Tag: Joy

Be happy

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One of my meditation teachers used to end each of our interviews … and say to me, “Remember, Sylvia, be happy.”  I actually for a long time thought it was a salutation, like “have a good day” or something that you say just in a routine kind of a way, and it took me a long time to realize that it was an instruction, “Be happy.”

Not only that it was an instruction but that it was a wisdom transmission –  that happiness was a possibility. I understand that happiness to mean,  the happiness of a mind that’s alert, that’s awake to the amazing potential of being a person in a life, with a mind that’s opened, that sees everything that’s going on, and realizes what an amazing possibility this is, and with a heart that’s open, the heart that responds naturally as hearts do, in compassion, in connection with friendliness, with love, with consolation when it needs to:  

That that’s the happiness of life –  a mind that’s awake, a heart that’s engaged... I want to say that really what I think about when my teacher said to me, “Be happy,” is be awake, be alert, stay in your life, stay present to it. She said at another point, “It’s your life, Sylvia, don’t miss it.” That’s been a very important thing.

Sylvia Boorstein’s keynote speech Stanford University 2005

Sunday Quote: Perfect composure

Karl Duffy26 Comments

This week marks 15 years of writing this blog. A lot of changes in that time. I said 5 years ago that the reason I post is to remind myself to begin anew every day and that has not changed. Thanks to all who follow and I continue to hope that the thoughts selected help you also to see the world in new and fresh ways.

Without accepting the fact that everything changes,

we cannot find perfect composure

Shunryu Suzuki, roshi

Play

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Once a day, take a moment to remember your real life’s work and differentiate it from the games you play in order to achieve it.

Then, commit to playing wholeheartedly…

I’ve mentioned the idea of using the word play to replace the word work. If you have no way to feel playful doing your work, get different work.

This is not to say that play is easy. Real creativity, which is the essence of play, can feel absolutely grueling. But ultimately there is a sense of joy and meaning in having done it. The essential self doesn’t mind hard work. But it will reject meaningless work.

Martha Beck Blog, I Rest my Pace

No add-ons

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Neither planning ahead nor reminiscing about the past need obscure the clarity of our present awareness.

The Buddha would say “If you are planning ahead, just plan ahead. If you’re remembering, just remember”

We can look forward or back without fretting or obsessing, or allowing concerns about the future to constrict freedom in the present.

Think about it: even contemplating the future or the past is a function of present awareness

Lama Surya Das, Buddha Standard Time

When you rise

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When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light in your life, for your strength.

Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault is in yourself.

Chief Tecumseh, Leader of the Shawnee, 1768 -1813

Sunday Quote: Simple

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It is very simple to be happy,

but it is very difficult to be simple.

Rabindranath Tagore