Joseph Bernard wrote on his ‘Come Explore’ blog about his passion about inner peace and the spread of consciousness.

Here are some extracts of what Joseph says:

“We need a major paradigm shift or at least really new models of thinking and feeling. Does it seem to you the world in run by an ever-increasing sense of fear? What is all this fear about? . . . These times are about stepping past the past, seeking solutions for the now, and long term planning for the good of all of humanity. This planning has to include educating people… toward being a conscious human being in touch with our own inner peace and higher knowing.

“Inner Peace, hope, compassion, kindness and gratitude are all more powerful human states than fear, blame and distrust. Yes lately fear, blame and distrust are dominating the news headlines as if they are the only voices. How often are the voices of hope, compassion and positive solutions even given a chance to be heard?”

I wish to share with you my recent response to Joseph:

I enjoyed your blog and wish to make a couple of comments: There is always HOPE! : ) And speaking about compassion, this beautiful feeling allows us to enter into the pain of others, their happiness, their own frames of reference, their own values and ideals. To feel it, requires a willingness to open our hearts to life and to all that is and to listen attentively – profound listening – being receptive and letting go of expectations, to the call of all hearts.

In the joy of inner peace I greet you this day.

The Buddha was the most awakened man of his time. Nobody like him understood human suffering and developed benevolence and compassion.

One of his cousins, Devadatta, was always jealous of the teacher, and interested in discrediting him, even ready to kill him.

One day as the Buddha was quietly strolling, Devadatta saw him and threw a heavy rock from the top of a hill with the intention of killing him. The rock landed by the Buddha’s side and Devadatta did not attain his objective. The Buddha noticed what happened and remained unmoved, keeping a smile on his lips.

A few days later the Buddha found his cousin on the road and greeted him affectionately. Greatly surprised Devadatta asked:

˜ Aren’t you angry, sir?

˜ Of course not.

Greatly astonished, he asked:

˜ Why?

And the Buddha said:

˜ Because you are no longer the one who threw the rock, nor am I the one who was there when it was thrown.

The Teacher says: For the one who knows how to see, everything is transitory; for the one who knows how to love, everything is forgivable.

Recently Kathleen Gage wrote in her daily awareness an article about Peace Pilgrim, titled, “Would you know your calling?” { http://www.dailyawareness.com/2009/02/would-you-know-your-calling-.html}

From “Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words”:

“The turning point came when in desperation and out of a very deep seeking for a meaningful way of life, I walked all one night through the woods. I came to a moonlit glade and prayed. I felt a complete willingness, without any reservations, to give my life — to dedicate my life – to service. “Please use me!” I prayed to God. And a great peace came over me. . . . I tell you, it’s a point of no return. . . . And so I went into the second phase of my life. I began to live to give what I could, instead of to get what I could, and I entered a new and wonderful world. My life began to be meaningful. From that time on, I have known that my life work would be for peace — that it would cover the whole peace picture: peace among nations, peace among groups, peace among individuals, and the very, very important inner peace.”

From my perspective, Peace Pilgrim’s sense of a calling makes her a role model of service to humanity. When I was translating/interpreting her book into Spanish I could feel her deep sense of mission embracing my work each day. Experiences in life prepare us to discover our mission in harmony with universal purpose. As we dedicate to fulfill our mission we make ourselves essential to the flow of outer life. We discover then that we are immersed in all events with a never-ceasing interest and that each experience is an opportunity to rejoice in service.

A dear friend of mine who passed away in 2008 wrote beautiful poems that relate with my own activities for the exploration of inner peace and he gave me authorization to publish his artistic manifestations when I would find it pertinent. Today I wish to share with you his poem, Fountain of Life, also published on his book: “Shards”.

A spring in woods near Ambler,

Deep and clear,

Bordered with mossy rocks

And soft green banks

There presence overpowers,

Deeply altering mood.

Who worshiped here before?

In silence a clue,

An opening to the universal,

These waters of profound peace.

Jonas Mather

In the United States, Charito Calvachi-Mateyko asked me in a radio interview, what must I do every moment to love?

Allow the “inner you” to bloom… allow the “divine spark” within you to see kindness in others. Open your eyes and your heart to all the beauty that exists in the universe… the flame that inspires your appreciation of the world. Allow your mind, with your heart, to expand your understanding of others, permiting your sensitivity to touch their internal fiber in profound recognition of their point of view. Allow God to guide each of your steps so that you are, each and every moment, a light that illuminates the firmament.

Lord,

In our eternal and joyous fellowship
Make me an instrument of Thy Faith and Love and Peace
where all my thoughts, feelings and acts
reflect the highest of human values
As I become part of the whole
in profound communion with You
and with all human beings
in the embracing totality of immortal
and perfect assimilation.

With laughter comes the realization that all things come to pass, that life evolves through cycles of change. We can enjoy these cycles or resist them, says Dianne Dreher, author of “The Tao of Inner Peace”. (more…)

A friend from San Francisco, California, USA wrote, “I recently returned to the frenetic world of haste and schedules, but they are part of life. I’ve found it difficult to return to my studies. . . I always try to remain alert, to enjoy each day and see even the smallest things that happen around me!” (more…)

Fountain of Love
My source is in thee –
Loving thy will
My spirit is free
Beautiful day
When all of us see
The hope of the world
is Love!

Today we are celebrating what would have been Peace Pilgrim’s 101st. Birthday in the town where she was born, Egg Harbor, New Jersey, USA. I am joyful to share with you her beautiful song on her special day.

I’d like to share an item of interest that has come to my attention: The National Peace Academy in the United States. This group works with a definition of peace that is consistent with our underlying beliefs. Their mission statement is a positive call to action “… to support, advance and nurture cultures of peace by conducting research and facilitating learning toward the development of peace systems – local to global – and the full spectrum of the peacebuilder – inner and outer, personal and professional.”

For more information concerning this activity, check out www.nationalpeaceacademy.us