Finding a path to mindful peace
A movie that follows the lives of people in prison, a drug addict, a woman diagnosed with cancer, a stressed business man and their desire to find purpose and meaning will screen in Katikati on Tuesday, September 25.
Titled A Mindful Choice, the full length documentary was made by interviewing people from different backgrounds from all over the world who have discovered something special . . . peace.
“It’s their stories on how these changes happened, and if they can do it, so can we,” says presenter Jaya Ishaya.
The one thing they all have in common is a simple meditation practice that allows the mind to quieten and for the peace that naturally resides inside us, to be present, she said.
One thing Jaya has been looking for all her life was a sense of purpose or accomplishment.
“I wanted to live this life knowing I was on the right track or doing what I came here to do.”
Jaya had owned a house, had a good job and nice things but a sense of real purpose was still missing. She wasn’t looking for meditation as she believed that was for hippies. But when a friend invited her to an introduction evening, it all made sense.
“It wasn’t about religion, but me being happy. This seems to be the ‘dream’ of everyone.”
Jaya started practicing meditation and was amazed at how easy it was and how instant the results were.
“The techniques were something that could be used with my eyes open, walking, talking, driving or working. So my meditation practice quickly became infused into my daily life.” She said she started to feel more relaxed about the future.
“I stopped stressing over the small details.
“I started to look people in the eyes and be curious about my world. Fear fell away and was replaced with a joy and a fascination that was natural. But I think the most exciting thing for me, was the sense of purpose.
“I now believe it is our natural birth-right to experience this peace, to live in a state of contentment.
“Change really does begin with us.
“We have the ability to see the glass as half empty or as half full.”
Jaya started practicing some simple techniques over 17 years ago. This led her to become a teacher of The Bright Path of the Ishayas Ascension. For the next 16 years she has seen what the practice of meditation can do for people. She has studied the negative and positive power that the mind creates and believes it should be taught in schools to help children make sense of situations they may find confusing.
“If peace is possible for the individual, maybe it’s possible for our community and maybe it’s possible for the world.”
A Mindful Choice screens on Tuesday, September 25, 6.30pm at the Katikati Community Centre and is open to the public. Entry is free but a donation towards the rental of the room would be appreciated.