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
Look at the birds
Consider the lilies
Drink ye all of it
Ask
Seek
Knock
Enter by the narrow gate
Do not be anxious
Judge not; do not give dogs what is holy
Go: be it done for you
Do not be afraid
Maiden, arise
Young man, I say, arise
Stretch out your hand
Stand up, be still
Rise, let us be going…
Kathleen Norris, Imperatives (Extract)
Life will bring you pain all by itself.
Your responsibility is to create joy
Milton Erikson, American Psychologist,
One must bear in mind that there is a considerable difference between perfection and completeness….
The individual may strive after perfection,
but must suffer from the opposite of his [or her] intentions for the sake of ….. completeness.
Jung
Windowsills evenly welcome both heat and cold.
Radiators speak or fall silent as they must.
Doors are not equivocal, floorboards do not hesitate or startle.
Impatience does not stir the curtains,
a bed is neither irritable nor rapacious.
Whatever disquiet we sense in a room
we have brought there.
And so I instruct my ribs each morning,
pointing to hinge and plaster and wood —
You are matter, as they are.
See how perfectly it can be done.
Hold, one day more, what is asked.
Jane Hirshfield, A Room
Mindfulbalance 