Inner Peace - The Right Sized Question

by Jyotish Novak

I was struck this morning by the quick transition from peace to turmoil. It was a beautiful August morning -- lovely sunrise, uplifting meditation, and a sense of God’s quiet presence. Then I looked at the news on the internet. Conflict, tension, fear and worry screamed from virtually every headline. How can one find peace in today’s world?

It starts with you. There is a charming story about George Washington Carver, the scientist and saint, who would walk in the early mornings for his “talks with God.” One time he asked, “God, why did You create the world?” The answer came back, “George, that’s too big of a question for you.” Then he asked, “Why did you create me?” and God answered, “That’s still too big of a question.” Finally he asked, “Why did you create the peanut?” And the immediate response was, “Now there you’ve got a question you can work with!” And he went on to change the economy of the South by discovering hundreds of uses for the humble peanut.

In our search for peace we, too, need to find the right sized question. We have no control over what happens on Wall Street, or in the halls of Congress, or the dusty roads of Somalia. But we do have a chance of controlling what happens inside our own head.

Here are a few keys:

• Paramhansa Yogananda suggested that periodically we go on “a worry fast.” Why not try it today?
• Keep all your thoughts and actions dharmic. This will align you with the power of God’s universal righteousness.
• Meditate daily. This expands the consciousness, actually changes the brain, and opens you to the grace of God and guru.
• Spend time in uplifting company and choose carefully your TV programs, music, and other entertainment. Make sure you have a healthy mental/emotional diet.
• Disconnect occasionally. Just as the mind needs nightly sleep, the soul needs periodic release from daily patterns. Take a spiritual retreat at least once a year.
• Give God the responsibility. Do your part as well as you can, but let Him take care of the results.

If you do these few simple things, you’ll find that your heart and mind will begin to glow with peace and joy.

In joy,
Nayaswami Jyotish

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