Thorn

It is not the thorn that hurts you
But you are the one hurting yourself on it
Yet the thorn is accomplishing its function
Being there not by chance
But to protect the essence of life

If your intention was to cash the flower or to cut the plague
The thorn taught you to be alert
If you became resentful towards it and sworn at it
It doesn't mind because it is sincere on its form and truthful

If you destroyed the thorn as a revenge
In truth you allowed your ego to overcome your humility
You expressed your aggression violently
The thorn expressed its aggression peacefully

In truth you did not destroyed the thorn but the chance to learn
And other thorns will come
You may interpret that the thorns are stubborn
In truth this is a reflection of your inner self
And you become the stubborn if you don't want to hear them

The thorn is not and it will never be your enemy
It is just an opponent
And an opponent can also be
The wind, the water, a stone, or even a friend
However all is part of the game of life
And whoever is alive must play

Marcelo Pereira 17-7-87

Transformation

It takes millions of years for a diamond to be built
It takes millions of particles of gold to make one solid jewel
It takes a healing oyster to built a beautiful pearl
And they are recognized as being some of the most valuable, precious
and appreciated jewels on earth

Forgive a million times
Gather a million positive thoughts
Heal your wounds with a scar of love
And you will be recognize as being one of the most valuable, precious
and appreciated human being on earth

Marcelo Pereira
July 1st, 2003

It Is All Light

There is only day I have noticed per say
No darkness exists
Only shadows persist in finding their way

In truth it is all light
Beyond the space above the height
the infinite in fact is bright
It is intact yet to be found
It is life to be bound and to shine

Clarity is beyond white
Its colors in spite of the glow
are witnessed in the mist of the rainbow

Even though it appears after the dark of the rain
It sustains the beauty of the sun
and remains as an illusion of drizzle having fun

In no time it disappears and it clears once again
Although it is gone it is also there
It went nowhere but as far as close can be
Hiding and reflecting the beauty of reality

Marcelo Pereira
March 21st, 1996 Somewhere in the air (indo para Israel)

Capoeira

Use capoeira as a drill; respect the rituals, respect each other and try to understand the other, even if you don't understand why you should try. Be patient, be forgiven, avoid being judgmental about each other’s capacity, and accept each other for who they are. Try to escape and do challenge your opponent by taken the initiative of combat, but if he or she is not able to escape, try to have enough control to stop your kick or your move. Sometimes we do loose our sight, our patience and our view of this state. If that happens, than forgive yourself and be patient with yourself, for not being able to see it or to have a total control at this time, but make an effort to see it next time and change this misperception.

When your capoeira game flows right with the rhythm, the singing and the other participants in the circle, you may feel as though you all are as one. This feeling is the key answer to your search. At that moment, fear is impossible because you will realize that nothing can destroy what is only one, because one will not destroy itself, therefore you will not be destroyed. This is a true statement and it may take a while for people to understand. Many will contest it, but ultimately that is what the learning will be and that is the only thing that will bring you peace.

All capoeiristas all over the world must shop around before joining any capoeira group. I mean shop for the best capoeira group for you. Check all capoeira classes available, sit and watch a class, see if it fits you, see if you get a peaceful feeling from the instructor and a calm fun and joyful general feeling from the group. If you have already been involved with a particularly group before knowing this, you may still do the same. You have the right to change groups and find the environment that is right for you. Capoeira is an art that usually involves life commitment. If you really like it you might be in for life! The only way that that could happen in a healthy way is if you make a healthy choice for yourself. If you are already happy where you are, congratulations! You have found the right place. Remember one thing though: Happiness is not necessary to achieve what you want, but is to want what you have achieved! Is there total peace in that achievement? If the answer is yes than you are successful, if the answer is no, there is still time for a change to correct your choice.

Fear & Conflict

There are all kinds of fear in life, from the horrifying fear of death, to the impractical feeling of jealousy. Every fear is fear just the same and its origins begin with the thought that there is something wrong with you. The greatest challenge of all is to look within and to have the willingness to accept that the only barrier you really have is the fear that resides inside and the only way to overcome it, is to know that nothing is wrong with you.

For practical reasons we are taught to obey and accurately perform society's rituals and etiquette in order to avoid, cover-up, and save us from the struggle of having to deal with fear. The rituals and drills may help us and give us some time to reflect until we better understand.

When that understanding happens we will drop the need of any affirmation, because the truth will be so clear that nothing will be able to darken it from your vision. You will know for sure that your vision is correct, not by a mental decision, but by a feeling of peace you will have in any circumstance in life. This feeling of peace will not come from your rational mind, but from some intuitive certainty that you are connected with every thing and everyone. Change is constant and it is revealed in life through our ups and downs and the differences we may have with each other. With that understanding you will know that no one can hurt you, because every appearance of an attack is, in fact, just a call for love.

Conflict

Conflict has a purpose in life.

Its cycle has an urge,

its patterns have a message,

its solution begins behind the willingness

to accept the fear without challenging it back.

Time for a change may be a wise change for the time

For destiny may take care of itself,

awareness can avoid chaos and replace it with clarity.

Denial reveals no growth.

Acceptance imposes no shame.

To let go is to be free and to gather no blame

Conflict may not be peaceful but it is not peace less

In its essence is an endless search for balance

and its end can be found in the epicenter.

Marcelo Pereira
January 13th, 1996