One of the first experiences that comes to mind is waking up at 4:15am to get fully dressed and ready to go sit in the peace dome at 5:30am to read the Universal Peace Covenant and then meditate.  My meditation was not very deep or profound because I felt like I was picking up on some anxious energy within others (maybe me too but not much).  Anyway, my meditation time in the peace dome wasn’t so much a meditation as it was a paring out to God about my experiences with gratitude, generosity, and truth.  This was a peaceful assimilation process.  Another peaceful moment was in talking to T*female after breakfast.  T*female is one of my dearest, closest friends.  I am watching her grow and expand in amazing ways and we often aid one another in recognizing and pointing out our Starry nights, beauty and wisdom…and learning.  She was so lovely as she spoke openly and honestly with me about leadership, her own ability to do so as well as what she could see I was learning.  I had so much gratitude for my friendship with her and I see now how this was a peaceful experience.  In fact, much of the friendship and camaraderie that I observed and enjoyed brought me peace.  I love the people in my life.  I had moments of peace with G*, D*female, D*male, D*, R*, J*, JH*, Br*, A*, CS*., K*, W*, A*, wow!  I could really keep giving.  Two moments really stand out are hugging Balbir when he arrived.  It was my first time to meet him.  He hugged 3-4 times and he had so much joy and peace in his heart that it saturated me and felt really beautiful.  Another time I was sitting at the front gate with B*.  The air was cool and moist, the sky was beautifully overcast and complimented the green pastured.  Sitting there with him in silence, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment held both a quality of uniqueness as well as common.  The simplicity of it was joyful and relaxing.

I thought (personally) about how I use violence and an armed when I move outside of myself with the struggle – The struggle must be nonviolent which is quiet, and doing the work with self to create the wholeness that is peace – I thought about peace with the speaker Balbir and experienced him as one of the most peaceful people I have been around – I perceived him to have very little attachment to an identity of self and enormous humility which is pleasing to me as my purpose is to understand humility and I found him to be a wonderful example of that.  I also thought about peace in relationship to myself being Betty (Williams), Nobel Peace Prize- while my effort was less than perfect I knew i had practiced enough for the time I had so I did and do not feel guilty (that is very un-peaceful) about lack of preparedness on my part.  I made a concerted effort to hold thought forms other than my old habitual fear of knowing I will go blank when I do something like this and I realized that I could keep moving even if it meant moving to the next “frame”.  I am in believing at this point and by choosing to direct my mind in this way I can create peace in self about who I am as a speaker.  Peace was felt today by myself and I believe many people here evidenced by what they said – how they moved and the smiles and happiness I saw on their faces – the day was complete from a seed idea formed by Dr. C*female and we all experienced her creation in our consciousness today – I see peace as wholeness/unity of self which eventually leads to enlightenment – I know I can create a more peaceful environment wherever I am – In self and in others around me.  I see that thought form is a vibration that can permeate self and or the environment.  So our thoughts are too important to not pay attention to – we can live and co-exist with all those different people on this day or on any day – and we can have that brotherly love that Martin Luther King spoke of.  Peace is far reaching – I think as humanity we just need to explore who we will be in the state of peace.

I started off my day with reading the Universal Peace Covenant and then following a guided meditation on Peace-well as our topic at least.  Then I went and infused a tile for the mandala with the thought “outer peace is reflective of inner peace”  I was participating in several areas for the living peacefully event.  I started with setting out a sign.  As I staked the sign into the ground by the highway I thought of peace.  Every person I hugged I thought of peace for them and gave it freely.  When there was a need that I could fill, I let my mind have peace while my body fulfilled the task.  I believe I was peaceful in thought and action as I went through the day.  I was able to share this inner peace with others by reflecting it in out and I know there are those that felt it and responded to it.

Today I experienced peace from the first point of my day when I woke up before my alarm went off.  This gave me the opportunity to have gratitude for the dryness of my tent and reflect on the being of my body before having to go to my meditation session and reading of the Peace Covenant at 5:30am.  After the meditation I did my Life Force exercise which allowed me to peacefully connect with the energy of all things around me.  While there was a bustle of activity around me with people preparing for the day’s Peace Event I tried to move in a relaxed and peaceful manner delaying my preparations for a time when the bathrooms were more peaceful!  My station a the event allowed me to connect with almost everyone as it was the crossroads between the venues.  I met many new people and connected with old friends with the goal of a welcoming presence for all.  My location allowed me to hear portions of several talks by speakers at the event.  When the event was complete, I had the opportunity to thank many people for coming and felt I was connecting with people on a much deeper level than words.  When the play, The Invitation, was going on and many participants were inside, I had the opportunity to reflect on the stillness in the sounds of nature around us.  Now that the day is nearly complete I feel a sense of peace throughout my mind and body – my blood pressure seems really relaxed, my body feels better than it has in a long time and my breath seems very fulfilling.

My thoughts of peace for today review my experiencing the development of friendship.  This was expressed today through my giving and receiving attention and love in expanding friendships.  I renewed two friendships today, experiencing their essence on levels untouched before.  A deeper level of trust, sharing and desire to support each other.  I made new friends today and I was reassured of my perceived value in developing friendships as I experienced a new acquaintance with Balbir.  His views and practices with others at his company, Trees for Life, is reassurance to me that the process of developing friendships is priceless to myself and contribute to the betterment of the whole.  Peace is experienced in building friendships, seeing through the others eyes, to recognize each others value, what you have to give and what you can create.  Peace of mind and fulfillment is the result of developing friendship.

My thoughts are in the moment.  I cherish the moments I had throughout my day from the opening plenary beginning with chantful sounds to Will Bowen mesmerizing the crowd with laughter.  My day has been perfect.  I feel so peaceful and happy satisfied that ideals have been met.  On voice choir came together as planned “of course” because we visualized it.  I think this was the best creation I have ever had.  I love creating it with other people.  We were great in present and in form.  My heart is open, my mind is clear.  I desire to hold to continue to create like this.  I said it one time in a rehearsal, ” the moment will come and go” yet it will linger.  I believe this is what it is to live meditatively.  I knew this day was special.  I saw it in my dreams.  Connected vision.  My day was filled with great people and minds.  I long to know this more often.  This morning we breathed and it played all day.  The inspiration gives the love that was received.  Peace is build through communication.  I found myself with the Universal Peace Covenant running through my head as I write this.  Then echoes of Once Voice comes weaving in and out.  I love everyone, everything, every creature.  I am honored to have played a part.  Will Bowen’s smile and charm was great and I can truly say I haven’t a complaint.

Today I experienced Peace, A*male said “I love you, I just had to tell you that you look so peaceful.”  We started today with meditation.  I experienced some peace in meditation.  Because my morning began with some peace.  It was close by all day when I set my mind to finding it.  My day was filled with purposeful activity.  This allowed much opportunity for a directed mind.  I was also with a fire for most of the day.  Very purifying helpful stimulator of peace.

I looked forward to the day.  I went to the peace dome and set the tone for the day by filling my mind with thoughts of peace covenant and then entering meditation.  Mentally, I spent most of the day receiving others with my mind.  Asking questions and listening, and observing some of our presenters.  The level of openness between everyone was remarkable.  I did notice how simple an expectation peace is.  Personally I noticed that when I have a place or a form for myself, that peace is achieved.  “Self-direction promotes inner peace and therefore leads to outer peace.”  This I did not have today.  Because I have not clarified who I am or what I want to be and therefore have no form through which to direct myself.  A very awkward place to be indeed.  I don’t know what else to say.

I woke up anxious – maybe because of the weather or because of my rushed morning – but I also felt tired.  My morning meditation and a few disciplines helped.  When setting up for the event I began to realize what thoughts were running through my head.  I began to focus on the theme of “Peace” and all the people who would gather to celebrate it.  So as the day went on I felt better.  As a greeter, I was given the opportunity to speak to people right when they arrived.  Every person was happy and excited to be there.  When I got the chance to mix and mingle, I experienced our guest enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and I realized how great I felt because I was part of this.  I was calm, still, and peaceful much of the day – sometimes even to the point of feeling a sort of light-headed “high.”  I felt connected to everybody I spoke to and tried to keep in mind my connectedness with everybody else present.  My thought when I placed my tile in the mandala was “we are one in the spirit.”  At one point I sat by J*male at the fire, right before Allan walked up.  He asked how were were doing, to which I replied “peaceful.”  Jesse laughed and agreed.  So I sat by he fire and just allowed myself to “be,” I was overcome by gratitude and peace – I felt content and fulfilled.  I thought of yesterday when A*male., G*female, Yv*female, R*male and I walked through the orchard and repeated the peace prayer at every tree.  This helped me reconnect with the open heart feeling I had while in the orchard.

Living peaceably begins by thinking peacefully.  I was aware of the synergy that occurred – people knowing other people- for example, G*female knows Balbir – he said he sees her once a week or so, as she comes into his office.  Grandmother Silverstar learned metaphysics from D*female who was a friend and fellow SOM teacher with Dr. D*male 30 years ago in Columbia.  P*male who played digideroo is someone B*male studied with- J*male knows him well – They didn’t know that they were both coming to the event.  Many more connections – I see this as peace related because it shows that we are all connected in our invisible web of relationships, inner level connections that manifest outwardly.  Sometimes (too often) people don’t notice the connections because they think physically about themselves or other people.  Then they relate on the surface, noticing the differences or “diversity” as it is called.  H.H. The Dalai Lama says that the differences of skin color, language, clothing, etc., are really on the surface – that we can relate to each other because we are all human beings.  I agree.  I would say that we are all souls.  We are all related as siblings of the same mental parent.  We are all divine.  This day was divine.  There was a palpable air of gratitude, appreciation and love.  Many people thanked me (us) for the college, for the event, for being invited, for having a place like this.  It was as if we are shining a light, giving people hope.  Yes, people can live together and create together.  Yes, people can join minds and hands and hearts and make something greater than what any one person can do alone.  Yes, you can be a part of this, too.  I have great gratitude and appreciation for those of us who are making this happen nw.  I used to get irritated or disappointed when people who had been students decided to discontinues, because then they wer (are) no longer a part of the active creation.  I have a little more equanimity about that now.  Hearing Rick Menendez talk about the pennies for the college and having never seen the land, I could appreciate having been where he was at one time and being where I am now, having chosen to hold the creation in mind and bring it into being – also having the perspective that there is more to come.  I am fulfilling my destiny, my calling, my purpose.  This brings me peace and enables me to be a peaceful presence for others.

I had many opportunities to think about peace.  I learned that I would be answering phones a part of Sat., that I would be inside much of the day.  I agreed to do that, even though I thought I’d miss a large part of the day.  As we phone answerers made our schedule of coverage, I saw I’d be inside only 3.5 hours.  I did make a special effort to harmonize with being indoors and looked and looked for what it provided, how I could benefit.  I can see that when I heard people calling on the phone and identifying that I could guide them to be here with directions, the action became connected to the whole and purposeful.  I also recognized that when I was inside, it was peaceful and quiet, and that enhanced my peaceful state of mind.  One of the best ways I identified with peace was meeting almost all the speakers and getting to know them personally.  My ideal for today was to use my healing quality, concern, to connect with others and within mySelf.  And my purpose was to cause clarity in my mind.  As I met each one of them, I did get to create peace of mind, giving them my full care and concentration.  And I benefitted by having clarity with what concern is and what wholeness is.  I experienced peace as I spoke with J*male, Da*male’s father.  He was little skeptical about metaphysics.  As we spoke, I knew the peace of accepting a person for the beauty of who they are, sincerely wanting to know them.  I went beyond thoughts that I’d been successful if he’d have agreed with me or believed in metaphysics.  Our peace was joyful and free and caring as we came to know each other.  He was the one I asked the most metaphysical type questions even though he had the least experience in spiritual studies.  Today for me was peaceful because I made new friends, which was so unifying within me.

My ideal for this weekend is Sacred Service.  My purpose is humility.  I have experienced my ideal and purpose come to life this weekend in blissful and exciting ways.  I have had so many opportunities to serve this weekend and in all of them I found the opportunity to fulfill a desire.  Today I learned a great deal about running audio for a professional audio technician, I met extraordinary individuals, attended elevated talks, and spent time with good friends all while fulfilling a need for those around me.  Humility came into play as I interacted closely with people who have experiences I value, wisdom I treasure and who value themselves.  I also experienced humility in the fact that at no point was I “in charge” but rather “assisting.”  It was refreshing to my mind and relieving to my brain to take instruction as I responded to the situations before me.  Being in the presence of so many who were willing to practice peace elevated my consciousness and make it very easy to stay positive all day.  Almost every interaction was one of open hearted giving and receiving, without complaint or negativity of any kind.  This campus became a living, breathing, peace town when people of all ages were interacting in harmony and adding their own unique perspectives to the whole.  Although this weekend and this day were not without reactions in me, I found that the few reactions that did arise were short lived and easily worked through.  I am forming a brighter, clearer picture now of what our world can look like when we finally accomplish peace and how my life is going to transform as I move closer and closer to a state of peace in my own Self.  Though I have never been physically violent, I have often been mentally and emotionally violent and most often toward myself.  Thinking peacefully is different than how I have thought in the past and may very well be the next quantum leap in my consciousness stimulated by this weekend.  I have run out of things to say but I think i’m supposed to keep writing.

Well I had a great day.  I learned and experienced closer to the level of my best, in attitude and energy level and quality of interactions.  My peace thought in my little tile was “lighthearted commitment” and I envisioned those two words and images.  I held in my mind what I intended and I stayed more relaxed and open.  I had a series of deep, fulfilling, real, honest conversations that boosted up everyone involved.  I hugged great hugs.  I received back so much from everyone I interacted with and gave in a satisfying way.

Today was well suited to think and act peaceably through out the day.  At the Pre-Parliament event “Living peaceably begins by thinking peacefully” my attention was focused on peace through out the day.  Particularly toward capturing the sounds of peace.  With a Zoom 122 digital recorder, I walked around, interviewed people about their motivations and aspirations peace and coming to the peace event and attended several of the presentations upon peace from the different guest speakers.  Content wise peace was very rich in the experience.  State-wise peace was very present as the focus on capturing peace was strong.  There were times when peace was absent, when my mind drifted to things I recognized as being unresolved in my experiences.  However, self-examination will eventually lead to the peace I desire in the long run.  I felt peace the most when I recording in a group of interviews; one woman came from Austin, TX to be at the event, invited by an SOM alumni.  She explained how the event was fitting, in the sense that she desired peace in many aspects of her life and this was affording her an opportunity to learn.  Another man came because he was friends with Will Bowen, the keynote speaker, and had a home made CD recording of music he desired to share about peace.  He mentioned the desire to so something with his music and films.  I introduced him to Dr. T*female  He ended up giving the SOM permission to listen to it and potentially use it in some film and youtube footage of the event.  Fulfilling one man’s desire to give and a projects group desire to receive music – something they had been looking for right then and there.  Peace is providing avenues for people to both give and receive, to learn and to teach.  Peace is flowing with and existing within the normal energy flow; life force that normally flows when the mind set can hold it and move within it.  The peace thought I chose to focus on and infuse into the tile I laid this morning in the peace mandala was that of “Universal Perspective”.  I was able to experience the many expressions of peace.

My day started with reading the Peace Covenant and meditation.  I was really centered and calm.  I noticed as I went about getting ready that everyone was calm and purposeful.  Everyone was excited but they were calm, cooperative and attentive.  It was wonderful.  I thought of this being created (this attitude and consciousness) because of the meditation and disciplines we do in our studies.  I sat by the Healing Wall area and all day people were drawn to the area around the dome, talking and quiet.  There was a sense of tranquility in everyone.  The singer at the Dome during the afternoon sang many songs about the goodness in the world and about things in her life.  Then she told us, her two sons in their early 20’s were being shipped to Afghanistan.  I, at the time worried that Drew would join the army and shipped over seas.  I thought about what Will Bowen said about honest communication and how necessary it is to bring about peace and understanding in our lives.  I talked with many people, J*male and others like S*female.  We talked about the times we had lived together and what we had learned from each other and how grateful we were for the growth we had experienced.  Because the disciplines and what I have learned I am able to use all situations in my life to learn and grow instead of passing time complaining.  It allows me to have real conversations with others, to find truths and to release resentments and judgmentation.  This is the kind of world I want to live in.  A world of learning, growth, understanding and peace within myself.  Many people I talked with commented on how peaceful things were.  Everyone was open and receptive to each other.  It was refreshing.  This was peace to me.  I loved the openness with which people shared who they were with each other.  People came to me -presents- and thanked us for the opportunity to be part of our event.  There was a very peaceful quality to the day.  It was living what is in the Peace Covenant.  This whole day exemplifies the Peace Covenant.

Today was consumed by peace, love and connectedness.  From the very start I was plugged into that which was greater than myself, which was exciting, as that was a part of my ideal for this weekend.  I experienced mental endurance in a way previously unexplored.  In meditation at 5:30 in the morning I had my first clear experience, and I mean something beyond a belief, which is easy for me to have, as seeing myself as separate from my thoughts.  I could see the thoughts before me and had an instant realization that this was the ego speaking.   With this knowledge I was free to still my mind.  I was free because I was no longer under the illusion that I am my thoughts.  If I believe that I am my thoughts then, of course I would not desire to cease the speaking for then I would cease.  With the true separation of thought, the true knowing myself as soul, I could stop thinking to know emptiness because I exist beyond thought.  In the emptiness I felt such energetic power and supreme peace.  I was floating in stillness and persevered on the quest for peace.  This is how the day began.  This knowing quality aided me so much I realized my inner beauty and inner value because I am a soul.  When I am independent from my thoughts I can just be and love unconditionally.  On my unconditional love I was basking in my peaceful service.  I naturally wanted to connect with others and give them peace and love.  And in so doing I received a great lesson in Self-respect.  I saw my value, in the glow that came about in love showed and felt joy in being of service.  My Ideal for the weekend was committed service with the purpose of connecting to the divine.  This has guided me toward so much peace, directing my attention and showing me that when I am committed to serving my highest self peace ensues.  I felt connected to everyone in my environment through the divine.  Truly today was an exceptional day of service, God and the abundant, joyful peace of knowing.

Today was definitely a day filled with peace.  From arising before dawn to say the Peace Covenant, meditation, laying a peace tile, helping with breakfast, practicing with the choir…. The day was filled with activity.  Many people were depending on me.  Except for one time I felt relaxed, flowing, appreciative, and focused.  The peak, aha, moment I had was when Dr. D*male was talking about the Still mind, present moment, open heart.  I had a glimpse of fully relishing the present moment as precious and giving my heart and mind to it/in it.  I had a deep sense of what it would be like to live that way all the time.  The portal through which I can approach it is fully appreciating what is in the moment, giving myself to it fully and receiving from it.   I also felt peaceful when I directed and invited people to come to listen to the musician and storyteller.  I enjoyed fully being there and giving them my support.  And I didn’t scatter my attention by worrying or wanting to be at one of the breakout sessions or somewhere else on campus.  Wherever I was I was there.  And being in the present moment state of mind was key for the peace I felt through out the day.

Today I began with reading the Universal Peace Covenant w/ about 40 other Metaphysicians.  I then meditated for about an hour in the upper chamber of the Dome where I read the UPC.  I was blissful.  Then I laid a tile in the mandala and organized the Dome and my thoughts/goals to accomplish or direct others to accomplish.  I sang in rehearsal “One Voice” and it was going long so I emoted sharp emotion to get it moving.  Then I got all in order for the day and everything flowed so well.  It was beautiful to spend it with N*female and J*female and A*female and A*male and B*male.  I loved singing “One Voice”.  It was a perfect day.  I appreciate N*female and J*female’s love, A*male’s calm, A*female’s faithfulness.  Getting to see and connect with JF*male, MS*male and Li*female and J*female and others was a blessing.  I spent it in peace in the Peace Dome all day – no complaining and lots of loving.  It flowed so well and so harmonious.  The people I was with were so cooperative.  I loved talking about the 50 states giving Peace Proclamations and than approaching congress.  I loved getting to know Will Bowen and his family more as well as talking to D*male about a whole functioning school.  N*female, Dr. S*female and I realized I was the responsible adult or wisdom phase in the Dome all day teaching and sharing.  I love the SOM.  I didn’t eat dessert – I didn’t even want to after dark.  Singing with everyone was such an incredible experience – connected, aligned and harmonious.  I wanted to be where all the people were in the invitation.  I gave clear direction to the peace ambassador ushers – and they made it happen.  I felt such love.  I experienced some fatigue yet it was smooth and easy and worked without me always having to do everything.  I don’t know what else to say but it was open hearted.

My thoughts about peace surrounded my relationships with people.  It started with spending time with Vi* young female  I knew that both of her parents were needed elsewhere.  My thought of peace in the moment was being helpful and of service.  I was also able to help L*female with a distressing situation and take her to the valley so that she could take care of some device that she had.  When we came back to the campus we got to walk down the lane with Balbir.  What a gift.  The man vibrates peace.  I could see it in his eyes.  I could hear it in his voice as he talked with L*female and Vi*young female  The strongest thought that I heard as I went around talking with others was that peace was already present we only need to wake ourselves to realize this.  Grandmother Silverstar was the one who stated it so clearly.  She said that peace was a choice.  That it is always present we only need to choose to be lead by our hearts.  Little did I know that this thought of peace being within would be the theme for all other responses.  I was especially moved A*female young let me tape her.  She said the same thing about peace being in what you thought about.  I was filled with love and gratitude when I listened, watched and experienced the students sing One Voice at the end of the opening session.  It was great to see so many former students and I thought about the changing of hearts within so many.  I thought about how great it was to have so many teenagers and younger children present.  I thought about the variety of different kinds of people that were present.

Peace is recognizing the Divine in myself and others.  Peace is giving to others, consistently, lovingly, truthfully.  I have found this to be true.  Today I gave my peace, my presence through the essential quality of attention.  I greeted new friends and old, asked questions when I desired to understand their communication deeper or better.  My old friends were mostly the ones I gave consistently to.  M*male, LB*female and El*female.  With Mi*male I shared an important story of mine to show him how/what I have realized about inner authority.  I saw in his eyes a searching for a sense of deflecting or a protective shield as if my love for him was dependent upon his choices, as if it was influenced by his choices.  I love him just because he is.  I consistently reflected that quality back to him.  Truthfully I have given space.  I have given truth.  I seek and so I find.  The young Numa child (4 years old) showed me her empty sack around her neck.  I told her that was great.  I told her that it is space in a house that makes it useful.  I then played a telepathic rock game with her, teaching her the truth of connectedness.

Today was a magical day.  I woke up and remembered eight dreams.  I was very grateful for all the wisdom from my inner self.  We read the Peace Covenant and then I had an amazing meditation that was deep and healing.  I had plans to finish the sign out in front of the Peace Dome and I was the second to last person in line to lay a peace tile.  I thought about not laying a tile and getting right to work.  Then I decided to lay a tile and to be at peace with being at the end of the line.  That was healing as well.  I accomplished a variety of goals before the event and everything went smoothly.  My assignment was to answer the phone inside and I made peace with that.  It helped me to be purposeful with the time I was able to spend with my parents and people I knew from Springfield.  I am building gentleness and receptivity in myself and my ideal for the weekend was giving and receiving peace through a still mind.  I experienced deep and connected moments with a variety of people.  Some I barely know stopped me and thanked me for my “clear vision”.  I know it was my still mind that created that.  Another person complimented me on my gentleness, which has never happened before in my life.  My heart opened and I was deeply moved by the day as a whole.  It was a wonderful mix of people from diverse organizations, religions and cultures that all came together to promote peace.  I am grateful to have attended and hosted such and meaningful and historic event.  I know that the world is a more peaceful place and I will carry that peace with me forever.

Peace is felt in experience it seems and that’s how I remember the moments through out the day.  It is intangible and can be difficult to describe.  While serving at Moon Valley, being in infancy threw me into an insecure space that I had difficulty processing.  I recall pouring water for the presenters and trying to do so without being disruptive while they were at the breakfast table.  It turned out that I was probably more disruptive because of all the thought I had regarding whether or not I should pour.  Ivy pointed out that it is important to my health and well being that I follow through to completion – I recognize completion-causing peace.  Dr. B*female mentioned during the media meeting that the creation process is the best when you edit as you go.  This contains a certain level of completion.  It is completing the thought in every moment.  Today I noticed myself with a sense of urgency that I must complete my thoughts for peace.  Ivy also pointed out that giving more communication the whole picture causes peace.  I noticed a couple of times through out the day that I was compelled to give the whole picture in the name of peace.

Today it felt easy to hold peace in mind through out the day.  It was a product of group consciousness I think.  It was easy to smile and laugh and connect with people because everyone was together for the same reason.  I was unsure how the day would turn out.  On one hand I was just glad it was finally here.  I really appreciate seeing such a variety of people doing good work in the world.

Peace:  My first thought of peace was in the Peace Dome.  I checked to make sure all of my students had made it there to recite the Universal Peace Covenant.  I was first at peace in knowing that they were starting the day off in one of the most elevated ways possible and that my duty for the moment was done.  That experience filtered into most of day in taking care of students and possible future students, leading them toward their own inner peace and experiencing the peace of knowing I was being my duty in the world.  As the day progressed the illumination of alignment and entrainment began to be infused in me.  At the time I could not put words to it.  However, the rolling bliss and calm mind and heart were the first signs that something was different.  It became clear to me that peace is not an action, a calm body or quiet voice.  It is a state of being where I and the father are one.  The plan is in active manifestation and all are involved and welcome.  Peace is a gift we give to all the world every time we come awake to the idea or knowing that we have a duty and purpose in the world and performing it is the most fulfilling thing.

There were many moments throughout the day when  I felt the present moment freeze into an eternal bliss, and my heart open.  I would feel energy dance within my body.  I felt connected to an idea, a persona or a thing and I experienced peace.  Jonathan described to me how amazing and peaceful trees are because they have no ego, yet thy continually strive to grow taller and taller.  This was the first moment where I was so centered in truth that I was moved and knew I was experiencing peace, as I stood among the trees.  I then felt humbled as Dr. B* described to me the area in journalism where I need to stretch.  I realized I must be in the present moment, not lost in it.  I fell in love with the possibilities of the greatness that I can produce eternally through this.  Then I stood in front of the people and the world today and sang “One Voice”. I had been praying and visualizing the hearts of the people open, their minds inward, and their whole selves connected to the image and meaning of “One Voice”.  This occurred, and I know it did.  My heart was up there singing.  I gave love and truth and sincerity to the people, and they received it.  It was blissful peace as everyone stood in stillness and silence when I became silent.  I stood there in stillness on the path leading out of the dome continually energized by the powerful message of peace that everyone embraced and received in them from the music.  I love them, and this heart connection is peace.

My ideal beginning the day was to keep in mind thoughts of peace, connectedness and love.  The One Voice song at the conclusion of the opening ceremony created a full mind experience for me.  Near the end of the song just before the singers began to leave the stage area I realized that tears were beginning to roll down my face.  As I thought what the cause of such a strong feelings was I began to realize that gratitude for having this structure in my life was the first thought.  When pressed deeper it was the synergy, the connection that I felt with all present and repeated connecting moments I saw the presenter having w/ each other and the presenters having with the participants and the over all feeling of love.  I’m not sure what a “still mind experience” is but I think I may have experienced one along with many others.  With tears rolling down my face at the end of the song, other people were also wiping tears.  There was no one getting up from where I saw.  There was several seconds of no movement except to wipe tears and certainly no one was standing up as if to leave.  Gratitude, connectedness and love for the purpose of knowing them more completely in myself was/is my purpose.  I had a very special day in pursuit of this purpose.

I made peace with the weather.  The pace that came to me most vividly, while it was misting at about 11:30am.  I was in the parking area directing the traffic into rows and it began misting.  I was contemplating whether or not the mist was the beginning of another round of rain, but I was not attached to it either way.  If it was a sign of more rain, it was time for more rain.  If the rain didn’t come that was OK too.  The thoughts of move or not to move passed through quickly and naturally.  I was with peace.  The thoughts came but they didn’t stay.  Five minutes after I felt warmth on my head and turned to see the sun peeking through the clouds.  I was at peace.  My ideal was to radiate joy and light for this weekend.  So I stayed with my activities for my ideal.  Peace was in me then too.  The invitation always affects me deeply because each person in it chose peace in times when it wasn’t the easy choice.  That always humbles and inspires me.  Today I understood why they each made that choice.  It is because peace is the natural response we get when we choose to listen.  It is in us all.  Peace is there all we need to do is choose it.

Living peaceably begins by thinking peacefully.  Today will take some time to assimilate.  I felt love, joy, connectedness and fulfillment.  I found that placing my attention in the present moment allows a peaceful mind.  I allowed myself to be still and use the 5 senses to experience peace.  In the present moment there is nothing to fear or regret, there just is.  I was able to receive others with my full attention and with my heart open.  In that, I felt tremendous oneness.  I met a woman and her handicapped son.  He had severe brain damage and was learning to speak and use his motor functions.  I was directed to assist people to their cars, so I approached them.  Within a few moments the boy and I were laughing, testing the grip strength and hugging.  A year ago I would have been to ego centered to receive them.  I felt a deep love for the boy and his mother.  I was comfortable in our connection and at peace in the present moment.  I notice people all around me were having this experience.  My awareness was heightened and I soaked up the love.  Nothing could have gone wrong.  Peace is in the present moment.  Peace is receptivity.  Peace is undivided attention.  Peace begins in my thoughts.

How did I feel about peace today?  Well today I had stillness as a goal and was very aware of how stillness fosters peace.  However to be honest I was fighting for stillness and peace.  I continually centered and recentered my self in quieting myself.  I felt quite emotional however.  I don’t know if it was 2 days with about 7 hours of sleep or the astounding number of blistering chigger bites.  I just know that while I had great awareness and desire for stillness, I was “hanging on” today.  I talked with another student (my class mate), I didn’t discuss myself at first, I just asked her how her day went and she start to talk and surprisingly, she also had a similar experience.  We wondered if it may be in our lessons as we are progressing, we are at a level of infancy which is causing unusual feelings of uncertainty and second guessing.  I did reflect on the peace covenant at least two lines of it and I put it in my introduction.  The lives were about enlightened service for our fellow man and bring peace to the one serving and the one receiving.  Also the lines about peace and tranquility are obstructed by those situations where the individuals work clearly toward a common goal for the good of the whole.  The gentleman I was introducing seemed to embody those principles.  Stillness in the present moment requires great discipline when one’s emotions kick in.  Yes the thoughts are first in but still I need to go from the emotion to the causal thought.  I think there are some core identity things occurring.  I’m discerning that I am not necessarily the way I have viewed myself.  I am trying to bring this all into the light.  So I am working to be peaceful in the process.  Looking at everyone today seemed very happy and full of love.  In fact, I thought my fellow classmate was having that type of experience and disconnected it was not a consistent still, but a goal/intention.

The ways in which I thought about peace today were primarily in regards to the group of students that were an active part of the “concessions” area.  Each one of the 8 (plus my daughter C* was very attentive and caring.  We focused on ideal and purpose and goals on a personal level and I held in mind the ideal and purpose and activity of the SOM, with an extra bit of love and acceptance added in.  Inner peace being an ingredient in the mix was automatic.  Being attentive to various people that perhaps needed a gentle reminder of why the experiences of the day was occurring helped to keep me centered in maintaining and elevating my personal vision of peace.  Sharing my light, honoring connectedness and living as an example helped many stay in alignment w/ the true self and God.  Perhaps one of the most influential moments was when Dr. Barbara came out to our area and taught us an even more connected way to help everyone.  Adding prana in assisting with strong desire for sun was fun, mindful, expansive and way our group stayed strong- a beautiful thread in the tapestry of the “Living Peaceably by thinking peacefully” Pre-parliament event.  I also loved the singing of One Voice.  It is such an honor to be a part of such a harmonious whole.  Thank you.

My thought for peace was connectedness.  This was my purpose.  My goal was to make 5 new connections with others.  I did that with the speakers sharing what I knew about indigo children with L*female, the sheer joy of connecting with Melanie Rudolph of laughter yoga.  Connecting with Grandmother Silverstar on peace within us.  The desire for connectedness brought about a connection with Babek and Judy and Rich from Kirkwood.  It was also connecting with old friends like J* and A*.  I know that connectedness starts within.  The day was great!  Will Bowen was dynamic as a speaker, his story about Oprah and his analogy of GRIPE really registered.  I loved the blessing that Grandmother Silver star did and the connecting with the earth.  The One Voice song was very touching.  The healing wall with the children touching the continents and releasing, as they were ready was also very touching.  I enjoyed watching the children paint.  The energy under the trees was so amazing.  The invitation was very powerful.  It was a great day!

I was immersed in peace all day.  I noticed that the experience of peace is different for different people.  I noticed it in some people talking, some people listening, some people spending time connecting with people, some people spending time with themselves and nature.  I saw peace in laughter.  I saw peace in silence.  I observed every person who walked the labyrinth come out in a calm and peaceful state, regardless of the fact that they all went in at different speeds and with different intentions.  I observed a great deal of gratitude in others which I think added to the level of peace throughout the college campus.  Everything I was observing in others, I was in reality observing in myself.  There was a strong connection and friendship amongst all the SOM teachers and with all the guests.  The feeling and ideal of peace everyone effortlessly flowed throughout the day.  It was a beautiful experience seeing all the students and teachers unified in a cooperative effort to provide support and fulfill whatever needs arose.  Peace is alive, still, changing, growing, complete.