Why We Avoid Unimaginable Peace
Embarking on the quest for unimaginable peace requires a deep dive into the essence of our being, where the chaos and strife of the external world fade into serene silence, unveiling the profound peace that lies beyond the ego’s grasp. This exploration transcends the mere cessation of conflict or the absence of noise; it beckons us to the stillness that pervades everything, a stillness so profound that it reshapes our understanding of peace, transforming it into an unimaginable reality.
- Give Peace a Chance by John Lennon
- Peace Train by Cat Stevens
- Peace in Our Time by Eddie Money
- Peace Sells by Megadeth
Most people want to “give peace a chance.” We long for peace—it is the very nature of the soul. Why, then, is peace impossible—yes, impossible in this dimension of reality? Real peace is unimaginable by the ego, and it isn’t what the ego personality desires, regardless of its protestations.
We live in a big, noisy, distracting world. When we look deeply into our hearts, most of us find that one of the primary things we want is something quite simple: We want peace. We want rest, ease, and quiet. We want to stop our constant doing. We want space from all the struggle, conflict, desire, fear, and hatred. We are drawn to people who are peaceful, to situations where we can have peace and quiet. Simplicity without stress. Being at ease. In some very deep sense, this desire leads to greater fulfillment than our urges for pleasure, happiness, and freedom, for without this ease of simply being, none of the other things we pursue will truly satisfy us. – The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence
In this exploration, we confront the paradox of seeking peace in a world brimming with unrest and discord. Our journey begins with acknowledging the inherent noise and distractions that define our existence, the constant doing and the relentless pursuit of desires that seem to push peace further away from our reach. Yet, within this cacophony, the longing for peace becomes most palpable, guiding us towards simplicity and ease that transcends the tumultuousness of everyday life.
At the heart of our quest lies the recognition that the peace we seek is not an external state to be achieved but an intrinsic part of our nature. This realization challenges us to look beyond the conventional understanding of peace as the absence of war, conflict, or violence. Instead, we are invited to envision peace as a state of being that encompasses wholeness, harmony, and inner tranquility—a peace so profound and encompassing that it defies the limitations of our imagination.
The Journey to Unimaginable Peace
This journey toward unimaginable peace demands a radical shift in perspective and a willingness to relinquish our tightly held positions, beliefs, and convictions. It calls into question the foundation of our separate selves, urging us to dissolve the barriers that segregate us from the interconnectedness of all existence. The path to peace becomes a path of letting go, surrendering the ego’s relentless drive for separation, and realizing the unity that binds us all.
The teachings of the Diamond Approach, with its emphasis on presence and the realization of our true nature, offer a profound framework for understanding the nature of unimaginable peace. Through the practice of presence, the attunement to the immediacy of our experience, peace that is already here beneath the surface of our restless minds and turbulent hearts begins to reveal itself and touch us in miraculous ways.
As we delve deeper into the essence of unimaginable peace, we encounter the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, who challenges us to see the violence inherent in separation and division. His words remind us that pursuing peace is not about taking sides or fighting against injustice from a place of division but about understanding the totality of human experience. In this total understanding, recognizing our shared humanity, the possibility of true peace emerges.
“When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.” ― Jiddu Krishnamurti
The ego doesn’t want peace; it wants dynamic inertia.
The writings of A.H. Almaas, the founder of the Diamond Approach, further illuminate the path to peace. He speaks of the ego’s dynamic inertia, the constant movement that sustains the illusion of separation and perpetuates conflict. Yet, in the stillness of non-doing, in the profound acceptance of “what is” lies, the key to unlocking the peace that surpasses understanding.
In embracing unimaginable peace, we are not advocating for passivity in the face of injustice or suffering. Rather, we are invited to experience peace at the deepest level of our being, allowing that presence and intelligence to inform our actions. It is from this place of deep, abiding peace that we can truly contribute to the healing and transformation of our world.
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 source of pleasure and peace. Seeking assumes that there is something to be found, someplace to be reached, some goal to be arrived at. – Diamond Heart Book Four: Indestructible Innocence
Some say that if you don’t choose a side, you are choosing the side of the oppressor—you’re abdicating your responsibility to stand up for injustice and the vulnerable. In short, if you’re not fighting for peace, you’re on the side of the perpetrators.
The peace we long for isn’t the romantic, utopian dream of everyone getting along; it’s the absence of ego activity, but ego activity is the blood and oxygen of ego identity. The ego is like one of the sharks that has to keep moving to breathe. No ego activity, no ego.
The romantic ideal of peace is impossible because it would require all parties to forget the past and deal solely with the NOW – something impossible for the separate ego identity.
As we continue to explore the depths of unimaginable peace, we are reminded of the words of Chief Joseph, who speaks to surrendering the fight, laying down arms in the recognition that true peace cannot be won through conflict but through the understanding of our shared humanity. In this spirit, we embark on our journey, guided by the light of presence and the stillness of our nature, towards realizing unimaginable peace in our lives and the world.
“From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever,” Chief Joseph