An inner rhythm

We should not force ourselves to change by hammering our lives into any predetermined shape. We do not need to operate according to the idea of a predetermined program or plan for our lives. Rather, we need to practice a new art of attention to the inner rhythm of our days and lives. This attention brings a new awareness of our own human and divine presence..if you work with a different rhythm, you will come easily and naturally home to yourself.  Your soul knows the geography of your destiny.  Your soul alone has the map of your future

John O’Donohue, Anam Chara

Two things

Life is mostly froth and bubble;
Two things stand like stone: –
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in our own.

Adam Lindsay Gordon, Australian poet, 1833- 1870

Looking for something to blame

Drive all blames into one.

This is advice on how to work with your fellow beings. Everyone is looking for someone to blame and therefore aggression and neurosis keep expanding. Instead, pause and look at what’s happening with you. When you hold on so tightly to your view of what they did, you get hooked. Your own self-righteousness causes you to get all worked up and to suffer. So work on cooling that reactivity rather than escalating it.

Pema Chodron,  The Compassion Book Teachings for Awakening the Heart

Sunday Quote: No mistakes

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose, there are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Celebrate Life

To me, life in its totality is good. And when you understand life in its totality, only then can you celebrate; otherwise not. Celebration means: whatsoever happens is irrelevant – I will celebrate. Celebration is not conditional on certain things: “When I am happy then I will celebrate,” or, “When I am unhappy I will not celebrate.” Celebration is unconditional; I celebrate life.

Osho

Remember

All wisdom traditions, religious and secular, speak of the ability to maintain a still place within, no matter how busy we are. The word mindfulness traces its origin to the pali word “to remember”

The true saint goes in and out amongst the people

and eats and sleeps with them

and buys and sells in the market

and marries and takes part in social intercourse,

and never forgets God for a single moment.

Abu Sa’id ibn Abi l-Tkayr, Sufi Poet, 967 – 1049