Author: Posts

Sharing the heart is a practice that can be used any time or in any situation.   When you encounter pain in your life, breathe into your heart and recognize that others also feel this.  Whether it is a pleasant feeling or a burden, think of others.  This training will benefit us tremendously and everyone else as well.

Whatever we take from another, we should try and give back something.  No one should lean on another person or expect them to carry them a long distance down the road.  Friends should walk side by side without becoming dependent on each other. 

If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled.  If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself.  Be content with what you have and rejoice in the way things are.  Then you will realize nothing is lacking.

Whenever a feeling is voiced with truth and frankness, whenever a deed is the clear expression of sentiment, a far-reaching influence is exerted.  The root of this influence lies in your inner being and the effect is a reflection of something that emanates from your heart.

Quote: To create new habits, first make a small effort.

The continual search for pleasure or security, searching for a more comfortable situation at the domestic or spiritual level, are some of the things that keep us unhappy.  We will never have it all together, there is only this moment to live.  If you live in the moment, you will find the joy you are seeking.

Friends can offer us encouragement, but they cannot live our lives for us or solve our problems for us.  Within ourselves our daily devotions are the way to encourage ourselves to persevere.  With others, encouragement is the way to be compassionate.

True growth comes from meeting and solving the problems of life in a way that is harmonizing to yourself and others.  Serve others and cultivate yourself simultaneously.  If you can do this, you will be continually renewed.

It is important not to be swept along by the bustle of life.  If you are serious and composed, you will have the clarity of mind needed to come to terms with the innumerable impressions that pour in. At the beginning of things, it is important to have this clarity.  The beginning holds the seeds of all that is to follow.

Quote: Economics is about human relationships.

Each day reflect on the day ahead keeping a wide-open heart and mind.  Before retiring for the night reflect on what you have done.  If you did something you aspired to do rejoice in that, if not you can see what you did and you are no longer living in ignorance.

Within the changing of spring, we must take time to notice the constancy of inner devotion.  No matter how much is going on outside of oneself, one still reaffirms what is in one’s heart.  Only when we know such constancy will we know that we are succeeding.

Nothing is absolute; this is why you can’t rely on your mind. To arrive at unshakeable quiet, stop thinking, analyzing and making distinctions between things.  Simply see that you are at the center of the universe and accept all things as being part of you.

We have in us a nature that is innately good which guides us through life.  By following this goodness, you attain an unsullied innocence that teaches you to do right with instinctive sureness and without expectation of reward or personal advantage.

Quote: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. 

Difficult people teach us how to learn and grow.  We all know people who complain constantly or are irritated by everything.  When we meet them, we should look for the lessons they can teach us; humility, patience, kindness, just to name a few.

When we travel, we no longer have the preoccupations of the mind that is associated with everyday living.  This gives us the opportunity to open more easily, enabling us to connect to that inner strength and see all the inner wonders of travel.

When most people hear about the ancient teachings, they waiver between belief and disbelief.  Some diligently follow their path; others laugh at them thinking they are foolish.  This way we know of their authenticity.

If you encounter hinderances at the beginning of an enterprise, do not try to force advance, but pause and take thought.  However, do not let anything put you off your course.  Persevere and keep your goal in sight, but no matter how confident you are, nothing should be taken lightly.

Quote: When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too. 

You should never have expectations for others, just be kind to them.  If people mess up, do anything you can to bring some happiness into their lives.  Setting goals for others can be aggressive, really wanting a success story for ourselves.  Just be kind to them.

Whatever your method of self-cultivation is, prayer, meditation or exercise, do it every day.  It is inevitable that you will gain a sense of well-being from it.  A constant practice gives you a sense of satisfaction and you can take comfort in the momentum it gives you.

It is a universal law that what you say and do determines what happens in your life.  If you think this law is external to you, your desires will trouble your mind and you will be in constant turmoil.  Recognize that you and this law are one.  Therefore, cultivate yourself, bring moderation to your life and clarity to your mind.

Music has the power to ease tensions within the heart and loosen the grip on obscure emotions.  From times immemorial, the inspiring effect of the invisible sound that moves all hearts and draws them together has mystified mankind.

Quote: In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit. 

When we start to interrupt calling ourselves names or patting ourselves on the back, we are doing something extremely brave.  Slowly we move towards an open state, moving towards a place of no handholds, no footholds, no mind-holds, giving us a feeling of freedom.

The more accomplished you become, the more circumspect one should be and the more precarious the road.  By being humble and veiling your light until the proper moment you escape the greatest danger: hubris.

When we are in harmony with the natural laws we flourish together and being content with the way things are brings us constant renewal.  View all things with compassion while practicing humility.  This will help all sentient beings find peace.

Being still when it’s time to be still and going forward when it is time; in this way rest and movement agree.  This will help quiet the heart.  When you become calm, then you can turn to the outside world as you no longer see the struggle and tumult of individuals. 

Quote:  Is this true for me?

Most problems are a projection of your own mind, the unwanted parts of yourself you want to get rid of.  Problems will go away by working with them using compassion and patience.  Sometimes they still linger on.  Remember, when the resistance is gone, so are the problems.

Accomplish what you envision with the minimum effort and least amount of time, then you are able to go on to other things.  If you do not engage in this process of action, you will not be satisfied.  We need to have satisfaction in what we do in order to have a sense of well-being.

You cannot discover the truth by accumulating more knowledge.  You can find the subtle truth inside yourself, but this will deteriorate if artificial actions are taken.  Just remain quiet and discover the truth and harmony in your own being. 

When conditions are difficult sometimes retreat is the only answer.  When you carry your retreat out correctly it is a sign of strength.  We do not simply abandon the situation, but through perseverance and single acts of resistance we prepare for the counter movement.

Quote: By delegating you pass on the worry.

The more we get to know our judgementalness, pettiness and arrogance we realize they are not sins but workable habits of the mind.  The more we get to know them, the more they lose their power, and we come to trust our basic simple nature free of all duality.

All our lives we seek union we try to do well for our family and society.  We try to touch the universal through art, music, and spiritual practices.  All our attempts are flawed, accord and harmony are transitory states.  Their duration and quality only come from our determination.

Accept the responsibility for the energy you manifest, both actively and in the subtle realm.  Looking at yourself and others you see the same thing.  Then you will understand that caring for yourself is caring for all things.

Our task in life is full of responsibility, it is nothing less than leading the world out of confusion and back to order.  We must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper places.  If we can bring these forces to bear on the right place the desired effect will be achieved. 

Quote: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.

There is an alternative to seeing ourselves as either right or wrong.  The alternative is a more tender, shaky place where we can live. This place will help us soften our habitual patterns and we will begin to see the faces and hear the words of people talking to us.

We use the word longevity, not because we want to live forever, but because it symbolizes our determination to live the entire course of our lives well.  Our total emphasis should be on living, enjoying the fruits and labors of what we do every day. 

Practicing undiscriminating virtue will bring you joy and freedom.    It is not that you do not encounter difficulties, but by meeting them calmly and openly your response to them becomes natural and complete and eventually they wither away.

An exhausting situation can be caused by not having enough or being overwhelmed by having too much.  If you are stuck in an exhausting situation, discover the cause and seek a solution.  Merely complaining and being resentful will only make the situation worse.

Quote: Don’t relax, be worried!

It is not in your best interest to reinforce thoughts and feelings of unworthiness.  Ask yourself, “Do I want to strengthen what I am feeling now and cut myself off from my basic goodness?”  Remind yourself that your fundamental nature is unconditionally open and free.

There are days when everything feels disengaged and you feel “what is the point of my self-practice?”  It is all right to skip a day.  But if it is because of laziness or indifference, you must practice anyhow, even if you are just going through the motions.  Half the time something significant will happen.

Intellectual knowledge exists in and of the brain, which is part of the body. However, insight is a function of the spirit that you have the opportunity to always cultivate.  Refined over time, insight becomes pure constant and unwavering.

When change and improvements are called for, steps must be taken with a firm correct attitude and then they succeed.  Such changes must be given careful consideration, but not for too long.  After the change is made, note for some time how the improvements bear the test of actuality.

Quote: “Let it be” or “make it happen”.