"Be still and Know that I am God" - Psalm 46
"Be still" means to become peaceful and concentrated. The Buddhist term is samatha (stopping, calming). "Know" means to acquire wisdom or understanding. The Buddhist term is vipasyana (insight or looking deeply). When we are still, looking deeply, and touching the source of our true wisdom, we touch the living Buddha and the living Christ in ourselves and in each person we meet. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Truth has no boundaries - one must be open minded in order to be blessed with this insight. It takes work to see that no single tradition has all of the answers. Tensions rise within ourselves, our community and the world because we are narrow minded and afraid. Releasing those tensions brings about peace.
Peace comes as a result of truly listening. The still small voice inside of us resonates softly when we pay attention. If we are not paying attention the voice begins to roar with the force of a mighty lion. A lion thrashing through the jungle with gnarling teeth does so because he is hungry or he is afraid. That's how humans behave sometimes when we loose respect for ourselves and others because we are not paying attention to the still small voice.
Meditation affords me moments of clarity and insight. I would love you say that with meditation I am always happy, joyous and free but that isn't true. The truth is meditation teaches me that those states are just temporary and fleeting just as the states of sadness, sorrow and lack of freedom are temporary! This has been a difficult lesson for me to learn. Impermanence of all life is reality!
Reality doesn't change because I wish it so but my perspective changes the moment I becoming willing to be still.
