Q. What does God want?
A. God within wants to live in peace. God without wants universal peace. God wants nothing because God is complete.
~ Baba Hari Dass
So beautifully said. I resonate with us because I want to live in Peace, while at the same time wanting universal peace, and at the same time knowing I need and desire nothing as I released all my needs and desires long ago. How do these two seemingly opposite things equal the same thing? The idea that the desire for personal peace and the desire for universal peace can be seen as equivalent, even though they may seem like opposite concepts, reflects a spiritual perspective that transcends duality, also called Unity, or the idea that Duality is Dead.
In many spiritual and philosophical traditions, there is an emphasis on the unity of all things and the interconnectedness of existence. Here's how these seemingly opposite desires can be seen as harmonious in such a framework:
Inner Peace and Universal Peace: When you seek inner peace, you are essentially striving to find harmony and tranquility within yourself. This often involves letting go of attachment to worldly desires, ego, and external conflicts. As you achieve inner peace, you become more centered and balanced as an individual.
Desire for Universal Peace: The desire for universal peace extends beyond the individual. It reflects a recognition of the interconnectedness of all life and a wish for the well-being and harmony of all beings in the world. This desire arises from a sense of compassion and a recognition of the suffering and conflicts that exist on a broader scale.
Transcending Duality: The idea that these two desires are equivalent arises from the perspective that, at their core, they both involve a recognition of unity and a transcendence of duality. In other words, they both stem from a realization that we are not separate from the world but are a part of it. When you find inner peace, you are, in a sense, contributing to the peace and harmony of the larger universe.
Releasing Needs and Desires: Releasing personal needs and desires can be seen as a step toward inner peace. By letting go of attachment to material possessions and external desires including the expectations of others of how they will treat you or how you will feel around them, you free yourself from the suffering that often accompanies attachment. This practice aligns with the idea that God, as a complete and whole entity, desires nothing because it is already complete.
The concept that desiring both personal and universal peace equates to the idea that "duality is dead" reflects a perspective that goes beyond the once popular, now outdated, dualistic thinking. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of all things and the idea that achieving inner peace can contribute to a more harmonious and peaceful World. It's a viewpoint often found in spiritual and philosophical traditions that emphasize unity, compassion, and the realization of the self's oneness with the universe.
