Peace Be Still
Peace Be Still — Meditation
Lead-In
Sometimes when we reach for peace, suffering steps in first. When we feel disconnected from peace, we’re often cut off from our inner nature—and, for many, from a source of faith (God, consciousness, the Divine, however you name it).
Yoga philosophy says our clarity can be veiled by the malas (three “coverings”); one is āṇava-mala—the felt contraction of “I am small/alone.” In Buddhist terms, life includes dukkha (difficulty). Yet right beside it is sukha—ease and peace. The work isn’t to invent peace, but to uncover it.
A Biblical Reflection
In the Gospels (Mark 4:35–41), after a long day of teaching, Jesus fell asleep in a boat as a storm rose. The disciples were afraid. He woke, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: “Peace, be still.” Then he asked them to have faith. The waters calmed.
Let this story remind us: the storm can rage, and a deeper stillness can remain.
The Practice
- Settle
Sit comfortably. Soften jaw, shoulders, and belly. Let breath arrive naturally. - Notice without judging
Scan for tension or “dis-ease.” Name what’s present (anxious, tight, calm) and let it be. - Soften the breath
Inhale gently. Exhale a little longer than you inhale. - Chant (choose one)
- AUM (OM): On each exhale, sound AUM (aloud or silently). Feel it resonate through body and space.
- Peace Mantra: Inhale: I am held. Exhale: Peace, be still. (Or simply repeat Peace, be still with the breath.)
- Duration
Continue 3–7 minutes (or 6–12 rounds of breath). If light-headed, return to natural breathing. - Carry it into life
Driving or in company? Use a silent AUM or the phrase Peace, be still internally when the mind tightens.
Note: We’re not forcing calm; we’re remembering it. The storm may pass or not—practice reconnects you to the steady place beneath the waves.
Reflection
- What changed in my body, breath, and mind?
- Where do I most feel “still water” right now?
- One small way I can honor peace in the next hour is: ________.
Closing
Peace is here. Be still.
