I don’t mind

peach blossom river
J. Krishnamurti, the great Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher, spoke and travelled almost continually all over the world for more than fifty years attempting to convey through words…that which is beyond words. At one of his talks in the later part of his life, he surprised his audience by asking, “Do you want to know my secret?”

Everyone became very alert. Many people in the audience had been coming to listen to him for twenty or thirty years and still failed to grasp the essence of his teaching. Finally, after all these years, the master would give them the key to understanding.

“This is my secret,” he said.   “I don’t mind what happens.”

Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth – Awakening to your Life’s Purpose’

Listening

carrying load

My grandmother’s eyes say Allah is everywhere, even in death.  

When she talks of the orchard and the new olive press,  

when she tells the stories of Joha and his foolish wisdoms,  

He is her first thought, what she really thinks of is His name.

“Answer, if you hear the words under the words—

otherwise it is just a world with a lot of rough edges,  

difficult to get through, and our pockets full of stones.“

Naomi Shihab Nye, The Words Under the Words

Using few words

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Nature uses few words:
when the gale blows, it will not last long;
when it rains hard, it lasts but a little while;
What causes these to happen? Heaven and Earth.

Why do we humans go on endlessly about little
when nature does much in a little time?
Lao Tzu, The Tao Te Ching, 23

More about non-forcing

Statue representing the portrait of Buddha in meditation. Copy space.

Another reflection on the value of not forcing (wu-wei)  in our lives, and the benefits that come from trusting and letting go:

The ten directions converging,

Each learning to do nothing

This is where we learn the Buddha’s training;

Mind’s empty, all’s finished.

P’ang Yun, 740 – 808

 

 

Single focus

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There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment.

A man’s whole life is a succession of moment after moment.

If one fully understands the present moment, there will be nothing else to do, and
nothing else to pursue.

Live being true to the single purpose of the moment.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Samurai, 1659 – 1719,  Hagakure 

photo of our cat Barney doing his meditation practice.

Watching troubles arise and pass away

Waves1

Water is free from the birth
and death of a wave.

Thich Nhat Hahn