Practicing Peace with Mindfulness

We can’t easily change ourselves through a force of will.  This only reinforces the mind's dynamics and continues the patterns of self-judgment and aggression (the inner war effort).  It just keeps the war against ourselves alive.  Force of will against ourselves usually ultimately fails.

The purpose of a spiritual discipline is to give us a way to stop the war, not by force of will, but organically, through compassionate understanding and gradual training. When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present moment.  This is the beginning and end of spiritual practice. To stop the war and come into the present is to discover a greatness of our own heart that is big enough to feel the fear, the discontent, the difficulties we have always avoided, and our heart softens. Stopping the war is opening to the greatness of the one heart.  We can open to the ten thousand joys and ten thousand sorrows. Stopping the war means embracing our own personal griefs and sorrows, joy and triumphs.

Where in your life would you like to hold peace talks?  How can you listen to the deep needs underlying the strategic decision to go to war?  Please join us to explore these questions and more.  This teaching will happen through the practice of mindfulness and self-compassion meditation, a Dharma talk and group sharing.