A person fundamentally does not dwell anywhere. The white clouds seem fascinated by the green mountain’s foundation. The bright moon loves being carried along with the flowing water. But the clouds part and the mountains appear, and the moon sets and the water is cool. Each bit of autumn contains vast interpenetration without bounds.
Hongzhi, 1091-1157, Chinese Chan (Zen) monk
photo: lite
A similar message to yesterday’s, on holding things lightly…
Long ago, a monk asked the old master:
“When hundreds, thousands or myriads of objects come all at once, what should be done?”
The Master replied “Don’t try to control them”
Dogen, 1200 – 1253
Maybe something to remember when something bothers us today, and we take it very seriously….
What is the difference
Between your experience of life
And that of a saint?
The saint knows that the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God
And that the Beloved has just made such a Fantastic Move
that the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”
Whereas, my dear,
I’m afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.
Hafiz, Tripping Over Joy
All this hurrying soon will be over.
Only when we slow down do we touch the holy.
Rainer Maria Rilke, In Praise of Mortality.
photo of Glendasan river in Wicklow by Joe King
Everything is meant to be let go of, so that the person may stand in unhampered nothingness
Meister Eckhard
Just as a snake sheds its skin,
so we should shed our past, over and over again
The Buddha
photo muffet
Mindfulbalance 