When we are totally at peace, the world appears beautiful and we move through it with grace and ease. In serenity, we have moved beyond peace into a place of great softness where our presence brings comfort and tranquillity to others. A serene nature is one where the ruffles of life are no more than gentle breezes: they come, they caress our lives, and they leave. A serene person will not feel bothered by the ups and downs in the drama of life, by the changes in the elements, or by the moods of people. Serenity means that I ask no questions, but simply observe, remaining in my stage of sweet detachment, yet all the while knowing what to say and when to say it.
Serenity comes from wisdom and experience. A serene and wise person has such breadth of understanding that nothing seems to be a surprise, yet there is that knowingness of how all things have their time and their place. When we are serene, then if others feel upset or disturbed, we flow with their feelings, allowing them to find a more comfortable space, but do not lose our own inner stability and silence.
It is not often that one would call nature serene. Nature is peaceful, violent, wild, and beautiful at different times, but it is human nature that has the quality of serenity. It is human nature that has the ability to adapt, to grow and become mature, and to see the whole course of events and watch the game of life from a distance. In serenity, one knows oneself. One is the observer, but at the same time, centered in the original nature and religion of the self, of peace.
Serene people have a particular quality of being able to be around anybody, without ruffling their feathers. They can walk into a room full of people and not create any waves. They can settle amongst one or a hundred souls and allow others to feel completely safe and at ease in their presence. With inner serenity, others know that you are a good person to be around, they instinctively understand that you won’t become easily upset and that you will watch situations and know how to handle them. Serene people are a real blessing because, in a way, they have stepped away from the little issues of life and place importance on the value of individuals instead.
When you have understood yourself and have identified your own purpose in life, it is natural to become serene. One knows the self, knows one’s path and the destination. Serene people often appear to be wise. It is because internally, they have answered the three questions: who am I, where am I going, and how am I going to get there? Most of our lives are spent sorting out the first question, and until we have done that, we spend a lot of time in inner conflict and in conflict with others or with the world around us. When we don’t really understand ourselves, then a great deal of time is spent looking around the self for the self, in endless journeys to mindless destinations of limited and temporary pleasure and fulfillment.
When we have discovered who we really are, then there is no need to go anywhere, there is no longer any search and the soul becomes absorbed in experiencing its true qualities and sharing those with others. This is serenity.
The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) is an international non-governmental organisation, which intends to help individuals re-discover and strengthen their inherent worth by encouraging and facilitating a process of spiritual awakening.