Peace is our natural state

 Peace is your natural state.

It is the mind that obstructs the natural state.

Ramana Maharshi

 

“More, more, more …”

 

“Better, better, better … “

 

“Saner, more pure and holier …”

 

That’s essentially the message of many spiritual teachings. If only you follow their methods, you will get better at spiritual living. Who knows, if you are really committed, maybe one day you will even become enlightened as a Ramana Maharshi, or whoever their favored spiritual figurehead is. And if not in this lifetime, then certainly in one of the next few lifetimes.

 

How is that any different from the promise of Christianity that good behavior and faith in the Messiah gives us a good shot at making it into heaven? What if the former mindset is as limited as the latter? Now what is the insight that puts both approaches to rest? Peace here now—and if the mind currently obstructs our natural state, then that limitation is worth examining.

 

Peace is our natural state, and sometimes its spiritual striving that obstructs our natural state.