Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. –Buddha
This beautiful quote is from Buddha. From my understanding I see it this way. That this says peace is within you. Hence, first search for it inside you in order to seek it. Rather than start seeking for it here and there. What is inside (mind) us we carry it with us. If peace is inside we carry peace with us and we are in a constant bliss.
Sometimes our minds are tangled and muddled with jealous, anger, greed, irritation and sorrow. And, with many more negative emotions. This is indescribable.
We do not know why we have these but they just creep into our minds (knowingly or sometimes without any control from our side). These occupy our thought process. This might disturb/intrude the peace we have within.
If we do not possess peace inside us and seek for it in hope of hoarding peace in various places or from different worship abodes or from every other wisdom preachers might not give us peace. This becomes ritual rather than finding peace.
Because, the mind is already filled with cluttered, littered and scattered thoughts. Thus we cannot imbibe the peace from outer environment nor from the others. We cannot understand what peace is about.
Hence, foremost we have to search inside (be aware ourselves) and purge (clear) all cluttered and scattered thoughts that are within us in order to seek peace.
Thus in orders to seek peace clear the mind and create space to let in the paradise of peace. To, empower the peace within you.