Returning to the Center is the Source of Power and Peace

When we look at the world through our physical eyes, we see all the facets of our diversity – culture, race, personality, religion and so on. In the face of the dangers that come from seeing with only the physical eyes, always think, now is the time to go beyond all divisions, beyond all that limits us and our sense of self.  

Whatever the race, the religion, the class, and the color – our consciousness now has to go beyond all of that. Self-awareness, being the foundation of all spiritual growth and personal development, is now awakening to an even greater extent due to the effects of the pandemic and national and global conflicts. 

Most people are not yet self aware, and a majority is not aware they are not aware!  Self awareness is easy and begins with simply taking a mental step back, observing and accepting your thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions, and with this awareness making positive efforts to adjust what the mind is doing to benefit yourself and others. 

To adjust the mind we need to go deep inside our consciousness to an oasis of peace, a part of us that is perfect and pure. It is untouched by the imperfect characteristics we’ve acquired by living in a less than perfect world.  

Its total absence of conflict and negativity makes this part a still-point – a deep, enriching experience of silence at the core of the soul, but unlike the core of the earth, it is not hot, it is very cool. This source of inner power ‘fuels’ our mind, so we can create powerful thoughts and make accurate decisions. Peace and positivity become our companions.  

We are able to chill out in 1-second anywhere, anytime. We look out on life with amazement, not shock. The variety, diversity, manner of every person, opportunities, your own talents – are all awesome. Live in awe, and entertain wonder. Don’t kill it with cynicism or criticism; don’t sabotage your life with moaning and complaining. We have to create such a stage that we can face and successfully pass through all circumstances. Situations will come. 

It is their job to come. Our job is to create such a stage through which we can deal with the situation easily, so that when people come in front of me I can give them good feelings.  

The secret to do this is to see everyone’s specialties – this is our duty. If you ask me about someone’s weakness, I won’t speak of it. I am not looking at that. Why? Because when I focus on the weaknesses of others, I myself become weak, and my own weakness will be visible.  

Most of us make a great effort not to hurt people physically, but sometimes we hurt others through our words, often accidentally. To avoid doing this we need a clean heart.  For not taking sorrow we need a big heart that can tolerate and help other souls get over their weaknesses. A big heart feels and sees only the specialties of the self. These good feelings are created in the mind, transmitted through our attitudes, and reflected in our eyes and smile. Smiling opens the heart, and a glance with a smile makes miracles happens. 

Now that the festivals, parades, fairs and musical entertainment are making a comeback, we can once again meet and greet others with a smile that is not hidden by a mask; just in case, keep a mask in our pockets!  

No matter how socially distanced we had to be this last year, working together in mind and spirit made us achieve great things. It helped us realize that the most important thing going on is a move from a material external focus to a spiritual internal focus. 

To keep us continually singing and dancing we needed to stay more in the awareness of those things that are eternal and unlimited – of our eternal nature and of God and that we are children of the One Father, brothers and sisters!  

By keeping the eyes in our head and the eye in our intellect open, we can choose to see the awesome, diverse beauty of life. No other sound or action is required – just this exchange of feelings from the heart with each other through a smile, sharing peace, love, joy, and giving hearty congratulations for successfully weathering through this past year and continuing to progress.  

(You can contact Sister Chirya Risely, from Owego, at bkchirya@gmail.com or at chirya.risely@peacevillageretreat.org.)