by Stefan Shin Veda
Edited by Thalia Forest
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” - Peace Pilgrim
Some weeks ago, thanks to my wife, I came across the book “Peace Pilgrim.” She was so enthusiastic about it that I decided to have a look and actually ended up reading the whole book.On the website you will be able to find the book in various languages, for free!
Edited by Thalia Forest
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” - Peace Pilgrim
Some weeks ago, thanks to my wife, I came across the book “Peace Pilgrim.” She was so enthusiastic about it that I decided to have a look and actually ended up reading the whole book.On the website you will be able to find the book in various languages, for free!
Peace Pilgrim was a woman who lived and was active in North America. Her exact birthday and birth name are unknown, because she didn’t reveal them to the public. On January 1, 1953 she began her pilgrimage for peace, walking through the USA and Canada. Her pilgrimage lasted 30 years. No one can say exactly how many miles she walked, because she stopped counting after 25,000 miles.
The most impressive thing for me was her deep trust in God and in life. She didn’t keep any personal possessions (she didn’t even carry a backpack) and she didn’t use or accept money, even if it was offered to her. She also never asked for food or shelter. She lived in full trust, knowing that everything she needed would be given to her.
When she wasn’t offered accommodation, she just slept in nature or under a bridge. She was not one to start a conversation with people -- her blue tunic with the slogan “Walking 25,000 miles on foot for peace” stimulated people to approach her and ask questions.
She once fasted for 45 days, but otherwise she almost never went hungry. On her hikes she often just ate what she found in nature -- wild fruits and berries and a variety of herbs. She was a vegetarian and loved fruits best.
She would hike northward in the spring and southward in the fall. She didn’t do this to have nicer weather for herself (she became very heat and cold tolerant through being outdoors in nature), but because during the warmer seasons more people would be out of doors, and so more people could receive her message of peace.
Over the years, Peace Pilgrim became well known nationwide. She was invited to give countless speeches and TV interviews and she was the subject of many newspaper articles.
Her central message of peace remained the same over the years: “This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.”
In the book you will read deeply touching and impressive experiences from Peace Pilgrim’s life and get a powerful transmission of spiritual wisdom and truth. She tells about seemingly dead-end situations in her life and how, through the power of pure love and inner peace, they always turned out well.
Every human for whom inner and outer peace is important should read this book! The book opens hearts; it inspires and expands one’s horizons. One might even get motivation to simplify and to concentrate more on the essentials of life. Peace Pilgrim is an inspiring example of how little one needs to be fulfilled, to be happy and to live in inner peace.
My heart gives thanks to Peace Pilgrim, for the precious gift that she has given to human and non-human beings alike, through her truthfulness, love and inner peace! She continues living in many hearts. Her active peace work is still delivering its fruits today, and certainly will continue to do so for a long time through her book.
Conclusion: Must read!! But beware, your perspective on life can be dramatically altered and profound experiences of peace may manifest while reading!
“Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest.”
--Peace Pilgrim
