Peace &Purity
Numinous Peace
... is based primarily on Dhammapada16,12,21,3,2. Regardless of whatever faith or spiritual beliefs aperson has, these verses should be focused and meditated on when pursuingvisceral purity. Only then can the strength to succeed be fostered.
Dhammapada 16
From cravingsprings grief, from craving
springs fear. For those who are wholly freefrom
craving there is no grief, whence then fear?
Freedom from cravings is imperativebecause one cannot expect to survive Restriction, much less Purgation, without relinquishingthe burden of craving. It is important to understand that one chooses theirdesires. Our cravings are not out of our control, just as what we crave is notnecessary for peace. Stop wanting what you don’t need.
Dhammapada 12
Easy to do arethings that are bad and
harmful to oneself, but exceedinglydifficult to
do are things that are good and beneficial.
If good things were easy, the whole worldwould be good. There would be no need for self-control because goodbehavior would be second nature. We seem to prefer being self-destructivewithout any cause. Taking time to understand our nature and nurture will help usrear ourselves in the right direction. Our actions are results of ourthought-processes, spiritual convictions, and responses to societal pressures.By identifying the causes of our lack of self-control and desire toself-destruct, we can re-shape our beings to make the good and beneficial thingseasier to do.
Dhammapada 21
If by renouncing alesser happiness
one may realize a greater happiness, letthe wise
person renounce the lesser, having regard
for the greater.
Instant gratification runs so many of ourlives. It can so easily become an unspoken, unrealized focus. This is thegreatest deterrent of peace. Undoubtedly, it is not the object we want, but thesatisfaction of having it. We all know this is true because after we get what wewant, we discard it to pursue a new craving. Happiness is not born inself-satisfaction, only peace. The first step towards true peace is renouncementof the vain, useless things onto which we place so much importance and so muchvalue. Let it go. Peace is not sought. It is not found. It comes to those whoare receptive to it and in the right state to receive it.
Dhammapada 3
Wonderful, indeed,it is to subdue the
mind, so difficult to subdue, ever swift,and seizing
whatever it desires. A tamed mind brings happiness.
It is clear by now that self-control isvital for happiness. How can a slave with no control over her or his own self behappy? When we conquer the ridiculous vanities that we once gave so much powerto, we get our lives back. When we get control of our minds back, there is nothing that can taunt us, trick us, or tease us. We don’t wind up in situationswe regret. We don’t end up trying to scapegoat our way out of embarrassing orcrippling situations. We see clearly. We learn to understand ourselves and allowourselves only what we need. We take back the power we relinquished to cravingsand desires. Why would we choose to be enslaved? Why would we just give up ourpower? It doesn’t make sense. Take control of your mind back, and you’llhave control of yourself.
Dhammapada 21
Do not give way toheedlessness; do not
indulge in sensualpleasures. Only the heedful
and meditative attaingreat happiness.
Being wary is so important for success. Itkeeps us from making simple, dumb mistakes that we normally would never fallinto. It’s those little things that we can see coming a mile away that end uptripping us up in the end. It is imperative to pay attention, especially afteridentifying our weaknesses. Sometimes, after we mess up, we give up and stoptrying. However, when we know what is coming and prepare for any situation thatmay arise, we can prevent those dangerous slip-ups from happening in the firstplace. It’s more than just knowing yourself; it’s knowing the world aroundyou. Are you surrounded by people who tempt you to fall? Are you watching orlistening to things that make you want to give in? When you have completecontrol of your mind, these pressures don’t affect you. Remember always thatyou have no need for earthly and sensual pleasures. They are temporary andusually very bad for you. To reiterate:
Our cravings are not outof our control, just as what we crave is not necessary for peace.
Stopwanting what you don’t need.