Repudiation?

“The way of Self-Realization, as shown in the ancient books, is the way of repudiation, a withdrawal from the things of the external world.” –N. Sri Ram, 1950

Over and over I have read that the way to peace involves some repudiation of the things in the outer world.

Personally, I do not believe this to be true. Unless I am willing to withdraw from the world and join a monastery in some remote region of the planet, I am going to be “in the world”.

Even if I did withdraw to such a level, would I not long to “test” my inner wisdom by being exposed to the outer world?

It is easy to find inner peace in quiet meditation. I say easy, but in truth it can take years of practice. Once discovered, it is relatively easy to return.

Where the rubber meets the road, though, is in my interaction with the outer world. This is where I have the opportunity to test my ability to remain in peace. It is in my involvement with the world that I learn to claim my “power” to be in peace regardless of the outer circumstances.

Perhaps what all the “ancient wisdom” writers meant was to repudiate any power that the outer has over my experience of peacefulness.

Here we can agree.

I would never want to withdraw from the world. It is so beautiful and so fascinating. At every turn, in every face, I find another teacher.