We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid,
or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us.
We always have this choice.
Pema Chodron
Tag: impermanence
Enough light
Often we want to be able to see into the future. We say, “How will next year be for me? Where will I be five or ten years from now?” There are no answers to these questions. Mostly we have just enough light to see the next step: what we have to do in the coming hour or the following day. The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark. When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go. Let’s rejoice in the little light we carry and not ask for the great beam that would take all shadows away.
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
Donne–nous aujourd‘hui notre pain de ce jour
French translation Matthew 6:11
photo Sasikanth balachandran
Sunday Quote: Begin again
If the angel deigns to reappear
It is because you have persuaded him
not with tears but with your humble decision always to begin again
Rainer Maria Rilke
photo mark voorendt
Trust
When we get our spiritual house in order, we’ll be dead. This goes on.
You arrive at enough certainty to be able to make your way, but it is making it in darkness.
Don’t expect faith to clear things up for you.
It is trust, not certainty.
Flannery O’Connor, American Author, 1925 – 1964, A Prayer Journal.
photo chi king
What’s wrong with maybe
I have refused to live
locked in the orderly house of
reasons and proofs;
The world I live in and believe in
is wider than that. And anyway.
What’s wrong with Maybe?
You wouldn’t believe what once or
twice I have seen. I’ll just
tell you this:
only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.
Mary Oliver, The World I live in
Inspired by s and with thanks to a-poem-a-day-project.blogspot.ie
photo robinhood22
Dropping the filter
A similar idea to yesterday’s, this time from the Eastern traditions, to guide us as we “wander” through this day. What we think we know can sometimes get in the way, or close us down, to what is happening before us:
Jizo asked Hogen, “Where are you going?”
“I just wander aimlessly” replied Hogen.
“What is the nature of your wandering,” asked Jizo.
“I don’t know,” replied Hogen.
“Not knowing is the most intimate,” replied Jizo.
And at this Hogen experienced great enlightenment.
Zen Story
One Zen story states, “Not knowing is most intimate.” I understand this to mean that what is most essential is not understood through the filter of our judgments, past knowledge, or memories. When not-knowing helps these to drop away, the result can be a greater immediacy – what some might call being intimate. This practice of beginner’s mind is to cultivate an ability to meet life without preconceived ideas, interpretations, or judgments.
Gil Fronsdal
photo: Pfctdayelise
Mindfulbalance 