In the Key of Peace

In the key of Peace

Jeffree Clarkson

Peace is the hidden key in music, it harmonises with silence and lies between and beyond the notes we know so well. Within the key of Peace dwells a music that dances us to the Stillness of our essential being - to the heart of our most divine soul.

In this book, Jeffree brings us an essential view of peace that originates in the years of his early childhood. Hearing beautiful music while in the soothing vibration of nature not only defined his spiritual pathway, but also grew within him a deep love for music. In the inspiration of this, a teenage musician embarked on a Rock’n’Roll dream, only to find after 20 years that what was inside him had yet to be expressed. Through Meditation, Jeffree was able to access his deeper music and the clairaudient inspirations of his childhood soon became a catalogue of beautiful healing music for inner peace.

In the process of reconnecting with this new and vital music, Jeffree uncovered a plethora of valuable information relating to the science of meditation. This; coupled with his desire to see its practice being more popularised, inspired him to launch a simplified approach.

Simply Stillness preserves the essential elements of meditation through an easy, flowing style that relates directly to the specific needs of the modern world. Jeffree’s music is integral to the practice and provides the perfect atmosphere for sustaining long periods of time in a deeply relaxed state.

This book outlines Jeffree’s extraordinary story from early-life experiences to his latest music creations, and his visionary philosophy for a peaceful world.

Published by Jeffree Clarkson

2015

www.jeffree.co.nz

This book is dedicated to

World Peace through Inner Peace

www.worldinmeditation.org

Introduction

Emergence – a new consciousness

After only 64 years of life on Planet Earth, I am beginning to notice a generic change in the way people perceive their lives. When I look back only 50 years to the awareness of my parents generation, I saw a vastly different level of consciousness to the one I experience today.

My use of the word consciousness relates to a collective awareness that underpins the way humans perceive and understand life. I believe there is a deeper level of consciousness below the surface of our individual awareness, where we operate more collectively. In much the same way that a school of fish or a flock of birds cooperate, our perception of life is more unified, and this collective influence creates the same feeling within each of us – kind of a gut feeling of a deep status quo.

One of the significant differences in today’s consciousness is the degree of self-objectivity that many people are tuning into. Where once our awareness was focused continuously outward into the world around us, there is now a progressing trend of looking inward at who is living this life. This movement in consciousness is an evolutionary progression that parallels the flow of evolution in the physical universe, as we understand it.

While there is some dispute around evolutionary leaps in the physical universe, there is no doubt that in the past few hundred years of industrialisation, humans have dramatically changed the landscape of life on Earth. Apart from the impact on the environment, the social dilemmas and discords created within human society are now quickly influencing human consciousness to change its course toward a more sustainable existence in every way.

Perhaps it is synchronistic that we have created these external circumstances so that we can grow within ourselves to overcome them . . . in time we shall see. But this I am sure of, within the span of only one lifetime we are witnessing an awakening of consciousness that reveals a whole new possibility for human life, and it begins within each one of us.

So now we are seeing new ideas and considerations that will speed our progression into a new and peaceful time. We are moving away from beliefs and practices that promote discrimination and elitism. We are moving toward recognising a more quantum universe where differences are embraced through cooperation, where the life of each and every person makes a difference in a sustainable future for all humanity.

Yes, there is an Emergence of a new possibility within human consciousness. Within that emergence we are seeing many individuals who are standing up to share their vision in this cooperation. They do not ask for your membership, they do not ask that you follow them; they simply ask that you find your real self within, and that you live your life in the presence of every amazing moment, in peace, in love and in gratitude of your life.

A new cycle of meditation

When we notice something new in the world we are attracted to its newness. For a while it may occupy our attention, but with time and familiarity it forms a place in our memory.

At some point in our lives we all run into meditation. Whether it is just a passing word or a life-long practice, meditation presents itself as a possibility for our inner peace.

I do not believe that anybody needs meditation. But I will say that meditation brings more to life than can be seen from the outset. The effects of meditation are accumulative and with a daily diet, ongoing benefits become positive and permanent change.

When meditation came to the West it arrived with a promise to relieve the symptoms of stress - and it delivered. There were also many other flow-on benefits, but for the majority of beginners, it was a medicine. Once you were well you could stop taking it!

The growing perception of meditation became something you could take or leave. When I learned meditation, I noticed after a short while that only a small percentage of those who learned with me, actually continued with its daily practice.

As you read this book you will realise why meditation became such an important aspect of my life. In particular, it opened a magical pathway to a new music and a wealth of knowledge I previously had no access to. This convinced me its practice was vital and its connection essential to living a fulfilled and complete human life.

We may have been visited many times by meditation and we may have passed on its possibility. But all things that come around, come around again. Now on its return, meditation has a new and revealing energy.

Most importantly, it addresses the impact of industrialisation on our human community. Our dependency on science and technology has led to an obsession with the material reality. Meditation expands our perception to realise much more in life than only what we can see and measure.

The narrowing viewpoint of materialism has driven many to look deeper and wider for meaning and purpose in life. Looking within is where the attention is naturally guided and for this, meditation is the ideal vehicle.

Today, growing numbers of people are following their inward search. There is a resurgence of interest and renewed participation in meditation. The result; meditation has a new energy and a new vibration.

Meditation is coming around again. There is a new understanding and a new energy . . .

Meditation is a personal practice; it is not a public culture or religion. Meditation brings a person to experience their deeper sense of self. The first effect of this is Inner Peace. From here grows a wider perspective that promotes happiness, wellbeing and a positive attitude. As people improve their lives in this way, we will see positive change in the world.

The daily practice of meditation opens a more in-depth view of life. Meditation is self-empowering and lessens the need for dependence on a public system already overloaded with dependency.

Even more exciting; Meditation has a Music! Try reading this book with my music playing lightly in the background . . . enjoy.

At the beginning is Peace

I have found that being at peace with myself exists as a constant within my deepest nature. Unlike most other things that are achieved through striving, to be at peace is an undoing of action, and a surrendering of effort.

When I am at peace, there is no attachment to attainment or achievement. There is nothing more than what is present. Within that infinite twinkling I am totally content.

Being at peace connects me to where peace begins. In what feels like a moment of nihility, I am somehow before I began, and yet - I am here now.

As I see it, peace is the fundamental of consciousness. Everything I have achieved and everything I have become since, is built above that foundation.

When I am at peace I feel like I am below and before everything in my life. I am at the beginning of me, and I am here in this moment passing - all at once.

Maintaining this level of peace is important to me. Short of its grounding, I am suspended without connection. Through losing and regaining its presence I have realised its essential vibration.

When I search for my deepest human desire, peace is always the hand outstretched. To be at peace begins every journey in life. To be at peace, is the beginning of everything.

In this book, there is Peace and there is Music. Meditation is the potpourri of the two.

Through my journey in music I have come to identify the essential components of meditation. I have brought these together in the Simply Stillness meditation practice.

Meditation brings inner peace to life - Inner peace contributes to everything else.

I believe meditation to be the most valuable and natural human accessory. Its value contributes profoundly to human health and wellbeing at all levels. Because it is natural, it is inherently simple.

Meditation naturally creates space in the mind through the release of mental stress and mind clutter. The process of clearing accumulated stress begins our Inner peace.

Mental and emotional stress can wear down the physical body. The Inner peace benefits of meditation rejuvenate the body’s vital systems and contribute to feelings of vitality and happiness. A daily meditation using the Simply Stillness approach begins a healing from within. Benefits are noticeable within a short period of time.

Inner Peace is Inner health . . .

Having a sense of Inner peace equates to experiencing space within. In the meditative music I have composed, the space between the notes also contributes to feelings of peace . . .

Peace is the hidden key in music, it harmonises with silence and lies between and beyond the notes we know so well.

The journey of this book accounts the story of a life in music - a life that led me to meditation and the Simply Stillness practice.

Everyday of my life includes meditation . . .

Learning to meditate brought Inner peace into my life and reminded me of my inner purpose. When it came to recreating meditation, it was just a case of simplifying the recipe and adding music to the mix.

As a composer, creating music for meditation has led an exploration into a new genre of music. On another level, my inner journey has returned peace in amazing proportion with unlimited reward.

Simply Stillness is a straightforward exercise in deep mindbody relaxation. It is a flowing process that begins by sitting in stillness with eyes closed. In the restful atmosphere of the peaceful music, contemplation becomes deep meditation of mind and body.

The congenial atmosphere of customised music holds the key to making the practice of meditation simple and accessible. Seeing the difference it has made for my students has convinced me of its effectiveness and inspired my writing.

The background information and practice of Simply Stillness meditation is outlined in this book. If you notice that certain points are repeated, it is because I want to emphasise them. In most cases a point reiterated is arrived at from a different perspective.

A profoundly peaceful moment

Within each of us, exists a time of profound peace. As a continuing moment of absolute bliss, it encapsulated our entire experience at the inception of consciousness. The imprint of its memory remains deep within us as the most peaceful vibration.

As a fundamental of consciousness, Peace in its most profound sense, is the inaugural experience of life. It is peace and only peace that pervades consciousness in the fullness of life’s very first moment.

In this profoundly peaceful moment there is no attachment to attainment or achievement - everything is