Even the smallest candle can be seen on the darkest night.
Always let your light shine. You never know who might be
in darkness.
Michael P. Watson
Friday, June 27, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Letter from Ram Dass
Ram Dass wrote a letter some years ago to a family who
had lost their young daughter, Rachel. Although he
wrote it to these two parents specifically, everything in
this letter applies to anyone who has lost a child.
Dear Steve and Anita,
Rachel finished her work on earth, and left the stage in a
manner that leaves those of us left behind with a cry of
agony in our hearts, as the fragile thread of our faith is
dealt with so violently. Is anyone strong enough to stay
conscious through such teaching as you are receiving?
Probably very few. And even they would only have a
whisper of equanimity and peace amidst the screaming
trumpets of their rage, grief, horror, and desolation.
I can't assuage your pain with any words, nor should I.
For your pain is Rachel's legacy to you. Not that she or
I would inflict such pain on you by choice, but there it
is. And it must burn it's purifying way to completion.
For something in you dies when you bear the unbearable,
and it is only in that dark night of the soul that you are
prepared to see as God sees, to love as God loves.
Now is the time to let your grief find expression. No
false strength. Now is the time to sit quietly and speak
to Rachel, and thank her for being here with you these
few years, and encourage her to go on with whatever
her work is, knowing that you will grow in compassion
and wisdom from this experience. In my heart, I know
that you and she will meet again and again, and recognize
the many ways in which you have known each other.
And when you meet you will know, in a flash, what now
it is not given to you to know: Why this had to be the
way is was.
Our rational minds can never understand what has
happened, but our hearts - if we can keep them open
to God - will find their own intuitive way. Rachel came
through you to do her work on earth, which includes her
manner of death. Now her soul is free, and the love that
you share with her is invulnerable to the winds of
changing time and space.
In that deep love, include me.
In love,
Ram Dass
had lost their young daughter, Rachel. Although he
wrote it to these two parents specifically, everything in
this letter applies to anyone who has lost a child.
Dear Steve and Anita,
Rachel finished her work on earth, and left the stage in a
manner that leaves those of us left behind with a cry of
agony in our hearts, as the fragile thread of our faith is
dealt with so violently. Is anyone strong enough to stay
conscious through such teaching as you are receiving?
Probably very few. And even they would only have a
whisper of equanimity and peace amidst the screaming
trumpets of their rage, grief, horror, and desolation.
I can't assuage your pain with any words, nor should I.
For your pain is Rachel's legacy to you. Not that she or
I would inflict such pain on you by choice, but there it
is. And it must burn it's purifying way to completion.
For something in you dies when you bear the unbearable,
and it is only in that dark night of the soul that you are
prepared to see as God sees, to love as God loves.
Now is the time to let your grief find expression. No
false strength. Now is the time to sit quietly and speak
to Rachel, and thank her for being here with you these
few years, and encourage her to go on with whatever
her work is, knowing that you will grow in compassion
and wisdom from this experience. In my heart, I know
that you and she will meet again and again, and recognize
the many ways in which you have known each other.
And when you meet you will know, in a flash, what now
it is not given to you to know: Why this had to be the
way is was.
Our rational minds can never understand what has
happened, but our hearts - if we can keep them open
to God - will find their own intuitive way. Rachel came
through you to do her work on earth, which includes her
manner of death. Now her soul is free, and the love that
you share with her is invulnerable to the winds of
changing time and space.
In that deep love, include me.
In love,
Ram Dass
Our Deepest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not
serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about
shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure
around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God
what is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in
everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do
the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not
serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about
shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure
around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God
what is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in
everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do
the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Two Questions
There are two questions that we have to ask ourselves.
The first is "Where am I going?" and
the second is "Who will go with me?"
If you ever get these questions in the wrong order,
you are in trouble.
Howard Thurman
The first is "Where am I going?" and
the second is "Who will go with me?"
If you ever get these questions in the wrong order,
you are in trouble.
Howard Thurman
Sunday, June 22, 2014
A Friend Who Cares
When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our
lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those
who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have
chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds
with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be
silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who
can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing
and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that
is a friend who cares.
Henri J.M. Nouwen
lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those
who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have
chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds
with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be
silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who
can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing
and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that
is a friend who cares.
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Look for What Is
A man should look for what is,
and not for what he thinks should be.
Albert Einstein
and not for what he thinks should be.
Albert Einstein
Human Being
A human being is a part of a whole, called by us "universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Einstein's Religion
My religion consists of a humble admiration
of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals
himself in the slight details we are able to
perceive with our frail and feeble mind.
Albert Einstein
of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals
himself in the slight details we are able to
perceive with our frail and feeble mind.
Albert Einstein
Three Powers
The three powers:
The power of activity;
The power of stillness;
The power of the balance
between activity and stillness.
Something my yoga instructor said
The power of activity;
The power of stillness;
The power of the balance
between activity and stillness.
Something my yoga instructor said
Understanding the Speaker
It is not the language but the speaker
that we want to understand.
Veda Upanishads
that we want to understand.
Veda Upanishads
The True Nobility
There is nothing noble about being
superior to some other man. The
true nobility is in being superior to
your previous self.
Hindu Proverb
superior to some other man. The
true nobility is in being superior to
your previous self.
Hindu Proverb
Hundreds of Paths
There are hundreds of paths up
the mountain, all leading to
the same place, so it doesn't
matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is
the one who runs around the
mountain, telling everyone
that his or her path is wrong.
Hindu Proverb
the mountain, all leading to
the same place, so it doesn't
matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is
the one who runs around the
mountain, telling everyone
that his or her path is wrong.
Hindu Proverb
Friday, June 20, 2014
Great to be Together
When you are with someone you love very much,
you can talk and it is pleasant, but the reality
is not in the conversation.
It is simply in being together.
Meditation is the highest form of prayer.
In it you are so close to God that
you don't need to say a thing.
It's just great to be together.
Swami Chetananda
you can talk and it is pleasant, but the reality
is not in the conversation.
It is simply in being together.
Meditation is the highest form of prayer.
In it you are so close to God that
you don't need to say a thing.
It's just great to be together.
Swami Chetananda
Thursday, June 19, 2014
No Greater Practice
The main thing is to allow this new state of consciousness
to emerge rather than believe that you have to try hard to
make it happen. How do you allow it to emerge? Simply
by allowing this moment to be as it is. This means to
relinquish inner resistance to what is, the suchness of now.
This allows life to unfold beautifully. There is no greater
spiritual practice than this.
Eckhart Tolle
to emerge rather than believe that you have to try hard to
make it happen. How do you allow it to emerge? Simply
by allowing this moment to be as it is. This means to
relinquish inner resistance to what is, the suchness of now.
This allows life to unfold beautifully. There is no greater
spiritual practice than this.
Eckhart Tolle
No Steps Back
All directions, regardless of their outward manifestations,
lead to truth. There is not, and this I repeat with absolute
respect and love, there is not, nor will you ever take,
a step back on your journey.
James Blanchard Cisneros
lead to truth. There is not, and this I repeat with absolute
respect and love, there is not, nor will you ever take,
a step back on your journey.
James Blanchard Cisneros
Nothing But Love
With life as short as a half-taken breath,
don't plant anything but love.
Jalāl al-Dīn Rumi
don't plant anything but love.
Jalāl al-Dīn Rumi
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Believe that there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Believe that you might be that light for someone else.
Kobi Yamada
Believe that you might be that light for someone else.
Kobi Yamada
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Religions Are Like Languages
To me, religions are like languages: no language
is true or false; all languages are of human origin;
each language reflects and shapes the civilization
that speaks it; there are things you can say in one
language that you cannot say or say as well in
another; and the more languages you learn, the
more nuanced your understanding of life becomes.
Judaism is my mother tongue, yet in matters of
the spirit I strive to be multi-lingual. In the end,
however, the deepest language of the soul
is silence.
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
is true or false; all languages are of human origin;
each language reflects and shapes the civilization
that speaks it; there are things you can say in one
language that you cannot say or say as well in
another; and the more languages you learn, the
more nuanced your understanding of life becomes.
Judaism is my mother tongue, yet in matters of
the spirit I strive to be multi-lingual. In the end,
however, the deepest language of the soul
is silence.
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Monday, June 16, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
As They Are
Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe
at night, we make no comparisons between right and
wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged
constellations.
Alan Watts
at night, we make no comparisons between right and
wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged
constellations.
Alan Watts
See You Later
Ram Dass' father just before he goes into surgery:
"Just in case things go wrong,
is there anything I should know?"
Ram Dass:
"All I can tell you is, as good as this is,
that is going to be better. And wherever
you go, I'll be there."
Father:
"Great, that's all I wanted to know.
See you later."
"Just in case things go wrong,
is there anything I should know?"
Ram Dass:
"All I can tell you is, as good as this is,
that is going to be better. And wherever
you go, I'll be there."
Father:
"Great, that's all I wanted to know.
See you later."
Nothing More Than That
Don't prolong the past,
Don't invite the future,
Don't alter your innate wakefulness,
Don't fear appearances.
There's nothing more than that!
Patrul Rinpoche
Don't invite the future,
Don't alter your innate wakefulness,
Don't fear appearances.
There's nothing more than that!
Patrul Rinpoche
The Spiritual Journey
The spiritual journey involves stepping into
unknown territory with a hunger to know
what is true.
Aura Glaser
unknown territory with a hunger to know
what is true.
Aura Glaser
Friday, June 13, 2014
Let Go, Walk On
"Let go!" and "Walk on!" - Buddhism may be summed
up in two phrases. Drop the craving for self, for
permanence, for particular circumstances, and go
straight ahead with the movement of life.
Alan Watts
up in two phrases. Drop the craving for self, for
permanence, for particular circumstances, and go
straight ahead with the movement of life.
Alan Watts
Talking Too Much
It was impossible to get a conversation going.
Everybody was talking too much.
Yogi Berra
Everybody was talking too much.
Yogi Berra
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Old Karma
What I see other people as, I see them as trees in the
forest. You go to the woods and you see gnarled trees
and live oaks and pines and hemlocks and elms and
things like that. And you are not inclined to say,
"I don't like you because you are a pine and not an
elm." You appreciate trees the way they are. But the
minute you get near humans, you notice how quickly
it changes. It's a way in which you don't allow
humans to just manifest the way they are. You take
it personally. You keep taking other people person-
ally. All they are are mechanical run-offs of old
Karma.
Ram Dass
forest. You go to the woods and you see gnarled trees
and live oaks and pines and hemlocks and elms and
things like that. And you are not inclined to say,
"I don't like you because you are a pine and not an
elm." You appreciate trees the way they are. But the
minute you get near humans, you notice how quickly
it changes. It's a way in which you don't allow
humans to just manifest the way they are. You take
it personally. You keep taking other people person-
ally. All they are are mechanical run-offs of old
Karma.
Ram Dass
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
How the Light Gets In
Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light get in.
Leonard Cohen
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light get in.
Leonard Cohen
Monday, June 9, 2014
There is a Mountain
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain,
then there is. The caterpillar sheds his skin to find
a butterfly within.
Donovan
then there is. The caterpillar sheds his skin to find
a butterfly within.
Donovan
Mountains as Mountains
Before I had studied (Zen) for thirty years, I saw
mountains as mountains, and rivers as rivers.
When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge,
I came to the point where I saw that mountains
are not mountains, and rivers are not rivers.
But now that I have got its very substance
I am at rest. For it's just that I see mountains
once again as mountains, and rivers once again
as rivers.
Qingyuan Weixin
mountains as mountains, and rivers as rivers.
When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge,
I came to the point where I saw that mountains
are not mountains, and rivers are not rivers.
But now that I have got its very substance
I am at rest. For it's just that I see mountains
once again as mountains, and rivers once again
as rivers.
Qingyuan Weixin
Only to Serve Others
I have no powers.
I don't know anything.
I don't want anything.
I exist only to serve others.
Neem Karoli Baba ("Maharaj-ji")
I don't know anything.
I don't want anything.
I exist only to serve others.
Neem Karoli Baba ("Maharaj-ji")
Better to See God
It's better to see God in everything
than to try to figure it out.
Neem Karoli Baba ("Maharaj-ji")
than to try to figure it out.
Neem Karoli Baba ("Maharaj-ji")
Sunday, June 8, 2014
How to Give Up Attachments
You can give things up,
or you can wait until
they give you up.
Dada Mukerjee
or you can wait until
they give you up.
Dada Mukerjee
Attention
The moment one gives attention to anything,
even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious,
awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.
Henry Miller
even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious,
awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.
Henry Miller
A New Way of Seeing Things
One's destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.
Henry Miller
but a new way of seeing things.
Henry Miller
Serenity is ...
Serenity is when you get above all this,
when it doesn't matter what they think,
say, or want, but when you do as you are,
and see God and Devil as one.
Henry Miller
when it doesn't matter what they think,
say, or want, but when you do as you are,
and see God and Devil as one.
Henry Miller
Love
The one thing we can never get enough of is love.
And the one thing we never give enough of is love.
Henry Miller
And the one thing we never give enough of is love.
Henry Miller
Seeking God
Lots of people like to be seeking God,
but not too many want to actually get there.
Ram Dass
but not too many want to actually get there.
Ram Dass
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Kingdom of God
They can't say, "Here it is!" or "There it is!"
You see, the kingdom of God is within you.
Jesus Christ (Luke 17:21)
You see, the kingdom of God is within you.
Jesus Christ (Luke 17:21)
Like Little Children
And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change
and become like little children, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:3)
and become like little children, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:3)
Nothing Else
We are on an inevitable course of awakening.
If you understand that message deeply, it allows
you to enter into your spiritual practices from a
different perspective, one of patience and
timelessness. You do your practices not out of
a sense of duty or because you think you should,
but because you know in your soul there really is
nothing else you would rather do.
Ram Dass
If you understand that message deeply, it allows
you to enter into your spiritual practices from a
different perspective, one of patience and
timelessness. You do your practices not out of
a sense of duty or because you think you should,
but because you know in your soul there really is
nothing else you would rather do.
Ram Dass
Hear the Music
Those who dance are considered insane
by those who cannot hear the music.
George Carlin
by those who cannot hear the music.
George Carlin
The Whole Thing Puzzles Me
When it comes to God's existence, I'm not an atheist
and I'm not an agnostic. I'm an acrostic: the whole thing
puzzles me.
George Carlin
and I'm not an agnostic. I'm an acrostic: the whole thing
puzzles me.
George Carlin
I Don't Care What You Think
People who say they don't care what people think
are usually desperate to have people think they
don't care what people think.
George Carlin
are usually desperate to have people think they
don't care what people think.
George Carlin
The Only One
The reason I talk to myself is that
I'm the only one whose answers
I accept.
George Carlin
I'm the only one whose answers
I accept.
George Carlin
Friday, June 6, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Find the Others
Admit it. You aren't like them. You're not even close.
You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them,
watch the same mindless television shows as they do,
maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes.
But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more
you feel like an outsider, watching the "normal people"
as they go about their automatic existences. For every
time you say club passwords like "Have a nice day"
and "Weather's awful today, eh?," you yearn inside
to say forbidden things like "Tell me something that
makes you cry" or "What do you think deja vu is for?"
Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator.
But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man
who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the
same thing? Who knows what you might learn from
taking a chance on conversation with a stranger?
Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes
into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts.
Do the unexpected. Find the others ...
Timothy Leary
You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them,
watch the same mindless television shows as they do,
maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes.
But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more
you feel like an outsider, watching the "normal people"
as they go about their automatic existences. For every
time you say club passwords like "Have a nice day"
and "Weather's awful today, eh?," you yearn inside
to say forbidden things like "Tell me something that
makes you cry" or "What do you think deja vu is for?"
Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator.
But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man
who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the
same thing? Who knows what you might learn from
taking a chance on conversation with a stranger?
Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes
into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts.
Do the unexpected. Find the others ...
Timothy Leary
Monday, June 2, 2014
Life is But a Dream
Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
life is but a dream.
Traditional Children's Song
gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
life is but a dream.
Traditional Children's Song
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