The practices suggested in this chapter are indeed practices that reliably bring more peace to one’s life. At the same time, to be fair, they are perhaps more about calming the conditional calm of the pond, rather than cultivating the resilient equanimity of the ocean.
Yes, they are peace practices. But they might be better labeled as burnout management practices. They are practical steps we can take to stem the tide.
Just the same, these practices are indeed liberatory and transformative in and of themselves. For example, just by choosing to do less in a world that constantly and relentlessly pushes for more, we offer a stark rebuke to the status quo. And we offer an example and give permission for others to do the same.
That is real change.
But the most transformative, revolutionary peace comes from the ocean, not the pond. It is the peace that can change the temperature of a room just through its presence. It is the peace that remains unwavering amid even the greatest challenges. It is the peace that Western culture has defied and run away from for centuries.
Cultivating that peace, growing that ocean of equanimity within you, is where we turn next.
