to happen and the most constructive thing to do about it is deal with it and move on.
Absolutely. I hope one day to find it! I think it has a lot to do with emotional resilience and solid self-esteem.
I do believe in inner peace, I just haven't been able to find it yet.
I do, however, regularly achieve a deep enough state of pissed off to go zen for a while, though. XD
: Sevrin October 21, 2012, 07:00:25 -06:00
I'll tell you when I get back on the 4th from the meditation course I'm taking ;)
my dad goes to those things... i've never met a more calm human being. O.o
For me, to be at peace with yourself is to be, ultimately, in a state of mind where you accept yourself for who you are. Learning to accept the past, take on the present and invite the future are critical in reaching your state of equilibrium, and I think this ties into being comfortable with who you once were, who you are now and where you're going. I think once you can enter this mindset you have achieved inner peace.
Welp, no inner peace, in fact I feel more on edge than I did before, but somehow my problems are older, things I was worried about 3-4 years ago, and the more recently developed ones are mostly just stuff to laugh about now, I could go into the whole vipassana technique and about sankaras and whatnot, but basically what I described is the idea of vipassana so I apparently succeeded in my meditations!
I've always thought of inner peace as just being content with your life despite the multiple short and long-term obstacles you're learning to deal with. It's probably a bit too simple of a definition for something as broad and encompassing, but there have been times in my life where some pretty terrible things happen and I was still quite cheerful and optimistic about it, and definitely vice versa as well. I was hit by a car back in August back home (almost fully recovered, it's all good!), but with my friends and family around and the hot weather, whew I was smiling within hours of the x-rays and I was hurt, dog! Months before in late February, a combination of financial issues and my younger brother getting a near-fatal electrocution drove me into a very cruel time of my life, yet I love the Spring, had little class demand, and my birthday was within days.
If you're content with yourself and your surroundings, despite the obstacles you're facing, then I believe you have an inner peace with yourself.
for me it means being happy who you are and not afraid to show it. finding you unique qualities and ablity's. letting go of the past and living for the present/future. never let people tell you how to live your life. and always accepting peoples differences.