Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Philosophy Club

[Belindi]

While I don't know what Eric himself implies by his question I infer that inner peace, if it means contentment with the world as it is, is not good for anybody. We should be discontented.

The world is full of injustice and suffering. Today I have spent time with two homeless men; and a man who has attempted to end his life several times; his story is horrific. I voluntarily spend a fair amount of time with deeply troubled people. In order to offer some kind of encouragement and support, we journey together over months and years.

There are choices, I have no obligation to see them again; they could be a burden. If I choose to see them again; do I have to listen to their stories and be depressed because of their circumstances? At some point we have to walk away, and we have some understanding of the suffering they will continue to encounter.

But the one thing that gives me hope is the peace that surpasses all understanding. If I can experience this peace in spite of some dark events in my life; then maybe I can help others to find this peace. I am fully aware that I can't change anybody, they have to change themselves, but I always search for hope.

If inner peace were to be total there would be no felt need to search for hope. Eric's story is itself grounds for limited hope that there is light in the darkness.

[JackManson]

If the scenario were to include that for the 1,000 years without inner peace, I could strive for inner peace but ultimately fail. And the 1 day of inner peace was gifted to me and it was my last.

I would take the 1,000 years.

Maybe I dont understand the scenario though. The scenario could mean no matter what happens there will be no inner peace, no joy, no pride, just negative emotions battling inside your mind

[EricPH]

If inner peace were to be total there would be no felt need to search for hope.

I Think inner peace happens when you change how you think. I always have hope that something good can happen.

Eric's story is itself grounds for limited hope that there is light in the darkness.

I have come to accept I can only try and change myself, and strive to be the change I want to see.

[Pumpy]

I think that if I knew when I was going to die, then I would have a shade of peace. If I knew for a fact that I were to live 1000 years, or ya know, whatever the amount would be, that I would be comfortable just being myself. If I am a person who has inner peace, I’d probably find that. But if I’m not a person who has or even wants inner peace, I wouldn’t want it.

Personally, I do not want inner peace. The main reason is because that seems so far out there. It’s far away, and I’m seeing this “grass is greener” thing and here I am running off to eat from those fields when I cannot yet tend mine.

[Meghan Sica]

I think we as humans will continue to struggle with finding peace and living in the moment due to our intelligence. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

[Samana Johann]

It is preferable to live one day with inner peace than a thousand years without.

It is preferable to live one day with true contentment than live a thousand discontent years.

It is preferable to live honestly in heaven for one day than live in a nightmarish hell for a thousand years.

Is preferable to live spiritually free for one day than to live as a spiritual slave--feeling like a prisoner in one's own body--for a thousand years.

It is preferable to be content than comfortable.

It is preferable to be embrace discomfort than to be a comfort addict.

It is preferable to escape the comfort zone than become its prisoner or slave.

It is preferable to unconditionally love the grass beneath your feet than to always see the grass on the other side as greener, greener meaning more worthy of love or more conducive to true content inner peace (e.g. "once I make a million dollars, then I will finally be happy"; "once I reach my goal weight, then I will finally be content").

...


Do you agree?

Better than a hundred years
lived without virtue, uncentered, is
one day
lived by a virtuous person
absorbed in jhana.
And better than a hundred years
lived undiscerning, uncentered, is
one day
lived by a discerning person
absorbed in jhana.
And better than a hundred years
lived apathetic & unenergetic, is
one day
lived energetic & firm.
And better than a hundred years
lived without seeing
arising & passing away, is
one day
lived seeing
arising & passing away.
And better than a hundred years
lived without seeing
the Deathless state, is
one day
lived seeing
the Deathless state.
And better than a hundred years
lived without seeing
the ultimate Dhamma, is
one day
lived seeing
the ultimate Dhamma.

[Belindi]

Permanent inner peace would render a man no more creative than a worm, if that!

[Pattern-chaser]

If the peace in the question is physical eg peace of mind then yes.

But how do you achieve peace of mind with all the turmoil that exists in this world?

While I don't know what Eric himself implies by his question I infer that inner peace, if it means contentment with the world as it is, is not good for anybody. We should be discontented.

One step toward 'peace of mind' is not to pursue "contentment", but instead to seek acceptance of what one cannot change. I think this is a Stoic sentiment. We all know there are things we can or could change, and some of them probably *should* be changed. Mindless contentment would push us away from the latter, and that's (IMO) why it's inappropriate here?

[popeye1945]

I think we can agree that preferences merely reflect subjective opinions. With that forewarning, I humbly submit the following for your consideration:


It is preferable to live one day with inner peace than a thousand years without.

It is preferable to live one day with true contentment than live a thousand discontent years.

It is preferable to live honestly in heaven for one day than live in a nightmarish hell for a thousand years.

Is preferable to live spiritually free for one day than to live as a spiritual slave--feeling like a prisoner in one's own body--for a thousand years.

It is preferable to be content than comfortable.

It is preferable to be embrace discomfort than to be a comfort addict.

It is preferable to escape the comfort zone than become its prisoner or slave.

It is preferable to unconditionally love the grass beneath your feet than to always see the grass on the other side as greener, greener meaning more worthy of love or more conducive to true content inner peace (e.g. "once I make a million dollars, then I will finally be happy"; "once I reach my goal weight, then I will finally be content").

It is preferable to live free and die sooner than live longer as a slave, whether a slave to other humans or a slave to addiction, money, or comfort.


Do you agree?

There is no such thing as a long life or a short life, both are but a moment in time. As pattern manifested as organisms are but creatures for a day, one might ask, was the flame worth the candle, as it sputtered and fought the wind. I am afraid I agree with Schopenhauer, life is something that never should have been, but in answer to the topic question, if one could have a short life but truly free of suffering it would be preferable to a long life of struggle, pain, and old age. One of the greatest burdens of humanity is deaths anticipation. I am not sure it is not true of all organisms

[popeye1945]

Trouble, only death is no trouble.

[lawals364]

[quote="Eckhart Aurelius Hughes" post_id=381198 time=1617296052 user
I think we can agree that preferences merely reflect subjective opinions. With that forewarning, I humbly submit the following for your consideration:


It is preferable to live one day with inner peace than a thousand years without.

It is preferable to live one day with true contentment than live a thousand discontent years.

It is preferable to live honestly in heaven for one day than live in a nightmarish hell for a thousand years.

Is preferable to live spiritually free for one day than to live as a spiritual slave--feeling like a prisoner in one's own body--for a thousand years.

It is preferable to be content than comfortable.

It is preferable to be embrace discomfort than to be a comfort addict.

It is preferable to escape the comfort zone than become its prisoner or slave.

It is preferable to unconditionally love the grass beneath your feet than to always see the grass on the other side as greener, greener meaning more worthy of love or more conducive to true content inner peace (e.g. "once I make a million dollars, then I will finally be happy"; "once I reach my goal weight, then I will finally be content").

It is preferable to live free and die sooner than live longer as a slave, whether a slave to other humans or a slave to addiction, money, or comfort.


Do you agree?
[/quote]

[popeye1945]

Life is a struggle, with a few high points if one is lucky. So, is it better to die as soon as possible before one experiences the slings and arrows of one's outrageous fortune? There is something to Schopenhauer's statement, " Life is something which should never have been." I would think once one finds oneself in here and now it would be best to give life a sacred yes!! That was Nietzsche's thought on Schopenhauer's statement. Obviously, a life with less suffering than that which is possible is preferable.

[Nganyi Humphrey]

I agree with the statements above since from the experience in my day-to-day life, being content with what you have and where you are, instils a sense of satisfaction with life. It reduces worry and tension and you can plan your activities and achieve them. It is also right to embrace discomfort to achieve growth.

[popeye1945]

I agree with the statements above since from the experience in my day-to-day life, being content with what you have and where you are, instils a sense of satisfaction with life. It reduces worry and tension and you can plan your activities and achieve them. It is also right to embrace discomfort to achieve growth.

Sounds like a good approach to life in general, better to come to such a realization when young, rather than a revelation in old age.

[Joy Olokungboye]

A life enriched in peace is a billion times better than one filled with pain and sorrow. This is a powerful message and I can't help but realize how true it is.