October 7, 2012
Peace Is Not the Answer
I’ve been thinking quite a lot lately about what spiritual development and spiritual attainment actually mean these days. What is the purpose of being on a spiritual path for the most progressive people on the planet today—those of us who have grown up in an environment of unprecedented wealth, education, and personal freedom?
As a spiritual teacher, I travel every year across the United States and Europe, giving talks and leading retreats. It continually amazes me that the majority of spiritual seekers from the most affluent countries on our small planet seem to be looking for one thing above anything else: Peace. Peace? Why on earth would the luckiest people to have ever been born express their spiritual aspirations through questing for relief and release—for peace? Why are we looking for a way out of the challenge of human existence? I mean, has our lot in life really been that bad?
I can see why in premodernity, in the era when the great religious traditions were born, peace would be an understandable goal. Life was so much harder than it is for us now, in just about every conceivable way. At that time, most people literally worked like slaves for their daily sustenance. The level of brutality human beings had to endure was something that is difficult for us to imagine in our postmodern civilized society. The very notion of human rights had not yet emerged in our collective mind. So it makes complete sense that peace would be seen as the spiritual or religious goal, the ultimate relief and release from the unrelenting grind of day-to-day existence. But while, unfortunately, similar life conditions still exist today in many parts of the developing world, for most of us at the leading edge, life is very, very different indeed.
So why, then, are we still looking for a way out when we look to spirit? I understand that just because many of us have been graced with a high standard of living, it doesn’t mean we don’t suffer at an existential level. But I wonder if we haven’t fallen into the habit of giving undue significance to our existential angst. Maybe suffering, at some level anyway, is an inherent part of life and has been an integral part of the developmental process from the very beginning. The big bang, the cosmic burst of energy and light and matter that created the universe, was anything but peaceful! And the law of the jungle is not “may all beings live in peace.” At the physical level of our own being, we experience the stress, and at times discomfort, of our own mortal, embodied nature. At the emotional and psychological levels, we experience the stress and complexity of personal subjective consciousness. Even at the spiritual level, there is the mysterious stress that the evolutionary impulse exerts upon the self.
Sometimes when I hear spiritually minded individuals speak, it appears that they are clinging to premodern ideas about the goal of the spiritual path—whether it be a Christian heaven or a Buddhist nirvana or even some New Age promise of universal love and harmony. They seem to still be convinced that the raison d’être of human incarnation is the end of suffering and the experience of unending peace. Given all we’ve come to know, not only about history but also about the evolutionary process, I wonder how that could possibly be the case? Life at its core is inherently surging forth, at times wild and erratic, at times focused and directed, but always moving. Eros, the energy and intelligence that initiated the creative process, which is also driving that very process right now as you read these words, is vibrating with its own effulgence and unrelenting intensity.
Prior to the big bang there was Nothing, and from that primordial empty ground the entire cosmos burst into existence. When we enter into deep states of meditation, transcending the personal ego and any notion of a separate self, we sink into that same primordial ground. In those moments, of course, we will experience peace, because that is the very nature of that infinite depth beyond time and form. And such experiences are indeed very liberating for the self. But it just doesn’t make sense that the experience of relief and release from the very process that produced us should be the goal of the luckiest people who have ever been born. Why not? Because the very energy and intelligence that gave us life, that produced us, needs us lucky ones to take responsibility, to wholeheartedly participate in the life process in a deeper and more authentic way than most of us ever imagined possible.
I believe that as long as the focus of our spiritual aspirations is relief and release rather than a much more profound relationship with life at the deepest level, we will never be of much use to the energy and intelligence that created us. To put it in theological terms, we will be letting God down, because we will always be seeking for a way out rather than wholeheartedly engaging with the life process, with other human beings, with our own highest potentials. As long as we are seeking peace above all else, we will never know what it means to live at the very edge of the possible. In order to be truly available to the energy and intelligence that created the universe, we do have to transcend our angst-ridden separate selves. But the motive for doing so is not so we can abide in a state of peace and freedom beyond the process. Our motive is to become passionate and egoless vehicles for its own ongoing evolution.
This post was originally published on Andrew Coheh’s BigThink.com blog, The Evolution of Enlightenment.
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Andrew Cohen is a spiritual teacher, cultural visionary, founder of EnlightenNext, and the author of 
This article by A. Cohen is absolutely meaningful and informative…There is an evolutionary impulse in human beings which propels them towards higher dimensions of existence..and this is the purpose of our coming over to this panet Earth…Really it is tragic that lot of humanity are doing prayers, meditation and other related so-called spiritual pursuits simply to feel good and at peace…Without going through the hardships and struggles of life with consciousness and awareness our entire life goes waste..In other words we remain immature individuals bereft of the beautious levels of existence and consciousness…Only a complete sense of wonder at existence can lead us into greater consciousness confronting us with ever-increasing miraculous creations in the sphere of material as well non-material levels of existence…Just see and know that all the wonders and beauties in the world are born out of hardships and strress.
Would you like to be tortured to get the wonder and beauty out of you?
That can be done easily. Just start speaking of love and justice and take a stand for the poor, and you’ll be immediately crucified.
This is a very inspiring look at our inner seeking for peace – we haven’t come to peace with our co-creative and co-evolutionary purpose in this world. While reading your text, Andrew, another thought came to my mind. The fat and wealthy environment we western people live in is such a small part of the world and from a social-critical point of few we gained it on the cost of many of our human brothers and sisters in other parts of the world – and on the cost of our mother earth. What if our carpets made by children, our furniture made of wood that’s kind of stolen from the indigenous, our computers made by people who hardly can live from their wages and our jewels, made by workers who may be get shot if they strike for better working conditions are constantly and silently talking to us: This is not peace! This is an illusion of peace! Go out into the world and help real peace to evolve for all of us! I believe that deep inside of us we all know about the fragile construction of our so-called wealth and peace.
The peace I am praying, meditating, and standing on street corners with signs for is not personal. I’m working towards inner peace for myself, of course, but what I desire just as strongly is a world where every human being has the opportunities that I have had: the leisure and freedom from basic survival fears to even begin to think about evolving his/her consciousness. We here in the “Western world” are largely responsible for making this impossible for people in places like Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, most African countries, etc., etc., with our constant grasping of resources to maintain our outrageous lifestyles, and taking by force what we cannot inveigle out of the inhabitants of those countries that have them. I do understand what Andrew is saying, and I agree with most of it, but I do think that the kind of peace that is defined by freedom from war and hunger, exploitation and domination by others is a prerequisite to really making progress as a collective. I want everyone to have a chance to evolve.
YES. YES YES YES.
And,
I hear some argue that “yes, but some participate in the name of their relationship with God by throwing bombs into market places with themselves in the middle”.
I hear some argue that abiding in non-duality, NOT DOING anything else, is the way to infuse the whole world with Love-Consciousness, thus helping it towards liberation from war, poverty and abuse of the poors by the wealthy, thus opening to them the doors to more consciouness awareness.
I’ve SO often heard “we NEED to suffer to grow “. This has always horrified me, I understand it as a justification of suffering. I think we do not NEEEEED to suffer: we do, it is indeed part of life., as Andrew says here very well.
well…..just some of my thoughts …
Merci Andrew, and the 3 above comments too.
Recognizing the common goals amongst seekers engaged in their endeavors needn’t be surprising or frowned upon. It is true for many that it is indeed their very suffering that has given birth to the pursuit of liberation. The desire for constant and nonfluctuating peace and/or happiness could very well be seen as a grasping–a form of spiritual materialism, but I think it’s important to permit this desire since it is also part of the awakening process for most.
Some have come to realize the result of observation– that space in silence that seems to be created with the practice of meditation. This awareness can act as a buffer that allows us to experience the peace that comes with transcending the flux of polarized thought/being, liberating one from that constant ebb and flow. As they are able to remain firm and stable despite the manifestation/experience of complimentaries, they realize they’ve always had the option to be free, but now they not only see it, they claim it.
So while It may be seen as a commonly misconstrued goal of a spiritual life to exclude the struggle, at some point we come to know that spirituality is an inclusive process–an all encompassing, or embracing of everything that happens within this grande unfolding. This is the evolutionary process isn’t it? So this includes those who look at others and in a subtle way perceive exclusion rather than appreciating what is a very valuable learning curve that is evidently an inherent process that so many must grow through as they evolve.
Very good article, and I would like to add the well known concept of being in this world, but not of it. This does not mean an ‘either/or’, but can be a lofty goal of ‘both/and’ for achieving peace inside and in the external world. Both are noble aspirations and should be placed in balance so achieving inward peace does not cost us the opportunity to pursue our passions or miss out on the wonderful human experience of accomplishment that comes from engaging life’s challenges over a lifetime. Sadly much of the world is looking to become like the west which as stated in the article just had the greatest period of prosperity in the history of the world, when they should be learning from us that inner peace will not come from such luxuries alone. Perhaps humanity can work together to achieve a stress free level of living where basic physical survival is no longer uncertain, and as fear subsides so will materialism. We then can finally work on achieving higher levels of genuine joy which is lacking in human life. If our intention is heavily weighted towards release and relief, I agree we won’t get there. Mike @ Uplifting Humanity. org
Well, here’s the rub. From all I have surmised, every souls’ spiritual quest is for reunification with All That Is. It is our raison d’etre. And until that point of absorption back into source, we go on about our “lives” living- creating- being. But the underlying thirst for the peace of the source remains with us in varying intensity throughout our incarnations and various states of being–it is the evolutionary impulse. Suffice it to say, that the longing for peace takes many forms while traveling our evolutionary path. At this juncture, even at the leading edge, it is evident to me that we who are incarnated now have a certain weariness of spirit, sprung from long struggles in the lower densities. It is the trough before the surge. So it is not surprising to me that seekers right now are particularly attracted to the effortless peace of the ground of being. And if you believe that we are multidimensional beings, we are always tied in to a more connected part of us–and likely a more peaceful place of being. We are instictively drawn to that which we will become. That said–our work is not yet finished, personally and collectively. Everyone is here at this time to contribute something. There is always work to be done–it is just ever more refined as we evolve. And so is the idea of peace that we seek.
You are referring to the peace you feel in meditation. True inner peace is within the experiences of life. The new definition of peace is to integrate the fragmented parts of self…to become whole, so you hold the capacities to fully engage in life, rather than numbing out, avoiding situations or causing chaos due to immature emotional limitations. Peace is Spirit in action, word and deed. Peace refers to the capacity to hold dialogue with one another and serve from the insight of universal intelligence and cocreating solutions that move us into higher complexity.
Surely we need both and neither is more important. The ‘breath of Brahma’ – the Creator – refers to this process of life. As it is for the individual, at the end of each inward and outward breath there is a resting point. In this resting point – the primordial ground – there is profound peace. Then, from this peace, life in all its forms springs forth. So to, the outward breath of the creative principle springs forth in the big bang – the birth of all possibilities. The inward breath brings all in creation back into the primordial ground of unformed being. So too, we need to exert all action and choice from the stillness and peace of the primordial ground. Then, all action is informed by the primordial ground of possibility and we are in a position to bring wisdom, insight and joy into every action. And yes, right now, there has never been a more important time to ground ourselves in the peace that passes all understanding and from that place of stillness, we MUST act. So the aspiration to have peace is essential as the spring board for wise action. We are immersed in a world where wise actions are now imperative. Suffering is so often the impetus for this journey to, and from, primordial peace.
The ‘angst-ridden separate selves’ is based on being conditioned/ programmed within a system which grooms people for substance-lessness, unhealthy co-dependency, needless limitations, non-fairplay competition, greed, ego-centricism, but not TRUTH (Our TRUTH).
The peace most are seeking is from the above conditioning/programming, and all of which is also anti-TRUTH.
Well said Andrew, and to all reading along and commenting thank you for sincerely participating for it always inevitably broadens my perspective for the better.
iNow …Wonder,Think,Know, and Act…. from this incredible ‘…Comprehensive Evolutionary Impulse….’ that is partially made up of evolutionary impulses in all human beings.
iKnowNow these impulses move along …Pain,Peace,Pleasure,Principles, and Purposefulness…. in various and varying ways to hope,help, and heal as well as humor and honor.
Through …Whim,Nature,Humanity, and Godliness….
Through …Random,Reactive,Reasoning, and Reconcilatory….
Through …Virtual,Natural,Logical, and Ethical….
and much more a New Global English Calculus is emerging and evolving
Peace is not a goal to work towards and of another world. Peace is something we carry within us.
Peace is a state of mind contingent upon my ability to let go of all things.
Physical, Emotional and Mental.
(Including this statement).
It does not mean, that I do not have physical things, emotions and thoughts.
It means to let go, to be in the now, to non-attachment.
Is it easy in a physical, material world? NO, but Peace is always available.Peace is a condition of Oneness.