Peace

Read John 16:19-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:31-33

The Eightfold path is really the path to peace. We hardly need St John to remind us that Christ said we have tribulation in the world. Tribulation is part of life, and the worst tribulation arises in our earthly mind. Despair and anxiety are rife. The world is barren, continually depleted of its resources. The materialistic views of the orthodox church are rejected – thank goodness. Many look for the answers in Buddhism or New Age philosophies which served their purposes long ago when our consciousness was different. Others look for relief in accumulating wealth or mind-numbing activities. Tribulation will not be resolved in these ways; they lead to more tribulation.

Christ, the living Christ, who stands for individuality, responsibility, freedom and love, is the only antidote for tribulation. This is not a Christ who dictates behaviour, who says you will and you won’t do this or that. The spirit of Christ is a force within us which we can grasp and use to, first of all, take responsibility for our actions. The spirit of Christ assists us to meet tribulation peacefully and cheerfully.

Buddha outlined his steps on the path to peace because he could see that we would be scattered. Now we gain some relief by continually reminding ourselves that Christ has overcome the world. Christ prevails no matter what. If that knowledge of the prevailing Christ is a reality in our life we can be peaceful and we can be of good cheer.

Of course the aim is to actually see the presence of Christ but in when we don’t see him we can experience him in our individuality. When we take responsibility for all our thoughts and actions, when we love others, when we see Christ in others regardless of what they do, when we stand in their shoes and share their experiences without judging, then and only then, is the Christ force at work within us.

If we don’t have this experience of Christ then we must think it! This means that we continually build our own thoughts and images of Christ and after a while Christ himself will fill them with his power and presence.

Remember also that the word Right points to the balanced, or middle, way. When things are “right”, we often experience a special feeling inside which confirms that this is the correct decision or action. That confirms the presence of Christ who is the great balancer – remember he hung on the middle cross with the two thieves, the hindering forces, each side of him.

Right Mindfulness, the seventh step, is about precision and clarity. It means directing our full attention on the present moment so that we notice the small details, especially in the way we speak, or in our posture, or in our attitudes toward our friends and family. In our attentive awareness we are able to see how old patterns and habits control us. In this awareness, we may see how fears of an imaginary future limit our present actions.

The Eighth and final step is Right Concentration, or Absorption. We usually find that we are absorbed in absentmindedness. Our mind is usually completely captivated by all sorts of abstractions. Right Concentration means that we are completely absorbed in the now, in things as they are. When we concentrate on the reality of the moment we can experience the presence of Christ who has overcome the world and stands in our midst.

The discipline of concentration or meditation cuts through our absentmindedness. It provides a space or gap in our preoccupation with ourselves. By meditation is meant the gradual process of training the mind to focus on a single object or thought and to remain fixed upon it without wavering. The constant practice of meditation helps to develop a calm and concentrated mind. Have this mind in you which is yours in Christ Jesus, says St Paul.

In Christ we may have peace. In Christ we can be of good cheer – if we choose.