Finding Perfect Peace

In the external universe there is ceaseless turmoil, change, and unrest; at the heart of all things there is undisturbed repose; in this deep silence dwelleth the Eternal

In the outer universe, there is constant turmoil, change, and unrest. At the heart of all things, there is undisturbed peace. The Eternal dwells in this deep silence.

Man partakes of this duality, and both the surface change and disquietude, and the deep-seated eternal abode of Peace, are contained within him. As there are silent depths in the ocean which the fiercest storm cannot reach, so there are silent, holy depths in the heart of man which the storms of sin and sorrow can never disturb. To reach this silence and to live consciously in it is peace.

People share this dual nature. Within them are both surface changes and unrest, and a deep, eternal home of Peace. The ocean has silent depths that even the fiercest storm cannot reach. In the same way, the human heart has silent, holy depths that the storms of sin and sorrow can never disturb. Peace is reaching this silence and living consciously in it.

Discord is rife in the outward world, but unbroken harmony holds sway at the heart of the universe. The human soul, torn by discordant passion and grief, reaches blindly toward the harmony of the sinless state, and to reach this state and to live consciously in it is peace.

Conflict is widespread in the world around us, but unbroken harmony reigns at the heart of the universe. Torn by conflicting passions and grief, the human soul reaches blindly toward the harmony of a sinless state. To reach that state and live consciously in it is peace.

Hatred severs human lives, fosters persecution, and hurls nations into ruthless war, yet men, though they do not understand why, retain some measure of faith in the overshadowing of a Perfect Love; and to reach this Love and to live consciously in it is peace.

Hatred tears lives apart, encourages persecution, and drives nations into ruthless war. Yet people still have some faith that a Perfect Love watches over them, though they do not understand why. To reach this Love and live consciously in it is peace.

And this inward peace, this silence, this harmony, this Love, is the Kingdom of Heaven, which is so difficult to reach because few are willing to give up themselves and to become as little children.

This inner peace, this silence, this harmony, this Love is the Kingdom of Heaven. It is so hard to reach because few are willing to give up themselves and become like little children.

Men cry peace! peace! where there is no peace, but on the contrary, discord, disquietude and strife. Apart from that Wisdom which is inseparable from self-renunciation, there can be no real and abiding peace.

People cry peace! peace! where there is no peace, but instead disagreement, unrest, and strife. There can be no real and lasting peace without the wisdom that comes from giving up self-interest.

The peace which results from social comfort, passing gratification, or worldly victory is transitory in its nature, and is burnt up in the heat of fiery trial. Only the Peace of Heaven endures through all trial, and only the selfless heart can know the Peace of Heaven.

The peace that comes from social comfort, passing pleasure, or worldly success does not last. It burns up in the heat of severe trials. Only the Peace of Heaven lasts through every trial. Only a selfless heart can know the Peace of Heaven.

Holiness alone is undying peace. Self-control leads to it, and the ever-increasing Light of Wisdom guides the pilgrim on his way. It is partaken of in a measure as soon as the path of virtue is entered upon, but it is only realized in its fullness when self disappears in the consummation of a stainless life.

Holiness alone is lasting peace. Self-control leads to it, and the ever-growing light of wisdom guides the pilgrim along the way. We experience some of this peace as soon as we enter the path of virtue. But we experience it fully only when the self disappears in the fulfillment of a spotless life.

If, O reader! you would realize the Light that never fades, the Joy that never ends, and the tranquillity that cannot be disturbed; if you would leave behind for ever your sins, your sorrows, your anxieties and perplexities; if, I say, you would partake of this salvation, this supremely glorious Life, then conquer yourself. Bring every thought, every impulse, every desire into perfect obedience to the divine power resident within you. There is no other way to peace but this, and if you refuse to walk it, your much praying and your strict adherence to ritual will be fruitless and unavailing, and neither gods nor angels can help you. Only to him that overcometh is given the white stone of the regenerate life, on which is written the New and Ineffable Name.

Reader, do you want to experience the Light that never fades, the Joy that never ends, and the peace that cannot be disturbed? Do you want to leave behind your sins, sorrows, worries, and confusion forever? If you want to share in this salvation, this supremely glorious Life, then conquer yourself. Bring every thought, impulse, and desire into complete obedience to the divine power within you. There is no other way to peace. If you refuse to follow this path, all your prayers and strict observance of rituals will be useless. Neither gods nor angels can help you. Only those who overcome themselves are given the white stone of the renewed life. On it is written the New and Unspeakable Name.

Come away, for awhile, from external things, from the pleasures of the senses, from the arguments of the intellect, from the noise and the excitements of the world, and withdraw yourself into the inmost chamber of your heart, and there, free from the sacrilegious intrusion of all selfish desires, you will find a deep silence, a holy calm, a blissful repose, and if you will rest awhile in that holy place, and will meditate there, the faultless eye of Truth will open within you, and you will see things as they really are. This holy place within you is your real and eternal self; it is the divine within you; and only when you identify yourself with it can you be said to be “clothed and in your right mind.” It is the abode of peace, the temple of wisdom, the dwelling-place of immortality. Apart from this inward resting-place, this Mount of Vision, there can be no true peace, no knowledge of the Divine, and if you can remain there for one minute, one hour, or one day, it is possible for you to remain there always.

Step away for a while from outward things, from physical pleasures, intellectual arguments, and the noise and excitement of the world. Withdraw into the deepest chamber of your heart. There, free from the unholy intrusion of all selfish desires, you will find deep silence, sacred calm, and blissful rest. If you rest and meditate there for a while, the perfect eye of Truth will open within you. You will see things as they really are. This holy place within you is your real and eternal self. It is the divine within you. Only when you identify yourself with it can you be said to be “clothed and in your right mind.” It is the home of peace, the temple of wisdom, and the dwelling place of immortality. Apart from this inward resting place, this Mount of Vision, there can be no true peace and no knowledge of the Divine. And if you can remain there for one minute, one hour, or one day, you can remain there always.

All your sins and sorrows, your fears and anxieties are your own, and you can cling to them or you can give them up. Of your own accord you cling to your unrest; of your own accord you can come to abiding peace. No one else can give up sin for you; you must give it up yourself. The greatest teacher can do no more than walk the way of Truth for himself, and point it out to you; you yourself must walk it for yourself. You can obtain freedom and peace alone by your own efforts, by yielding up that which binds the soul, and which is destructive of peace.

All your sins and sorrows, your fears and anxieties, are your own. You can hold on to them or let them go. You choose to hold on to your unrest. You can also choose to find lasting peace. No one else can give up sin for you. You must give it up yourself. Even the greatest teacher can only walk the path of Truth and show you the way. You must walk it yourself. You can gain freedom and peace only through your own efforts. You must give up what binds the soul and destroys peace.

The angels of divine peace and joy are always at hand, and if you do not see them, and hear them, and dwell with them, it is because you shut yourself out from them, and prefer the company of the spirits of evil within you. You are what you will to be, what you wish to be, what you prefer to be. You can commence to purify yourself, and by so doing can arrive at peace, or you can refuse to purify yourself, and so remain with suffering.

The angels of divine peace and joy are always nearby. If you do not see or hear them or live with them, it is because you shut yourself out. You prefer the company of the evil spirits within you. You are what you choose, wish, and prefer to be. You can begin to purify yourself and, by doing so, find peace. Or you can refuse to purify yourself and continue to suffer.

Step aside, then; come out of the fret and the fever of life; away from the scorching heat of self, and enter the inward resting-place where the cooling airs of peace will calm, renew, and restore you.

So step aside. Leave behind the worry and fever of life, and the scorching heat of self. Enter the resting place within, where the cool air of peace will calm, renew, and restore you.

Come out of the storms of sin and anguish. Why be troubled and tempest-tossed when the haven of peace is so near?

Come out of the storms of sin and anguish. Why struggle through the storm when the safe harbor of peace is so near?

Give up all self-seeking; give up self, and lo! the Peace of God is yours!

Give up all self-seeking. Give up your self, and the peace of God is yours!

Subdue the animal within you; conquer every selfish uprising, every discordant voice; transmute the base metals of your selfish nature into the unalloyed gold of Love, and you shall realize the Life of Perfect Peace. Thus subduing, thus conquering, thus transmuting, you will, O reader! whilst living in the flesh, cross the dark waters of mortality, and will reach that Shore upon which the storms of sorrow never beat, and where sin and suffering and dark uncertainty cannot come. Standing upon that Shore, holy, compassionate, awakened, and self-possessed and glad with unending gladness, you will realize that,

Master the animal within you. Conquer every selfish impulse and every discordant voice. Transform the base metals of your selfish nature into the pure gold of Love. Then you will know the Life of Perfect Peace. By mastering, conquering, and transforming yourself in this way, you, reader, will cross the dark waters of mortality while still living in the flesh. You will reach the Shore where the storms of sorrow never strike. Sin, suffering, and dark uncertainty cannot enter there. Standing on that Shore, holy, compassionate, awakened, self-controlled, and filled with endless joy, you will realize that,

you will then know the meaning of Sin, of Sorrow, of Suffering, and that the end thereof is Wisdom; will know the cause and the issue of existence.

You will then understand the meaning of sin, sorrow, and suffering, and know that they lead to wisdom. You will also know the cause and outcome of existence.

And with this realization you will enter into rest, for this is the bliss of immortality, this the unchangeable gladness, this the untrammeled knowledge, undefiled Wisdom, and undying Love; this, and this only, is the realization of Perfect Peace.

With this realization, you will find rest. For it is the bliss of immortality, unchanging joy, unrestricted knowledge, pure wisdom, and undying love. This realization, and this alone, is Perfect Peace.