The Peach Pilgrim (1908-1981) was a modern non-recognized saint who lived and acted in the United States. Following her spiritual calling, she started crossing on foot the USA in 1953, with her only belongings being a toothbrush and a comb, determined to not ask for shelter, food and water, but to receive them only when offered to her freely. In 1964, when she stopped counting, she had walked 40,000 km. She continued relentlessly her pilgrimage up until her passing, in 1981, crossing seven times the country, having taken the oath to “remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace”.
Her message, which she gave in person to thousands of individuals, was the following: “This is the way of peace — overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.”
Being active spiritually, and not belonging to any organized church or dogma, the Peace Pilgrim conceived experientially and from within many spiritual truths which were taught in the Work directly from the Logos-Christ regarding the unity of the human being, the effects of the self-centered path, the capacity of humans to bless, and the return of the spirit back to the earthly life after death. We quote here some characteristic excerpts from her words and her replies to questions through correspondence; spiritual jewels for any seeker.
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“I talk to groups studying the most advanced spiritual teachings and sometimes these people wonder why nothing is happening in their lives. Their motive is the attainment of inner peace for themselves – which of course is a selfish motive. You will not find it with this motive. The motive, if you are to find inner peace, must be an outgoing motive. Service, of course, service. Giving, not getting. Your motive must be good if your work is to have good effect. The secret of life is being of service.”
Q: Do you love humanity or people?
A: We are all of equal worth in the eyes of God, and to all I reach out constantly in thoughts and words and deeds – with love and good wishes – with prayers and blessings. This it is to love humanity. However, people are the cells in the body of humanity, and in doing my part in the divine plan I come into contact with a few of these cells. When their lives touch mine, I am always willing and sometimes able to serve them. When I am with someone or in correspondence with someone, I concentrate my love and my good wishes on that particular cell I am touching, and then with my prayers and blessings I leave that cell in God’s hands. This it is to love people. Some love humanity without loving people; some love people without loving humanity. I love both.
Q: Is the Messiah concept immature? Was Jesus the Messiah? Are you a Messiah?
A: Immature people look for a Messiah instead of looking for the Christ (…) In each being there is a divine nature called by various names. After sufficient lifetimes it begins to govern the being. That being stands out from the crowd. There have been quite a few. The important thing is that it can govern you.
Q: What is karma?
A: Karma is the law of cause and effect – ‘as you sow so shall you reap’ – seen over a span of many lifetimes. (…)
Q: Why don’t you accept money?
A: Because I talk about spiritual truth, and spiritual truth should never be sold — those who sell it injure themselves spiritually. (…) Those who attempt to buy spiritual truth are attempting to get it before they are ready. (…)
Q: What is the theory behind ‘not buying spiritual truth’?
A: The theory behind not buying spiritual truth is this: One who has it would not be selling it, so one who is selling it doesn’t have it. (…)
Being also socially active, Peace Pilgrim had the following to say regarding the world situation.
Q: In this affluent country why do so many complain about financial problems?
A: Many people who say they have financial problems really mean that they want more than they need. (…) I discover in looking around me that most debts are not to pay for the necessities of life, but to pay for things people do not need. Why do people want things they do not need? Sometimes for purposes of self-indulgence— when they will never find what they are seeking except through self-discipline. Sometimes to gain ego-satisfaction by impressing others— when they will never find what they are seeking until the ego has been subordinated and the higher nature has taken over. Yes, some do try to make up for a lack of spiritual security with material security — and it can’t be done. (…)
Q: What do you think of capitalism?
A: If by capitalism you mean our present economic system which has led to unemployment and production for obsolescence, naturally this will need to be improved. More decentralization is needed. If those who worked in the industries also owned the industries, much friction could be avoided. Capitalism usually means competition — and the work for the future is cooperation.