Author: Karl Duffy

This is a Mindfulness Practice Blog written in Laois, Ireland, containing reflections on meditation practice, psychological growth, spirituality and wellness which hopefully may encourage and benefit others as they reflect on their lives and seek to develop a more balanced, mindful and conscious approach to it.

Running

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In every one of us there’s a tendency to run, There’s a belief that happiness is not possible here and now, so there is a tendency to run into the future in order to look for happiness. That habit energy may have been transmitted to us by our father, our mother, or our ancestors. Running has become a habit. Even in our dreams we continue to run and look for something. The practice of mindfulness helps us to stop running and see that everything we have been looking for is here. Many of us have been running all our lives. One mindful step can help us to stop running. When the mind is focused on breathing and walking, we are unifying body, speech, and mind, and we are already home.

Thich Nhat Hahn, How to Walk

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Look

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Look, and look again.

This world is not just a little thrill for the eyes. It’s more than bones. It’s more than the delicate wrist with its personal pulse. It’s more than the beating of the single heart. It’s praising. It’s giving until the giving feels like receiving.

You have a life — just imagine that!

You have this day, and maybe another, and maybe still another

Mary Oliver, To Begin With, the Sweet Grass

Sunday Quote: Fresh

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It’s morning again…and the world’s drying off with fresh-laundered sunshine.

Life’s face is never the same
though we may look at it for all eternity.

Kolbein Falkeid, Norwegian poet, 1933 –

Weather

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After a period of unusually warm weather in Ireland, we now have wind and rain. Change and what doesn’t change….

My real dwelling

Has no pillars

and no roof either.

So the rain cannot soak it

And the wind cannot blow it down!

Ikkyu, 1394–1481, Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and poet

Keep planting

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This prophetic message is also taught by the Prophet Muhammad: “If the Hour of Resurrection comes up, and one of you is holding a sapling, finish planting it”

It is an amazing saying. If the End of Days is upon you, still, finish planting. Go ahead with the act, even if it — and you — will not survive to fruition. Yes, there are days that it seems like the world around us is coming to an end. It may — or it may not. But let us keep planting. 

It is not merely the fruit of these collective saplings that will save this world; it is the hope, the faith, and the stubborn clinging to the good of us planters that will save our own soul, and save this small, wounded, beautiful home.

Omid Safi

Pizza

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The sky isn’t more beautiful if you have perfect skin. Music doesn’t sound more interesting if you have a six-pack. Dogs aren’t better company if you are famous. Pizza tastes good regardless of your job title.

The best of life exists beyond the things we are encouraged to crave.

Matt Haig, The Comfort Book