the deepest self

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

A clear bright field

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

Sunday Quote: a good day

Spring and all its flowers now
joyously break their vow of silence.
It is time for
celebration, not for
lying low.

Hafiz

The ordinary

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

for another person

All you can do for another person is be an environment

in which if they wanted to come up for air,

they could.

Ram Dass

Only one person

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