In this talk, John shares that our practice can lead us to a peace that is not dependent on the conditions of the outside world. It is cultivated by our internal practice and inner peace means freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts and emotions.

Peace arises in those times when we are not fixated on the past or the future, but on the current moment. Accepting the present moment allows us to make peace with this moment and thereby with the entire world, just as it is.

“World peace develops from inner peace.” ~ The Dalai Lama

Through practice, we begin to see that the cause of our mental suffering is wanting things to be different than they are. Yes, we have preferences and we work for change, but in each moment we must accept it as it is just now.

A great mystery and openness arises within us when we let go of our preferences. By doing this, we can meet each moment with compassion, which leads to peace.

He speaks of the pali term Nibudi – a peaceful and relaxed mind.

The Buddha taught that we can find peace in the midst of suffering by recognizing that resistance of the mind to dukkha creates its own suffering which is unnecessary .

John shares how his relationship to physical pain changed once he accepted it as just another form of sensation, without judging it. This led him to a direct knowing of the First Noble Truth, that there IS suffering in our life and the world. When we accept this fact, we realize that it’s not us — it is life itself, and there is nothing wrong with us just because we experience dissatisfaction.

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John Martin teaches Vipassana (Insight), Metta (Loving Kindness) and LGBTQIA+ meditation retreats. He leads an ongoing weekly Monday evening meditation group in San Francisco. He serves as Co-chair of the Guiding Teachers Council for Spirit Rock. His practice has been supported by twelve years as a hospice volunteer: including five years at Shanti Project during the AIDS crisis, and seven years with the Zen Hospice project.
Find his upcoming events at: https://calendar.spiritrock.org/event-speaker/john-martin/