Author: Posts

Patience is the antidote to anger.  By patience we don’t mean “grin and bear it”.  Instead of reacting suddenly: smell it, look at it, and open ourselves to seeing what’s there.  The journey of patience involves relaxing, opening to what is happening with a sense of wonder.

Education is a means of gaining access to the conventional world, of satisfying our curiosity and avoiding superstitious tendencies.  Once mental cultivation is achieved, then focus on the part of the mind that is far beyond scholarly, with no discrimination, no categorization, and no dualism.

To live in concordance with the unity of the universe is to be in harmony with all others, with the environment and with oneself.  It is to live in synchronicity with processes and to be completely authentic, sincere, natural, and innocent.

When you are entangled in conflict, be clear headed and outwardly strong.  To carry any conflict to the end, even though you are right, will have bad effects for you because the enmity is then perpetuated.  It is better to meet your opponent halfway. 

Quote: It is while you are patiently toiling at the little tasks of life that the meaning and shape of the great whole of life dawns on you. – Phillips Brooks

When we feel inadequate or unworthy, we want to hold on to what we have, afraid of feeling worse than we do already.  The cause of our aggression and fear begins to dissolve when we move past this poverty of holding on to things, both physical and mentally.

When you compete, study your competition for their strengths and weaknesses and place yourself strategically.  A competitor trains their body and mind to perfection, seeking to eliminate as many of their own vulnerabilities as possible.

Our path in life is to live in harmony with all others, the environment and oneself, to live in synchronicity with all things and to be completely authentic, sincere, and natural.  The ancient teachings provide us with a practical guide to an alternate way of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

If we remain at the mercy of moods, of hope and of fear, aroused by the outer world, we lose out inner consistency of character.  Then our experiences are merely effects produced by the outside world, not experiences evoked by our own true nature.

Quote: You master nature not by conquering it, but by becoming it.

When we train, even though we have noble intentions, we are not given any promises that all will be okay. Instead, we are encouraged to simply look deeply at joy and sorrow, hoping and fearing, laughter and crying at all that lives and dies.

All facts you receive must be thoroughly examined and then you can apply distinctions that agree with the truth.  In the same way we are compelled to examine the ongoing circumstances of our lives.  Doing this is part of our responsibility of being human.

Give up all concepts, judgements, and desires and your mind will grow naturally compassionate.  The more we let go of what we love, the more present our love becomes.  The clearer our insight into what is beyond good and evil, the more we can embody the good.

True greatness depends on being in harmony with what is right and doing things in harmony with the established order.  We should go on quietly and perseveringly working at the removal of resistance, then success will come.  The less power you apply outwardly, the greater the effect.

Quote: To put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right. –Kung fu tzu

Emotional turmoil begins with an initial perception of a sight, sound or thought, which leads to a feeling of discomfort.  When you feel that initial tug remain steady, practice relaxing into the energy you feel, stay present with the experience.

You may receive impulses or visions, but what you want to do is enter a state of consciousness.  Rather than explore mystical states, the eventual object is to transcend all enslavement to perception.  Only then you will be able to adequately judge reality. 

Never hoard anything.  Share your possessions.  The more you share, the greater your abundance.  The more you do for others, the happier you will be because you are doing it for yourself.  The less you hold on to, the easier it is to give yourself to others.

When your work has ended, look back on your conduct and the consequences of your actions.  If the effects were good, then good fortune will be the result.  It is only by the consequences of your actions and the fruit of your labors that you can judge what to expect.

Quote: For the benefit of the flowers, we water the thorns too. – Egyptian Proverb

Caring for things, and in moments of appreciation, in moments of gratitude, taking pause to listen and letting go of holding on to ourselves will start to awaken our heart.  Whenever we connect with sorrow or joy, dropping our resentments and complaints will help us to awaken further.

Find time each day to be quiet and relax for awhile.  This practice should be as regular as sleeping or eating.  Relaxation renews us, purifies us, and leaves us with a profound sense of serenity.  The neutral stillness of the mind renews the tired soul, and this is regeneration.

Attaining virtue is done by self-cultivation, by relinquishing your negative habits and attitudes.  With utmost sincerity and living in the real world, extend your virtue to all without discrimination.  This will help you achieve self-mastery and you will be able to help others do the same.

Increase and decrease come of their own time.  In a time of scanty resources, you must simplify.  This will give you the strength for further undertakings.  Draw on the strength of your inner attitude for what lacks externally.  Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed.

Quote: Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. – Proverb

If we try to protect ourselves from suffering, we become fearful and alienated, caring only for the people close to us.  If we primarily try to shield ourselves from discomfort, we suffer.  Yet if we don’t close up and let our heart hurt, we discover our kinship with all beings.

All parts of our personality, no matter how perfectly formed, only enclose what is inside of us.  All our practice binds us into a cohesive whole, but only points to the emptiness in the center that gives us the space and openness for life experiences to enter.

If you blame someone else for your failures, there is no end to the blame. The wise see failure as an opportunity and accept all responsibility for their failures.  Fulfill your own obligations correct all your mistakes.  Do what you need to do without demanding from others.

The family is society in embryo.  It is where performance of moral duty is made easy through natural affection and this is later widened to include all human relationships.  What the family does in the practice of moral conduct is what is reflected in society. 

Quote: Honest differences are often a sign of progress. – Mahatma Ghandi

There is often a discrepancy between our ideals and what we encounter.    It’s the rub between these two things, the squeeze between vision and reality that causes you to grow up, wake up, be alive and compassionate.  This rub is one of our most productive places on the spiritual path.

As we go through the various stages in life it is important to make the shift from one stage to another.  We usually do this shift with a rite of passage, such as graduation, marriage etc.  It is important to know when to close one phase and when to open the next.

The greatest help is wholeheartedly trusting people to solve their own problems.  A true philanthropist, like a good parent, brings people to the point where they can help themselves.  Once you have given up helping, you become peoples greatest help.

The ideal justice is seldom attained because the enforcement of the law is very inconsistent.  To administer justice the executive needs to be clear in mind and firm in action.  The attitude should be compassionate and the purpose educational.  The aim is to prevent further mischief. 

Quote: You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within. – Galileo

When we see bad habits in others, let them be.  If they ask you for support, do so. The best support you can give them is to listen and just be present.  It is amazing when people talk about their problems, they will usually come up with the answers themselves.

We sometimes feel that a divine being is intervening in human affairs.  There is no divine reason why things happen, we have to accept what happens as a natural, sometimes random, occurrence in life.  However, such a viewpoint does not preclude any notion of the divine. 

As society grows more intelligent, there seems to be less happiness and more trouble because intelligence is not the same as wisdom.  You can find happiness by being modest, simple and truthful.  By this way of living, you will discover your original pure nature, and the innate wisdom of the universe.

If we can bring ourselves to set aside pride and follow the examples of good men good fortune will result.  If we associate with people sharing the same views and come together in full public knowledge, without selfish motives, then you are in harmony with the times.

Quote: Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. – Kierkegaard

We don’t open our hearts and minds to others because it confuses us, and we don’t feel brave or sane enough to open up.  To help us open up look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.

Life acquires meaning when we face the conflict between our desires and reality.  Sometimes things we want just come to us, but most of the time it takes effort to make things happen and to achieve our goals.  This effort is what brings meaning to our lives.

To save the world, develop an awareness of the subtle truths, calm your mind, follow the ancient teachings, merge your virtue with the universal virtue and extend it to the world without expectations of reward.  This way you will find the truth.

When times are bad, submit to them and remain quiet.  It may be impossible to counteract the conditions of the time.  It is not cowardice but wisdom to submit and avoid actions.  A law of nature is at work, evil is not destructive to the good alone, but inevitably destroys itself as well.

Quote: Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn’t change the heart of others– it only changes yours.

Whenever you feel uncomfortable and don’t know what to do, find some place to look at the openness of the sky, and experience the freshness, free of hope and fear, just completely open.  This open space permeates everything and is available to us every moment of our lives.

There is chance in this world and things happen randomly.  Accept the fact that there is always uncertainty in the universe and work with that.  When you incorporate uncertainty into your life is when you will feel the most human.

To eliminate suffering in the world, eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself.  If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself.  The greatest gift you have to give humanity is your own self-transformation.

What is called common good may not always serve well.  Unity may be cohesion for society, but unity of what? Dedicated to what?  Shared life should be held together by choices, not by decree.  To be true to yourself, do not give up too much and certainly not the center.

Quote: Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast. In the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish. – Ovid