More from the always inspiring Dogen. Very little can be added to this as we start another week…
In performing your duties maintain
joyful mind,
kind mind
and great mind
Dogen, 1200 – 1253, Buddhist monk, founder of the Soto school of Zen.
Wait in the stillness, until you get what you came for.
Byron Katie
Hell is timely, for hell is the thought
that hell will go on, on and on, without end.
Heaven is only present, instantaneous and eternal,
a mayfly, a blue dayflower, a life entirely given,
complete forever in its hour.
Wendell Berry, VIII
We often ask, “What’s wrong?” Doing so, we invite painful seeds of sorrow to come up and manifest. We feel suffering, anger, and depression, and produce more such seeds. We would be much happier if we tried to stay in touch with the healthy, joyful seeds inside of us and around us. We should learn to ask, “What’s not wrong?” and be in touch with that. There are so many elements in the world and within our bodies, feelings, perceptions, and consciousness that are wholesome, refreshing, and healing. If we block ourselves, if we stay in the prison of our sorrow, we will not be in touch with these healing elements.
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step
Each day we take a lot of things for granted…
Mountains and oceans have whole worlds, with innumerable wonderful features.
However, we should understand that it is not only our distant surroundings that are like this,
but even what is right here,
even a single drop of water.
Dogen, 1200 – 1253, Buddhist monk, founder of the Soto school of Zen.
Through meditation practice you begin to realize that:
2. Thoughts are nevertheless unceasing….
3. They appear but are not solid….
4. Putting that all together, there is no birth, no dwelling, no cessation…
This understanding gives the unsurpassable protection of realizing what is called complete openness [shunyata]. There’s nothing solid to react to. You have made much ado about nothing.
Pema Chodron, Always Maintain a Joyful Mind
Mindfulbalance 