A finite world

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If to enjoy even an enjoyable present we must have the assurance of a happy future, we are “crying for the moon.” We have no such assurance. The best predictions are still matters of probability rather than certainty, and to the best of our knowledge every one of us is going to suffer and die. If, then, we cannot live happily without an assured future, we are certainly not adapted to living in a finite world where, despite the best plans, accidents will happen, and where death comes at the end.

Alan Watts, The Wisdom of Insecurity

It is more about letting go

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It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add,

but when there is nothing more to remove.

(Il semble que la perfection soit atteinte non quand il n’y a plus rien à ajouter,

mais quand il n’y a plus rien à retrancher)

Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Terre des Hommes

photo hiro2006

Sunday Quote: A place for mystery

dawn Jan 1

On the day of the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year…

If we ever reach the point where we think we thoroughly understand who we are,

and where we come from,

we will have failed

Carl Sagan, 1934 – 1996 U.S. Astronomer and Cosmologist

Creating our reality

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Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind. One said, “The flag moves.” The other said, “The wind moves.” They argued back and forth but could not agree. Hui-neng, said: “Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves. It is not the wind that moves. It is your mind that moves.” The two monks were struck with awe.

Chinese master Hui-neng (638-713), the Sixth Ch’an Patriarch is considered by some to be the true father of Zen.

photo matt brown

If not now, when

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It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living

Eckhart Tolle

photo european people’s party

Creating a gap

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It isn’t the things that happen to us that cause us to suffer;

it’s how we relate to the things that happen to us that causes us to suffer.

Pema Chödrön

photo of a robin sheltering from the wind and the rain by phil sangwell