Tag Archives: peace

Excerpts from “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle:

“The light is too painful for someone who wants to remain in darkness.” p.104


“…the stronger the ego (unconsciousness), the more distant you are from your true nature.” p.107


“Nothing that was real ever died, only names, forms, and illusions.” p.124


“On the level of form, you share mortality and the precariousness of existence. On the level of Being, you share eternal, radiant life. These are the two aspects of compassion. In compassion, the seemingly opposite feelings of sadness and joy merge into one and become transmuted into a deep inner peace. This is the peace of God. It is one of the most noble feelings that humans are capable of, and it has great healing and transformative power. But true compassion, as I have just described it, is as yet rare. To have deep empathy for the suffering of another being certainly requires a high degree of consciousness but represents only one side of compassion. It is not complete. True compassion goes beyond empathy or sympathy. It does not happen until sadness merges with joy, the joy of Being beyond form, the joy of eternal life.” p.128


“Remember: Just as you cannot fight the darkness, so you cannot fight unconsciousness. If you try to do so, the polar opposites will become strengthened and more deeply entrenched. You will become identified with one of the polarities, you will create an “enemy,” and so be drawn into unconsciousness yourself. Raise awareness by disseminating information, or at the most, practice passive resistance. But make sure that you carry no resistance within, no hatred, no negativity. “Love your enemies,” said Jesus, which, of course, means “have no enemies.” Once you get involved in working on the level of effect, it is all too easy to lose yourself in it. Stay alert and very, very present. The causal level needs to remain your primary focus, the teaching of enlightenment your main purpose, and peace your most precious gift to the world.” p.128


“Since resistance is inseparable from the mind, relinquishment of resistance – surrender – is the end of the mind as your master, the impostor pretending to be “you,” the false god. All judgment and all negativity dissolve. The realm of Being, which had been obscured by the mind, then opens up. Suddenly, a great stillness arises within you, an unfathomable sense of peace. And within that peace, there is great joy. And within that joy, there is love. And at the innermost core, there is the sacred, the immeasurable, That which cannot be named.” p.140

 

“As far as the unconscious majority of humans is concerned, the way of the cross is still the only way. It is a complete reversal. It means that the worst thing in your life, your cross, turns into the best thing that ever happened to you, by forcing you into surrender, into “death,” forcing you to become as nothing, to become as God – because God, too, is no-thing” (formless). p.141

 

“Enlightenment through suffering – the way of the cross – means to be forced into the kingdom of heaven kicking and screaming. You finally surrender because you can’ t stand the pain anymore, but the pain could go on for a long time until this happens. Enlightenment consciously chosen means to relinquish your attachment to past and future and to make the Now the main focus of your life. It means choosing to dwell in the state of presence rather than in time. It means saying yes to what is. You then don’t need pain anymore.” p.141

 

Unconsciousness “will only awaken through further suffering… foreseen by some seers… described, among other places, in the Book of Revelation or Apocalypse… This suffering is inflicted not by God but by humans on themselves and on each other as well as by certain defensive measures that the Earth, which is a living, intelligent organism, is going to take to protect herself from the onslaught of human madness. However, there is a growing number of humans alive today whose consciousness is sufficiently evolved not to need any more suffering before the realization of enlightenment. You may be one of them.” p.141

Let There Be Peace on Earth

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

(child)
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With god as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Yellow Ribbon for Peace and Self-reformation

I was only 5 years old when María Corazón “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was installed as the first female Philippine president because of the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution. I definitely had no idea about the series of events which started from the autocratic rule of the greedy president Ferdinand Marcos. I didn’t even have a chance to understand Philippine history because my teachers did not emphasize its significance or perhaps I wasn’t interested at all. I never understood how special she was until I watched news about Cory’s illness up to her interment, listened to and read people’s testimonials, messages, and prayers, and saw the people ’s love, concern, grief, admiration, attention and participation at her journey to her body’s final resting place.

Aside from the fact that Cory, the mother of democracy has inspired and reminded me about selfless love, honesty and integrity, I feel like I want to not my observations during the live coverage of “Salamat Cory” by the ABS-CBN news and current affairs staff:

1) If there’s one political or social event I’d attend, that would be yesterday’s upshot. I felt sympathy, great loss, and much hopefulness that her spirit and advocacy would remain forever in our heart and mind.

2) Kris made it clear that political victory requires financial resources. But I still hope that deserving political aspirants would win in the 2011 election. People should really vote wisely.

3) It would have been better if Imelda Marcos went with Imee and Bongbong to attended the necrology rite for Cory. I just think Imelda does not want to make peace the Aquino family but to keep her pride

4) The presence of millions of people during the last  three days of Cory’s public appearance implies people’s assertion of her life’s worth and willingness to revolt when one abuses power and until we find a leader as great as Cory.

5) It was my first time to appreciate the voice and talent of Eric Santos. He was the perfect choice to sing the Our Father. He delivered and interpreted it well with good enunciation and appropriateness.

6) All the singers (Lea Salonga, Dulce, ABS-CBN assets, as well as Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid of GMA7) made an outstanding performance except Piolo Pascual whose voice didn’t impress but bored me to death. Without looking at those performers, I could identify who’s who but not Piolo. He doesn’t have the X-factor but a handsome face I wouldn’t want to see when I’m melancholic because I’d feel more distressed.

7) Jim Paredes’ composition struck me the most because its message addresses the whole world that miracles do happen and change or improvement can achieved through peaceful revolution or nonviolent ways.

Below are the song lyrics of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution:

Handog Ng Pilipino Sa Mundo
Words and Music by Jim Paredes
Performer: Various artists

‘Di na ‘ko papayag mawala ka muli.
‘Di na ‘ko papayag na muli mabawi,
Ating kalayaan kay tagal natin mithi.
‘Di na papayagang mabawi muli.

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao.
Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain.
Kelan man ‘di na paalipin.

Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo,
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta’t magkaisa tayong lahat.

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan.
Nagkasama ng mahirap at mayaman.
Kapit-bisig madre, pari, at sundalo.
Naging Langit itong bahagi ng mundo.

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim.
Tinig ng bawat tao’y bigyan ng pansin.
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon.
Ito’y lagi nating tatandaan.

Magkaisa
Words and Music by Tito Sotto & Homer Flores
Performer: Virna Lisa

Noon, ganap ang hirap sa mundo
Unawa ang kailangan ng tao
Ang pagmamahal sa kapwa ilaan

Isa lang ang ugat na ating pinagmulan
Tayong lahat ay magkakalahi
Sa unos at agos ay huwag padadala

Chorus 1:
Panahon na ng pagkakaisa
Kahit ito ay hirap at dusa

Chorus 2:
Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
At magsama (bagong umaga’t bagong araw)
Kapit-kamay (sa atin s’ya’y nagmamahal)
Sa bagong pag-asa

Ngayon, may pag-asang natatanaw
May bagong araw, bagong umaga
Pagmamahal ng Diyos isipin mo tuwina

(Repeat Chorus 1 & 2)

Chorus 3:
(Magkaisa) May pag-asa kang matatanaw
(At magsama) Bagong umaga’t bagong araw
(Kapit-kamay) Sa atin s’ya’y nagmamahal
(Sa bagong pag-asa)

Chorus 4:
Panahon na (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
Ng pagkakaisa (may bagong araw, bagong umaga)
Kahit ito (pagmamahal ng Diyos isipin mo tuwina)
Ay hirap at dusa

Coda:
Magkaisa at magsama
Kapit-kamay sa bagong pag-asa

Magkaisa…

serenity in my quiet place

it’s amazing and i’m grateful to know that the most special person in my heart is the one leading my way closer to God.. i thought my world has turned upside down. i’m stuck in the middle of nowhere as if every good thing has become impossible to achieve. i just realized i almost forgot stick to the cliche, “count your blessings”, which most optimistic people advice to hopeless individuals. it’s easier said than done but it’s worth practicing. timely enough, i received an SMS that goes:

“The happiest people don’t have everything they want. They make the most out of what they already have. Misery starts when a person looks at the 10% missing and overlooks the 90% blessing. We all have our share of blessings. Some get them fast. Some wait for a long time. What’s important is it comes at a time we most need it. God knows best and He will give the best in His time.”

i may have nothing or i may be rejected a million times but it’s not a reason for me to shut myself off to the world. i believe all things happen for a purpose. someday somehow, i will be an instrument of love  for others. at the moment, i have my family to take care of. this is my chance to share my blessings and show love in return. while some people find happiness from material possessions, experiences or successful career, i find fulfillment from sharing blessings to others and my relationships with people who care and whom i care. praying and listening to inspirational songs or audio books help me gain strength and make me inspired to achieve my dreams.

life on earth may appear hell since many people are suffering because of deception, greed and other forms of evil. indeed, it’s possible to experience heaven if we live by Jesus’ teachings and preachings and allow God to dwell in us because otherwise somebody else will. Nothing is too late for those who are willing to make decisions and take appropriate actions.  He is powerful enough to overcome what we call ungodly entities. We just need to prepare ourselves for this to happen. It doesn’t matter how great our effort is as long as there is initiative and determination.

what a small but wonderful world. i never imagined life could be better until i found what it takes to want to live and be alive…