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	# 2018-01-23 - Peace Pilgrim

	Rare moment of fence sitting

	# Introduction

	Although the words are her own, this book is not written by her as an
	autobiography. Some material was transcribed verbatim from tapes,
	which gives certain passages a spoken rather than a written quality.
	The book is full of catchy and snappy soundbites. Constantly i felt
	like writing quotes in my notes. Peace was high powered!

	# Chapter 1

	Phase 1: preparation and inner seeking. The author briefly describes
	her childhood and unconscious preparation for her pilgrimage. First,
	she set priorities. Second, she searched for God. She found her
	answers within and evidences without.

	You are within God. God is within you.

	She expounded on the Golden Rule.

	If you want to make friends, you must be friendly.

	If you want to make peace, you must be peaceful.

	She insisted on her right to make choices, and she chose freedom.

	She discovered it was easy to make money and meaningless to make and
	spend it foolishly. She uprooted the false training that success
	depends on greed.

	# Chapter 2

	Phase 2: dedicating life to service instead of self-centered living.
	Live to give rather than live to get. She felt this added meaning to
	her life.

	Unordered list of the author's steps toward inner peace:

	## Preparations:

	Right attitude toward life. It is through solving problems in
	accordance with the highest light we have, that inner growth is
	attained. Now, collective problems must be solved by us
	collectively, and no one finds inner peace who avoids doing his or
	her share in the solving of collective problems...

	Bring our lives into harmony with the laws that govern this universe.
	Live according to the highest light you have.

	Each individual has a special place in the Life Pattern (dharma, or
	true calling). If you do not yet know where you fit, I suggest that
	you try seeking it in receptive silence. You begin to do your part
	in the Life Pattern by doing all of the good things you feel
	motivated toward, even though they are just little good things at
	first. You give these priority in your life over all the superficial
	things that customarily clutter human lives.

	Simplification of life. Bring life down to a need level. There is
	great freedom in simplicity of living, and after I began to feel
	this, I found harmony in my life between inner and outer well-being.

	## Purifications:

	Purification of the body. Eat better food. Breathe better air.
	Sleep better.

	Purification of thought. If you realized how powerful your thoughts
	are, you would never think a negative thought. They hurt you. You
	must learn to forgive yourself as easily as you forgive others.

	Purification of desire. Your desires should be centered and focused
	toward harmony with the laws that govern human conduct and with your
	part in the scheme of things.

	Purification of motive. The motive, if you are to find inner peace,
	must be an outgoing motive. Service... Giving, not getting. Your
	motive must be good if your work is to have good effect.

	## Relinquishments:

	Relinquishment of self-will. Subordinate the lower self. If you are
	motivated to do or say a mean thing, you can always think of a good
	thing. You deliberately turn around and use that same energy to do
	or say a good thing instead. It works!

	Relinquishment of the feeling of separateness. As soon as you begin
	working for the good of the whole, you find yourself in harmony with
	all of your fellow human beings.

	Relinquishment of attachments. Any material thing that you cannot
	relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you. You do
	not possess any other human being. When we think we possess people
	there is a tendency to run their lives for them, and out of this
	develop extremely inharmonious situations.

	Relinquishment of all negative feelings including worry.

	If [life] is overcrowded, then you are doing more than is right for
	you to do--more than is your job to do in the total scheme of things.

	# Chapter 3

	In the final analysis, only as we become more peaceful people will we
	be finding ourselves living in a more peaceful world.

	## Peace Pilgrim's message:

	This is the way of peace--overcome evil with good, and falsehood with
	truth, and hatred with love.

	You lose any spiritual contact the moment you commercialize it.

	## Peace Pilgrim's personal prayers:

	Make me an instrument through which only truth can speak.

	Every experience is what you make it and it serves a purpose. It
	might inspire you, it might educate you, or it might come to give you
	a chance to be of service in some way.

	Concealed in every new situation we face is a spiritual lesson to
	learn and a spiritual blessing for us if we learn that lesson. It is
	good to be tested. We grow and learn through passing tests.

	When you approach others in judgment they will be on the defensive.
	When you are able to approach them in a kindly, loving manner without
	judgment they will tend to judge themselves and be transformed.

	# Chapter 4

	Many anecdotes about people met on the way.

	# Chapter 5

	Peace Pilgrim's vow:

	I shall not accept more than I need while others in the world have
	less than they need.

	Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them,
	you have to take care of them.

	# Chapter 6

	I have been asked if a certain amount of fear is healthy. I don't
	think any amount of fear is healthy. Unless you're talking about the
	fact that if you have fear about a street, you'll look up and down
	before crossing the street. But you see, I believe we are required to
	do everything possible for ourselves and therefore when I walk out
	onto a street I always look up and down. But I don't think that's
	fear. That's just being sensible.

	...

	I don't think that apprehension can do anything except attract.
	"That which I feared came upon me."

	I would never wish [a life of no problems] for any of you. What I
	would wish for you is the great inner strength to solve your problems
	meaningfully and grow.

	Prayer is a concentration of positive thoughts.

	Worry is a habit. It is something that can be worked on. ... [Worry]
	is a total waste of time and energy.

	Tremendous energy comes from anger. ... What you do is transform it.
	You somehow use that tremendous energy constructively on a task that
	needs to be done, or in a beneficial form of exercise.

	# Chapter 7

	The most important part of prayer is what we feel, not what we say.
	We spend a great deal of time telling God what we think should be
	done, and not enough time waiting in the stillness for God to tell us
	what to do.

	Now, beside God's laws, which are the same for all of us, there is
	also God's guidance and that is unique for every human soul.

	When you feel the need of a spiritual lift, try getting to bed early
	and get up early to have a quiet time at dawn. Then carry the serene
	"in tune" feeling that comes to you into your day, no matter what you
	may be doing.

	One must be very careful when praying for others to pray for the
	removal of the cause and not the removal of the symptom. A simple
	healing prayer is this:

	"Bring this life into harmony with Divine Purpose... may this life
	come into harmony with God's Will. May you live so that all who meet
	you will be uplifted, that all who bless you will be blessed, that
	all who serve you will receive the greatest satisfaction. If any
	should attempt to harm you, may they contact your thought of God and
	be healed."

	If we could look a bit more deeply into life, we might see that
	physical difficulties are reflections of spiritual difficulties, and
	that negative thoughts and feelings are much more harmful than
	disease germs. If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you
	would never think a defeatist or negative thought.

	When we attempt to isolate another, we only isolate ourselves. We
	are all God's children and there are no favorites. God is revealed
	to all who seek; God speaks to all who will listen.

	If you desire confirmation of a truth, it is best to seek it from
	within and not upon a printed page.

	We need not reach out to tear down that which is evil because nothing
	which is contrary to God's laws can endure. All not-good things in
	the world are transient, containing within themselves the seeds of
	their own destruction. We can help them fade away more quickly only
	insofar as we remain in obedience to God's law that evil must be
	overcome with good.

	[This bold, confident, and declarative language reminds me of the
	writing of A.P. Mukerji.]

	In order to help usher in the golden age we must see the good in
	people. We must know it is there no matter how deeply it may be
	buried. ... Pure love is a willingness to give, without a thought of
	receiving anything in return. ... Make yourself fit to be called a
	child of God by living the way of love.

	Thoughts to Ponder

	To attain inner peace you must actually give your life, not just your
	possessions. When you at last give your life--bringing into
	alignment your beliefs and the way you live--then, and only then, can
	you begin to find inner peace.

	# Chapter 8

	A few really dedicated people can offset the ill effects of masses of
	out-of-harmony people, so we who work for peace must not falter. We
	must continue to pray for peace and to act for peace in whatever way
	we can, we must continue to speak for peace and to live the way of
	peace; to inspire others, we must continue to think of peace and to
	know that peace is possible. What we dwell upon we help to bring into
	manifestation. One little person, giving all of her time to peace,
	makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history.

	Those who seem to fail pave the way and often contribute more than
	those who finally succeed. I cannot help feeling grateful to the
	peace pioneers, who worked for peace when the going was rough and
	there were no apparent results.

	You don't have to be very good at arithmetic to figure out that if
	the nations of the world would stop manufacturing implements of
	destruction, the conditions for a very good life could be provided
	for all people.

	## THIS STRANGE CREATURE CALLED MAN

	An outsider might view this strange creature called Man this way:

	A Being from another world parked their space ship in an isolated
	spot. The next morning they passed a military camp, where it saw men
	sticking knives fastened to odd looking poles into bags of straw.

	"What is this?" it asked a uniformed youth. "Bayonet practice,"
	answered the youth. "We're practicing on dummies. We have to learn
	to use the boynet a certain way to kill a man. Of course we don't
	kill many men with bayonets. We'll kill most of them with bombs."
	"But why should you want to learn to kill men?" exclaimed the Being,
	aghast. "We don't," said the youth bitterly "We are sent here
	against our will and we don't know what to do about it."

	That afternoon the Being passed through a large city. It noticed a
	crowd gathered in a public square to see a uniformed youth being
	decorated with a medal. "Why is he being decorated with a medal?"
	inquired the Being. Because he killed a hundred men in battle," said
	the man nearby. The Being looked with horror upon the youth who had
	killed a hundred men and walked away.

	In another part of the city the Being heard a radio announcing loudly
	that a certain man was soon to be executed. "Why is he to be put to
	death?" asked the Being. "Because he killed two men," said the man
	nearby. The Being walked away bewildered.

	That evening, after the Being had thought the matter over, it opened
	its notebook and wrote: It seems that all youths are forced to learn
	how to kill men efficiently. Those who succeed in killing a large
	number of men are rewarded with medals. Those who turn out to be
	poor killers and succeed in killing only a few men are punished by
	being put to death.

	The Being shook its head sadly and added a postscript: It looks as
	though this strange creature called Man will soon exterminate himself
	very quickly.

	# Chapter 9

	Peace extended pacifism to vegetarianism, not paying federal taxes,
	and not becoming angry with anyone.

	# Chapter 10

	This is a three page chapter regarding the upbringing of children and
	peace.

	# Chapter 11

	In Peace's opinion, a global language would be an important stride
	toward world peace.

	We need the people of the world to learn to put the welfare of the
	whole human family above the welfare of any group. Starvation and
	suffering needs to be alleviated ... Our number one national problem,
	however, is the adjustment of our economy to a peacetime situation.

	She outlines a program for a community to start a Prayer Group, which
	would lead toward a Study Group, which would lead toward an Action
	Group.

	# Chapter 12

	Who am I? It matters not that you know who I am; it is of little
	importance. This clay garment is one of a penniless pilgrim
	journeying in the name of peace. It is what you cannot see that is
	so very important. I am one who is propelled by the power of faith;
	I bathe in the light of eternal wisdom; I am sustained by the
	unending energy of the universe; this is who I really am!

	You cannot mistake light coming from the Source, for it comes with
	complete understanding so that you can explain it and discuss it.

	There is a spark of good in everybody, no matter how deeply it may be
	buried. It is the real you.

	After you have read all the books, and heard all the lectures, you
	must still judge what is for you. ... But if you must read books,
	read many books, so that you will contact as many conflicting
	opinions as possible. In this manner you'll be required to form your
	own opinions after all.

	... get as much light as possible through the inner way. If such
	receiving seems difficult, look for some inspiration from a
	beautiful flower or a beautiful landscape, from some beautiful
	music or some beautiful words. However, that which is contacted
	from without must be confirmed within before it is yours.

	Most of us fall short much more by omission than by commission.

	There is a criterion by which you can judge whether the thoughts you
	are thinking and the things you are doing are right for you. The
	criterion is: Have they brought you inner peace? If they have not,
	there is something wrong with them--so keep seeking!

	Inner peace is found by facing life squarely, solving its problems,
	and delving as far beneath its surface as possible to discover its
	verities and realities.

	# Appendix

	Q: What is mysticism?

	A: One who takes the mystic approach receives direct perceptions from
	within. This is the source from which all truth came in the first
	place.

	Q: Can one's divine nature be awakened through meditation?

	A: If you are really meditating, your body is so comfortable that you
	are not aware of it. Your emotions are serenely still. Your mind is
	at peace--waiting but not pushing. Now that you are receptive and
	silent, divine receiving can take place through your divine nature.
	It is very important that you put into practice any insights that
	came to you.

	Q: Are science and religion irreconcilable?

	A: You might say that science operates pragmatically and religion by
	divine guidance. If valid, they would reach the same conclusions but
	science would take a lot longer.

	Q: What do you think of capitalism?

	A: ... Capitalism usually means competition--and the work for the
	future is cooperation.

	Q: Do you believe that communism could take over the world and wipe
	out religion?

	A: ... Communism at its best represents communal living--sharing. As
	practiced in some small societies, it is not an enemy of religion...

	Q: What is your interpretation of dreams?

	A: Most dreams represent either wanderings in the psychic realm or
	illusions producced by physical or emotional stresses, and should be
	promptly forgotten. A few times there is a vision, which you will
	not be able to forget.

	Q: What shall I do when I feel put upon?

	A: Ask yourself whether or not what is required of you is
	unreasonable. If not, you will attain spiritual growth through
	serving; if so, you must learn to say 'no' lovingly.

	author: Friends of Peace Pilgrim
	detail: gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Peace_Pilgrim
	LOC: JX1962.P35
	source: http://www.peacepilgrim.org/translations/
	tags: biography,ebook,non-fiction,spirit
	title: Peace Pilgrim

	# Tags

	biography
	ebook
	non-fiction
	spirit