From seeking peace, to becoming a peaceful being

Come summer and urbanites head to beaches, mountains, and forests to get away from it all. Retreating into nature helps us experience peace, for some time. But for how long are we able to sustain that peace in the midst of everyday life? Is it possible to develop a mind that is always at peace?

- B.K. DEEPA

The mind is constantly active — chasing pleasure, avoiding discomfort, judging, analyzing, remembering, and imagining. These fluctuations are the main sources of inner disturbance. A peaceful mind is not a mind that never thinks — it is a mind that sees clearly, accepts what is, and is not thrown off balance by every external event or internal thought.

Meditation is one of the most effective tools to cultivate such a mind. Meditation trains us to notice our thoughts and emotions without being pulled into them. This awareness provides us the space to respond instead of reacting. Over time, we build a capacity to remain centered in the face of both joy and sorrow. This does not mean becoming indifferent, but becoming balanced.