Peace... and BEing Peace...

I found this online, from The Dali Lama. I thought it was a oh so very true.

So often people try to change the world, the world at large, and even our own small world... through force and negative energy. I've learned, through time, that force does nothing, but break that which we might be trying to move, and then nothing is achieved beyond circling more damaging energy. We have to break the cycle.

I've been trying, for so long, now, to find Peace for myself... gentle Peace. I realized a long time ago, that the best way I can help to bring Peace, into the world, is to foster Peace within myself... and these thoughts by The Dali Lama, just drove it on home. And I realize I'm doing just fine, because I'm working on the right thing.

I can't operate out of anger, anymore. And I don't like being around those who do. Anger is, basically, a destructive energy... but, it can be transformed into constructive energy, if directed it in the right way... but, that's another posting.

Let it soak in...

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 seriously our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment.

-The Dalai Lama