Sadhguru explains what is Peace in a Sadhguru Sannidhyan. He also answered the questions seekers.
Article | September 9, 2024
Sadhak asked a question to Sadhguru: Sadhguru is it true that "life is not about peace, but if you do not know peace, you will never know life"?
Sadhguru: It is a wrong concept. Like an atom seeking stability, life is a constant pursuit of balance, not the end of disturbance. In the grand symphony of existence, life is often seen as a constant pursuit of peace and inner stability that provides balance amidst external chaos. While many spiritual and philosophical teachings claim that peace is essential to understanding life, the notion that "life is not about peace, but if you do not know peace, you will never know life" suggests a fundamental contradiction. This concept creates an illusion that peace is not intrinsic to life itself but an external state we must discover to truly comprehend life. This is a deeply flawed perspective.
Life is a dance of chaos and calm; peace is the rhythm that holds it all together.
Life, like the structure of an atom, constantly seeks stability. An atom is composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons that are always in motion, but their primary goal is to achieve stability. Similarly, life too strives for a kind of equilibrium that we interpret as peace. When external or internal forces disrupt this equilibrium, our minds are disturbed, and the search for peace becomes our paramount task.
This article explores the intrinsic relationship between peace and life. It delves into how peace is not a separate entity we must discover to understand life but the very foundation of life’s dynamic existence. Just as atoms are in constant flux yet aim for stability, so too does human life seek equilibrium despite the inevitable disturbances from both within and without. The pursuit of peace, therefore, is not an end goal but a fundamental aspect of life itself.
Like an atom seeking stability, life is a constant pursuit of balance, not the end of disturbance.
Peace as Stability: The Atom Analogy
An atom, though constantly in motion, seeks stability, reflecting the inherent tendency of all forms of existence toward balance. The stability of an atom is determined by the balance between its protons and electrons. Any disruption to this balance can cause instability, but the atom continuously strives to return to equilibrium. This metaphor can be directly applied to human life.
Life is a complex interplay of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual forces, all of which are in a constant state of movement. Just like atoms, human beings are in perpetual flux, experiencing highs and lows, challenges, and moments of tranquillity. However, underlying this dynamic existence is an inherent drive toward stability – a state we often refer to as peace. Peace, in this sense, is not the absence of conflict but the stable equilibrium between various forces at play in our lives.
True peace is not a destination; it’s the harmony you create amid life’s disruptions.
When life is stable, when these forces are in harmony, we experience peace. But when external pressures or internal disturbances arise, this stability is threatened, and we feel unsettled. Just as the atom seeks to regain stability when disturbed, human beings seek peace to restore their inner balance.
The misconception that life is not about peace stems from the idea that peace is a separate state that must be attained after navigating through the chaos of life. However, peace is not something to be acquired; it is the natural state of life itself when in equilibrium. The pursuit of peace is, in essence, the pursuit of balance, the desire to return to the natural state of stability that life inherently seeks.
External chaos doesn’t destroy peace—it's your inner imbalance that lets it slip away.
The Role of External Forces in Disturbing Stability
Life is filled with external forces that constantly challenge our sense of peace. From the moment we are born, we are subjected to the pressures of society, family expectations, work responsibilities, and personal relationships. These external forces can often feel overwhelming, pushing us into states of anxiety, stress, and unrest.
Like the atom, which can be influenced by external energies that disturb its balance, human beings are sensitive to external factors that disrupt their inner peace. The pace of modern life, economic pressures, societal expectations, and environmental factors can all create disturbances that challenge our ability to remain peaceful.
Peace is not about stillness; it’s the art of staying centred while everything moves around you.
For example, consider a person living in a fast-paced urban environment, where noise, pollution, and constant activity are the norm. The external environment creates a sense of agitation, making it difficult to find peace. However, the pursuit of peace in this context is not about escaping the chaos of the external world but about finding a way to maintain stability despite these external forces.
This is where the misconception arises – the idea that life is not about peace because external forces constantly disturb it. But in reality, peace is not an elusive state to be found only when external disturbances disappear. Rather, it is the equilibrium we strive to maintain in the face of these disturbances. Just as an atom continuously adjusts to maintain stability in the face of external influences, human beings must adapt to external forces to restore their inner balance.
Life is dynamic and ever-changing—peace is learning to flow with it, not fight against it.
Internal Forces: The Disruptions from Within
While external forces play a significant role in disturbing our peace, internal forces are often more powerful and persistent. The human mind is a complex entity, filled with desires, fears, insecurities, and emotions that constantly pull us in different directions. These internal forces can create a sense of unrest, preventing us from experiencing peace even when external circumstances are calm.
For instance, a person may have a stable job, a supportive family, and good health – all external indicators of peace. However, if this person is consumed by internal fears of failure, unfulfilled desires, or emotional insecurities, they will not experience peace. The disturbance is not from the external world but from within.
The idea that "if you do not know peace, you will never know life" implies that peace is a state that must be attained by overcoming these internal disturbances. But again, this is a flawed perspective. Peace is not a separate goal to be achieved after resolving inner conflicts; it is the natural state of balance that exists when internal forces are in harmony.
Internal disturbances are a natural part of life, just as electrons constantly move around the nucleus of an atom. The key to peace is not in eliminating these disturbances but in finding a way to maintain stability despite them. When the mind can accept the constant flux of thoughts, emotions, and desires without becoming overwhelmed, it achieves a state of peace.
This is not the peace of emptiness or stillness, but the peace of balance – the ability to remain stable amidst the internal and external forces that constantly pull at us. Life, therefore, is not about the absence of disturbance but about the continuous process of restoring balance in the face of inevitable disruptions.
The world may shake you, but only you can decide if your peace will be disturbed.
The Dynamic Nature of Peace
One of the reasons the concept of peace is often misunderstood is because it is seen as a static state – a destination to be reached after navigating through the challenges of life. However, peace is not static; it is dynamic, constantly shifting as we adapt to the changing circumstances of life.
Just as the stability of an atom is not a fixed state but a dynamic process of balance, so too is peace in human life a continuous process. There will always be external forces that challenge our stability, and there will always be internal forces that create unrest. The pursuit of peace is not about achieving a final state of tranquillity but about continuously adjusting to the changing dynamics of life.
This dynamic nature of peace is what makes it so elusive. Many people believe that peace is something that can be attained once all problems are solved, or once certain goals are achieved. But life is never free from challenges, and there will always be new disturbances that arise. Peace, therefore, is not the absence of challenges but the ability to maintain stability in the face of them.
This understanding of peace as a dynamic process is crucial to overcoming the misconception that life is not about peace. Life is about peace – not as a final state of bliss but as a continuous process of maintaining equilibrium amidst the constant changes and challenges of existence.
Finding Peace amid Chaos
If peace is the stability that life constantly seeks, how do we find it amidst the chaos of modern life? The answer lies not in escaping the chaos but in embracing it as part of the dynamic process of life.
Just as an atom does not stop moving when it seeks stability, human beings must learn to find peace amidst the movement and chaos of life. This requires a shift in perspective – instead of seeing peace as something to be achieved after overcoming disturbances, we must see it as the process of maintaining balance despite them.
One way to cultivate this sense of peace is through mindfulness – the practice of being fully present in each moment, accepting the constant flux of life without becoming attached to it. Mindfulness allows us to observe the disturbances in our lives without being overwhelmed by them, creating a sense of inner stability even when external circumstances are chaotic.
Another important aspect of finding peace is developing resilience – the ability to bounce back from challenges and adapt to changing circumstances. Resilience is not about avoiding disturbances but about maintaining stability in the face of them. Just as an atom adjusts to external forces to maintain stability, human beings must develop the ability to adapt to life's challenges while maintaining inner balance.
Peace isn't something to achieve; it's the equilibrium you maintain in every moment of existence.
Peace as the Essence of Life
The idea that "life is not about peace, but if you do not know peace, you will never know life" is a misleading concept. Peace is not an external state to be achieved after navigating through the chaos of life; it is the very essence of life itself. Like an atom constantly seeking stability amidst the dynamic forces that act upon it, life is a continuous process of finding equilibrium amidst the external and internal disturbances that we face.
Peace is not the absence of disturbance but the ability to maintain balance in the face of it. Life is about peace – not as a final destination, but as a dynamic process of maintaining stability amidst the ever-changing forces of existence. Understanding this allows us to embrace life fully, knowing that peace is not something to be found after overcoming challenges but something to be cultivated in every moment, despite the challenges.
In this sense, peace is not the key to understanding life – it is life. Peace is the natural state of stability that life constantly seeks, and our journey through life is the continuous process of restoring that balance amidst the inevitable disturbances we encounter.
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