Everlasting inner peace and Tips on peaceful living

SUNDAY WITH T. SELVA

Sunday December 9, 2007

To enjoy complete bliss in our daily life, we need to cultivate inner peace.

PEACE means much more than the absence of conflict and it is vital in every individual’s life for happiness and success.  

Everyone seeks peace and they resort to many ways to be in harmony but few actually achieve peace of mind. 

Some claim that when they have the adequate amount of money they will be at peace but when they become rich they find that they have even lost the little peace they used to cherish before.  

There are others who claim that they are at peace today but you find them in turmoil the following day owing to various factors that influence and govern them. Remember, peace does not stay with you unless you develop certain values and qualities of life.  

So what is peace and how do we cope with these challenges? 

Problems and difficulties will continue to surface now and then and we cannot run away from these issues because they act as a test in our art of living and to know more about life.  

When problems strike, many people are quick to ask “Why has it got to be me?” But when they are happy they never ask “Why am I happy?” 

A well-to-do Datuk friend of mine says he has all the wealth and material gains and his saddest point in life is he is unable to get peaceful sleep.  

It is crucial that we seek inner peace before we search for peace externally.  

To achieve peace within, you have to develop a practical attitude towards all things because you will know that right perception can take you out of the problem.  

A person enjoying inner peace need not show off his or her skills and all the person needs to do when someone acts impractical is to keep silent.  

The individual need not prove himself or herself right or others wrong because he or she knows that facts don’t need proof.  

They get disclosed on their own and the individual just keeps silent and watchful about things and attitudes.  

This is actually one of the most powerful virtues of a peaceful person and it would be great if everyone can develop this quality for happy living.  

People should understand that some questions and woes can only be answered in silence, which produces wisdom.  

We should be at peace with ourselves, with the people around us and with the space and environment we occupy to enjoy complete bliss and joy.  

When you are at peace, you radiate peaceful vibrations and your mere presence can bring harmony to any situation or environment you go into. Peace is basically a way of being, doing and living.  

How we live our lives, how we speak, how we think, act and behave are all culture of peace and when we do all these, it brings benefit to us and others.  

Some tips for us to be at peace are:  

       Do not interfere in others’ business unless asked.  

      Remove ill feelings inside our heart and mind.  

       Carry out your duties ethically and sincerely.  

       Do not be envious of others’ success.  

       Endure challenges cheerfully.  

       Handle what you can and do not overload yourself.  

       Meditate regularly as it liberates our mind.  

       Think and focus on positive things and interests. 

       Look forward and do not ponder on your past and regret.  

       Give unconditional love. 

       Do things without expectations. 

May peace be with you and all of us. 

T. Selva, The Star’s Sunday Metro Editor, feels that true peace can be found in silence. 

Tips on peaceful living

       Speak softly, speak sweetly, speak less and listen more, so as not to impose your authority over others. 

      Listen with an open mind and give your attention to someone by focusing your eyes on the individual when he or she is speaking. 

      Listen with patience and love and a positive mind as this will bring about a win-win situation for all. 

       Practise silence to enable yourself to listen not only to the voices but also to the feelings of others. 

      Accept the fact that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, which can also be valid. 

      Acknowledge someone’s sharing with positive or encouraging comments.  

      Respect yourself as a human being and give yourself a moment of peace.  

       Have a positive thought about yourself for at least one minute every day.  

       Reduce negative thoughts about others.  

       Do not get angry and upset for at least one day in a week.  

      Be truthful to yourself and others.  

      Give respect to others as you would like to be respected.  

       Be the first to offer a smile to others.  

       Cultivate thinking good of others.  

      Respect others by not gossiping about them.  

       Practise good manners in front of both young and old.  

       Avoid banging doors.  

       Handle things gently and with care.  

      Make peace with your enemies and make them your friends again.  

       Do not threaten people.  

       Do not create conflict amongst friends or family.  

      Remove all words of violence from your vocabulary. 

      Practise non-violence.