The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.
Three longer practice periods are required for today's exercises. One in the morning and one in the evening is advised, with an additional one to be undertaken at any time inbetween which seems most conducive to readiness. All applications should be done with your eyes closed. It is your inner world to which the applications of today's idea should be made.
Some five minutes of mind searching are required for each of the longer practice periods. Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety provoking situations, offending personalities or events, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts.
Note them all casually, repeating the idea for today slowly as you watch them arise in your mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next.
If you begin to experience difficulty in thinking of specific subjects, continue to repeat the idea to yourself in an unhurried manner, without applying it to anything in particular. Be sure, however, not to make any specific exclusions.
The shorter applications are to be frequent, and made whenever you feel your peace of mind is threatened in any way. The purpose is to protect yourself from temptation throughout the day. If a specific form of temptation arises in your awareness, the exercise should take this form:
I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it.
If the inroads on your peace of mind take the form of more generalized adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, use the idea in its original form. If you find you need more than one application of today's idea to help you change your mind in any specific context, try to take several minutes and devote them to repeating the idea until you feel some sense of relief.
It will help you if you tell yourself specifically:
I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety or worry [or my thoughts about this situation, personality or event] with peace.
✨ Summary & practice
Peace is not outside you, it begins in your heart.
Today’s idea describes the conditions that prevail in this other way of seeing. 'I could see peace instead of this.' Peace of mind is an internal matter. It begins with your own thoughts, then extends outward. It is from your inner peace that a peaceful perception of the world arises. You do not find peace, you choose it. It is not a reward; it is a decision you make every moment.
Three longer exercise periods are required: one in the morning, one in the evening, and one between the two. All applications are done with eyes closed, because the idea applies to your inner world. Search your mind for thoughts of fear, situations that provoke anxiety, people or events that offend you, or any unloving thoughts. Note them as they arise, slowly repeat the idea as you see them, then release each one.
If you begin to find it hard to think of specific subjects, simply continue repeating the idea without applying it to anything particular. Shorter applications are frequent, each time you feel your peace threatened. If a specific temptation arises, say: 'I could see peace in this situation instead of what I see now.' If the emotion is more general, like depression or anxiety, simply repeat the idea.
Practice:
Three times today, take five minutes with eyes closed. Search your mind for a worry, a fear, a resentment. For each, say: 'I could see peace instead of this.' During the day, whenever your peace wavers, repeat the idea immediately.
Peace is always there, beneath the noise of thoughts. You only need to stop struggling to find it.
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