What I like about the trees is how
They do not talk about the failure of their parents
And what I like about the grasses is that
They are not grasses in recovery
And what I like about the flowers is
That they are not flowers in need of empowerment or validation. They sway
Upon their thorny stems
As if whatever was about to happen next tonight
was sure to be completely interesting
Tony Hoagland, 1953 – 2018) American poet.
Same understanding as yesterday’s quote, but from the Western tradition
I have spoken at times of a light in the deepest self,
a light that is uncreated and uncreatable,
and to the extent that we can turn away from created things, we shall find our unity and blessing in that little spark,
which neither space nor time touches.
Meister Eckhart
From the beginning, we all have a clear, wondrously bright field.
The many lifetimes of misunderstanding come only from distrust, hindrance, and the screens of confusion that we create.
Having turned yourself around, accept your situation;
if you set foot on the path, spiritual energy will marvellously carry you forward.
Contact all phenomena with total sincerity, with not a single atom of dust from outside yourself.
Hongzhi Zhengjue 1091-1157, Chan master, The Misunderstanding of Many Lifetimes
Spring and all its flowers now
joyously break their vow of silence.
It is time for
celebration, not for
lying low.
Hafiz
We don’t have to have any qualifications to watch our breath. We do not even need to be particularly intelligent — all we have to do is to be content with, and aware of, one inhalation and exhalation.
Wisdom does not come from studying great theories and philosophies, but from observing the ordinary.
Ajahn Sumedho
When people come to you for help, do not turn them off with pious words, saying, ‘Have faith and take your troubles to God.’
Act instead as though there were no God, as though there were only one person in the world who could help – only yourself.
Martin Buber, philosopher, 1978 – 1965
Mindfulbalance 