Ugh! Conflict, controversy, name-calling, denigrating, fighting, killing, spying, mistrust, distrust, dis-ease, manipulation, misinformation, greed....It gets overwhelming and demoralizing to pick up a newspaper, flip on the Nightly News, scroll through the internet newsfeeds.Every so often I call a moratorium on "news". I find I am less afraid, less stressed, less worried about the state of our world and the future of our planet when not constantly bombarded by strife. I find when I focus on my own little life, the people in it, the things that are of immediate importance to me I find more peace. Then the guilt sets in and the realization that I'm not just an island unto myself. I am part of the greater whole with an obligation to learn, grow, model, and practice finding a path out of the darkness that so often envelopes human nature.
It is a delicate balance to be a part of, and a part from, this world. I need inspiration.
Bringing hands to our head at the Third Eye: "May there be peace in our thoughts."
Bringing hands to our lips: "May there be peace in our words."
Bringing hands to our hearts: "May there be peace in our hearts."
In the religion of Islam, Muslims practice salat -- ritual prayer -- pausing five times each day to kneel on a prayer mat and praise God. The salat ends with, "Peace Be Upon You".
I've decided to take up this practice -- upon awakening, mid-day, late afternoon, evening, before bed -- repeating the following slightly altered Namaste -- taking personal ownership of the sentiment by using the word "my", with the added salat close:
May there be peace in my thoughts.
May there be peace in my words.
May there be peace in my heart.
May Peace Be Upon Us All.
I wonder how our behaviors might be different, our ability to find solutions enhanced, if we could live those words as a promise to ourselves and each other. I'm gonna give it a try. ©
Namaste, donnajurene
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
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