Tag: balance

Seeing land

Karl Duffy1 Comment

The ocean of suffering is immense, but if you turn around, you can see the land. The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don’t wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy. When one tree in the garden is sick, you have to care for it. But don’t overlook all the healthy trees. Even while you have pain in your heart, you can enjoy the many wonders of life — the beautiful sunset, the smile of a child, the many flowers and trees. To suffer is not enough. Please don’t be imprisoned by your suffering.

 Thich Nhat Hanh

Might never happen

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When we wake up in bed on Monday morning and think of the various hurdles we’ve got to jump that day, immediately we feel sad. Bored and bothered.

Whereas actually we’re just lying in bed.

Alan Watts

Sunday Quote: Times and seasons

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There are years that ask questions and years that answer

Zora Neale Hurston, 1891 – 1960 African American author and anthropologist

Respect

Karl Duffy1 Comment

When the Lakota leader Sitting Bull was asked by a white reporter why his people loved and respected him, Sitting Bull replied by asking if it was not true that among white people a man is respected because he has many horses, many houses? When the reporter replied that was indeed true, Sitting Bull then said that his people respected him because he kept nothing for himself.

Joseph Bruchac, Sacred Giving, Sacred Receiving

At home with the breath

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My peace is there in the receding mist
when I may cease from treading these long shifting thresholds
and live the space of a door
that opens and shuts

Samuel Beckett at his most zen-like.

What we call “I” is just a swinging door, which moves when we inhale and when we exhale.

Suzuki Roshi, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind.

Thresholds

Karl Duffy1 Comment

No threshold need be a threat, but rather an invitation and a promise. Whatever comes, the great sacrament of life will remain faithful to us, blessing us always with visible signs of invisible grace. We merely need to trust. 

John O’Donohue, To bless the space between us