SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 1 JANUARY

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SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 1 JANUARY

REAL PEACE

 

How long do you want to live a life of duality? A life of

restlessness and discontentment? How long do you wish to lead a life

of ignorance, hatred, bitterness, and separation? How long do you

wish to continue your own selfish struggles? How long do you wish to

behold differences and distinctions? How long do you wish to keep the

barriers between man and man?

 

You cry for shanti, for peace. But where to get it? Through whom to

get it? Realise peace in your own heart through association with

sages and by meditation. You can find this peace only in the

stillness, only within your own self. You certainly cannot find it in

objects. Look within.

 

Sit silently in a quiet room for one or two hours. Close your eyes

and concentrate on the point between the eye­brows. Withdraw the

mind and the senses from the external objects. Be still.

 

Silence the surging thoughts and the bubbling emotions. Forget the

body. Forget the world. Enter into the great calm. Dive deep down

into the recesses of your heart. Plunge into the ocean of peace. Now

you can realise your oneness with the supreme self.

 

Be regular in your practice. This is of paramount importance. It is

useless to talk of the cessation of war, whilst you are still full of

petty hatred and jealousy. So first remove your own inharmonious

vibrations. Then there will be no more war between nations. It is

only the individuals that constitute a nation.

 

Lead a life of peace. Kill suspicion. Kill envy. Kill prejudice. Kill

selfishness. Kill the greed for power and possession. Do this

ruthlessly.

 

Lead a simple life. Practise daily meditation and establish peace in

your own heart. Then you will radiate it to all who come in contact

with you.

 

Mysterious is this peace. If you enjoy this peace, you will be

contributing peace to the whole world. Realise the peace that passeth

all understanding and be free.