Inner Peace - Path to happiness

Many of my friends are fond of sending forwarded e-mails. Whenever I receive a good forward I try to share with my blog readers by writing about it. This is something I received ages ago about peace of mind. The writer confronts the difficult topic in a every fine manner. Here is the passage:

Everyday life isn't always simple and easy. There is always something that causes worry, tension or fear, and does not let us feel peaceful and calm. Nevertheless, we can enjoy peace, regardless of the state of our outer circumstances. Peace of mind is an inner state, and is independent of outer conditions. Why wait for never, for circumstances to be "right"? Why let outside circumstances decide for us the state of our mind?

Inner peace is within reach of everyone. It is not dependent on external factors, conditions, riches or poverty, health or sickness, physical freedom or lack of it. Everyone possesses the potential to enjoy it here and now. It is independent of outer circumstances, and a truly trained person can enjoy it even under the most trying circumstances.

I have read several inspiring stories of people who have changed the course of this world. These are the people who have trained themselves to enjoy peace and calm even under the most difficult or trying circumstances. For example during one of my backpacking trips I came across a mendicant in the Himalayas. He was barefoot, clad only in a long robe, sported long matted hair and shaggy beard. He would walk barefoot in the snow and cross glacial streams and not complain. His face had a lustrous smile which I hadn't seen in anybody, not even on heavily made up film stars who had spotlights focused on them.

I believe that that hermit was really at peace internally and was oblivious of the external factors. To reach his level it would probably take years for city dwellers like us, but to make small changes and take baby steps towards such an ideal would be a great change in our life.

Think about it :)