There must be the letting go of attachment.
This is the most difficult.

It is the desire of the material world that is the biggest obstacle to peace and happiness.

A house of fire, as it were. It is only through a misunderstanding of the transitory nature of all things that allows even the illusion of attachment.

But we as a people have went in the wrong direction...Atachment and fear rules us cradle to grave now.

But it can be overcome if we follow enlightened leaders that are not attached to the the system of perpetual increasing consumption and greed...and just as important is community...not the place but the desire for it.
And that desire for comunity, which I believe is universal in humans, has ben decimated by our industrial culture and now the norm is kids move away and old people live in Florida and we hardly know our own family much less the people around us...and over generations it salted the field.

But I don't know how you do that...just that is possible.

It's a process of discovery and practice.

The peace within us is dependent on one thing only and that is
the breath coming and going. It's not dependent on the world,
its ups and downs around us. There is a peace which can't be
grabbed by the intellect, defined or put in a box. It is a living
experience, it is something that must be felt. No belief required.

And it is the discovery and practice I was speaking to...
I might think of peace as the fruit of a garden and if so then the community is the soil in the garden...good soil and you get abundant fruit...and greed and fear have salted the field.
And little grows there but the bitter fruit of violence and hate.

Sorry to be so metaphorical on ya.

I think it is something we can all do. Even though it seems that the opposition is too powerful, too overwhelming. Remember, the labor movement did just that. They won though many had to give their lives. I think that many people long in their secret hearts for peace and love and community. They go to church to find it and are instead fed hate and fear and tribalism. They are told by advertising and media to look for it where it cannot be found. But I think it's one of those things that you know it when you see it. I think all people, everywhere want peace. It may take many generations to change it, but if we don't fight, it will take that much longer.

Recommended.

The hatred, fear, and anxiety that saturates our nation will not -- indeed, can not -- be eliminated from the "top" down. No "leader" can cure the toxins that poison our culture (and I do believe a small percentage of those in DC try to do that).

Rather, it must start from the grass roots. Only that can cure DC of the diseased "leaders" there, and heal our society.

The Grass Roots. Cool song. Hope you enjoy a great weekend bananas. Thanks for making me laugh.

I so agree with you H20 Man.

Have a wonderful weekend.

with gray hair and beard. As legend goes.

Dennis Kucinich was so right about establishing a Department of Peace in our government. The war machine would have none of it or him.

my son got me his book. i have got to jump in and read the book, to have conversation with son. thanks for the reminder.

This Lao Tzu was some bright fella.

Unfortunately, TPTB do not want peace.

They simply do not. They not only want overseas war. They want war with the citizens of this nation. They are doing everything that they can to divide us. They® are expending millions of dollars to turn us against one another so we will ignore the true enemy.

..but if you fall, you fall alone.

If you should stand,
Then who's to guide you?

If I knew the way,
I would take you home"

- my favorite Lao Tzu quote ..... that was written by Robt. Hunter.

If you don't go within, you go without.

Everyone prospers. Everyone.

But greed is not a particularly imaginative or far-sighted trait.

If you understand what I said then perhaps I haven't made myself clear.
Or maybe that was Alan Greenspan....

There must be peace of mind.

You become aware of your true essence.