Peace in the Chaos
There is a place in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, on Sunset Boulevard, that is serene and peaceful, away from the chaos of the bustling city surrounding it. This place survived the devastating fires that destroyed so much of Pacific Palisades. It is the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine, a beautiful experience of meditation gardens, a natural lake with swans, and unusual structures that enhance the beauty. It also houses some of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, who gave his life in the name of non-violence. Lake Shrine was founded by a spiritual teacher from India, Paramahansa Yogananda, in 1950 and dedicated to ALL faiths to come and find a quiet moment of meditation or contemplation—a place of respite from the noise of the world.
Our very lives are like the Lake Shrine. There may be chaos all around, but in the center of our being, there is this place of calm and peace. A place that is open without measure to ALL of the myriad beings walking this earth. Here, there is no “other” such as race, creed, religion, spiritual practice, sexual preference, or political choice that can hinder the quietude that is available to ALL beings. And this place of non-judgment and non-polarity can be brought into the light in each of us by our own choice. That choice is inspired by the desire to bring forth in our daily lives an openness to all beings, regardless of what may appear to be differences physically or mentally. When we remember that we are each a precious expression of the great creative process that goes by many names existing in our diversified world, we can see that every being is precious regardless of their appearance, lifestyle, political leanings, or spiritual aspirations.
Yes, there are among us those who do harm, those who bring hurt and chaos to the world and its individuals living on this planet. But those who have stepped away from the Light are still a part of the human family. What they perceive through their experience here is hard for those in the Light to understand. There are human and spiritual laws that govern such souls and help to bring a balance to this enormous journey of life: the work of those in the Light is to bring that Light into the world through love, caring, compassion, and understanding.
This is where we are like the Lake Shrine. We can take time out of each day to sit quietly, go within to the inner sanctum of our being, and allow love, caring, compassion, and understanding to emerge and become a natural part of our presence in the world. This is where change begins, and we must be that change.