At some point of life many of us encounter existential questions. We rush like crazy trying to find the answers right now, right here, always somewhere outside: in books, in advices, in money, work or parties. We fight to get these answers and become angry, unhappy, lost. Sometimes we even give up and go with the flow. It feels like being one of those hamsters running in a lump. But the truth is, that the answers come whenever we stop seeking for them, when we calm down and look at ourselves from aside.
The answers are here. Thanks to the initiative of Peace In Peace Out (PIPO), a little Lithuanian community in Panevezys town with less than 100.000 inhabitants had a chance to stop and look for the answers within.
BE YOURSELF
As well as You, I want to be happy and live surrounded by happy people. This a bit selfish aim brought up the idea of PIPO. Being a believer in the utopian idea of peace and justice in the world, the good nature of every person and true happiness, I was often misunderstood – a girl from fairy tale wearing pink glasses. Many students, philosophers, and neighbors claim the world as a dark place. Seeing people finding happiness in money, parties or other material things, I started doubting: maybe I am wrong, maybe material things can really bring happiness?
Law studies made the doubts even deeper. The system of justice is aimed at solving the consequences, but not the causes, to solve the conflicts, but not to heal the causes of conflicts. So maybe, if even law systems aims to deny the inner causes of conflicts, maybe I am wrong? The search of answers made me experience so many things, meet many different people, become part of different communities, realize that poor Dominican Republic communities are often happier than the wealthy Long Island ones, realize, that my neighbors, living in a tiny house, are happier than the ones living in a fancy house and having no time to use their other two houses.
The search of answers made me experience so many things, meet many different people, become part of different communities, realize that poor Dominican Republic communities are often happier than the wealthy Long Island ones, realize that my neighbors, living in a tiny house, are happier than the ones living in a fancy house and having no time to use their other two houses. Finally, the search lead towards the Peace Revolution Project! It seemed that their ideas are my ideas. Yes, inner peace and outer peace are not utopia at all. After joining the Peace Revolution self-development program and participating in a retreat in Thailand, the answer came – that’s it! The confirmation I was looking for – the sustainable happiness exists not just in fairy tales – we just need to open our eyes and be ourselves.
The outer conflicts, no matter interpersonal or international, will exist until people can solve their inner conflicts. Peace Revolution, the meditation program and retreat in Mooktawan paradise helped in realizing that inner peace and happiness comes whenever you are true to yourself. It inspired to share the idea with my community.
IDEA OF PIPO – WORLD HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE DAY
The thoughts about PIPO started during the retreat in Thailand. Being there in a Mooktawan paradise the mind becomes so pure that great ideas come – I knew that PIPO will happen on the 10th of October 2014. This day is a World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. A day, devoted to people, who cannot be cured, to people, who are facing the situation of death. Working for some years in the sphere of Palliative Care and communicating with people at the end of life, I realized that all of them start questioning their happiness and often realize that it was within them all the time. But why we need to face death to understand this? “We cannot add years to life. Let’s add life to the years”.
This symbolic day was a great day for PIPO – to remind people, what the happiness is and where to find it. A group of 320 seekers of happiness gathered together in Panevezys Musical Theater to listen to the wisdoms of teaching Monk LP John and to get the insight into meditation. It was a bit worrying to introduce such a new thing to a big audience. But there was no reason to doubt – people left with little smiles on their faces.
THE DEMAND FOR HAPPINESS
In collaboration with the Center of Integrated Health Services, ran by my dear mother Raimonda Ulianskiene, we started promoting the event a month before. To our wonder – strangers began calling and asking for additional seats. There came a demand to organize few additional sessions and surprisingly, more people than the number of seats were registered. It appears, many of us are looking for sustainable happiness, just do not show it.
Three additional sessions in the premises of Center of Integrated Health Services were organized successfully, more than 80% of the registered participants showed up. Some of them were so inspired, that came to all the sessions. The impact was significant. The teaching Monk was asked to give an interview by the biggest local newspapers. The reporter wrote: “Thank you. All of you charmed me with some magical peaceful energy.”
A SEED OF INNER PEACE
Everyone wants to live happily ever after. Like in a fairy tale. So let’s do it! Thanks to Peace Revolution and the PIPO tours, the seed of Inner Peace was planted in Panevezys, Lithuania. People around me seem happier. In the office, the volunteers, those girls, who had a chance to meet the Monk, a lady passing me in the street, who attended PIPO. Some of them started to meditate; others started questioning themselves. The ones who need it, know they have a seed, which they can start watering at any time needed. And suddenly it will bloom.
I choose to water my seed of happiness and to spread the idea around me. What about you?
After the PIPO, more and more seeds will grow in Panevezys community. Thank you, Peace Revolution.
