A long time ago three elders were talking about impermanence. One elder said “Of all those who attend this years party, who knows who will be missing next year”. Another elder said “What you are talking about is far away. When we take off our shoes and socks tonight, we don’t know if we will put them on again tomorrow.”. The third elder said “What you are talking about is still remote. When we exhale this breath, we don’t know if we will breathe in again”
photo markus michalczyk
One of the words in Tibetan for a person can be translated as “one who is on the go” or a “migrating being”. There is a deep truth in this and we do not have to be at an airport to realize that we’re always going somewhere or continually in transit. There is a tendency to be perpetually “on the go”, moving towards or moving away, always in the search of a perfect feeling.
As long as we chase the myth, trying to get happiness by attempting to manipulate and control life – whether through trying harder to succeed, trying to please others, seeking comfort and diversions or even using spiritual practice to become calm – we will continue to trap ourselves on the roller coaster cycle of personal happiness and unhappiness, And sadly we will never taste the true contentment that comes when we learn how to stay present with what is, exactly as it is.
Ezra Bayda, Beyond Happiness
photo Hans Stieglitz
Maybe you are searching among the branches
for what only appears in the roots
Rumi
photo evelyn simak
In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen,
we can hear the whisper of the heart
giving strength to weakness,
courage to fear,
hope to despair.
Howard Thurman, American Author, pastor and civil rights leader
photo bananenfalter
Your problem is,
you are … too busy
holding onto your unworthiness
Ram Dass
photo architsaini
We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us.
Thich Nhat Hanh
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