I had a vision... one day in meditation.
I was in a pit - a lion's den, with ferocious lions circling. There were spectators all around in high tiers, cheering for the fierce creatures to eat me. I was scared. Shaking with fear. But gently I sat down and started meditating - finding calm. Gradually the roaring and snarling ceased, and a huge male came and sat beside me. I could see rays of peace, coming through me, reaching out and touching the lion as he quietened and settled. Then I could see these rays spreading from him to the other lions, and on out to the spectators - ripples of peace.
I was reminded how we can each make a positive difference to the world around us.
This vision gave me the courage I needed, heading off to undertake a four-day peace pilgrimage climbing up to the highest point in Northern China:
To Wutai Shan, a vast five-peaked mountain, and UNESCO world heritage site in Shanxi Province - said to be the most sacred Buddhist site in China for two thousand years,
Under the auspices of Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion.
The present-day embodiment of compassion, the Dalai Lama, (patron of my charity work) had always wanted to do this pilgrimage, though unlikely ever to be able to enter China due to Chinese policy. So I thought I'd undertake the pilgrimage quietly on his behalf; expressing hundreds of peace messages to help raise the vibration of our planet - carrying the energy of compassion. This was after all the dedicated year of compassion.
So that was my intention... knowing full well that in China any connection to the Dalai Lama could be highly dangerous and lead to 'disappearances'.
Fortunately I was accompanied by my great friend, Squash, an experienced adventurer, who importantly was in tune with my thinking and positivity that all would be well. We just had to practice the art of being invisible in plain sight!
And luckily my granddaughter had just given me a special snow-leopard bracelet, so we knew this was the perfect animal spirit guide for our trip!!
Fun tools for positivity aside, I was grateful to be actually allowed into the country, as we were whisked away on a 5 hour drive south-west from Beijing to Wutai Shan. To find stunningly beautiful land, happily rising above concrete jungle and screens.
We gathered our Chinese team, (with no idea of my connections) and which amazingly included a tiny girl almost nine years old
This ensured we were pilgrims travelling steadily and with stopping time. So along with our lack of Chinese language, we had no expectations and had to live entirely in the moment. And so notice wonderful surprises at every corner:
We were four generations of women and a young guide, walking the earth with the intention of peace. Then joined also by an enlightened 18 yr old student (As though a sudden appearance of Manjusri!)
Over four long days, stretching time with wonder, we hiked 80 kilometres clockwise around the great rock cauldron, travelling steeply up and down from mountain top to mountain top
Along the way we laid special peace crystals
and spoke out 700 positive compassion messages and wishes sent from those at home
We were carried by this energy of love for our planet and all beings. Thunder rolling around us. Light feeding our souls.
As too the other pilgrims, mostly students mobbing for photos with us as the only foreigners around. And often pouring food at us with generous hearts.
Though we were well fed in tourist accommodation (as long as good with chopsticks!) discovering the differences of culture... hard beds, no loo paper just toothbrushes, and never ever squat on the toilet seat (that is if you could find one to squat on!) Rubbish abandoned. Surveillance cameras. Loud speakers. This was wilderness Chinese style.
I asked what wild animals in this wilderness? And the reply was "Oh we don't have wild animals here, they're far too dangerous" But we did see deer, chipmunks and birds of prey. No sign of the tiger, snow leopard, bear, boar or fabled crane. Though we were joined briefly by a red fox who came within a metre and sat unafraid with his back to us as though we were his tribe. We felt in harmony with the natural world.
My peace penguin decided to stay with the tiny girl... as penguins do... She was prepared to share her precious noodles with him!
Focussing easily on the temples, we flowed mindfully between the peaks said to be the abode of the Bodhisattva, Manjusri:
The East Peak at 2,795m (Peak Overlooking the Sea of Clouds) his aspect of intellegence:
The South Peak at 2,489m (Splendour Peak) of wisdom:
The West Peak at 2,773 (Hanging-Moon Peak) of the lions roar:
The Central Peak at 2,894m (Peak of Green Rocks) of innocence:
Until on the last day, hiking almost fourteen hours into the dark, we reached the temple on the high North Peak at 3,061m (Peak of Flourishing Leaves) representing immaculateness, amongst eerie swirling mists. Here we laid lotus crystals to hold and amplify the light. And left as our offering a red string blessed by the embodiment of compassion.
I felt happy that our peace mission had been completed, but saw that the pilgrimage, as ever, had been within - touching our inner-selves...
We'd been welcomed by a warm and caring people. A part of humanity that I'd wanted to feel was family. For, it's fair to say, my heart had been broken years ago by the sad story of the Tibetan people I worked with, being taken over by the Chinese system. This pilgrimage was healing, as I now saw that life is about the present... how to find the way forward to live together today. And with the loveliness of the Chinese people, I know that this is possible. I am grateful.
We had carried the energy of compassion all that way, and with great effort, only to find that it was already there!
Super thanks from Squash and myself to all who sent Peace Messages and loving thoughts and to all who joined us by holding our work in special light...
A few of the Peace Messages:
My wish for the world is simple, though not easy. We share more than we often realise. Each of us carries hopes, fears, joys and burdens that may not be visible to others. Peace begins in the everyday moments: in how we listen, how we speak, and how we care for one another. As a mother, I hope for a world with less suffering and more joy, less loneliness and more belonging, less fear and more understanding. May we leave here today mindful of our shared humanity, and committed to making life a little gentler for those we meet. May peace live within us, between us and beyond us. FRANKI
Peace to all mankind CHRISTINE
Love , Peace, Compassion and Forgiveness to all MARCIA
Ad Libitium TREVOR
I pray for peace between nations DAVID
I am perfectly in harmony… like the snow leopard… GAIUS
Let us breathe and unite… LOUISE and WOODY THE DOG
Let us look up… look down… never take what we see for granted… And let the sun shine down on us forever… JO
“Per adua ad astra” (through adversity to the stars!) Octogenarians rule! GRAHAM and CELESTINE
How would it be if we imagine ‘there’ is already ‘here’? YANNICK
As a grandmother, I hold equanimity for all people on the planet - a balance and wisdom, which is quiet strength equating to grandmotherly love, loving fully without being caught in the drama of lives, not taking things personally and seeing all as deserving of love and care. TESS
Good luck and go for adventures for peace… IVY age 6
Peace is good for the world LIZZIE age 7
May peace of mind in our hearts become peace globally and respect for all of nature SCOTTIE Pathenon Peace Process
Ocean dreaming… Elakoyah… A vast peace and watery connection in a very profound and somehow wise way… whale songs through dream time with dolphins too… HEATHER
Let mother nature do her thing… She does it so well LORRAINE
Aum… Aum… Aum… Aum… Aum… Aum… Aum (mantra for world peace and healing) MARGARET
Make sure you have joy in your life… Feed on the things that feed your soul! IVY
Baddies stink. And they should be nicer! People should stop killing animals. People should not start wars. RAFI age 8
May peace and love come to all across the world GINA GRAY
We believe in goodness… Be kind to everybody! FLO age 6 and RACHEL age 40
We are all equal in the eyes of God P.E.
You blow me away with smiles… EVIE age 8
Cool stuff! KARLE age 12
Muchas felicidades… Zorionak… Happiness and good fortune!! MONI age 60
Lots of positive thoughts as we journey towards world peace LYNN
If you can be anything, be kind! IVY age 9
We all deserve to love and be loved - Spread the love… CHLOE
Love and respect for others DIANE
Let’s always be nice to everyone MADDIE age 9
People are nice world-wide, so get out there and meet them FERGUS
We are all just waking each other up now… MIZTI
Though we are many, we are one ALICE
Remember to appreciate those around you.. nature, people, love, laughter… MERIA
May there be peace between humans and the world and grow through understanding our own nature…
Please be kind to strangers, friends and family
No mountain too high… no wind too cold… CALLUM
Life should be full of love and love should be full of life VIV
I wish for everybody to have enough food to nourish themselves, especially children. I wish for harmony and tolerance PETTA
If only we could all give peace a chance SUE
If we all smiled at strangers we could pass love around the world MEL
Morning mantra ‘Today will be my peaceful day JANICE
Wishing for peace where children are nourished and loved ROSE
Kindness is the most important thing to hope for in this world DI
Be kind smile and say thank you JEANNETTE
Love each other as God loves you SARAH
Let’s all spread peace , love and goodwill to all the earth! LARRY
Om bhur bhurah svaha. May all the beings in all the worlds be happy and free. Loka samasta sukhino bhavantu KEVIA
Love, patience, humility and empathy ALICE
Peace and love and a place for passion and creativity. Allow everyone to live in harmony and understanding. ROB
Let’s put aside our differences and live together in harmony ROB R
Nature’s peace will flow into you LOUISE
Sending warm wishes to all the friends we haven’t met JULIANNE
May the gods bless you all and follow the way of compassion and love CHRIS
Empathy isn’t a commodity. We all have it in abundance TOM
We share our life, One spirit, One energy. Let us come to the realisation of this… ANGIE
Into the Lion's Den...
