The thing about reality is that there is no later, there’s no second moment when one is going to be enlightened, when one is going to understand non-being, where there’s no outside, no second moment – only infinite first moments arising as now. If you recognize this as the way the universe is, everything coming and going, not belonging to anyone, that’s the universe of not-self, a sense of space.
Katherine Thanas, The Truth of This Life
Applying attention to smaller emotions—or simply focusing on form, sound, or physical sensations—develops your capacity to look at long-term, overwhelming emotional states.
Once you begin to grow your “attentional muscles,” you can begin drawing attention to larger emotional issues. As you do so, you may find yourself directly confronting the underlying self-judgment and judgment of others as “enemies.” You may unravel the belief in being stuck, or the blind spot that inhibits your awareness of your potential. Almost certainly, you will confront the “myth of me,” the tendency to identify with your loneliness, low self-esteem, perfectionism, or isolation.
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, The Aim of Attention
If we sit quietly, making no effort, life expresses itself clearly; it simply happens on its own.
There’s nothing else to get. The great truth is obvious.
The heart beats; the breath comes and goes.
Darryl Bailey, Awakening
The past is already past — don’t try to regain it.
The present does not stay, don’t try to touch it from moment to moment.
The future is not come, don’t think about it beforehand.
Layman Pang, 740 – 808, Chinese Chan layman.
So far, the days keep coming.
Seize the day gently as if you loved her
Jim Harrison, 1937 – 2016, American poet and writer
We bundle up but trees go naked in winter.
Diane Ackerman, American poet and essayist
