Be the Presence of Compassion and Peace – An article by Deepak Chopra

At the level of consciousness or spirit, we are all inextricably connected to everyone and everything…

While our body may appear to be a solid physical structure, in reality it’s an ever-flowing river of energy and information, in constant dynamic exchange with the environment around us.

Our language reflects our innate understanding of our essential energetic nature. We say things like, “His words really resonated with me,” or “I got a bad vibe from that person,” or “My friend has such a radiant heart.” These aren’t just metaphors—we really do feel each other’s energy and are affected by it at a profound level. Think of all the qualities in another person you intuitively pick up at an energetic level. Besides telling if someone is happy or sad, you can sense whether they feel peaceful or perturbed. Looking into their eyes reveals alertness or dullness, tenderness, or indifference. It’s hard to think of any human quality that doesn’t have a kind of energy “signature.”

As energetic beings, our potential to affect others with our energy or state of being is both a great gift and a great responsibility. When we walk into a room, our energy emanates from us. Without saying a word, we communicate through our energetic signature, creating a ripple that can affect everyone we meet. If our state of being is centered in love and compassion, we communicate that energy to each other. In the same way, if we’re mired in judgment, hostility, or resentment, we communicate that too.

Through our energy or consciousness, we have an unlimited capacity to send out ripples that will help the planet and its inhabitants move in the most evolutionary direction—from fear, hostility, and unrest to love, compassion, peace, and joy.

Becoming a force for harmony

A friend of mine shared a personal story that illustrates the power of staying centered in peace. He was walking down a street in a big city he was visiting and on impulse he went into a bakery, enticed by their extravagant window display. As soon as he stepped in the door he saw trouble. The bakery manager was yelling at the girl working the counter. She was in tears and both were so engrossed that they didn’t notice a customer had entered the shop. My friend told me that he had a sudden intuition: I can bring harmony here.

He turned his back on the argument, which settled down once his presence was noticed. In itself, that is unremarkable. But my friend kept lingering, and as he did so, he centered himself in his own peace. He has had a regular meditation practice for many years, and instead of getting caught up in thoughts of irritation or criticism, he was able to feel compassion for the manager, the girl, and himself. He could feel the atmosphere in the bakery soften, and although few would believe what happened next, the manager and the girl at the counter exchanged smiles. By the time my friend left, he saw them embracing and mutually expressing how sorry they were.

Can your mere presence bring peace to a situation in the same way? The first step is to believe that it’s possible; the second is the willingness to act solely as a peaceful influence, silently if you can, but speaking up in a conscious way if it becomes necessary.