There once walked a woman called Peace Pilgrim.
In her lifetime she walked many miles in order to follow her heart. She made such an impact on those she came across as she walked across this country. She left a lasting legacy amongst thousands during her twenty-eight year pilgrimage for peace. Her message was expressed plainly. The message, so simply put, is this. When enough of us find inner peace, our institutions will become more peaceful and there will be no more occasion for war. What follows is a poem written by Peace. It is called War.
On the scarred battlefield, where they forced me to go I met a man that they said was my foe—-
And I ran him through with my blade! When I pulled it out and his blood gushed forth, I was suddenly filled with racking remorse—- “I have killed a man!” I said.
He was slim and youthful and frightened like me, And not a fiend as they said he would be—- “They sent me to kill you,” he sighed.
“By God! I wish you had done so!” I swore. “Why, I don’t even know what I’m fighting for!” “Nor I,” he breathed, and died.
KNOW THIS… your Divine Nature can control your body, your mind and your emotions. Your self-centered nature cannot.
Anger-energy should not be suppressed, which could hurt you inside, NOR expressed, which would hurt you inside and cause difficulties in your surroundings.
It goes without saying that it hurts others also.
It should be transformed, or channeled by using it for a task that needs to be done or something beneficial like exercise, etc…
Peace Pilgrim said much not only with her words, but with her actions. She lived a life of voluntary simplicity before it became a catch phrase. And when I say simplicity, I mean down to just the need level. Her spiritual message still is relevant today. All it requires is work on your part and a willingness to go within.
There is nothing to buy, for what she offers cannot be sold.
You don’t need a manual or taped music. There are no secret words or rites. There is no dogma attached to her way. We hope you return to this page and it’s links
often as we learn from Peace and her messages of hope.
“Unless we awake from our lethargy and push firmly and quickly away from chaos, all that we cherish will be destroyed in the holocaust which will descend…”
One of the very first things that struck me about Peace was her statement regarding her religious training as a child. She had no formal training! She further added that it was less that she would have to undo from her mind later on. (She said that she was sixteen when she entered a church for the first time and that it was to attend a wedding.) This may come as a shock to some who insist that going to church or reading the bible is the basis for a spiritual life.
In fact, there are many who feel that if you do not have a strong religious affiliation, then you cannot know God, the Creator or whatever you chose to call the Higher Power.
God did not create churches or dogma. Man did. However, there is no way to deny Peace, her message and her spirituality.
She said she was a senior in high school when she began her search for God. Her efforts, as she put it, “were directed in an outward direction”. She asked ” what is God ” many times and questioned many people but never received any answers! She said she was not about to give up. Peace decided to try another approach.
She (and her dog) went for a long walk thru the forest and she thought deeply upon the ” what is God “. She then went home and slept on it. In the morning she had her answer from the small, still voice within. Her simple answer set her to search for clarification and lead her to realize that there is a creative force beyond us. Peace also realized that there is a sustaining power. She also knew that there is something motivating constant change in the universe.
It came to this woman that God is a creative force. God is a motivating power. God is also an over-all intelligence that is ever present. God is an all pervading spirit. Taken together, all of this means that God binds everything in the universe to every other thing and gives life to everything. You are within God. God is within you.
None of us can be where God is not.
How simple and how true.
“In days long past, when men were mere barbarians, they chose a man or maybe two…to die as sacrifices to the storm god, Thor. But now that they are civilized and christians, they chose a million men or two to die as sacrifices to the stern god, War.”
STEPS TOWARDS INNER PEACE
“Okay”, you may think…
“I am ready for the steps. How hard can it be?”
The answer to that depends upon you and only you.
First we will list the steps. Then we will discuss them in greater detail thru the links provided. These steps are enclosed in a framework of sorts. However, Peace maintained that the number of steps can be expanded or contracted. She also stated that the steps towards inner peace are not taken in any certain order. What is the first for one person may be the middle or even last for another. Just start with whatever is easiest for you. More steps will come. And, you may find that you have already taken some of these steps. In that case, try a few new ones.
1. Right attitude toward life.
2. Bringing our lives into harmony (or balance) with the laws that govern the Universe.
3. Our place in the Life Pattern.
4. Simplification of life.
With above steps, Peace also brought up the Purification aspects. These are where most of us have the hardest time. They are closely interconnected with the steps and often become the stumbling blocks. We will go more into depth on these but for now they are simply listed.
Purification of body.
Purification of thought.
Purification of motive.
Purification of desire.
The last grouping of steps addresses Relinquishment. In plain words, it means simply letting go. With this, you cease to feel separate from everything. We stop feeling apart and we stop judging everything as it relates to us. We are not the center of the Universe.
Relinquishment of self-will.
Relinquishment of the feeling of separateness.
Relinquishment of all attachments.
Relinquishment of all negative feelings.
The links provided may help you on your search.
Choose your path wisely.
Don’t settle for what is a poor fit.
And remember, once you find the path for you,
stay with it. It is yours.
Keep what is good and toss what is not good.
It is with hope that we move on into the future.
This world or the next….
And please, follow the links while we explain what this message of hope means AND what it doesn’t mean.
Too often, women feel that the message of Peace or the teachings of others means to stay in an abusive relationship.
It does not encourage that at all.
If you are being abused emotionally, physically, or verbally…….GET OUT.
If there is harm to yourself OR YOUR CHILDREN, get out.
You can make choices about the spiritual aspects of life ONLY if you are alive….
