#4
112/2/10
“Not merely an absence of noise, real silence begins when a reasonable being withdraws
from the noise in order to find peace and order in his inner sanctuary.”—Peter Minard
PARAPHRASE:
What Mr. Minard is stating in this quote is that the lack of noise is not enough to
withdraw and find peace in our inner self. A self-withdrawal from the noise and
everything else is only acquired when one is at peace inside our souls. Regardless of the
commotion in everyday life, one should have inner peace. It can be acquired with just a
thought of a beautiful place we’ve visited or even a sigh of relief, but the peace has to
come deep within our soul. The sanctuary he is referring to is the place where one can be
fully engaged and find our deepest thought, needs, and dreams.
APPLICATION:
This poem makes me think of the Dalai Lama book I read last summer. It talks about
how humans are the only creatures on earth capable of the most powerful feelings. Love
and hate are emotions that interfere with inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner
peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion while
love, compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace within.
Just like Peter Minard who speaks about the importance of an inner sanctuary, the Dalai
Lama acknowledges that “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make
peace with ourselves.”