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I’d like to share a beautiful poem I heard today before my meditation. The poem was written by Dorothy Hunt:
Peace Is This Moment Without Judgment
Do you think peace requires an end to war?
Or tigers eating only vegetables?
Does peace require an absence from
your boss, your spouse, yourself…?
Do you think peace will come some other place than here?
Some other time than Now?
In some other heart than yours?
Peace is this moment without judgment.
That is all. This moment in the Heart-space
where everything that is, is welcome.
Peace is this moment without thinking
that it should be some other way,
that you should feel some other thing,
that your life should unfold according to your plans.
Peace is this moment without judgment,
this moment in the Heart-space where
everything that is, is welcome.
© Dorothy Hunt
Isn’t that beautiful? But most importantly, isn’t it the absolute truth? The majority of the human beings on this planet are always chasing peace—it seems like we’re on a mission to find this amazing treasure. Some people make peace look easy, but others seem like they’ll never find it. Peace is something we all want, but only a few people know how to achieve it. I firmly believe people who can’t find peace have a huge misconception regarding it.
The confusion (according to my perspective) is generated by the fact that many people are convinced peace is something they find through external means. They’re certain external situations must flow in a certain way for them to find the treasure of a peaceful life. In the middle of an ugly divorce, for instance, the parties probably think once the divorce is over they’ll have some peace. If you’re dealing with a difficult situation at work, you may think you’ll find some peace once the stressful situation is over.
However, the reality is that peace is an internal feeling. We’re in charge of our own level of peace, no matter what our external situations look like. I always compare the concept of peace with a hurricane. Have you ever heard that inside the eye of a hurricane the weather is serene? Everything around the eye is crazy, but inside it’s calm. We have to be like the eye of a hurricane. We must keep calm no matter how crazy things are around us. We need to understand that peace is internal, and we’re in charge of preserving it and separating it from external situations.
How can we achieve a peaceful heart and mind without letting external situations affect us? Well, it’s a simple action, but it requires a lot of work. As the poem perfectly explains, peace is this moment without judgment. Think about it. Sit down for a second and make the effort to stay in that second without judging anything or anyone. Did you feel that? That’s peace.
We’re constantly naming, analyzing, comparing, accusing, and explaining (from our own perspective) everything we see, hear, or experience. Don’t believe me? Well then, let’s do a short exercise. Take the first object you see in front of you at this very moment, and try to see it without naming or analyzing what it is. Were you able to look at your phone (assuming that was the first object you saw) without mentally saying the word ‘phone’ or naming its color? If you didn’t, congratulations! You’re very unique! If you did, don’t worry! That’s human nature.
Our minds are so busy trying to protect us all the time that removing the judgment portion of your mental capacities even for a second is a huge challenge. Still, the moment you do it, that’s the feeling of peace. Have you ever felt it? Have you ever experienced a breath that feels peaceful? I hope you have because it’s a wonderful sensation. I’m still training my mind to chase these moments more often because I absolutely love that feeling.
We’re all completely capable of training our minds to judge less and enjoy more. Let me be clear, however; you should be grateful for the intention behind your judgmental mind because it’s only trying to protect you. But you need to work on activating it only when it’s a true necessity. You really don’t need to judge the lady in front of you in the grocery store line because she’s wearing colorful pants. You really don’t need to mentally call people names when you’re walking around the city. Now, if you see someone with a weapon coming toward you, then yes, please name them, judge them, and give your mind complete freedom to protect you with all its wonderful intention.
Store that beautiful phrase from Dorothy’s poem in your minds, my friends: “Peace is this moment without judgment!” Chase those beautiful moments—they’re priceless. Peace is a feeling that only belongs to you. Try not to let external circumstances take control over it.
Love,
Irene
