Seeking peace is in itself a movement away from peace. The act of seeking assumes that there is something to be found, someplace to be reached, some goal to be arrived at. However, when we cease to seek and be, we open ourselves to the possibility of experiencing peace in its purest form. This peace is not static but a dynamic presence inherent in our very being.
Peace is the absence of suffering. One reason for suffering is that most people are not looking for peace; they are looking for pleasure. Peace is not a top priority for most people; pleasure usually comes first. Therefore, people seek pleasure. There is nothing wrong with wanting pleasure, nor with pleasure itself. But what leads to the absence of peace is seeking pleasure, for the simple reason that seeking pleasure assumes that pleasure is somewhere else, some other time, in a different situation, and not here and now. That is the basic premise of seeking, not only pleasure, but seeking anything, including peace. When we seek, we are moving away from the pleasure or peace and from the source of pleasure and peace. So when I say to not do absolutely anything, I mean not to seek—not to seek for pleasure, or peace, or security, or love, or anything at all—because implicit in the activity of seeking is that there is something to do, or to arrive at. Seeking assumes that there is something to be found, someplace to be reached, some goal to be arrived at. – A. H. Almaas, Diamond Heart Book Four: Indestructible Innocence
The Diamond Approach says that wholeness is available, is possible, and it will arrive in its own time. The ultimate nature of the wholeness doesn’t mean that it is available to you at each moment. Being just does not operate this way, which should be clear from most of our observations. The dynamism doesn’t thrust wholeness on you. It responds appropriately and intelligently to your unique situation in each moment. It is intelligent, perceptive, sensitive, and empathic in its responsiveness. When you are aligned with Being’s intelligence, the current of your experience in any given moment is either in the condition of wholeness or approaching more wholeness and more integration. The wholeness is the source of the intelligence; in fact, this intelligence is nothing but the expression of the wholeness through the response of Being’s dynamics. Therefore, it is natural that when you completely and deeply relax, your experience will spontaneously settle in the condition of wholeness. – A. H. Almaas, Spacecruiser Inquiry: True Guidance for the Inner Journey
The journey toward wholeness is not a linear one. It is a dynamic process that involves the co-emergence of all boundless dimensions of Being. In self-realizing personal Being, we experience ourselves as the wholeness of Reality. We do not only feel personal but realize we are a dynamic and active cosmic presence. We can actually experience ourselves as this cosmic dynamic presence, moving the winds and the stars. We feel that all that happens in the universe happens through our personal will and intelligence. This is not the will and intelligence of the individual soul but the cosmic Being, the personal boundless and infinite Being.
The journey towards peace and wholeness is a journey inward. It is a journey of self-realization and self-acceptance. It is a journey of letting go of the need to seek and simply allowing ourselves to be. It is a journey of aligning ourselves with the intelligence of Being and allowing it to guide us toward wholeness. It is a journey of recognizing that we are not separate entities seeking peace but are the embodiment of peace and wholeness.
FAQ
Based on the content provided, here are some potential FAQs for the article:
1. Q: What is the Diamond Approach?
A: The Diamond Approach is a spiritual path that integrates the insights of Sufism, Buddhism, Gurdjieff, and other wisdom traditions with modern psychology. It was developed by A. H. Almaas, who is widely recognized as a leader in integrating spirituality and psychology.
2. Q: What does the Diamond Approach say about wholeness?
A: The Diamond Approach posits that wholeness is possible and available but may not be accessible at every moment. The journey towards wholeness is dynamic and involves the co-emergence of all boundless dimensions of Being. When aligned with Being’s intelligence, the current of one’s experience is either in the condition of wholeness or approaching more wholeness and integration.
3. Q: What is the practice of inquiry in the Diamond Approach?
A: The practice of inquiry is a method of exploring the immediacy of personal experience. It involves investigating our moment-by-moment feelings, thoughts, reactions, and behaviors through a process of open-ended questioning. The practice is based on the principle that Being free reveals itself to anyone who loves to know the truth of reality and is willing to surrender to not-knowing and remain open and curious about that truth.
4. Q: What is the “Diamond Guidance” role in the Diamond Approach?
A: The “Diamond Guidance” refers to the inner wisdom that emerges from our true nature. It can be realized and applied in the practice of inquiry. The Diamond Guidance includes elements such as knowing, clarity, truth, love, intelligence, compassion, curiosity, courage, and determination.
5. Q: How does the Diamond Approach view the journey toward peace and wholeness?
A: The Diamond Approach views the journey towards peace and wholeness as a journey inward. It involves self-realization, self-acceptance, and letting go of the need to seek. It’s about aligning ourselves with the intelligence of Being and allowing it to guide us toward wholeness. It recognizes that we are not separate entities seeking peace, but we are the embodiment of peace and wholeness.