the-travelers-tours

Bulgaria Tour with the Traveler - 2019

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 22:30:40 GMT

Dobarsko - Banasko - Sandanski - Rila Mountains - Sofia

Dates: August 11 - 18, 2019

What an amazing kickoff of the MSIA Bulgaria Tour with John Morton! We gathered in a Conference Room for information and our first day’s itinerary. There are about 35 MSIAers from all around the world, e.g., Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Bulgaria, Mexico, Australia and the U.S. What a group!!

Daily Events

Group Photo

Heaven on Earth - Swiss Alps and Italy 2018

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 03:25:41 GMT

Geneva - Chamonix - Zermatt - St. Moritz - Lake Como - Milan - Rome - Amalfi Coast - Capri

Dates: September 15-October 7, 2018

“My job is to awaken the soul into the soul realm, so you can have heaven while you’re on earth.”

John-Roger, DSS.

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Daily Events

JR Legacy Tour

Moment of Peace Videos

MOP: Initiation of the Planet at That Which Is:

Watch Video here:

The Way of the Traveler - Spain and Portugal 2017

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 22:48:07 GMT

Toledo - Madrid - Avila - Segovia - Sintra - Cordoba - Seville - Marbello - Granada - Oviedo - Santiago de Compostela

Dates: September 10 - October xx, 2017

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Daily Events

Group Photo

Tour Highlights

The numbers on the map tie to the date in September when the group arrived at each destination.

Moment of Peace Videos

David Sand Write Up

Moment of Peace Videos

Zen of the Mystical Traveler - Japan 2016

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 20:16:10 GMT

Tokyo - Mt. Fuji - Matsumoto - Kyoto - Shuzen-ji - Tokyo

Dates: September 23 - October 4, 2016

John Morton and staff went on a 10-day tour of Japan with over 60 participants in late-September, 2016. In addition to the main tour, a Benefactors extension of 3 nights at the end of the tour included private sharing and unique experiences.

Daily Events

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

France - 2015

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 22:14:09 GMT

Paris - Montsegur - Pyrenees - Lourdes - Moissac

Dates: September 17 - October 2, 2015

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Daily Events

Group Photo

Photo Gallery

Moment of Peace Videos

The Light Tour - Israel 2014

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 22:47:57 GMT

Jerusalem

Dates: September 12-26, 2014

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Daily Events

Group Picture

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

England - Founders Dinner 2013

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 04:04:47 GMT

London - Bovey Castle Area Touring

Dates: September 7-17, 2013

Text about the trip here

Moment of Peace Videos

England - Founders Dinner 2012

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 03:37:54 GMT

London - Bovey Castle - Stonehenge - Glastonbury

Dates: September 2012

Text about the trip here

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

Morocco - 2010

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 07:33:23 GMT

Marrakesh - Atlas Mountains - Fez

Dates: September 18 - 26, 2010

John-Roger and company traveled to Morocco for the annual Founders Dinner in 2010.

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

GEVUROT-HERO - Israel 2009

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:28:28 GMT

Jerusalem

Dates: September 8-17, 2009

This J-R birthday celebration in Israel came together when Jsu came up with the concept and then a lot of people just decided to attend. Read some of the first-person accounts below.

Daily Events

Moments of Peace Videos

First Person Accounts

Candy Spitzer

For the past 9 days I have been so blessed to visit Israel and Jordan in honor of J-R’s birthday. We (150+ folks) joined Jsu, John Morton, and the MSIA presidency to be Light bearers and emissaries of peace. The first 3 days we toured Jerusalem in many of the places that were visited by the PAT IV and PAT V trips. This time was especially significant as it was the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days. The peace and Light that we were all bringing first to ourselves, each other, and the people of the land was palpable. We toured the Old City of Jerusalem, dipped in the Dead Sea, and all got baptized in the river Jordan. We visited the Sea of Galilee and took a boat ride across it.

These touring days were followed by 2 glorious days of sharing from John-Roger, Jsu, Michael Hayes, and John Morton. Between the shadings we were all entertained by stories of J-R’s childhood from his brother Delile. If you have not met Delile yet, he and his wife Elda are 2 of the sweetest and kindest people around.

56 people stayed over to continue the celebration in Jordan. We spent an amazing day in the ancient city of Petra, which is stunning. The town was carved into the rock over 2200 years ago. The beauty and majesty of the city is amazing. Later that evening Jsu surprised us all by taking us to the home of a Bedouin sheik whose tribe prepared a scrumptious meal for us (sans onion and garlic). We ate and shared our peace and Light in the tent in the desert.

The next day we all climbed back on the bus for a real desert experience. We piled into Land Cruisers and headed out into the red sand desert in the Wadi Rum for a tour of the Seven Pillars of the desert. The rock formations in the mountains are the home for several Bedouin villages. The Bedouins are very kind souls who prefer to live in tents made of tightly woven sheep wool. They have camels whose feet seem to glide across the sand. Several of us got camel rides in the desert of Israel and Jordan.

After wandering in the desert for a few hours we were once again fed by Bedouins before we headed back to the ocean city of Aqaba, where we swam in the magnificent waters brimming with coral reefs and amazing fish.

One of the things I have learned from being in the Middle East is how loving each person I met is. I envision a time where each of us can drop our positions and just love one another. They describe this region as the land of milk and honey. I have experienced the sweetness of this land and it’s people. What strikes me is how much each person loves God. And I will come home with the richness of the love of God and all His people.

Thank you Jsu for making this trip possible. And Happy Birthday J-R!

LL, Candy Spitzer

Holy Zeus! J-R’s 75th Birthday Celebration
By Russell Bishop

J-R turned 75 on September 24th and, as has been the custom for quite some time, wound up working for his supper. In the past, we would have called this The Founder’s Dinner, a fundraising event for MSIA originally envisioned and coordinated each year by Jan Shepherd.

Indeed, we had another Founder’s Dinner this year, only with a Zeus inspired twist. Rather than gathering at Prana, 143 pilgrims found their way to Jerusalem for a combination mini-Pat IV, er PAT V, well something that looked like PATs gone by.

Arriving over the Rosh Hashanah weekend, we gathered at the King David Citadel Hotel, just outside the Jaffa Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem. Jsu and Jan kicked things off on Sunday evening with a short briefing on the events planned for the following days. Benji Shavit was there as well, welcoming us back after 15 years.

For those who don’t know him, Benji is a delightful Israeli who met J-R when J-R was on an early trip to the Holy Lands, looking at possible sites for the yet to be announced PAT IV trainings. Benji has been with us on every PAT trip to Israel, and has become very much part of the MSIA family. Although he no longer works as a guide, having created a travel agency of his own along with a fledgling winery, Benji again headed up our touring for the next week.

We began on Monday with a return to the Mount of Olives for a traditional communion ceremony overlooking the Dome of the Rock and the Old City. We were joined by Shraga and Berta, two guides who have also been with us on our previous Journeys to the East. Berta reminded me that they would love to have another Insight seminar in Israel.

After communion, we walked down to Gethsemane and spent some time amongst the olive trees that were there when Jesus prayed that fateful night of his betrayal. John Morton treated us to an impromptu seminar in the Garden which further helped set the sacred tone for the days to come.

From there, we were back on the bus and headed to the Old City for a walking tour. This time around, it was pretty surreal — most of the shops were closed and few people were out and about. Rosh Hashanah certainly had something to do with that, as well as the fact that Ramadan was just coming to an end.

We walked the Via Dolorosa and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

We also found our way to the Western Wall, sometimes called the Wailing Wall, the only remaining part of the Second Temple and the holiest of Jewish sites. As much as this is a place of prayer, it is also a place of conflict; hopefully, a few more Light columns will help disperse some of the negativity here as well. For dinner, we wound up in a Bedouin tent in the desert where we were visited by Abraham.

Tuesday, we made our way to the Mount of Beatitudes where we enjoyed another impromptu sermonette from John, then on to Capernaum where Jesus performed many miracles. We made our way to Kibbutz Ein Gev for a lunch of St. Peter’s Fish and a sailing across the Sea of Galilee. From there, it was on to the Jordan River for baptisms at the Yadenit Baptismal Site before returning to the hotel.

Wednesday morning we were again on board our buses, this time driving through the Jordan Valley and the Judean Wilderness on our way to Masada and the ruins of King Herod’s fortress, the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. From there, we found ourselves floating in the Dead Sea, and smearing Dead Sea mud all over each other. On our way back, we stopped by the Qumran Caves, home to the Essenes and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Thursday was J-R’s birthday and we began our marathon two day sharing session at noon with a lovely buffet lunch. One of the very special treats for this trip was the presence and Light of Delile and Elda Hinkins, J-R’s brother and sister-in-law. Delile engaged us with many stories of growing up the J-R, most quite humorous and rife with Hinkins family humor.

Words cannot adequately convey the Love, the Light and Blessings that were bestowed. J-R never ceases to amaze, as he keeps coming back again and again to tell us what he has told us over and over again. For those who did not have the opportunity to join us, allow me to share a piece of advice J-R offered me in response to my question: “Your answers will come in your SE’s.”

After two days of sharing with the Chief, John Morton and Michael Hayes, the group split, some returning to their homes in Europe and the States, others heading to England for that part of the trip, and some of us joined the Traveler on the Zeus inspired tour of Jordan.

Jsu took us on a mini-tour of the Spiritual Warrior movie, starting with a day touring Petra the “Rose Red City” of the ancient Nabataean civilization. We walked the Siq, a marvelous canyon carved in the sandstone cliffs to see the magnificent Treasury, Monastery, the Roman Colonnade, Amphitheater and the Silk Tomb. That evening, we were guests of the Sheikh of the Amarin tribe at his home in Little Petra. The sheikh had been instrumental in helping Jsu with the filming of Spiritual Warriors and displayed considerable hospitality and caring to us, right down to preparing a meal devoid of onion and garlic.

The next day, we went on a Land Rover tour of the desert, visiting Wadi Rum and the Seven Pillars rock formation. The Seven Pillars represent the biblical Seven Pillars of Wisdom and the Wadi Rum is the site of T.E. Lawrence’s base of operations during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18.

We brought this part of the trip to a close by checking into the Movenpick Hotel in Aqaba overlooking the Red Sea. Crossing the border the next day went quite smoothly all things considered and we made our way back to the airport in Tel Aviv. Many continued on to London for the next part of the trip while others found their way back to homes in Europe and the US.

Thanks again to Zeus and to Jan for putting this together and our eternal gratitude to J-R for his loving, Light and patience with us all!

Russell Bishop

Zoe Golightly

I’d like to first thank Jan Shepard for her persistence in making the, “J-R 9/24 – GEVUROT-HERO Israel-Jordan 2009” trip the best I’ve seen. This trip was more then a PAT IV. She’s truly a mama Warrior. We love ya.

Our love and support go to Benji, Doris and family. Benji did a super job. We love ya Benji. Ziv’s Spirit was present everywhere we walked.

I want to also send my love and thanks to the Prez: Paul, Vincent and Mark. This trip ran smoothly because the Prez came with experience and focus. This made the trip awesome for me. I’d like to take all credit and say I did it all but I was awesomely aware that Spirit/Christ/J-R walked with me and all of us in the Holy Land.

I’m home now writing this and I’m looking back at the trip and I can describe it as a “ZONE”. I was in the “ZONE”. I’d love to have that “ZONE space” everywhere I go in my daily life. The “ZONE”, doesn’t require thinking, emotions, it’s only requirement is listening to Spirit as it speaks to all us saying, “serve with love”.

I want to thank Michael Hayes for standing in the healing for J-R.

Delile and Elda Hinkins were so delightful to have in our presence.

The continuing Birthday trip for J-R to London/Scotland/Paris gave us another miracle. Again I want to thank our Spiritual Warriors on the ground, Zo

Group Shot

Moment of Peace Videos

A moment of peace from the Wadi Rum, in Jordan. A spiritual pilgrimage for John-Roger's 75th birthday - traveling Israel, Syria and Jordan. A sharing from John Morton in front of the seven pillars of wisdom - seen in Lawrence of Arabia - anchoring some of the great pillars of the Spirit - grace love charity harmony surrender peace truth.

Zen of Spirit - Western Japan - 2003

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sun, 19 Oct 2003 21:41:18 GMT

Kyoto - Nagasaki - Kurokawa - Karatsu

Dates: October 19-31, 2003

If we, indeed, pay attention even for one day out of our lifetime, and we are, indeed, thoughtful and intuitive, and we are watching very carefully where we’re putting our mind and our emotions and our body, we might not get much done that day in the physical, emotional, mental world, but we would deliver ourselves from eons of karma.

John-Roger

Zen of Spirit retreat to rural Southern Japan with John Morton and 58 participants. Steve Beimel was the Japan tour leader on this tour.

Daily Events

Moment of Peace Videos

Zen of Spirit - Southern Rural Japan - 2002

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sat, 06 Apr 2002 05:11:11 GMT

Naruto - Iya Valley - Matsuyama - Benesse - Hagi - Osaka

Dates: October 2002

If we, indeed, pay attention even for one day out of our lifetime, and we are, indeed, thoughtful and intuitive, and we are watching very carefully where we’re putting our mind and our emotions and our body, we might not get much done that day in the physical, emotional, mental world, but we would deliver ourselves from eons of karma.

John-Roger

Zen of Spirit retreat to rural Southern Japan with John Morton and 58 participants. Steve Beimel was the Japan tour leader on this tour.

Daily Events

Moments of Peace Videos

Zen of Spirit - Northern Rural Japan - 2001

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 04 Apr 2001 20:34:18 GMT

Naruko - Kakunodate (Nyuto Onsen) - Hanamaki Onsen - Tono - Taro - Tokyo

Dates: May 6-18, 2001

Zen of Spirit retreat to rural northern Japan with John-Roger & John Morton and 58 participants.

China Trip - 2000

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 05 Apr 2000 00:00:46 GMT

Beijing - Suzhou - Guilin - Yangtze River Cruise

Dates: August 14 - September 1, 2000

On the road in China with John-Roger, John Morton and 106 traveling peacemakers.

Daily Events

Photos from David Sand

Moments of Peace Videos

Zen of Spirit - Kyoto - 2000

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Tue, 21 Mar 2000 06:27:20 GMT

Kyoto

Dates: March 20 - April 1, 2000

In one of Esprit's first Japan offering, in early 2000, PTS sponsored the Zen of Spirit retreat in Kyoto, Japan with John Morton, faciliated by Paul Kaye. Steve Beimel led the intrepid group on a "spiritual" version of his Kyoto walking tour, through the numerous gardens, temples and shrines of Kyoto. We were encouraged to experience "ma" moments - to be totally present. John Morton joined the tour for a few days which included sharing and touring.

Daily Events

Group Photo

First Person Accounts

A Ma Moment (by Elaine Baran on April 30, 2000)

We had climbed briskly up the hill, gradually shedding our respective layers of both clothing and time-encrusted karmic patterns. A rare morning of cloud-scattered sunshine was making this day’s walk warmer than usual. A diversionary route through backstreets, continual encounters with actual and metaphorical trash collectors and the sweet sound of the Traveler resonating through our headsets prepared us for the our visit to Ginkakuji and Honen-In. We were well into our trip by now and were becoming ever more masterful at tuning inward, pausing in the moment to appreciate that which was immediately before us and then moving to the next thing.

The essence of the Japanese experience was starting to permeate our way of being, of thinking, of walking and relating. We were no longer eating to be fed – but to nourish our selves by savoring the presence of the loving in the food and the wonder of new flavors as they exploded in a symphony of taste in our mouths. We were no longer walking to get to a destination – but to encounter the still self within as we moved through the self-imposed carapace holding our hearts hostage. And we were no longer hanging on to the illusions of the present - but slowly allowing them to be replaced by the stirrings of the archetypes within: ninja and geisha, samarai and ronin, shogun and farmer, sensei and student. We’d walked these streets before and could now allow the eons of time to build a context from which we were free to release ourselves.

Ginkakuji itself was beautiful, a serene hillside retreat with a panoramic view of the city, an exquisitely manicured and sculpted garden, and a delightful complex of buildings. Now we were en route to our next stop, the small Honen-In. Time was short when we arrived: “be back in 8 minutes” we were instructed. “How could one see—and appreciate—anything in only eight minutes?” we wondered.

A fountain with a flower—perfectly framed upon a bed of ancient stone and poised to deliver the water of life

A meditative moment at a moss-covered pond—reflections for a lifetime

A samarai warrior—frozen in gold on a panel screen while alive in the heart of the viewer

And then, one of the garden’s caretakers—preparing to rake the newly prepared sand into a new expression of the divine within.

A ma moment is when one pauses just prior to taking an action, in order to move into the present in that moment. Eight minutes is more than enough.

England and Ireland - 1998

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Fri, 31 Jul 1998 07:07:45 GMT

London - Ashford - Stonehenge -

Dates: August 1998

Text about the trip here

Moment of Peace Videos

France and Spain - 1997

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Tue, 15 Apr 1997 20:04:48 GMT

Nice - Paris - Chartres - Mont St. Michel

Dates: October 7 - 19, 1997

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Daily Events

Moment of Peace Videos

Greek Island Cruise - 1995

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 26 Jul 1995 05:05:27 GMT

Athens - Thessoloniki - Istanbul - Kusadasi - Rhodes - Crete - Santorini - Delos - Mykonos

Dates: July 23 - August 1, 1995

Set between two sections of overflowing PAT V's to Egypt and Isreal, the Greek Cruise tour of about 60 travelers started in Athens and then cruised to Turkey and the Greek Islands aboard the Stella Solaris. This trip is remembered most significantly for the opportunity for clearing that arose towards the end of the journey, when about half of the group wound up hospitalized or ill with salmonella poisoning. John and some of the staff went on to Egypt to start the second PAT section while others stayed behind in Greece to assist the travelers remaining to return to the US or become well enough to join the PAT V.

Moment of Peace Videos

PAT V - Israel and Egypt - 1995

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sat, 08 Apr 1995 04:28:10 GMT

Jerusalem - Cairo - Luxor - Nile River Cruise

Dates: Two sections: July 1995 and August 1995

Here we are walking down the same corridors of time, walking the path of our own personal initiation...

Daily Events

Moments of Peace Videos

From Randy Garver:

Hanging out with J-R was always an adventure. One time we went on another trip, a PAT IV [a series of annual spiritual journeys to the middle east from 1984 through 1990—ed.] in Egypt. J-R was doing two PAT IV’s, and then they punctuated it with a Greek cruise in between, and on the Greek cruise, about 60% or 70% of the people got sick, and I think J-R got hammered a little bit as well. Then they had to do the second PAT IV ( sic - PAT V ). J-R was not feeling well, and he was very grumpy. It was like, okay, give J-R a lot of physical space. Interestingly enough, I took my godson Jeffrey with me. He was 10 at the time. And J-R would just welcome the children coming to him and meeting with him and climbing on him. He wasn’t feeling that well, but it seemed like it really enlivened him.

Alaska - 1993

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Mon, 05 Apr 1993 03:39:45 GMT

Tracy Arm - Anchorage - Fairbanks - Denali

Dates: August 1993

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Louisiana - 1992

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Thu, 27 Feb 1992 22:02:26 GMT

New Orleans - Mardi Gras - Mississippi Queen Cruise

Dates: February 27 - March 5, 1992

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Moment of Peace Videos

Copper Canyon - 1991

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Tue, 02 Apr 1991 05:52:46 GMT

La Pax - Los Mochis - Cerocahui - Copper Canyon - Chihuahua

Dates: April 1 - 7, 1991

The intrepid group traveled to Mexico to embark on the Copper Canyon Train to travel through the scenic canyon, often compared to the US Grand Canyon.

Moment of Peace Videos

PAT IV - Israel and Egypt - 1990

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sun, 29 Jul 1990 03:41:35 GMT

Nof Ginosar - Jerusalem - Cairo - Luxor - Nile River Cruise

Dates: July 28 - August 27, 1990

We must be sensitive to each other’s space, sensitive to other’s movement, to their environment, and we must be sensitive through the environment that we all share. Let’s leave it much better than how we found it. That’s a great job. From the Canadian Rockies to the foot of the great Sphinx to where we stand now, we’ve left it better than we found it. And we are better for having been there.

John-Roger (at the Sphinx)

From 1984 to 1995, John-Roger directed 9 remarkable month-long journeys through Egypt and Israel with groups of 150 people. These trips, called PAT IV and PAT V (Peace Awareness Training), were dream-come-true sojourns for many. Each year's itinerary was slightly different but all included PAT IV processes, numerous Traveler sharing and the opportunity to be on the bus at 8:07.

Daily Events

Link to the text of JR's sharing at the Sphinx in the New Day Herald (1999).

A Meditation for Peace.

Moment of Peace Videos

Service Project - Clark Franke

Canadian Rockies - 1990

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Fri, 06 Apr 1990 00:31:56 GMT

Edmonton - Calgary - Glacier National Park (MT) - Banff - Lake Louise - Jasper

Dates: July 11 - 22, 1990

Prior to the final PAT IV in 1990, a single busload (about 38) travelers spent 10 days in the Canadian and US Rockies, exploring the area with JR and getting ready for the heat in Israel and Egypt.

Daily Events

Slide Show

Group Photo

Moment of Peace Videos

First Person Accounts:

From Randy Garver:

There was another trip to Canada that we were on where it was basically the sleeping trip. We were going through the Canadian Rockies. It was magnificent. I’d been through these areas quite a bit. I would come to from this deep sleep and the tour guide would say, “We’re about to pass the most beautiful places, I have to wake everybody up. I have to televise it.” I said, “Don’t do it. You just enjoy the trip. You don’t do anything.”

Apparently we were all re-working some kind of a karmic thing deep in the center of the earth, and that part of the earth needed a particular focus that our group could produce.

Loving the Land - Africa - 1989

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Wed, 06 Sep 1989 20:56:53 GMT

Nairobi - Aberdare - Meru - Kitich - Shaba - Mt. Kenya - Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara - Kigali - Gisenyi

Dates: September 6 - 26, 1989

Here, in Africa, there have been times when we have had the chance to move to that convergence point where the Spirit and the body are meeting with the mind and emotions and causing some shifts in awareness.

The Africa Safari trip in 1989 took the travelers on a journey to Kenya and Rwanda. While in Kenya, the group stayed in private tented camps to experience animal viewing and natural wildlife. Then they traveled through Rwanda, Africa, to visit the Gorillas, most famed from Gorillas in the Mist. John-Roger shared about his reflections after meditating with the gorillas. Humans are one experiment, and gorillas are another. The gorillas shared that they deal in peace, not violence - protection and peace.

Moment of Peace Videos

From Randy Garver:

I had an experience one time on an Africa trip where we were going to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. They would only allow six of us per day to do it and I think they were 24 in our group. We had to hang out in this place and it was very unpleasant. It was like a Twilight Zone, because a lot of the adults were gone and 80% of the population was under 10 years old. It was kids everywhere, often unsupervised. Myself and three or four other people went down to a farmer’s market placing light columns and doing that kind of thing, placing blessings. Later that afternoon, I started not feeling too well and I ended up going to lie down. I fell asleep and as I was sleeping, I went into this dream where I started levitating. Then I went through the ceiling and I went through this level that felt like ooze. I popped through and it was like I was in a Hieronymus Bosch painting of people bathing each other, poking each other, devils being cruel, torturing.

I’m screaming but what my wife hears is “Help me!” But voiced softly but with great distress. It took a lot of shaking, but she finally woke me up out of the dream ooze. I’ve never been so hot on the inside and cold on the outside. Then it would shift I’d never been so cold on the inside and hot outside. Then finally dinner comes and I see this group of about three or four people that I was with, lined up in front of J-R. I follow them and he starts doing things energetically, working the energy in my body and lifting certain things off of me. Basically, we had walked into a witchdoctor’s thing, and we had walked into his level of control, and we were screwing that up because of the light work we were doing, so he put the mojo on us.

J-R said, “Your fear is what allowed the negativity to come in on you As a minister and initiate of the Traveler, you have dominion over all of these realms; high or low. You lost track of that. As a result of losing track of that, the negativity could come in.” That was a very, very powerful experience. It got me to a place where for years I was having dreams of dealing with entities and moving them out and on, and coming to a place where I knew even if they had bad breath, I couldn’t react to the bad breath because that’s how they would attack me. I’d be taking them into my body and shooting them out through my crown chakra. Just like a big vacuum cleaner. It was a good job.

This article is taken from a seminar John-Roger gave during a trip to Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa in September 1989. It was first published in the New Day Herald in January of 1990.

I’ve talked before about how Spirit can converge inside a person and how you can sometimes move inside of yourself to assist in creating that convergence point. Here, in Africa, there have been times when we have had the chance to move to that convergence point where the Spirit and the body are meeting with the mind and emotions and causing some shifts in awareness. Some of you were aware of the convergence of Spirit within yourself. Some of you were involved in your own self importance or your own gains and you are missing a lot of what could be here for you.

Being self possessed will not move you to your convergence point. If you’re going to move to the Spirit within, you have to give it up. You have to give up being self important and self possessed and you have to look to the larger perspective of what is really going on.

On this trip to Africa, we are involved in sending the Light and sending peace to the situations we encounter, the places, the people, and the animals. Some of you have been able to extend your Light and peace to the animals beautifully and others have been waiting to find out if you could do it… instead of just doing it. Waiting to find out if you can do something is being self possessed with your own importance. You are — we all are — more like the wires between the telephone poles; we are just opening up the communications and then the voice that goes through the wires really has nothing to do with us. In much the same way, you open your heart and your consciousness to the situations, people, animals, whatever you encounter; and then it is the Spirit of peace that goes through you to do the work. That’s what we are doing in Africa. That’s what you can do each day here in Africa and throughout your life.

In Africa, we send the Light to the animals — whether that is a lion, hyena, vulture, zebra, or other — in a way that might seem a little strange to people. It is sort of, “I send the Light to you and to all of your kind; and to all of those who would eat of you and to all of their kind; and to your children and to all of their kind; and to the children of all those who would eat of you and all of their kind; because that’s what God did and that is what’s going on.”

It occurs to me that we humans might be the lowest form of animal life here because we tend to make moral judgments on everybody, including the animals. And all the great spiritual teachings say, “Don’t make moral judgments.” Selection and participation is our prerogative. Judgment is not. When you think in terms of judgment, you might realize that the jury isn’t in yet. It’s been out for a long time and will be out for an even longer time. It may not get back in for thousands of years. But you can participate. You can participate with the land by way of something that blesses the land that blesses you that blesses other people.

When I am traveling, key words that are very powerful words, like one-word affirmations, come into my mind and become astoundingly fertile inside of me. Sometimes I feel like I want to stop everybody and tell them the word that is inside of me. But I know that no one will get it like I get it, because it came to me, so I use it to nurture and fertilize myself inside and to reach out in Spirit and bless what I encounter.

As we sit in this peaceful, quiet night in Africa, we have to be careful that we don’t look to the environment to do for us what we are unwilling to do for ourselves. It is easy here, to be in touch with the profound sense of life inside of us, to be aware of Spirit and the Light. And we can do that anywhere at any time. It is a sense of the “rightness” of things just the way they are. If you stop to reflect on it or question it or ask yourself, “Am I making a difference here?” you have lost it and you are back to being self possessed and too self important. Then you are sending the Light to impress someone next to you. And that’s not very admirable. Of course, if it comes to sending the Light to impress someone or not sending the Light, please, impress someone. Because some of it will get by you without your impression on it and that will be a pearl of great price.

The silence of Africa is really beautiful, isn’t it? You can experience that silence inside of you, wherever you are. It is peace.

There have been times on the trip where there have been some interesting experiences and times when a number of you have felt alienated and lonely and separated. You know if you have had those feelings. Over Kitich, there was a great big temple; it was a magnificent one; it is in the ethereal realms. How many of you felt different when you were there? You see? Everybody felt something. But very few stopped to ask the question, “What is this? What is going on here? What is the larger perspective? Is there something here that is greater than I am?” When you are too self possessed about how you feel, you can miss the greater perspective. You can miss what is really going on.

When you can look at animals and trees and land and say, “This also, I am,” then you start to establish the harmony and peace and balance that is necessary because the earth of this country is really crying out—not just this particular state of Africa, but even through the peoples. It’s not crying out for more cars and more televisions, but it is crying out for a harmonious forwardness. It is crying out for equilibrium and a balance in utilization. And that is, really, what we all cry out for within ourselves.

In all things that come to us—whether it is on this trip or in your life—you have a choice of whether you will get caught up in being self possessed, upset, angry, demanding—or whether you can get out of your own way and see the larger picture. It’s attitude. It matters very little what other people say or do; what matters is what you do with what they say or do. If you can breathe Light and bring peace and harmony to whatever comes toward you, that can be a magnificent thing. If you can take that ability home from this trip, it will have been most worthwhile. If you can develop that ability at any time, in any place, it will be most worthwhile. It would really be hoped that everyone would be enriched to some measure by our being here, that Africa would be the better and greater for us having been here… and that we, also, would have been better and greater for having been here.

In a few days, we’ll be going to see the gorillas. People are having considerations and concerns about that and wondering if they will be able to handle the physical part of that trip. What’s happening, though, is that, while you are wondering about all that, you are not enjoying right now and you are not gaining the experience of converging and moving on yourself at this point. If you do that, if you move your convergence point of the Spirit and the body together, when you come to the next place (seeing the gorillas), you will be seeing it from another reality and your body will respond and there will be no considerations to be dealt with.

Tonight, we could hear the hippopotamuses making all sorts of noise. I thought, “They’re coming right through the camp. We’re parked in their path and they will go right through the tents, one after the other.” I was just above my body when that thought came to me, and I made a crash landing back in again. I thought I’d better get this body out of the tent before they came through. So I was limping along, trying to get going, and I came out of the tent and there was a Traveler, standing there and it looked as though he’d been waiting for me an hour. So I thought, “Well, it’s his responsibility anyway,” and he guided me to an area where I felt safer. I found out, once again, that the Traveler will do that. Wait for you, patiently and lovingly, and guide you to the best place for you. Sometimes the Traveler does it physically; inside, that Consciousness is always there.

You know, that Traveler consciousness is also in animals, because we can seem to connect to them; there has to be something that allows us to connect and since they do not have the reasoning that we have and they are on an instinct pattern that’s different than ours, there has to be something that can connect and bridge us from our humanness to their animalness. And that is and has always been the Traveler Consciousness. It goes through all things. The Christ Consciousness goes through human beings. The Traveler bridges across from the elemental kingdom right up through and into the Christ kingdom.

When we were with the elephants, when we called in the peace and Light and sent it to them, they responded magnificently. They stopped and were quiet as though to acknowledge, to thank us for what we were doing… and then they returned the favor to us and we became astounded. Some of you who weren’t there can feel self-possessed now and feel left out and alienated and separate—or you can say “Thank God you were there to do that; thank you for representing me; thank you for letting me be a part of that action now.” Then you are not separated. Then you participate as if you were there.

When we travel, we represent many people who cannot travel. And even on this trip, some of us have had experiences that others have not had. There is no need to feel separation. When you are involved in being self possessed or self important, it’s hard to see beyond your “no” or nose… into your eyes (ayes) or “yesses.” Be willing to do “yes.” “Yes” means you participate; you involve yourself and you stretch out to see the bigger picture. As you sit around this fire tonight, here in this camp site, it’s either hard or it’s easy. If you focus too much on the little discomforts, it could be hard. If you expand yourself to include the larger sense of what is going on here, it’s easy. It’s joyful.

And when you have had an experience, there is something wonderful in sharing it because you are saying, “We are all one, we are together in this higher consciousness; if you didn’t get to experience this, here, drink of my cup of experience. You will gain the experience through our attunement.” When you can move your convergence point to receive, it can become as real as though you were there.

For about 25 years now, I have worked almost totally in the field of moving people’s convergence points. Saying the same thing many different ways. Moving into physical action to shake people around. Taking them to different geographical locations so they can get a different perspective on themselves through other cultures and environments. Dragging you out to the African wilderness. Seeing if the animals can do it for you. Or more appropriately, seeing if you will allow any or all of that to reflect to you and assist you to move your convergence point to Spirit and to keep moving with the Spirit so that you can experience more of the kingdom of God.

I’ve been trained by everything around me to just admire and respect what is going on even if it may be contrary to what I grew up with. I’ve been able to do that because to do anything less is to deny what is going on and to deny the Spirit and the perfection of what is. I never once thought that the hippos tonight in the river should come up on the land so I could see all of them. If I saw their eyes or their ears or their nose, I thought, “Wow! I have seen the whole animal.” I haven’t, not really, but I have that experience inside of me. Maybe you haven’t seen the whole hippo until you have seen it open its gigantic mouth. Maybe you haven’t seen one until you have seen one roll over on his back with his feet out of the water, and dance with his feet in the air, and the feet look pink. Maybe that’s when you’ve seen a hippo. Maybe you never see a crocodile until you see Fantasia.

I’ll give you a new way to look at the animals that might be interesting. When you look at the animals, look at them as though you might have been that. That might disturb some people; and others might understand how they could have been that. And others might say, “There is a part of me that’s like that right now.” If you can move to that point inside, you will have empathy so very, very fast that you won’t have to spend years learning something about a creature in its own environment. You will know, instantly, in one movement inside, what that means, what that is. The convergence point of Spirit will move to that and you will know it.

As I was talking, I looked down over some people’s heads and a firefly came up as though to say, “Don’t forget, even the smallest of things has its Light.” And as we admire that, let’s also admire the Light in the biggest things and in each other, in our thoughts, our ideas, our creations, in everything.

Make peace with yourself. Make peace with the vibrations of other people inside of you. Look at how you handle your “not peaceful” situations. Look at your thinking that helps set up separation, anxiety, isolation, and keeps it going. Look at whether or not you are being self possessed, involved in your own thoughts of self importance, being demanding in your approach towards others. Look at whether or not you can let go of that approach and do what will be more harmonious to what is really going on, in the bigger sense.

Take time to heal yourself on all levels of your existence and let that just go out to the trees, grass, river, water, animals, birds, fish, whatever… into the clouds. Know that this jigsaw puzzle, this plane, won’t be complete until every one of us has put our part in the picture. If we hold back our particular part waiting for the other parts to be there before we commit, when on earth will the puzzle complete itself? We have to be more willing to throw our pieces forward. We have to be more willing to put the puzzle together from the inside out, not waiting for it to be finished from the outside. As we are willing to put our pieces forward, other people can see where they fit; and as they put their pieces in place, more can see the great tapestry of magic as it weaves itself together. Sometimes, you spontaneously see how the pieces fit together and then you see the beauty in the pattern; that’s a blessing. But when you can see the blessing in everything, you can also see how the pieces fit together. It works both ways. Once you have seen the tapestry and the blessings, bring that awareness to you continually; keep seeing it; keep recognizing it. Keep aware of your presence in that tapestry and your part in it, and keep in mind the larger pattern, also.

If you see a flaw in the tapestry, just know that there is more work to be done; someone hasn’t put in their piece of the puzzle yet. Part of your job is to let yourself so shine that others want to become part of the puzzle, that others want to participate, they want to put their piece of the puzzle in place. And what that means is that not one Soul will be lost; not one piece of the puzzle will be missing. It will complete itself in perfection.

When you go to bed tonight, take a few minutes before you go to sleep and open yourself to the awareness of thankfulness that you are who you are with everything you have to work with, whether you call it good or bad or right or wrong, including everything you’ve demanded and haven’t gotten, everything you think you’re going to get, everything you know you’re not going to get…. everything. And as you think of all the aspects of your life, just say to yourself, “Peace, be still.” Let it be a statement but as a commandment to you and all things around you, that you and they come into the peacefulness. As it becomes your beingness, it will start to influence others around you. It will start to influence the environment around you. In the most irritating, upset moments, remember to say, “Peace, be still.”

Remember the six magic words I gave you years ago? God bless you. I love you. Now we are adding three more: Peace, be still.”

PAT IV - Israel and Egypt - 1989

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sat, 05 Aug 1989 06:34:15 GMT

Nof Ginosar - Jerusalem - Cairo - Luxor - Nile River Cruise

Dates: August 5 - September 3, 1989

We must be sensitive to each other’s space, sensitive to other’s movement, to their environment, and we must be sensitive through the environment that we all share. Let’s leave it much better than how we found it. That’s a great job. From the Canadian Rockies to the foot of the great Sphinx to where we stand now, we’ve left it better than we found it. And we are better for having been there.

John-Roger (at the Sphinx)

Daily Events

Link to the text of JR's sharing at the Sphinx in the New Day Herald (1999).

A Meditation for Peace.

Moment of Peace Videos

Adriatic Cruise - 1989

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Thu, 27 Jul 1989 07:02:59 GMT

Venice - Pula - Hvar - Dubrovnik - Kotor - Korcula - Losinj

Dates: July 27 - August 6, 1989

Preceding the PAT IV in 1989, our intrepid Travelers set off on the first section of their journey, a seven night cruise on the Adriatic aboard the Windstar, a five-star luxury cruise ship. The tour started with two nights in Venice, followed by stops along the Adriatic in what was Yugoslavia at the time (currently Croatia and Montenegro).

Moment of Peace Videos

To Russia with Love - Germany, Russia, Finland, Sweden 1988

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Fri, 12 Aug 1988 00:15:47 GMT

Frankfurt - Heidelberg - Berlin (East and West) - Moscow - Leningrad (St. Petersburg) - Kiev - Yerevan - Tbilisi - Baku - Helsinki - Stockholm

Dates: July 26 - August 16, 1988

Under the auspices of the Institute for Individual and World Peace, over 100 travelers joined JR and John for a voyage to Russia when it was still behind the iron curtain. The tour followed that year's PAT IV and started the introduction of JR's works into this part of the world.

Slide Show

Moments of Peace Videos:

First Person Accounts:

From Randy Garver:

On a lot of the trips, there were just these amazing experiences that would take place, often connected with clearing the karma of a country or region. One was the famous trip to Russia, going into East Berlin, when J-R put a “light worm” in the Berlin Wall and predicted that it would come down within a couple of years. And that happened. On this same trip we were going into Russia, in an area called Tbilisi, which was near the Armenian homeland. We had this tour guide who was Armenian, and she’s going on and on and on about the Turkish genocide of the Armenian people, and we’re all exhausted but she keeps going on dramatically about how the Armenian people were trying to purify their blood by just marrying other Armenians.

She’s is going on and on, and so J-R says something like, “How do you determine the bloodlines?” She says, “Well unlike the Jews where the bloodline is passed through the women, with the Armenians it’s passed through the man.” J-R said, “Let me get this straight. If an Armenian man had sex with a pig” (and he used a cruder word for sex) “then the offspring would be Armenian.” Well, the woman couldn’t believe what he just said. From that point on, she didn’t say anything else for the rest of the trip. I was looking at J-R and wondering why he would say something like that. What I saw taking place was that through the creation of them being special, it was equivalent of painting a big target on your back and setting yourself up for another genocide. Because people around somebody who feels that they are really special often are brought down to whatever the level of the group is. It was interesting to me that he would be willing to go to that level to, as I saw it, break an energy flow.

PAT IV - Israel and Egypt - 1988

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Mon, 11 Jul 1988 06:09:04 GMT

Nile Cruise - Cairo - Joffa - Nof Ginosar - Jerusalem

Dates: June 29 - July 26, 1988

We must be sensitive to each other’s space, sensitive to other’s movement, to their environment, and we must be sensitive through the environment that we all share. Let’s leave it much better than how we found it. That’s a great job. From the Canadian Rockies to the foot of the great Sphinx to where we stand now, we’ve left it better than we found it. And we are better for having been there.

John-Roger (at the Sphinx)

Daily Events

First Person Accounts

Link to the text of JR's sharing at the Sphinx in the New Day Herald (1999).

A Meditation for Peace.

First Person account by ???

My husband Jim and I went on PAT IV in 1988. We had been studying in MSIA for a few years but didn’t really know too many people in the Movement. I had only been an MSIA minister for a year and Jim hadn’t been ordained yet, so this whole idea of traveling with a group of people we didn’t know seemed a little weird and new and surprising behavior for us. But nonetheless we were “on the trip.”I had particularly always wanted to go to Egypt. I was so excited about all of the temples. And while I was looking forward to visiting all of them, I was particularly drawn to see the Temple at Philae — the one temple, through reading and seeing pictures, I was very attracted to.

However, on our way to JFK Airport we got into a traffic jam and missed the NY PAT IV group flight that was making a connection with the LA group flight in Amsterdam en route to Cairo. Well, a quick call to Esprit Travel got us on another flight which promised to get us to Amsterdam in time to hook up with the group. Well, this plane had mechanical trouble and was about 3 hours late in leaving. Nonetheless it looked like we would be able to get to Amsterdam with 2 hours to spare and with enough time to hook up with the connecting flight. So it was after midnight when our plane was pulling away from the gate at JFK and taxiing to the takeoff runway, when don’t you know our plane was rammed into in the tail by another plane moving slowly on the ground — but damaging our plane nonetheless. Needless to say we had to get off this plane and get on another plane which arrived in Amsterdam approximately 20 minutes after the connecting Amsterdam group flight had taken off.

Well we were beside ourselves. Didn’t know what to do. We were concerned (being well disciplined Insight Grads) that if we were lucky enough to actually make it to Egypt there would be a door monitor to greet us wanting to know what we had made “more important” than getting to the plane on time and… send us home. We started wondering if this was a “sign.” Were we not “supposed” to go? Etc. But we persevered, spending the night in Amsterdam, getting to Cairo on our own the next day, where mercifully (because unbeknownst to us Esprit Travel, the world’s best travel staff bar none, had been keeping track of our whereabouts) an Egyptian travel agent met us, handled our visa problem (we were on the group visa/not an individual visa — potentially creating all kinds of issues of whether we could enter the country or not which had never even occurred to us), put us up in a Cairo hotel and woke us up 3 hours later to board a pre-arranged propeller plane to Aswan to meet our PAT IV Nile cruise boat.

Our cab driver from the Aswan airport had a hard time finding our boat so he said — loosely interpreted — he decided to take us on an unrequested, but expensive tour of Aswan. As a result of all of this delay, we missed the excursion to Philae and instead immediately boarded a flight to Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel was incredibly awesome. And despite the fact that we had had very little sleep in 2 days, somewhere in 110 degree heat at Abu Simbel we both realized we were “home.”

Nonetheless, I still couldn’t believe we missed Philae. While we were very happy to finally arrive, the trip itself was beyond description in its importance to both Jim and me as as a kind of “awakening”, I was very upset about not seeing Philae. I wasn’t neutral on it. It stayed with me.

So when we went back to Egypt on PAT V in 1995, I was extremely excited about the prospect of finally visiting and seeing Philae. I kept talking about it prior to leaving for the trip. Philae was scheduled to be the first early morning excursion following the first night on the Nile cruise.

So… this time I was all prepared. Jim and I both had watches on with alarms. So I set those to wake us up in time. Plus we were told we would all be receiving a wake up call from the boat’s crew. And, I know I have an automatic alarm clock inside of me that always goes off on time. Plus I’ve never been on retreat with MSIA where I didn’t hear the sound of hair dryers and people walking in the halls — mostly Staff — very early that would wake me up. So I was primed and ready for the next day’s excursion to the island where Philae sits.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, Jim and I both had the deepest sleep that night, probably the deepest sleep we’ve ever had in our lives. Also, as it turned out, the phone in our room was broken. So we never got a wake up call. Never heard our wrist watch alarms. Never heard the pitter patter of little feet in the hall, hair dryers, nothing. We both woke up at what seemed like exactly the same time feeling incredibly refreshed and alert — but with some lingering confusion. And then it was kind of like “where are we”? And then it was kind of like, “oh my God”, “what time is it”? And then we looked at each other in absolute disbelief. Later that day we realized we woke up at what must have been the very time that our folks were leaving the Temple of Philae.

So, once again, I was not neutral. I was upset. I was depressed. I was confused. I was not hiding my hurt — that almost felt like anger inside — although I don’t truly believe I expressed it that way. But my reaction was obvious enough to others that one staff person came around and said that John-Roger had said if I wanted I could go on to Greece with the group and then come back around and go to Philae on the second PAT V trip in a few weeks. I was a little embarrassed as I hadn’t spoken to J-R about this and didn’t want him to be bothered by my upset. But I appreciated the offer and seriously considered it. And, kept considering it throughout the trip. And ultimately decided against it as I had responsibilities at home that needed my attention.

Later during that same first full excursion day of PAT V, we were at the Temple at Kom Ombo (we went there at sunset. It is incredibly beautiful and peaceful. The Light is incredible. the hot, dry heat is like a caress), I was walking by myself looking down — still depressed about missing Philae — and feeling strangely alone in the midst of 150 people. As I continued to walk, I finally looked up and saw John Morton walking by himself directly ahead of me. I hadn’t said hello to him on this trip as of yet — and I was feeling like I didn’t want to be seen by anyone — much less John. So I slowed down so as not to catch up with him. And I noticed he slowed down. So I slowed down more. And he turned toward me as though waiting for me to catch up with him. So by the time I got to him he said something to me like, “well, you finally made it.” I mumbled something incoherent and then realized I wanted to ask him “finally made it where?” But by the time I had the presence of mind to do that, he had begun walking off and my opportunity was gone.

So what was my yearning for and never seeing Philae all about? Was it lack of clear intention? Was it some kind of laziness or inattentiveness on my part? Was it punishment? Was it protection? Or, was it just an odd set of coincidences that I had applied undue significance to? All those things have danced through my mind. And I am grateful that they are all pretty much gone.

Where I am now with this is in a very clear place. Very clear to me that I consistently ask (and have ever since I’ve known to — even back then) that only that which is for the highest good come forward. So I am as sure as I can be that my participation was perfect in those moments for the group action and for the highest good. Even though at the time I may not have had the awareness on the conscious level to know that, in hindsight I feel I did know my participation was on track on the other levels of consciousness that may have been more important at the time.

I was struck by John Morton’s referencing in the New Day Herald about the “Journey to the East” book by Hesse, which I’ve read and will read again. Maybe my participation for the highest good in support of the group physically attending the Temple at Philae was through my deep sleep or through Jim’s and my sojourn through Aswan in 1988 with our perfectly delightful Nubian cabdriver who was so overjoyed to show us the city he called home.

So maybe I’ll see Philae someday. And maybe I won’t. I’m really fine either way. Maybe I’ll get to go on PAT X and maybe I won’t. I’m fine either way on that as well. I’ve been just focusing a lot on sending Light and loving to that Holy Land for the highest good for what is going on now and in preparation for whatever is to come. I’ll let God decide what my outer participation is in this upcoming “Journey to the East.” That is the least I can do to express my gratitude for being allowed to be of service in the Traveler’s ministry. So the learning continues. I’m just keeping my eyes on the Lord.

Moment of Peace Videos

Slide Show

Eastern European Train Trip - 1987

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Fri, 14 Aug 1987 03:39:21 GMT

Istanbul - Bulgaria - Romania - Vienna

Dates: August 1987

Following the PAT V in 1987, the Travelers continued on to take a train trip through Eastern Europe - still under the Iron Curtain at the time.

Moment of Peace Videos

Slide Show

PAT IV - Israel and Egypt - 1987

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Mon, 06 Apr 1987 03:32:30 GMT

Nof Ginosar - Jerusalem - Cairo - Luxor - Nile River Cruise

Dates: July 12 - August 6, 1987

Daily Events

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

Service Projects - Clarke Franke

Participant List

South America - 1987

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sun, 01 Feb 1987 08:32:18 GMT

Peru - Columbia - Chile - Venezuela - Bolivia - Argentina - Brazil

Dates: January - February 1987

During January and February of 1987, John-Roger and staff led 40 people through seven South American countries in 34 days. They visited our MSIA family, explored ruins and shared inner experiences on a journey many described as a spiritual odyssey.

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

Africa - 1986

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Mon, 01 Sep 1986 06:54:53 GMT

South Africa - Tanzania - Kenya - Nigeria

Dates: Summer 1986

Africa, the land of incredible Baobob trees that seem to breath in front of your eyes; of horizons that stretch beyond the vision; of game reserves where the natural balance is so perfect that there is a fascination rather than a repulsion in seeing a leopard drag an impala up a tree for a needed meal. The hyena with legs longer in the front than in the back, with an almost hypnotic strange face and strong rump, chasing after a Cape Buffalo was oddly just right.

Moment of Peace Videos

From Movement Newspaper - December 1986:

PAT IV - Italy, Israel and Egypt - 1986

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sat, 05 Apr 1986 08:06:28 GMT

Rome - Assissi - Nof Ginosar - Jerusalem - Cairo - Luxor - Nile River Cruise

Dates: April, 1986

Here we are walking down the same corridors of time, walking the path of our own personal initiation...

Daily Events

First Person Recollections

From Kim Elpers:

Hearing about the birds reminds me of a time on PAT IV 1986. Three buses arrived in Assisi. We had to stop outside the steep hilly little town because the buses couldn’t make it through the narrow cobblestone streets. We walked up the hill with our luggage to the hotel to be informed they were expecting us much later, the rooms were not yet ready. There would be a wait. J-R quietly walked outside onto a veranda overlooking the beautiful Umbrian hills. Several of us followed. We all fell into a beautiful sweet silence. Then a number of white birds came near and just circle and circle and sailed above us….to me they were joyously praising the name of the Lord, the Beloved who was there among them. I did not know then that J-R was Francis of Assisi in a former life…even more touching.

Group Photo

Moment of Peace Videos

Photo Slide Show

Seminar from PAT IV

From an unreleased seminar by John-Roger on the Mount of Beatitudes Israel, in 1986

Well, you probably didn’t think that you’d be sitting on the Mount of the Beatitudes. I never thought I would. This is the traditional site of the Beatitudes. It’s nice to be in a place that’s very warm and windy at the same time, so if you get a little hot you can cool off in a hurry.

People have often asked, “Is this the place where he sat? Or was it over there, over there, or over there?” I don’t suppose it really matters where he sat. But the words that were put to paper matter a great deal—primarily because they can be so misunderstood. I’m going to read you something out of the Book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament before we go into the Beatitudes, and I’m going to read it disjointedly but put together in my own way.

Jeremiah was one of the Travelers of the Old Testament. At that time they were called prophets. As time goes on, we use different names for these people who speak in the Lord’s name, but it doesn’t matter what we call them. If they’re not speaking with accuracy and if they don’t have any love, then we’re probably not going to be willing to sit and listen for very long anyway. If you’ve been around me long enough you’ll know that I’ll yell at somebody to get them to shut up so we can have peace and quiet. And I’ll tell somebody to stop it if they’re doing something that’s going to create havoc. A lot of people have thought that was being mean and ornery until they found out that it was just establishing a foundation for peaceful communication. And, after they stopped it and entered into peaceful communication, they found that I stopped what I was doing right along with them.

From Jeremiah:

This is what the Lord Almighty says. `Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you. They fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds and not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says you will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts, they say ‘No harm will come to you.’ But which of them has stood in the counsel of the Lord to see or hear His word? I haven’t heard what the prophets say who prophesy in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream. I had a dream.’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream. But let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.

We all have this temptation in our mind to think that if we think something, it’s true. And if we can make somebody else look small or belittle them, we look bigger by comparison. But in truth, we’re just who we are regardless of what we say or do to anybody else. And that’s the part that I have always wanted to deal with with in people—who you are. A lot of people that I’ve been around physically would feign closeness with me, and then they would turn around and play little funny word games, and I would catch them at it. And since I don’t support people in their deceit, it wasn’t too long until that deceit came back upon them.

Then their world starts to fall apart because I don’t think any of us really can, out of our own mind or emotions, sustain ourselves for a long period of time. There’s just too much negativity that can go on in the world and throw us off. I don’t think even a group of us can sustain ourselves out of the mind or emotions for a long period of time. Even if we start telling each other lies about how wonderful we are, it won’t be too long until we wake up to the realization that we’re not really living a good life, that we might be living a life that’s quite deceptive. But nevertheless, we live the life that’s been given to us, and we live out that portion of it that is ours the best that we know how. And if we can know that inside of us, then we can enter into what’s been known as the Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes are attitudes of being, so they are not something that’s beyond anybody. They are actually something that you can have. You can change your attitude in seconds. You can be ferociously angry at someone, and someone else that you like a lot can walk into the room, and you change your voice instantly. You can be yelling and screaming at somebody at the office, and pick up the phone and say “hello” very calmly. We can do that because we have a lot of ability, and the misuse of that ability has been one of the biggest curses we’ve had to endure. When we misuse the ability, we get the negativity of everything around us to support us in it, in order to prove ourselves right.

Have you ever found out that you can get so much evidence about how right you are and how somebody else is wrong? Then you find out why they did it, and all your evidence falls apart. And you wonder why you wasted your time gathering evidence to support something. I worked with a person who was wanting to get somebody fired. He went around with a petition and had people sign it, and he came to me and asked if I would sign it to get the person fired. I said no. He asked why not, and I replied, “Because you’ll start a petition the next day to get me fired and have people sign it. And I’m just not participating in that.” I said that in front of fifteen or twenty other people, and they all walked over to where he was and crossed out their names on the petition. It dawned upon them that what they do to somebody else could just as easily be done to them, so they withdrew from hurting and upsetting the person.

These Beatitudes can show us how we interpret things and call them “misinformation.” In Matthew 5:3 it says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That sounds like it has to be crazy. But maybe what they’re talking about is not poor the way we think of poor. Maybe it means that they’re not so rich that they think don’t have to listen anymore; that they understand that they don’t know enough yet; that they still have to listen to gain the word of the Lord. And so this poorness is really a receptivity so that they can receive more. If we can look at this as, “Blessed are those who are willing to receive more, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” then it has a different ring to it. It isn’t telling us to be broke or be on welfare. You must put flesh and blood on the Master when he spoke it at the time, and on the people listening, because all the people that followed him were poor. At times they didn’t even have enough food to feed themselves.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” When I read that one, I thought, “That makes sense.” When you see somebody that’s hurt and “down,” and the reason is obvious—maybe it’s a death in the family or an illness, or something that’s going to affect them and others—then you want to put your arms around them and take away the hurt. But you can’t do that, because often the Lord will use the suffering to strengthen some part of our character. And even if we mourn over the suffering that we have, we have to rejoice in the perfection of the chastisement. That sounds like double talk, but not if you think about it a bit. Your suffering has always been based upon your weakness, so if you suffer your weakness enough, you’re going to start getting strong in it. In Insight we say, “I don’t want to support your weakness.” But at the same time, we don’t want to disregard the weakness either. So sometimes we show people how to strengthen what is hurting them, what they’re mourning over, and the reason for that.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” That one, to me, was pretty self-evident. But the righteousness that’s being referred to here is to love God with all your body, mind, and soul. So it’s not a throw-away word such as when you tell people to clean up their plate, wash their dishes, make their bed, or not to swear at their kids or yell at their husband. It is something that is calling you to an effort far, far greater. After you’ve done the best you can do, you redo it. And when you’re thinking you’ve done it the best you can, you then polish it up.

After Gainsborough painted “The Blue Boy,” he presented it to one of his teachers, who asked, “Is that the best you can do?” The painter looked at it and said, “No, I can do more.” Six months later he reappeared and showed his teacher the painting, and the Master asked again, “Is that the best you can do?” And he looked at it, and said, “No, I think I can do a little more.” This went on for quite a period of time. He finally came back in, and the master asked, “Well, is this the best you can do?” And he replied, “Yeah, that’s the best I can do.” The teacher said, “Well, fine. You know, it was really perfect when you first brought it in. But now you have a masterpiece.”

I think a lot of us are really perfect on a whole lot of levels. But we haven’t reached that place of mastership, and the world is asking us, “Is that the best you can do?” And we say, “No, I don’t think so.” So we go back inside and, and work again on our own inner canvas. Maybe someday it will come out and it will sell.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they’ll be shown mercy.” To me, killing somebody isn’t part of this mercy. I think most of us die inside so many times from people misleading us out of their own confusion, their own doubts, their own worries, their own concerns. They won’t tell us that they don’t know or they’re not sure. They just keep running the nonsense until you hurt. Somebody mentions their name, and you cringe inside. And if they’re going to be in your city, you move to another city. It seems like they’re not merciful. Instead of being straight with you they’ll play the game of projecting on you what they think it is that you were saying or doing, when that may not have been what was going on at all.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Did you notice it didn’t say “blessed are those people who have good minds?” Or “blessed are those who are good preachers, or who can out-talk you, or manipulate you or outflank you.” It’s just very simple: “Blessed are the pure in heart.” A long time ago I heard a young woman say, “When a pickpocket looks at an angel, he sees pockets.” I think a lot of us don’t really see people when we look at them, because we see whatever it is that we’re running inside of us. We often call it our own hidden agenda. We put it out on them and it just doesn’t fit. We’re not being human with the person; we’re not being loving with them. We’re just going to abuse them. And believe it or not, they’ll get a chance to abuse us back. They probably won’t, and you might never know that they resisted it, that they sidestepped their chance to get back.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Peacemakers are not the people who stop fighting outside. It’s not the one who negotiates for wars to stop. It’s the one who walks around inside and makes peace inside of them with whatever is going on outside. If somebody doesn’t get your letter typed or return the phone call, instead of you going crazy, you become a peacemaker. You say, “Well, let me have the information that you’ve got, and let me go from here.” The kingdom of heaven is within, and if we’re going to be sons of God, we’ve got to start going in. That’s got to happen at a place where we can get in. But if you’re yelling and screaming, I don’t think you’re going to hear the Lord if He calls on the phone inside of you.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Sometimes you’ll be persecuted for righteousness when you may not be doing righteousness. But you’ll say it’s because you were righteous. When you’re really persecuted for righteousness and people yell at you, you just look at them. You go, “Okay,” and you turn around and walk away. You can’t argue with them. It’s a waste of time. If I sat here and try to tell you that the wind isn’t blowing, you’d look at the trees, and you’d go, “Okay.” and then we’d all get back in the buses early because there’s something crazy going on.

That kingdom of heaven is a state of inner peace. But it’s not static, quiet, do-nothing. An inner peace actually allows you to find ways in, around, and through things that can’t be found any other way. I’ve been able to peacefully get things I want rather than to yell them into existence. But I’ve yelled people to attention and then immediately dropped into peace, and they get the information. If you do it as a technique, you never disturb the peace inside of you. You just disturb the air going to their ears.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” I guess we could all use that one as a cop-out. If they’re saying false things about you but it’s not because of your being a lover of Jesus Christ, I wouldn’t try to use that to your advantage to find solace in it. I’d probably go to the person and say, “Let’s see if you and I can negotiate this so there’s peace and harmony between us.”

When I was growing up, the coal miners used to strike. They were called the United Mine Workers. They used to strike against the scab (non-union) miners, but the scab miners would sit right next to them in church on Sunday. There was very little they could do to stop it, even though there were people getting shot at during the week. One day after church, one of the young men who was a scab invited one of the union guys to stop by and have a beer. It was a hot day, and the union guy thought the beer on a hot day sounded good.

After three hours, they had negotiated a peace between the two different factions although neither one of them was authorized to talk for their group. The union man went back and talked to his people, and the scab went back and talked to his. They pulled all of the miners who were on strike off the picket lines, and they removed all the people who were out with their shotguns and rifles, and three or four of them sat down and worked out a deal. The deal was to let all the miners vote to decide whether they wanted to be union or non-union, and then it wouldn’t have to be forced on them. They handed out ballots, and the people that were non-union said, “We’re fine with it the way it is.” And the United Mine Workers union people all got in the cars and went home. That was after three months of picketing. Nobody ever thought for a minute to ask what they wanted instead of telling them what they were going to have. I think we have to watch that we don’t try to use information wrongly to justify our position. If you forget something, there’s no need to blame somebody for distracting you. You just forgot and left it, and you say, “I forgot and left it.” And you go back and get it, and the world goes on.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad.” That one’s a real challenge. You think, “Oh boy, here comes somebody else to falsely accuse me and pick on me and bad-mouth me.” I think it would really take an expansion of ego to do that.

Those are the Beatitudes. But you really can’t understand the Beatitudes unless you look at Luke 6: 20:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets….”

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” It’s very hard to walk up to a person who has three or four hundred million dollars and is upset about something, and put your arms around them and comfort them. It’s hard to even get in their house. So they get to count their money for their own solace.

“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you will go hungry.” If you think you’ve got it all right now, later on when you’re going to need to know something, you’ll be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” This is, to me, one of the best ones. If you find somebody who is really terrible and you extol them, then you can do your little negative things and get away with them because you’ve already made this big crook all right. And so we use the words of of the Bible to our own damnation. One of the great Hollywood actors was reading the Bible on his deathbed. Somebody asked him, “Are you repenting?” He said, “No, I’m looking for loopholes.” I don’t know if the story is true, but I think a lot of people read the Bible to find loopholes instead of finding how to shore up their character and how to straighten out what’s gone crooked in them. It can be very comforting to sit with a book that tells about things that you really wouldn’t want to have done or been part of, and about how people were hurt—and yet in the eleventh hour something mighty came into their life and saved them.

I love this part of the Beatitudes that I call “revenge is sweet”:

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” That’s the way you drive them crazy. Can you imagine doing that and the other person comes back to you and says, “I’m really sorry?” But it’s not a hollow victory. It’s one where if you really love your enemies, and you’ve got love inside of you, so it doesn’t matter what they do. If you do good to them, it doesn’t matter if they come back or say anything to you because you’ve got good inside of you.

This is really a description of how you treat yourself, regardless of what other people do. “Love your enemies.” That means love yourself, because you can’t love your enemies if you don’t have love for yourself. “Do good to those who hate you.” You’ve got to do good to yourself so you can do good to others. “Bless those who curse you.” It means you’ve got to bless yourself. “Pray for those who mistreat you.” You’ve got to be praying for yourself. You’ve got to make the contact. “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” I always used to add, “Then duck,” because maybe the person never read this part of scripture. And if they’re not going to read their lines and play their roles correctly, you might not want to get too involved with them.

“If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.” With some of the people I know in this world, I’m not too sure that you wouldn’t want to just stop with the coat. You have to take into account the weakness of their life to see whether, if you do give that, you’re really leading them down the path of evil or despair. If they want your coat, you might give it to them. But to give them more, you might have to say, “No, I think maybe you and I could sit down and talk. I have a job I’d like done.” Maybe the person is full of slothfulness or laziness or procrastination, and that’s what’s causing them to be in that position, so adding to that position wouldn’t help them. A lot of wisdom has to be brought into these words. You can’t just take them and apply them blindly. You have to look at the situation, you have to ask your heart, and you have to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. It may say, “With that person, don’t do that,” and with another, It may say, “Yes, do that.” It might say, “Go to the Heartfelt service projects and do it that way to many.”

“Give to everyone who asks you. And if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” When I’ve heard that, I’ve often said that somebody didn’t quite get it. I’d rather have them do to me the way I’d like it done to me, because if some people treat me the way they treat themselves, they’re going to be beating me up verbally and mentally and emotionally, since that’s what they’re doing to themselves. I don’t want to be treated like that. I’d rather be treated in an uplifting, joyous, happy way.

“Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting it to be paid in full.” These sections are profound to me. If we just do the normal, common, everyday thing, so what? What has it done to elevate you? “Love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without expecting to get anything back.’” Right out in front you can say, “You’ve asked for money. Is this a loan, or do you want a gift?” Sometimes you give it to them, and then you’re waiting for a payback. But they don’t know that. And then you’re going to beat them up for being deadbeats, but it was really your own self-righteous thought processes that set them up. So you have to communicate to them from the start what it is you’re going to do and what you want in return, if anything.

“But love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” That’s the high standard, isn’t it? That sun out there today is shining on the good and the bad equally. And we have a sun in our heart (or it’s really a fire)—not the physical heart, but the heart behind the physical heart, which is a fire that keeps the physical heart going. It doesn’t really care if we love or hate. But there are other parts of us, that, if they are not used correctly or if they are corrupted, then we die. But even after we die, the flame of the heart will be there for a long time. It has to really make sure you don’t want to participate in life anymore. This is why some of the old religions say not to bury a person for forty days, and they have certain rituals for dealing with the death of the body. They want to make sure that the flame is out. We call that the spirit.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” This is one that started getting to me. “Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over…poured into your lap.” I understand all those words.

Now here’s the catch: “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” If you give out of a little tiny hole, that’s how the stuff is coming back in. If you give begrudgingly, it’s going to be begrudgingly returned. And you won’t get it until you enter into begrudging in order to get it back. If you give it out of not wanting to give, you have to go into not wanting again in order to ask to get it. So you get the hurt both ways. There’s a part of this Bible where it says, “God loves a joyful giver.” You’re going to receive the same way you give. All you have to do is be joyful, and back it comes. Somebody said, “What if you don’t get it back?” I said, “How much is your joy worth?” And they said, “Gee, I don’t know.” I said, “Think about it. Just think about the joy inside of you.” They said, “Well, I don’t think there’s any kind of money at all that could buy that.” And I said, “Then you’ve been overpaid.” But isn’t it nice to know that whatever level you move to in order to give unto life, that’s the level you have to move to in order to receive?

“Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” One of my very first teachers had a poem that she read in class when I was ready to take her apart. It said, “Walk around yourself to see that everything is in line before you start walking around anybody else.” I looked at her and I thought, “By golly, she knew I was coming.” And after she finished the poem, I decided I didn’t have time to walk around anybody else. I only had time to deal with my stuff to get it in line.

Jesus really loved everybody, and he never said anything bad except to the hypocrites. He really went after them. If the Pharisees were good Pharisees, he left them alone. If the Sadducees were doing their work, he left them alone. If the tax collector was doing his job collecting taxes, he left him alone. But those who were hypocrites, he really went after. He wouldn’t leave them alone.

Perhaps the biggest thing we have to deal with is our own hypocrisy. We can have an attitude of gratitude that we can improve, because the opportunity comes up every day. Your mind says things to you; then your eyes start to look around for whatever it is that your mind says you lack; then your emotions start to follow that. Then the feelings of the mind start to hurt and the emotions of the body grab hold of it, and pretty soon, you’re sick. Now you know how to be sick, and you know how to make yourself sicker. But we can reverse that by watching where we put our eyes, watching what we hold in our mind, watching where we put the feelings as they come up with the thinking in the mind, and putting our emotions where we want our body to go. These are very simple directions for living life.

None of this is complicated. But if you try to get all of what I’ve said out of the Bible, you might sit there for a long, long time saying, “Does it really mean that?” I could probably go through all this again by changing my attitude and come up with another interpretation that would be equally challenging and equally as hard to work, or as easy to work. And we could pass the Bible around, each person could give their interpretation, and from each one we would learn more and more. Then we might go out and feel overwhelmed about what we can’t do about it. And yet, after you hear all of it, the commandment is very simple. “`Love God with all your body, mind and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Everything else is a commentary on that. Can you imagine how you love God with your body and mind? How about the soul? If you haven’t had an intimate relationship with your soul, how do you know how it loves? So you’ve got a step prior to loving with your soul, and that’s to find out what it is.

Once you find the soul, you’ll be able to find the soul in your neighbor. You might find out it’s the same one you’ve got. You may just find out that yours has a lot of experiences attached to it. You may look at theirs and think, “Oh, how pure.” And God looks at it and says, “How unevolved, how unexperienced. Go back and have a few more experiences. Not good or bad. Just learn from them and grow.”

Now we’re on PAT IV, and all this PAT IV is about is the experience, finding out what it is, and learning and growing. You’re really challenged in a very short period of time to transform your life and keep yourself grounded at the same time. Most of us want to transform and go airy-fairy and flighty and let people take care of us. And then one of the staff comes along and grabs you and says, “Get your feet on the ground. You have responsibilities to deal with in this life. I can’t do it for you. You’ve got to do it.” And all of a sudden you realize you’ve got to do it.

You can transform and walk at the same time because of one simple thing: As one of the later apostles Paul said, “Let the mind that was in Christ Jesus be in you.” The mind that is Christ, the universal mind, the divine mind, can be in you. It’s probably already there, because you’re getting along in spite of a lot of the things you put in your way. You have these “Eureka” moments, you awaken to great things inside of you, and you wonder how on earth you did it with what you knew. The nice thing about the divine mind is that the more you use it, the more you get to use it. It’s like running a mile. Once you run a mile, all of a sudden you start learning to run a mile and a half. And pretty soon you’re up to two miles. The ability to use the divine mind gives you the ability to use it more, like the ability to exercise gives you the ability to exercise more.

When we participate in life at any level, we gain the ability to do more of that. And if we start yelling and screaming in anger, we get more opportunities to yell and scream in anger longer and louder than before. At some point we have to halt, turn ourselves around and take guidance in our life with the help of the one in us that is greater than the one that is in the world.

We’ve been trained by this world to think that what can be seen physically is the greatest. And yet it’s quite obvious that what can be seen dies, and the one that can’t be seen breathes you and meditates you and takes care of you. Even when you get drunk, it will drive you home. Even when you get very sick with a death-dealing illness, it will get you well again. Even when you’re so dumb and stupid you don’t know what to do, you manage to stumble into it and wonder how you did that, because there is this divine intellect in there.

I think all these things we’ve been reading about here in the Bible are pointing to the heritage of our spirit. It would be nice if Jesus could have said one thing, and everybody could have gotten it. But, much like in this group, it had to be said a lot of different ways, because we all want to hear our way. If I didn’t say it your way already, say it to yourself right now so you can hear it. Always do that. If you want to hear somebody say, “I love you,” and you didn’t hear it, you can say, “I love you.” You get to hear it anyway. If they don’t love me, that’s okay. I love me. If they don’t take care of me, that’s okay. I’ll take care of me. It’s very important that we do that.

But we don’t do it out of vindictiveness or revenge. We do it to clear up what is standing between us and the Lord. All we’re doing is getting rid of the things that are blocking us from our own divine presence, which is really powerful with you people. With some of you, I think, “Wow, you’re so close to it, and yet I feel miserable for you, because you won’t do it.” I don’t know why you won’t. And others of you are quite far away, and I feel miserable for you because you’re quite far away. Then I look at it and I say, “I’m not going to feel miserable,” and I just go and be by myself. I look in the mirror and I say, “What are you doing here? A nice guy like you? You should be someplace else.” So I do SE’s and go someplace else. That is the secret mystery that Jesus was telling his disciples about all the time. To you is revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God. And to these others, they’re not yet to know that mystery.

And so the parables are always spoken, and the double-talk is always spoken. And the recordings always ramble, and the conversation always moves around to drop people off who can’t keep going with it. Those who endure to the end say, “Got it.” They get the audio to go back and re-listen to it so they can be sure they’ve really got it. And then they practice it in until that habit, which is powerful for us, becomes a living reality going the right direction instead of doing things over and over negatively.

Then you start to get the idea that everything in and around and me is really for me. I’m the only one against me. And then you have to ask the question, who is it that’s against me inside of me? You can approach it by isolating it, and it takes a long time. It’s called fighting the devil and the demonic spirits. Or there is the other way, called love it all and go see God. If you can’t see demonic spirits, it’s awfully hard to fight them. It’s like fighting the wind. If you can’t see it, you don’t know where it’s going.

But one thing you can do is see people and love them. In loving them, your love comes alive. And in the love, you find the spirit of the Lord. And in the spirit of the Lord, you find the Lord. It works that way over and over and over and over. Two thousand years ago, the challenge was the same as it is today. You have to have a Be-attitude to be who you are—not who you think you are, not who you feel you are. But you’ve got to know what those are so you can separate them out and use them as techniques in the world. But when you get by yourself, you’ll find a joyfulness coming up, and you’ll find that’s who you are. That being is really joyful, and it will do ludicrous things like laugh in church. And if we can’t laugh in church we’ll laugh inside. Then when we get outside we laugh uproariously—and then they say, “You’re too close. You have to get further away because there are still people in there that can hear you be happy. They’re in there still suffering.” So we have to get away from the people that are suffering, in order to have joy. But at the same time, joy has to be put in all of these places that have been a process of suffering.

I suppose you know from your religious upbringing that most people have been taught the process called “pick up my cross and carry it.” Except for one thing: Jesus told us to pick up the yoke, but he said that the yoke is easy and light.

Baruch Bashan.

PAT IV - Italy, Israel and Egypt - 1985

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Sat, 06 Apr 1985 07:35:42 GMT

Assisi - Rome - Cairo - Nile River Cruise - Sea of Galilee - Jerusalem - Athens - Greek Isles

Dates: March 14 - April 19, 1985

Here we are walking down the same corridors of time, walking the path of our own personal initiation...

Daily Events

First Person Recollections

From Theresa Hocking:

My Traveler story is from 1985 and a PAT IV trip with John-Roger.

We were in Italy, and my karma was very much with me, I was very emotional and very discouraged, wondering if I could ever solve the issue. In a way the issue was embarrassing, so I told absolutely no one! Not being able to express the pain or talk about my feelings with a friend was part of the challenge.

I thought it was strange that J-R kept appearing in my path, walking in front of me, sometimes “accidentally” bumping into me in a crowd. One afternoon in a hotel, I saw J-R looking into a huge mirror in the hallway, sort of fixing his hair. I kept walking down the hall and laughing inside because the idea of J-R checking his hair in a hallway mirror was very much out of character. His appearance was not a primary concern for him. But his initiates, including me, were a primary concern.

I kept walking and inside I understood. John-Roger was making it very clear to me that he was always with me, I was NOT alone. After that realization, I essentially never saw him again on the month long trip, unless he was giving a seminar and he was at the front of the room. This was a large group, perhaps 135 MSIA people. He had other physical work to do.

That was over 30 years ago and life has only gotten better. (And I finally did get the issue resolved!) I know John-Roger is with me, probably all the time, but I am most aware of this when I consciously connect with him. Even though his body left the planet several years ago, there is no change, he is always with me – just as he said he would be. I am blessed.

I love you John-Roger,

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PAT IV - Italy, Egypt and Israel - 1984

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Fri, 06 Apr 1984 05:19:50 GMT

Oberammagau - Venice - Assissi - Florence - Rome - Cairo - Luxor - Nile River Cruise - Sinai - Nof Ginosar - Jerusalem

Dates: Summer 1984

Here we are walking down the same corridors of time, walking the path of our own personal initiation...

Daily Events

From Angel Harper:

My first PAT IV trip was in the summer of 1984. John-Roger with John Morton, as one of the trip’s staff, took along one hundred eight of us through a five week journey visiting Milan, Venice, Oberamagau, Assisi, Florence, Rome, then to Egypt and a 10 day trip up the Nile and then through the Sinai and into Israel. We took planes, trains, buses, camels, donkeys and walked. And it was hot, hot, hot. I remember standing in the six inches of shade by a wall in the Valley of the Kings and someone had an outdoor thermometer. It registered 120 degrees.

I’d never been to the Middle East and Egypt was this magical, mystical place that I’d only heard about and seen pictures of the pyramids and the Sphinx. I had no idea what I had signed up for when I got on the Air Alitalia flight that took me and eight others from the D.C. area to Milan, Italy and our first meet-up with the rest of the PAT IV group of people who came from all over the world. We stepped up into our buses (there were three labeled: BUS 1, BUS 2 and BUS 3). It was one sight, sound, taste, and smell after another. Experience, and let go, experience and let go. We practiced being Peacemakers, holding peace for ourselves, our fellow travelers, for the lands, and the peoples of the lands we visited.

The PAT IV kicked into high gear early on for me when our bus pulled into the parking lot at Assisi. Tears started rolling down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them and I didn’t know why I was crying, I just was. Embarrassed with tears that were no longer controllable, I did my best to brush them away as we walked to our hotel. With only just enough time to put my hand-carry suitcase in my room and splash some water on my face, I picked up my FM radio, put on my headphones, and headed downstairs for a group meeting.

We were directed to walk as a group up to the Cathedral. By this time my tears were turning into sobs and shaking. I did my best to become as invisible as possible so I wouldn’t call attention to my unwanted display of emotion. As we walked up the hill I kept my head bowed and eyes down, feeling ashamed that I couldn’t control myself. After awhile I noticed there were these white oxford shoes and short socks keeping at a slow pace with me. Whoever it was didn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest that I was sobbing and sobbing, so I figured I must not be doing something too bad or this person would say something. I finally got enough courage to look at who belonged to the white shoes. It was J-R. He walked with me the whole way to the Cathedral, and by the time we got to the Cathedral door and met our loving guide, Father Max, the sobbing had melted into an occasional, gentle tear. That was my first experience of what I would call karma breaking loose for me on the trip and J-R masterfully holding ‘til I or someone else in the group made it through whatever needed to be cleared.

From Glen Barnett:

ST. FRANCIS
In 1984 during the first PAT IV trip to the Holy Land with John-Roger, we made a stop in Assisi Italy where, among other things, we took a tour of the Church of St. Francis. Leading our tour was a priest named Father Max who we would later come to love. This was his first experience with us. During the tour he would tell us a joke and was horrified (but delighted) when we laughed at it because of the sacred nature of the church where silent reverence was expected.

While showing us the murals on the walls we came to one which showed the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. On one side of them was John the Beloved and on the other side was St. Francis. According to Father Max the story of the painting was that Jesus was asking Mary who loved him more John or Francis. Mary is depicted as pointing her thumb at St. Francis.

That same evening while walking about the town I came across J-R who was sitting and talking with his staff. I told him about this mural and what Father Max had told us. J-R replied, “St. Francis could afford to love Jesus more. He didn’t have to put up with his bad moods or smell his farts.” It was another example of J-R’s practical wisdom.

....

ROMAN BATHS
In the late 70’s I began to write a novel about a Roman soldier who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. At one point I marched my legionnaire to the top of the desert rock in Judea known as Masada. He was to do garrison duty there. I thought what would he do all day on that hot skillet of a rock? Well, I thought, he would keep himself immersed in water as much as possible, like a Roman bath. I decided where the best place for the bath would be and wrote it down.

Then when we took our first trip to the Holy Land on PAT IV, while in Israel, we climbed to the top of Masada. As part of our tour we were shown the remains of a mosaic which our guide told us was the remains of a Roman bath. I was so excited that I turned to tell the person behind me what I had written. Well, as it turned out the person behind me was J-R. So I told him what I had written and here it was. Then I said, “But in my book I wrote that the bath would be over there,” and I pointed in a northerly direction. J-R said, “Why don’t you go over there and look.” So I did and exactly where I had written that it would be, was another Roman bath.

BAPTISM
When we were in Israel, J-R told us that there would be an opportunity for anyone who wanted it to be baptized in the Jordan River. Of course we all wanted to do this. He told us that he would not baptize any of us himself but that members of his staff would do the baptisms. He explained that if he baptized one person then everyone else would want him to baptize them as well.

One night in my room by the Sea of Galilee I opened my Bible and looked to see what it had to say about baptism. I came across John: 4:2 which says, “in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.” The verse became immediately clear to me. Of course Jesus did not baptize because if he did everyone else would want him to baptize them as well. J-R had given the Bible flesh and blood.

New Day Herald Article by Glenn Barnett:

Jerusalem has been one of the most fought over cities on earth. Some of its seventeen conquerors have included Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Arabia, turkey, Great Britain and Israel. Thousands of people have died conquering or defending its holy ground. Jews, Christians and Moslems from most nations on the planet have spilled their blood here—what’s so holy about that?

Last summer I made a pilgrimage, with other students and ministers from the Prana Theological Seminary, to this crucible of human frailty. I recognized why men continue to revere this special part of the world. However, the first stop on our journey to the Holy Land was not Jerusalem; we began in the Bavarian mountains of Germany. Once every decade for the past 350 years the local villagers of Oberammergau have been performing the passion play of Jesus. This tradition depicts sacred events which occurred in Judea 2,000 years ago.

After witnessing this timeless drama we traveled south to Italy. Our first stop was Venice, a city which prospered in the middle ages by supporting the Christian Crusaders in their efforts to occupy Palestine. The Crusaders eventually failed, but Venice flourished by controlling the trade routes to the Easter Mediterranean.

We continued on to Florence where resides Michelangelo’s famous marble statue of the young David, who became a king of Judah 3,000 years ago. Several lovely churches in Florence worship a descendent of King David, who lived in Judah and, like David, was born in Bethlehem and died in Jerusalem.

From Florence our road led to Rome; the ironic capitol of “Christendom” which fought so long to suppress the “Judean heresy” before embracing it as here and most of it is dedicated to events and people associated with Jesus’ ministry in Judea.

I found the humble, hillside town of Assisi the most beautiful of all Italy. Much of this medieval village remains as it was in the early 12 ^th century when St. Francis spent his life emulating the suffering of his “brother” who was crucified in Jerusalem. It became apparent that much of the mystique of the Holy Land is the reverence placed on it by other people throughout the world.

Having “done” Italy our trip progressed to Egypt. In this ancient land we saw the usual: museums, pyramids, camels and temples. However, we were also shown sites of Biblical significance. First we visited the traditional site where the baby Moses was found in the reeds—now an underground grotto encased in cobweb-infested stone blocks. In Cairo stood the Coptic Christian church which was reputed to be the location where Mary and Joseph hid their child from the wrath of King Herod. We visited another church where parishioners had recently seen the apparition of the Virgin Mary. Dozens of people were camped outside the church demonstrating their devotion and awaiting her return.

South of Cairo along the Nile stands a series of ancient temples. These ageless citadels were the center of Egyptian religious life for centuries. Their ornately carved hieroglyphs and cryptic symbols reveal stories of powerful kings and mighty deeds. Perhaps there lie hidden meaning within the symbols meant only for those with ‘eyes to see and ears to hear.” One theory contends that these temples were once important centers of spiritual initiation and that Jesus spent some of his “lost” years here.

Between the Nile and the modern state of Israel lies a barren and forbidding Peninsula called Sinai. Quite literally in the middle of nowhere stands an incongruous walled monastery where for 1,300 years Greek Christians have commemorated the formulation of Jewish law in a Moslem country. We spent an afternoon hiking the grounds where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

We then proceeded to Israel. It was the final stop and the focal point of our pilgrimage, as well as for many of the people we had met along the way. We were shown the abundance of Christian holy places, but our Israeli guides demonstrated their love for this land as well.

From the time of Solomon in 900 BC, the holiest site of the Jews has been the Temple at Jerusalem. When this was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD, a small surviving portion of the Temple ground’s retaining wall became the object of reverence for the Jews – the Wailing, or Western wall. In 135AD, after an unsuccessful revolt against the Roman overlords, the Jews were evicted from Jerusalem and forbidden to return. Although they were scattered throughout the world in what was called the diaspora, their determination to return to their homeland was reawakened in the celebration of Passover. For 2,000 years the ceremony has been concluded with the prayer “next year in Jerusalem.” In 1967 the Israeli army fulfilled this longing by restoring to the Jews their holy city.

The Israelis are proud of their role in reviving a once barren land, which now blooms with trees and farmlands. They have reclaimed their ancient land of milk and honey. Jews from around the world make their home in this Jerusalem, bringing their languages and cultures with them. This land is sacred to the Jews, the one place on earth where they govern as a majority.

We saw the Armenian quarter of the city. A community of ethnic Christians who, like the Jews of old or the Palestinians of today, are a people without a nation. Jerusalem substitutes as their holy city. Palestine, however, is not a two-dimensional (Jewish and Christian) culture. When I was in Jerusalem, I looked up the father of an Arab man I know in Los Angeles. His father is a prominent man in Moslem Jerusalem and a generous host. He invited me to dinner in his home and took me up on the roof of his house in the old city. From there he showed me the Holy Land his ancestors have lived in for a thousand years. “Look,” he said pointed proudly, “The Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock), the Alaqsa Mosque Mt. Scopus—beautiful.” His halting English did not restrict his expression of love for the city of his birth.

I was able to see these Islamic holy sites in a different light than I had as a casual tourist. In the twinkling panorama of city lights I recognized my Christian background. However, along with the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, I saw the Western Wall and the Hebrew University.

The Holy Land’s heart is Jerusalem. The devout of the world’s three monotheistic religions come to visit or live here. The tradition-bound “Old City” is a tourist’s delight, where sites and shrines are steeped in 3,000 years of religious controversy. As I walked the narrow cobblestone streets paving this living monument to history, it dawned on me that these buildings—built and rebuilt from the same stone blocks—reflected attitudes frozen in time.

At the time of Jesus the city and surrounding countryside were controlled by the Roman authority. The Holy Temple site was controlled by the Jews. Today, the city and the countryside are ruled by the Israelis, while the Temple is under the authority of the Moslems. I saw Israeli soldiers patrolling the streets in their green combat fatigues carrying rifles. My mind’s eye saw them dressed in scarlet Roman cloaks with spears and broad swords in hand. Once again the conquerors and the vanquished are living side by side in Jerusalem holding similar attitudes toward each other.

The holiness of this multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, multi-religious city transcends the political and military situation. The complexion continues to change, but Jerusalem remains the holy city. In the fourth century Saint Augustine wrote in his book “City of God,” “Two loves had built two cities—love of God makes Jerusalem and love of the world makes Babylon. Let each question himself as to what he loves, and he shall find of which he is a citizen.”

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India - 1972

ebaran@baranessventures.com (Elaine Baran) — Thu, 06 Apr 1972 05:59:27 GMT

Bombay - Bangalore

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FROM MURIEL MOORE:

My husband Keith and I met John-Roger in April of 1968 at a live home seminar in Somis, Ventura County in California, at the home of Lillemore and Gene Anderson. Lillemore had been at the first J-R seminar in Santa Barbara at Muriel Engel’s home. We were a small group of about 15 to 20 people.

Pauli McGarry (now Sanderson) and Phillip Anthony accompanied J-R. Phillip did the recording on a reel-to-reel tape and would play the music from “Space Odyssey” which came out in 1968. We needed to be in our chairs by the time the first bars of the song were over. Kind of like musical chairs. It was fun. The group was small and we each had a chance to share and ask questions. We learned different techniques like the water meditation, candle meditation, seeing auras and started chanting the OM and then later the HU. I had no idea who J-R was, only knew that I didn’t want to miss a seminar.

I had a Light Study with J-R that June and he came to Camarillo to do that. He took measurements of my head first and used that as a jumping off place to start the reading. It was written on a paper that had bars to record and chart my traits. He also recorded the Light Study on a cassette. He told me about former Karmic lives that I had lived and traits that I came in with to better know myself. J-R then scheduled a follow-up Light Study in the Fall. He kept a very small appointment book in his pocket to do his scheduling.

The year before I met J-R, I had a Life Reading by Neva Dell Hunter in 1967 that I found very accurate and interesting. Neva Dell was a metaphysical teacher and practitioner who offered karmic readings, aura balancing, and who founded the Quimby Light Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

In 1968, Neva Dell came back to Santa Barbara and I was given the opportunity to have a follow-up to my Life Study with a Light Study with her. I debated whether to do this because I was studying with J-R. I decided to do it and was given an address in Santa Barbara for that purpose. When I knocked on the door, who should answer it? J-R did. Boy, was I surprised! It turned out to be Muriel Engel’s home.

When I went in to have my Study things would be going great and then I would think, “I wonder if this is alright with J-R”. Neva Dell would hesitate in the reading and say something like, “God bless you” and then would continue as I allowed it in my consciousness.

After the reading, I was invited to sit with J-R, Phillip, Muriel Engel, and I think Pauli was there too, as well as Jack Reed. I was told later that J-R had known Neva Dell and had done some work with her on aura balancing.

It wasn’t long after our 1968 Light Studies that our sons, Marcus 7 and Charles 4, had Light Studies too at J-R’s home in Baldwin Park. Charlie was fascinated with J-R’s bed and was allowed to go up and down, forward and backward on it. Exciting stuff at age 4. Maybe that helped prepare him for the future roller coaster ride of working at NOW Productions with Phil Danza and others!

Eventually, J-R gave seminars in Sandy and Kurt Lander’s home in the Valley, then Wanda Mansbach’s home and then David Georgio’s home with many of the seminars in his back yard. We went to the Light Castle as well.

In October 1972 Keith and I had the good fortune to be in India with J-R, Phillip Anthony, Wesley, Michael Sun, Bob Tackney, Beverly Terrell, Muriel Engel, Mark Holmes, Tom Johnson, and Jeri and Bob Silver. Previously we had been invited by our friends, Herb and Carol Daly, to go with them while they traveled India and then were going to visit the Ashram in Puttaparthi to meet Sathya Sai Baba. I had this strong desire to go on this trip when I heard that J-R would be there. Keith said he wouldn’t be going, but when he heard that I decided to go he decided to go to protect me. Thank God!

We were encouraged to go by our friends Jeri and Bob Silver who were in our home for a taped seminar. We decided to go on the part of the trip when the Daly’s would be at Sathya Sai Baba’s Ashram in Bangalore and J-R would be there as well. We decided to go to India on Thursday morning. I called J-R and asked if that would be alright. He approved and then we went full-out.

Speaking with Mark Holmes 42 years later, I learned that Mark had a similar experience. We decided to act “as if” it would work and be content with the results. We didn’t have passports so I took papers to Los Angeles on Thursday and the person in line ahead of me wanted to get his passport for a trip he was taking 2 weeks away. He was turned down. I thought well, guess this trip is not to be. When my turn came I told her we were leaving Monday night and she said o.k., I could pick the passports the next day. Wow! I rushed home, found out what shots we needed, yellow fever and small pox, found a doctor who could give them to us, had our shots, found out the name of the Indian travel agent, called him and drove to Los Angeles Friday to pick up our passports, drove to the Travel Agent and paid for and picked up our tickets.

Saturday, I asked our babysitter if she could take care our boys while we were gone and she agreed. She was a mature woman and we knew they would be safe with her and our family. I worked as a Dental Hygienist two days a week and found a substitute for the three weeks we would be gone. Keith found a Chiropractor to take over his practice and I went shopping to buy a mumu to wear in India.

Then my mother was recovering from a minor operation and was in the hospital in Santa Barbara. I called her doctor Saturday night and he was reassuring that it was OK to go. I called my Aunt and asked her if she would be there when my mother went home and she agreed. With my mom’s OK, between my dad and my aunt, mom was taken care of. What a great family!

On the way to the LA airport we stopped at the store and bought 3 big jugs of water. This was before the age of carrying water bottles. Monday night we boarded a non-stop plane from Los Angeles to Paris and J-R and staff met us at the airport in Paris. We traveled the Metro with our luggage, trunk and water bottles to a small, intimate hotel called Hotel St. Marie not too far from the Louvre. We had a lovely dinner at a small restaurant in the upper room. We left the next morning on Air France stopping at Tel Aviv, Israel; Tehran, Iran and then on to Bombay, India.

My most lasting and unique experience on our trip to India was having the feeling of being completely and totally encapsulated in layers and layers of Light. It was a feeling of Absolute and Complete Protection. I have to laugh because I had a headache on the day of our departure which quit instantly when we boarded the plane. Perfect health and well-being stayed with me until we again disembarked in Los Angeles three weeks later when I again picked up my headache. It seems that expansion of my consciousness had been accelerated due to our India trip.

First thoughts upon driving around in Bombay –“National Geographic–its come alive! The ox carts are moving, the people are talking, and I can smell the warm unmistakable earthy aroma that is not unpleasant, but must be only peculiar to India. It’s three dimensional. It’s all around me!”

The excitement and dread of my first night in India. Cement floors, bare bulbs, tin washtub for bathing, no screens on open windows, overhead revolving fan, canopy mosquito netting over the bed and no sheets. Covering myself with my own coat, like a security blanket because it was my own and familiar.

The heavenly taste of hot strong Indian tea mixed half and half with hot, frothy milk in a pitcher, with plenty of raw sugar. Small tree-ripened bananas, papayas, orange juice, chapati and chutney.

Much to my surprise, I felt a very real meeting ground, on a silent level, with those Indians that we came in contact with. As a whole, my impressions were those of a calmness and gentleness displayed by the people. One met the exceptions as we do in our country, but I truly felt a peace which I didn’t interpret as apathy but as acceptance and a general feeling of good will. This may in part be colored by my feelings of being enfolded in Light, but whatever, those are my lasting impressions.

The little boy, Gida, on the beach of the Indian Ocean with a sparkle in his eyes. He would rub his tummy and say, “No mamma, no papa”, and beg for money. Only to be caught up short in a later conversation when J-R asked where his mother was and he replied, “At home”. I don’t think he saw it as lying, only as part of his job!

The sadness as one is greeted in Bangalore by a young boy of about twelve who is totally blind. The uncanny gentleness of his touch as he passes by, finding his way. The word spread from the taxi drivers that this little boy really needed the help. The tears that spring to my eyes when I see the sweet joy on his face as I secretly press some coins in his hand. Secretly, because we might be overwhelmed by other young beggars who are better able to fend for themselves. A shadow in my heart as I see him walk away into the dark by himself, up a lonely road, without even a stick to guide him. A “God bless you” and “I’m sending the Light to you for your Highest Good, wherever you are, whatever you are doing.”

We slept on the floor of a porch. Awakening in the Ashram was a beautiful experience. Hearing the runners in one’s sleep, chanting in counterpoint to other runners in the commune. Drifting back to sleep until sun up when one went noiselessly to be blessed by Baba as the sun rose and he stood silently on the balcony. A multitude of people, but one could have heard a pin drop. A beautiful way to begin the day.

Previous to that, I went to a store that specialized in sari fabric. It was so colorful. I would point to one and the man flung it out in a sweeping gesture until there were fabrics on fabrics. A beautiful display, it was a rainbow of exotic hues. I chose one and then they measured me for the little top that is worn with it. Coming back in two hours to pick it up; sewn by a little Indian man sitting cross legged on the floor with his sewing machine. Wearing a sari for the first time, giving a questioning look to an Indian woman at her door at the Ashram. Gesturing, how the heck do I put this thing on? A gracious smile and kindly hands winding, patting, and pulling in mysterious ways and finally a finished product. Feeling somewhat self-conscious when appearing before the others and hearing a gracious comment from the ever perceptive John-Roger, saying something like, “You really look very natural in that sari.” Feeling very grateful for his perceptiveness.

Watching J-R, knowing his spirituality, but being constantly astounded on how beautifully he handles and moves around in the physical. Boy, can he ever handle his 10% !!!!

The encounter between J-R and Baba—feeling that much went on that I didn’t know about—perhaps may never know about—but was curious to know about!

Baba was small, giving the appearance of being larger, graceful, gentle and impish. The most surprising thing to me was his sense of humor, and that I could respond to. The astounding moment when Baba manifested rings, necklaces, pendants, statues, candy and sacred ash. Seeing it, mostly believing it, and being equally astounded that my own innermost response is one of “That’s really interesting, but it doesn’t really matter, I like him anyway as a person.” Which is pretty nonchalant at best!

Sitting on the steps of our quarters and having, what were to me, informal seminars by J-R. No words to express that one.

Plenty of words to express the plumbing system at the Ashram. A raised platform, two pieces of wood shaped like feet on which to squat over a hole in the floor, no flush system except a pitcher of water. A real experience. As I said before, “The earthy fragrance of India.” Treating our Basics to the luxurious Hotel Ashoka after the Ashram.

The naturalness of coming out of the Hotel Ashoka at any time of day and knowing that our own taxi driver would be there without ever verbally making any sort of agreement. Never asking the price of a fare, but always being treated fairly. The luxury of having him stay with us while we were shopping, following us around, taking care of our packages in the taxi. The complete trust, the satisfaction in knowing it was deserved. The little thing inside that tickled with delight finding out he was a Muslim and fasting between sunup and sunset!

I saw Princess Hermilla at the Ashoka hotel. I had met her previously at a tea that was given for her by a friend in Ventura. She was wearing a sari and I was wearing a pants suit. When I saw her at the Ashoka Hotel in India, she was wearing the pants suit and I was wearing a sari! Buying an oil painting of turbaned Indian man eating fruit.

Being awakened by J-R ever so gently and softly as I lay sleeping on a bench in a Bombay airport. That is probably not as good as what it might be to have the memory of his coming to take you off to the Soul Realm, but it must come close. Leaving Bombay on a humorous note — when we went through customs the men went to one side and the women went through a curtain behind which there were two Indian women in their saris sitting in the lotus position on a raised platform. We had to lift our skirts and the women would then giggle.

Commenting on the plane to J-R that it would really be neat if we had Bhajans to sing in MSIA and J-R saying that Michael had started to work on that. My thinking, what a great idea that was!

The sadness of parting with J-R and the boys at the Paris airport as they left for New York and we left for London. The preoccupied look in J-R’s eye as we said “goodbye” and he said something like, “Until later.” It helped to cut the cord we placed by the joy of being close in the physical.

A heavenly trip, never to be forgotten. As I read once, “A memory that lingers forever after is a wonderful blessing.”

Videos

Note: This is probably from a different trip than the photo above...

the-travelers-tours

Bulgaria Tour with the Traveler - 2019

Dobarsko - Banasko - Sandanski - Rila Mountains - Sofia ﻿

Dates: August 11 - 18, 2019

Daily Events

Group Photo

Heaven on Earth - Swiss Alps and Italy 2018

Geneva - Chamonix - Zermatt - St. Moritz - Lake Como - Milan - Rome - Amalfi Coast - Capri

Dates: September 15-October 7, 2018

“My job is to awaken the soul into the soul realm, so you can have heaven while you’re on earth.”

John-Roger, DSS.

Daily Events

JR Legacy Tour

Moment of Peace Videos

The Way of the Traveler - Spain and Portugal 2017

Toledo - Madrid - Avila - Segovia - Sintra - Cordoba - Seville - Marbello - Granada - Oviedo - Santiago de Compostela

Dates: September 10 - October xx, 2017

Daily Events

Group Photo

Tour Highlights

Moment of Peace Videos

David Sand Write Up

Moment of Peace Videos

Zen of the Mystical Traveler - Japan 2016

Tokyo - Mt. Fuji - Matsumoto - Kyoto - Shuzen-ji - Tokyo ﻿

Dates: September 23 - October 4, 2016

Daily Events

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

France - 2015

Paris - Montsegur - Pyrenees - Lourdes - Moissac

Dates: September 17 - October 2, 2015

Daily Events

Group Photo

Photo Gallery

Moment of Peace Videos

The Light Tour - Israel 2014

Jerusalem

Dates: September 12-26, 2014

Daily Events

Group Picture

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

England - Founders Dinner 2013

London - Bovey Castle Area Touring

Dates: September 7-17, 2013

Moment of Peace Videos

England - Founders Dinner 2012

London - Bovey Castle - Stonehenge - Glastonbury

Dates: September 2012

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

Morocco - 2010

Marrakesh - Atlas Mountains - Fez

Dates: September 18 - 26, 2010

Slide Show

Moment of Peace Videos

GEVUROT-HERO - Israel 2009

Jerusalem

Dates: September 8-17, 2009

Daily Events

Moments of Peace Videos

First Person Accounts

Group Shot

Moment of Peace Videos

Zen of Spirit - Western Japan - 2003

Kyoto - Nagasaki - Kurokawa - Karatsu

Dates: October 19-31, 2003

John-Roger ﻿

Daily Events

Moment of Peace Videos

Zen of Spirit - Southern Rural Japan - 2002

Naruto - Iya Valley - Matsuyama - Benesse - Hagi - Osaka

Dates: October 2002

John-Roger ﻿

Daily Events

Moments of Peace Videos

Zen of Spirit - Northern Rural Japan - 2001

Naruko - Kakunodate (Nyuto Onsen) - Hanamaki Onsen - Tono - Taro - Tokyo

Dates: May 6-18, 2001

Dobarsko - Banasko - Sandanski - Rila Mountains - Sofia

Tokyo - Mt. Fuji - Matsumoto - Kyoto - Shuzen-ji - Tokyo

John-Roger

John-Roger

Tracy Arm - Anchorage - Fairbanks - Denali