Tag: heart

Pruning

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The other morning a friend shared that when he was a little boy, he loved to watch his grandfather prune trees, and his memory of it has become a helpful metaphor during the COVID-19 crisis.

He explained that after the pruning, once the trees were down to their bare essence, they entered a period of botanical seclusion and apparent dormancy. But in time, the trees stood tall again – more lush and beautiful in the morning light.

We are in a time of tremendous pruning and seclusion, said my friend.

Let’s hope and trust that when this period ends, we, too, will emerge from our global seclusion more vibrant and beautiful than before.

Kelly Barron, Finding Opportunities for Insight and Growth During Isolation

Make my day

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Even if our movement is restricted, there are countless opportunities to have an impact on another persons mood

I think sometimes about this phrase, “made my day” — that we have the power, with our words and with all kinds of small gestures like that. Even somebody being really nice in a checkout line, or you being nice to somebody in a checkout line, after the last two people were really rude to them. And you watch a transformation take place that you made — that their day was getting broken, and you made. What an incredible power we have, to walk through the world, making somebody’s day.

Krista Tippett, On Being Blog, in conversation with Ross Gay

Sunday Quote: Fleeting beauty

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Blossoms in full bloom at the moment, but their beauty only lasts for about a week. In Japanese, the term used for passing beauty is 儚い (hakanai), meaning “fleeting” or “fragile”, reminding us to fully inhabit each moment without holding onto it

Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things

than to live as hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.

The Dhammapada, 8, 113

Space will not hold paint

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The Buddha taught his students to develop a power of love so strong that the mind becomes like space that cannot be tainted. If someone throws paint, it is not the air that will change color. Space will not hold the paint; it will not grasp it in any way. Only the walls, the barriers to space, can be affected by the paint. The Buddha taught his students to develop a power of love so strong that their minds become like a pure, flowing river that cannot be burned. No matter what kind of material is thrown into it, it will not burn. Many experiences – good, bad, and indifferent – are thrown into the flowing river of our lives, but we are not burned, owing to the power of the love in our hearts

Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness

Connected

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Live in the nowhere that you come from,

even though you have an address here.

Rumi

Sunday Quote: Difficult times

Karl Duffy1 Comment

A simple reminder for these Covid-19 times

In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.

 Blaise Pascal