Just when the worst bears down
You find a pretty bubble in your soup at noon
And outside a bird says “hi”
Slowly the sun creeps along the floor;
It is coming your way. It touches your shoe.
William Stafford, It’s all Right
Tag: Joy
Maintaining an underlying confidence
If you get into agreeable circumstances, then shine through agreeable circumstances. If you fall into adverse situations, then shine through adverse situations. When greed or desire arise, shine through greed and desire; when hatred or anger arise, shine through hatred and anger; when you act out of ignorance, shine through ignorance. When the three poisons of hatred, greed, and ignorance are not more, and the mind is pure, shine through that pure mind. At all times, in all places, be it desires, senses, gain, loss, right, wrong…..in all things shine through with your whole body
Hakuin, 1686 – 1769, On Kensho, The Four Ways of Knowing
Comparing
We measure ourselves against others and imagine that the measurement defines the self.
Enkyo Pat O’Hara
Sunday Quote: Being true to oneself
We have been raised to fear the yes in ourselves
Audre Lorde, 1934 – 1992, American writer and civil rights activist
Essential and non essential
Each person naturally receives his allotted share in his life.
He need not concentrate on it, he need not search for it; the allotted portion is there.
You may rush around in search of riches, but what happens if death suddenly comes?
You should clear their minds of these non-essential things and concentrate on studying the Way.
Dogen, Shobogenzo Zuimonki
Being content
When you have no desire, everything is sufficient.
But when always seeking, then a lot of things seem impoverished.
However, plain vegetables can soothe hunger.
A patched robe is enough to cover this bent old body.
Alone, I hike with a deer. Cheerfully I sing with village children.
The stream beneath the cliff cleanses my ears.
The pine on the mountain top fills my heart.
Ryokan, 1758–1831
