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.

Something to practice with today

Karl DuffyLeave a comment
snowdrop
What in this moment
Is lacking?

Rinzai.

Certain truths

Karl DuffyLeave a comment
File:Kizhunna beach Sea waves 2.JPG
Is is.
There is no distinction between ideology and image.
One. He records his name on a gold medallion.
Two. The philosopher must say is.
The world is legion.
The self is a suffering form.
Is is.
Waves rise and fall, but the sea remains.
Srikanth Reddy, Untitled (Is is)
photo ks.mini

Something to remember

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

autumn sun5

I will always have fears,

but I need not be my fears

because I have other places within myself

from which to speak and act

Parker Palmer

Taking our plans lightly

Karl Duffy3 Comments

File:Chess gameboard..jpg

What is the difference
Between your experience of existence
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

photo levente fulop

Sunday quote: Heroes

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

File:Superhero texting.jpg

All of us have a secret desire to be seen as saints, heroes, martyrs.

We are afraid to be children, to be ourselves.

Jean Vanier

photo kevindooley

Mud after all the rain

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

File:Flooded fields and motocross track - geograph.org.uk - 660185.jpg

Every year we have been witness to it: how the
world descends

into a rich mash, in order that
it may resume.
And therefore
who would cry out

to the petals on the ground
to stay,
knowing as we must,
how the vivacity of what was is married

to the vitality of what will be?
I don’t say it’s easy, but
what else will do

if the love one claims to have for the world be true?

So let us go on, cheerfully enough,
this and every crisping day,

though the sun be swinging east,
and the ponds be cold and black,
and the sweets of the year be doomed.

Mary Oliver, Lines written in the Growing Days of Darkness 

photo steve f