From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman...

[wildflower]

<<From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman calling herself only "Peace Pilgrim" walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She vowed to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." In the course of her 28 year pilgrimage she touched the hearts, minds, and lives of thousands of individuals all across North America. Her message was both simple and profound. It continues to inspire people all over the world:

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

(The above is from http://www.peacepilgrim.net/ .)

Incidentally, I highly recommend the book about Peace Pilgrim - Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words - which is on-line in its entirety here:

http://www.peacepilgrim.net/book/index.htm

And I thought some of you might be interested in Peace Pilgrim's steps toward inner peace:

http://www.peacepilgrim.net/steps1.htm

I agree with the idea of God that Peace Pilgrim speaks of. She wasn't associated with any particular organized religion; it was more as if she used the word "God" so that others would be able to relate to what she was saying. I will post a quote from her about God in Ma'at's thread.

(ON EDIT: The thread is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=292x8)

-wildflower

[kslib]

1. I replied to the other thread

but have a question, or a comment really. Her idea of "God" seems in line with what I feel, but I bristle whenever anyone says the "g" word. I wonder why that is? My insides clench up, and I'm immediately on the defensive, waiting to be told I'm wrong, or waiting for someone to try to convert me I guess, but it's more than that. It almost feels like a hatred of the word. It's just a word, why is it so upsetting? :shrug:

[Maat]

2. My pastor makes it clear, and I agree, that one can call Spirit anything

one wants. I like 'Spirit,' 'One-Energy,' and the fun one my husband came up with, 'the Unimind (kind of like 'Human Interconnectness').' My friend likes, 'Cosmic Muffin.'

[wildflower]

3. I know what you mean, I always had the same problem.

I like 'Great Spirit,' 'Mother Earth,' or even just terms like 'universe' or 'all that is' (I forget the Sanskrit for it).

When others say 'God,' I'm not as bothered by it now, but sort of translate it to how I think. I get the feeling that Peace Pilgrim and others did the same when talking to each other.

-wildflower

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Sufis call IT

the Beloved, which I find very endearing. I also like the term The Friend.

[wildflower]

4. kslib, I thought you might be interested in this book:

I checked out the reader reviews, and it looks interesting.

The Heart of the Mind: How to Experience God Without Belief
by Jane, Phd Katra, Russell Targ, Marianne Williamson

First sentence: "Why bother with God?..."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1577311566/qid=1105750323/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-8957546-2547154?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Here's part of one of the reader reviews:

<<As a very secular University of Chicago-trained economist, however, hearing the word "God" is like a red-flag. Uh oh... I just can't take seriously "God," that Big Bearded Daddy in the Sky who's going to love you or punish you or whatever, depending on whose "Bible" you want to consult. As for the "Goddess" stuff, don't get me started. What I'm saying is, it was a relief and a delight to read a book about nonlocal consciousness and the creative process without, as the book says, having to believe in "god". I highly recommend this book, though one might want to have a look at MIRACLES OF MIND first. This is the dessert, that was the meat 'n veg.>>

I clicked on the "Read the first page" link and read it. (I can't copy and paste because it's not in text format.) I'd definitely like to read the book sometime. Anyone here ever read it?

-wildflower