I was wondering, peace of mind comes from owning something or being at peace is independent of owning anything? I was under and impression that peace of mind comes from achieving one’s goals for example owning a car. However, achieving one goal results in creation of another goal and so that may not be the answer. If we extend the example of owning a car as goal one, next goal could be owning a bigger or perhaps a personal jet.
Another thought was peace of mind comes from doing what you enjoy doing, however after some time that doing something may become a routine and so on. So the series of question and answer was not ending with a specific answer. Recently, I came across a site and a possible solution. Why am I calling it a “possible solution” because mind accepts the solution however, practicing and living that solution would take some time.
According to that site the Buddha concluded that everything in this physical world is marked by three characteristics – the Dharma Seals. These three characteristics of conditioned existence are Anatman, Anitva and Dukkha.
According to those Dharma Seal – Anatman is the concept of self. The Buddha emphasised on the changing character of the soul. Anitva means that nothing is constant. All the things, feelings and experiences are inconsistent and impermanent. There is no such thing that lasts forever. When we fail to grasp the first two conditions truly, we suffer and that suffering is known as Dukkha. We always crave for permanent satisfaction (in my thought process peace of mind), but forget that everything changes, not even satisfaction last forever.
So, I concluded that peace of mind is not in achieving something in life. However, peace of mind is being at peace with our mind in the present. Because the more we think more we complicate life – life is, simple!
Source of Dharma Seals – http://www.buddhist-tourism.com