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A Call to Awakening
Americans are flocking to churches, synagogues, mosques, meditation rooms, and vigils in record numbers. There is a rawness and openness of heart that we have not seen since perhaps the death of JFK, although the magnitude of loss of that assassination pales in comparison. The timing was ironic for the two of us: after two years of delving into the experiences of awakened souls, we were awaiting the first copies of our new book, Mystics, Masters, Saints, and Sages: Stories of Enlightenment. As spiritual seekers since 1970, we have found profound inspiration from great souls who have been able to transcend the inevitable day-to-day suffering of life — individuals who have found a way to move beyond their individual dramas and pain and to embody an extraordinary compassion, unconditional love, and surrender. Our aim was to capture the moment of awakening of women and men, ancient and contemporary, of all traditions, who recount in their own words the shift from individual to universal, from a time-bound existence to timelessness and spaciousness. These spiritual teachers have added new dimensions of meaning to our lives and model for us a way to ultimate peace and freedom. As we enter yet another war, we want to share with you the story of Peace Pilgrim, whose message is more compelling now than ever. Born in the early 1900s, she did not reveal her birth date; however, we do know that she was born on a small farm on the East Coast, that she grew from modest roots, acquired material possessions, then came to realize the futility of worldly goods. Adopting a life of voluntary simplicity, she engaged in volunteer work for peace for over 15 years. On the morning of the first day of 1953, Peace Pilgrim took her vow to walk for peace. She describes her attainment of inner peace as follows: "There were hills and valleys, lots of hills and valleys, in that spiritual growing up period. Then in the midst of the struggle there came a wonderful mountaintop experience —the first glimpse of what the life of inner peace was like. "That came when I was out walking in the early morning. All of a sudden I felt very uplifted, more uplifted than I had ever been. I remember I knew timelessness and spacelessness and lightness. I did not seem to be walking on the earth. There were no people or even animals around, but every flower, every bush, every tree seemed to wear a halo. There was a light emanation around everything and flecks of gold fell like slanted rain through the air. This experience is sometimes called the illumination period. "The most important part of it was not the phenomena: the important part of it was the realization of the oneness of all creation. Not only all human beings — I knew before that all human beings are one. But now I knew also a oneness with the rest of creation. The creatures that walk the earth and the growing things of the earth. The air, the water, the earth itself. And, most wonderful of all, a oneness with that which permeates all and binds all together and gives life to all. A oneness with that which many would call God. "I have never felt separate since. I could return again and again to this wonderful mountaintop, and then I could stay there for longer and longer periods of time and just slip out occasionally. "The inspiration for the pilgrimage came at this time. I sat high upon a hill overlooking rural New England. The day before I had slipped out of harmony, and the evening before I had thought to God, ‘It seems to me that if I could always remain in harmony I could be of greater usefulness — for every time I slip out of harmony it impairs my usefulness.’ "When I awoke at dawn I was back on the spiritual mountaintop with a wonderful feeling. I knew that I would never need to descend again into the valley. I knew that for me the struggle was over, that finally I had succeeded in giving my life or finding inner peace. Again this is a point of no return. You can never go back into the struggle. The struggle is over now because you will to do the right thing and you don't need to be pushed into it. "I went out for a time alone with God. While I was out a thought struck my mind: I felt a strong inner motivation toward the pilgrimage — toward this special way of witnessing for peace. "I saw, in my mind's eye, myself walking along and wearing the garb of my mission ... I saw a map of the United States with the large cities marked — and it was as though someone had taken a colored crayon and marked a zigzag line across, coast to coast and border to border, from Los Angeles to New York City. I knew what I was to do. And that was a vision of my first year's pilgrimage route in 1953!" Clad in plain blue slacks and a shirt and carrying with her only a comb, pen, folding toothbrush, copies of her message of peace, and letters to answer, this remarkable woman, over the next 11 years, walked 25,000 miles. When she spoke with thousands of individuals in all of the United States and Canadian provinces as well as many states in Mexico, her message was simple. She appeared as well on television and radio shows all over North America. Due to her growing speaking schedule, she came to accept rides when necessary. At the time of her death, Peace Pilgrim, crossing the United States for the seventh time, was on her way to conduct a radio interview. She died instantly in a head-on collision, making what she called "the glorious transition to a freer life." May the words and teachings of Peace Pilgrim and of the other beings who have awakened to their oneness with the Divine inspire and guide us and open our hearts during this time of profound change and transformation. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman are naturopathic physicians board certified in homeopathy. They are the authors of Mystics, Masters, Saints, and Sages: Stories of Enlightenment as well as six previous books on homeopathic medicine. They can be reached at (425) 774-5599. Their Web sites are <http://www.mysticsmasters.com/> and <http://www.healthyhomeopathy.com/>. |
The events of September
11 have triggered, for many in this country and even around the
planet, tremendous emotion, upheaval, and soul searching. Whether
we view the fall of the World Trade Center as the wrongdoings
of crazed madmen, retribution for past actions of the United
States government, reaping of the fruits of individual or collective
karma, or as an opportunity for great compassion, love, and transformation,
many of us continue to search for answers. We, and most of those
we know and read about, simply cannot wrap our minds around such
vast suffering. How do we grasp the gamut of emotions —
the terror, heartbreak, and despair — along with the valor
and outpouring of generosity and selflessness?