Words of Wisdom and Peace
Peace, inner peace, purpose, relantionships, wisdom March 6th, 2009
In the last two posts, we have discussed the four preparations of peace and the four purifications of peace taught by Peace Pilgrim. We also discussed Peace Pilgrim’s message which is so very powerful. These posts generated much thought and discussion as we all went within to examine our own lives.
Today, I wanted to share with you some “random” thoughts that were collected from Peace Pilgrim’s teachings. I find each one of them thought provoking and powerful. See what you think….
* We can all spend our lives going about doing good. Every time you meet a person, think of some encouraging thing to say - a kind word, a helpful suggestion, an expression of admiration. Every time you come into a situation, think of some good thing to bring - a thoughtful gift, a considerate attitude, a helping hand.
*All people can be peace workers. Whenever you bring harmony into any unpeaceful situation, you contribute to the total peace picture. Insofar as you have peace in your own life, you reflect it into your surroundings and into the world.
*If you love people enough, they will respond lovingly. If I offend people, I blame myself, for I know that if my conduct had been correct, they would not have been offended, even though they did not agree with me. “Before the tongue can speak, it must have lost the power to wound.” [learning the proper way to be assertive and applying it along with the "you" rule is crucial.]
*To those who feel depressed, I would say: Try keeping your surroundings full of beautiful music and lovely flowers. Try reading and memorizing thoughts that inspire. Try making a list of all the things you have to be thankful for. If there is some good thing that you have always wanted to do, start doing it. Make a meaningful schedule for yourself and keep to that schedule.
*Although others may feel sorry for you, never feel sorry for yourself - it has a deadly effect on spiritual well-being. Recognize all problems, no matter how difficult, as opportunities for spiritual growth, and make the most of these opportunities.
*No one is truly free who is still attached to material things, or to places, or to people. We must be able to use things when we need them and then relinquish them without regret when they have outlived their usefulness. We must be able to appreciate and enjoy the places where we tarry, and yet pass on without anguish when we are called elsewhere. We must be able to live in loving association with people without feeling that we possess them and must run their lives. Anything that you strive to hold captive will hold you captive, and if you desire freedom you must give freedom.
~ A special thanks to Bruce for making this information available at the Peace Pilgrim website. The picture of Peace Pilgrim was also taken from this site.
Your turn:
Which of these thoughts of wisdom speak the most to you at this time?
The last one speaks the most to me, especially this part: “We must be able to live in loving association with people without feeling that we possess them and must run their lives. Anything that you strive to hold captive will hold you captive, and if you desire freedom you must give freedom.”
The second from the last also speaks to me. It’s something I used to do, but have quit doing and it makes a huge difference!
I also like the second from the top.
I agree the last paragraph used to be difficult. Especially when my four daughters all left home as adults. The earlier a parent can understand this the easier life is.
As a former therapist I found it’s very difficult for people who have abandonment issues to relinguish people.
Tess The Bold Lifes last blog post..Magic Mondays with Eric Hamm
Wow! The line that jumped out at me was : “Before the tongue can speak, it must have lost the power to wound.” That is such a poetic way of giving great advice. Thanks Jennifer. I think I needed to hear this today.
Daphnes last blog post..How To Write A Personal Creed
The last paragraph spoke to me the most. Nothing is permanent except death. There will come a time when we need to let go of all our attachments. Attachments can cause suffering when we start to crave and want.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..What Are The Akashic Records?
Hi Jennifer,
I’m being pulled by the first one here tonight. The idea of doing good. In the people we interact with. In the situations we’re in. See the good. I’ve witnessed this - when we do good, when we offer kind words - they come back to us. I’m reminded of this older gentleman I know. And whenever I see him - he always notices something. He always remembers what we’ve talked about before. And it feels “good”. It feels “good” especially that he remembers trivial things. Things, that in the grand scheme of it all, are not important at all. And yet, they are. They are because it shows that it all matters. The big things. The little things. It all matters.
So, seeing the good. It’s there. And it can be as simple as a 10 second conversation with someone - because they ask you a question and genuinely care about what your answer is.
Makes me wonder how genuine I am? Do I rush through life too much sometimes, just to get on with the next thing. And in the process, even if I am trying to do good - is it genuine? Or am I just looking to get it done with (to do my good deed) and move on? I’m not sure…
Lances last blog post..Be Yourself, Share Freely
Hi Jennifer - Definitely the last one caught my eye. Particularly the line that you pointed out about holding things captive.
It seems a strange idea at first when you think that whatever you want the most you have to be the most detached from. But I think life comes to you when you open your hand and reach out, not when you try to grab. Thanks for sharing these quotes.
Amanda Linehans last blog post..Be Yourself, Share Freely
This one really hit me “Whenever you bring harmony into any unpeaceful situation, you contribute to the total peace picture.”- our lives are filled with these unpeaceful situations and this knowledge from a wonderful peace warrior!
Thanks Jennifer for sharing!
Hi Jennifer - this is all excellent advice. The one re: offending people is tough though. I agree that it’s our responsibility to get our message across, without it being misunderstood and upsetting people. But sometimes, folk are in a bad state of mind and your message becomes distorted.
That happened to me recently. I was going through a bad time and I received what I thought was a horrible, inconsiderate email from a friend. It upset me so much that I was tempted to send an equally awful reply. Instead, I waited a couple of weeks and when I read what she’d said, in a much better frame of mind, it didn’t seem anywhere near as awful as it did initially.
Your last point is probably the most difficult one. I find it easier to give up attachment to material things but attachment to places and people seems way tougher.
Beautifully put, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing, inspiring and connecting. We are truly all One. Namaste
On Common Grounds last blog post..Expression of Love/Life
Hi Tess. I remember reading on your post about surrendering how you had struggled with this and how it was so helpful to let go to both you and to them. That was very insightful for me.
I find that very interesting that people who have abandonment issues have a hard time relinquishing people. It’s makes total sense though. When we try to hold onto people they want to run free. When we give them freedom through love, they want to stay….
Hi Daphne. I’m so glad that you found that line helpful today. It struck me as well. How effective our tongue will be if we take this to heart!
Hi Evelyn. Yes, death is the only permanent thing in this life. Attachments can cause much suffering when we start to crave and want. I had just never thought of it that way.
Hi Lance. So true… When we do good with no selfish motives, then good does come back in more ways than we could have imagined. I loved your illustration of the older gentleman. It is important because he took the time to pay attention to you and by him remembering he is saying that you are important to him - that you are important period. His good is by saying you are important in this way. This makes you feel good and he feels good because he knows you feel good. It does all come back… It truly can be as simple as a 10 second conversation….
This also makes me question how genuine I am as well and makes me want to work on being more so instead of rushing through to the next thing.
Hi Amanda. Welcome to Principles for Peace!
So you were also drawn to the last one… It seems to be speaking to a lot of us…
I loved how you drew on the ironies with this. It truly is ironic!! It seems so odd, but it is so true. The things we want the most we have to be willing to let go of. Life truly does come at us when we reach out instead of grab. It is only then that we will be most blessed. It has taken me a long time to learn this and I know I still have some growing to do in this area…
It was my pleasure to share these quotes.
Hi Jay. Isn’t that so true. When we contribute our peace to the world, then the world changes a little at the time. Truly there are many unpeaceful situations where we can implement this.
Hi Cath. I too thought about that same thing, and you gave a perfect illustration of it. It is so much more difficult in written communication too. I think in “real life” that people can usually see our intentions and our hearts and that we don’t mean harm. It’s more difficult on paper or online. Certainly a person’s mood or current reality can color things, and especially if they can’t see our body language or hear our tone of voice.
The last one is most difficult for me as well in the same way you mentioned. Looks like we know what we need to work on now.
Hi Roldan. Thanks for stopping by again and for you kinds words. I wish they were my original thoughts, but I can’t claim them. I’ll just learn from them.
They all have their own kind of voice but the last one really gets me today.
“We must be able to use things when we need them and then relinquish them without regret when they have outlived their usefulness.”
Yep, there’s a point of focus right there. Leave it to tick over in my lil brain a while
Love the photo, btw.
Catatonic Kids last blog post..Standing on one foot minding your Cup.
I like the second to last one as well. All experiences in life are learning experiences. The most difficult things I have faced in my life have also been the biggest blessings at the same time. They didn’t seem that way at the time but in hindsight it becomes clearer.
Julians last blog post..9 Tips To Create An Extra Hour In Your Day
Hi Jennifer, this is truly beautiful.
My favorite is “Try keeping your surroundings full of beautiful music and lovely flowers. Try reading and memorizing thoughts that inspire. Try making a list of all the things you have to be thankful for.” I often do it now.
Thanks for sharing, Jennifer.
Arswinos last blog post..I Want To Be Extraordinary !!
Hi Catatonic Kid. Welcome to Principles for Peace! That same line has really been sticking to me since I wrote it. As a matter of fact, I have found myself throwing things away and saying, “That no longer possesses me!” It feels great. I can see myself throwing away or giving away a lot of things and feeling good about it. Hope it urges you to action as well as it “ticks in your brain.”
Hi again Julian. I totally know what you mean. All experiences are learning experiences!! The only problem arises when we refuse to learn from them. If we do, we’ll be pretty smart people.
Each of the most difficult things in my life has been huge blessings as well. We have to be able to look past the current hurt we’re experiencing. That’ difficult at the time of the hurting for sure.
Hi Arswino. Glad you enjoyed this. Surrounding ourselves with the right things is so important. I don’t watch the news because it brings me down, but playing the right songs and thinking about what I’m thankful for goes a long way! I’m glad that you find this helpful as well.
Jennifer — My favorite quote was definitely this one:
*All people can be peace workers. Whenever you bring harmony into any unpeaceful situation, you contribute to the total peace picture. Insofar as you have peace in your own life, you reflect it into your surroundings and into the world.
This fits with my view of achieving peace — sending good, calm and positive energy into the world and all people you meet. My favorite peace pipe is a smile…it needs no translation when it truly comes from the heart.
Thank you for this series:~)
Saras last blog post..More than just 5 words in a journal
Hi Sara. I loved your comment. Giving out peace is the best way to achieve it. This reminds me of the quote: “Smile at the world and the world smiles back.” Mind if I borrow your “peace pipe” and share it with others? There’s no substitute for a sincere smile that says, “You’re important.”