Built on the bones of chaos, fear and sorrow, the outer world can be a turbulent and hostile environment. When the winds of misery and misfortune peel at our joy, like shingles torn from of a roof in a fiery hurricane, know that within each of us lies a calm, lush, garden sanctuary of peace and tranquility. As near as our heartbeat, the oasis remains elusive to all led astray pursuing fool’s gold, which dangles before us like a shiny carrot. While some feel compelled to travel the four corners of the world futilely seeking truth and God, others yield to an easier path in the darkness of drugs, drink and apathy. Yet even in the ashes of failure and unmet desires lies victory and redemption. For only when our misguided attempts and wasted efforts chasing the unreal have reached their natural conclusion, will the sublime peace and truth that we have sought after for lifetimes be discovered in the stillness within.
In a busy, demanding and distracting world, it will not be easy to set a time each day to sit quietly for 20 minutes, and to still our minds. Just like creating a garden on the outer, the inner work will require attention and intention, protracted effort, and discipline. The first step is to create an inner sanctuary where our peace, happiness and balance will no longer be dependent on outer conditions or circumstances. Look within, and on the blank screen behind the third eye, use our imaginative faculty to paint a serene world of our choosing. If it is a colorful garden brimming with flowers, breathe in their fragrant aromas, behold and marvel at their vivid colors and beauty, as we walk along a winding, dappled sunlit path. Observe and listen to the bees and butterflies, as they buzz and flutter about. From a bench, experience the melody of the cascading water fountain and its shimmering golden light.
Our inner temple will not be a place to hide from the world, but rather a creative womb where we can breathe deeply, purify, and nourish our spiritual selves, a refuge to dream freely, feed gratitude into every cell of our being, and to contemplate only thoughts and actions which bring joy into our lives, and to those loved ones we share our lives with. The rewards of connecting to the great spirit within are profound and life-altering, and inevitably will reflect greater balance and contentment in our daily lives. Be still and smile broadly, for it has always been within our grasp to create the blessed life we have only once imagined! Let our newfound inner peace and joy radiate from our center like ripples in a pond, light and love expanding outward into the universe, uplifting and illuminating even the darkest corners!
