find inner peace

I think everyone needs to find a little inner peace, but I don’t think ‘accomplishing’ this is even possible. In fact, from what i’ve been reading lately i’m beginning to think that inner peace is a dangerous thing. People need to struggle with life in order to find meaning. Without adversity & tension we become complacent, and therefore lost within ourselves. It is hardship which gives us a purpose; to overcome. Most of us could use a little more harmony in our lives, but if I become completely at peace then what reason will I have to move forward?

..from a 1989 speech:

“Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.

When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. And there are ways in which we can consciously work to develop feelings of love and kindness. For some of us, the most effective way to do so is through religious practice. For others it may be non-religious practices. What is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment we live in seriously.”

I don’t know if this is a goal that can ever be achieved, but I am enjoying working on it. I find that music has a lot to do with my ability to be at peace. Listening to certain music is the only way I can really let go of all the things going on in my life. Even then the peace only lasts so long. The only other time that I was truly at peace was on a raft trip down the Colorado river. I get close when I am looking across a field or something at a few clouds in the sky, but only when it’s silent.