Ahmad Al Charif

Articles in this category follow the format of a conversation, between myself and another party. If you would like to know more about the origins, please click here. I start the conversation in blue.

Despite everything that is going on in my life, and regardless of all that I try to give myself credit for accomplishing, I always feel something is missing. I always feel there is this thing, that although I cannot label I am in need of desperately. Do you know what I am talking about?

What you, and many people feel you are missing, is very simple. It is peace, an element that many claim to value, and incorporate into their lives, but that is simply not true. Peace has been morphed, mutated, misrepresented by so many of your authority figures, that throughout the ages and leading up to this point, it has been losing its value. Peace is an element, It is not an adjective.

Peace is not an adjective… Can you explain more please?

Peace is a state of mind, a state of spirit, a state of being.It is something that is achieved by shifting one’s awareness, from the teachings of the human world, and onto the teachings of the spiritual one.

If you are talking about religion, then I am a bit confused. I see many of the world’s biggest conflicts revolve around religion…

Let us not get into that now. Because religion in itself is a vast topic, with different outlooks, depending on where you stand. A spiritual journey, does not necessarily have to be a religious one. What is a religion? It is mainly a series of practices and regimes, assembled together to aid the follower/practitioner into achieving spiritual awareness.

Religion gives structure to those who have none, to aid them walk a path that will ultimately lead into the light. But if you observe all religions, they all have common factors, common practices, common beliefs. Common grounds, if you will. This is because essentially and ultimately, all religions share the same origin. The true spiritual teachings as they were given to your great ancestors. All intelligent living beings were presented with an opportunity, to increase their awareness beyond the limits of their worlds. It is a shame that as the years go by, this opportunity remains misunderstood by most, and it’s fruits squandered.

Please, continue.

Despite the fact that you pose many questions, you still have a limit. Even you are only willing to truly listen to a certain extent. Because it is very difficult for any person to be confronted with information that may shatter their core being, after all what is a person? Beyond his physical form? A spiritual form in a dormant state of sleep most of the time, and a rational mind that interprets reality, based on the teachings and the lessons of their elders. What if, your elders somewhere along the line, in this long history of yours got confused?

Or to put it more simply, what if their teachings were misunderstood, and passed down with these misunderstandings deeply infused into them? How would you know as a person? And this is a question not directed at you personally, but to all people. Have you ever paused to question, or contemplate all that is inside of you, that makes up for your rational mind?

I think I do. But in all fairness I do have my limits, which i hope are expanding. But let us get back to my first question, if I may.

First, and foremost, to achieve peace with yourself, you must learn to be content. Content with what you have, content with your limits –

But how do you strive to accomplish, if you are always content? If I am content with everything I have, how do I grow?

Being content does not mean that absence of ambition, and the absence of dreams. On the contrary, it means being able to enjoy every single moment of your existence, despite the obstacles and the hurdles, while still wanting more. But simply wanting more, is not a bad thing as long as it does not prevent you from giving value to what you have. Are you following?

Explain more please…

A person can be truly happy with what he/she is doing, while still dreaming and hoping of accomplishing more. Your dreams and hopes, once reached and fulfilled, will add to your feeling of content and happiness multiplying it. So what? If you are faced with hurdles? It will only magnify your joy once you get to where you want to go. Goals, should not be a framing limitation to anyone’s happiness, then their existence would be a futile one, and their effect a negative and draining factor to people’s lives. Appreciate what you have, while you have it. That, my friend is the definition of being content.

And when you are truly content, you feel peace?

………… It is a good start.