Every time we make a mindful step, we are engaged in an act of enlightenment.
We can be enlightened about the fact that we are making a step.
Each step can have beauty in it.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Category: Be fully present
A solid sense of self
Chi Hsing-tzu was training a fighting cock for the king.
After 10 days, the king asked if the bird was ready for combat. “No, Your Majesty,” replied Chi,” He’s too full of fire, arrogant, always ready to pick a fight. He’s relying on his own strength.”
Another 10 days passed, and the king asked again, Chi said, “No, Sir, not yet. He still becomes excited when a rival bird appears.”
10 more days. The king asked again. “Not yet,” Chi said. “He still gets an angry glint in his eye, and ruffles up his feathers.”
Another 10 days, another question.
Chi said, “Now, Sir, he is ready.
When a rival bird crows, his eyes don’t even flicker. He stands immobile like a block of wood.
His focus is inside.
Other birds will take one look at him and run.”
Story told by Chuang-tzu (Zhuang Zhou), Chinese Taoist philosopher, 4th century BC
Photo fernando de suosa
Sunday Quote: Losing our fears
Who sees all beings in his own Self
and his own Self in all beings,
loses all fear.
Isha Upanishad
What Springtime teaches us
Heaven and Earth give themselves.
Air, water, plants, animals, and humans give themselves to each other.
It is in this giving-themselves-to-each-other that we actually live.
Whether you appreciate it or not, it is true.
Kodo Sawaki, 1880 – 1965, Japanese Sōtō Zen teacher
The light is always there
A beautiful idea, similar to the Eastern understanding of natural goodness, or original mind:
Our hands full or not:
The same abundance.
Our eyes open or shut:
The same light.
Yves Jean Bonnefoy, French poet and art historian, 1923 – 2016
with, as before, thanks to david kanigan, Live and Learn blog
photo carrotmadman6
Sunday Quote: Springtime: Just paying attention
Nothing you ever understand
will be sweeter, or more binding,
than this deep affinity between your eyes and the world.
Mary Oliver, Terns
Mindfulbalance 