Author: Posts

We can learn to rejoice in even the smallest blessing our life holds, the everyday ordinary things we do.  It’s easy to miss our good fortune; often happiness comes in things we don’t even notice. The key is to be here, fully connected with the moment taking care of ordinary things.

If we are true to our inner natures, we can withstand the vicissitudes and adornment of life, for neither bad fortune nor good fortune will alter the way we are, but we should patiently bear both.  No matter what, we must always be true to our inner selves.

When most people hear about the ancient teachings, they waiver between belief and disbelief.  When wise people hear about them, they diligently follow their path.  Others laugh at them thinking they are foolish, by this laughter, we know of their authenticity.

If one’s strength is great, one can progress and contribute one’s talent to society, but your motivation should be pure.  Being too firm in one’s character will lead to difficulties in dealing with society.  If you are not firm enough, you will find it difficult to deal with everyday life.

Quote: Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine. – Emerson

Joy comes from our growing appreciation of our basic goodness.  We can cultivate this joy by staying present, train in being mindful, and unconditional friendliness.  Stay with your own little plot of earth and trust that it can be cultivated to its full potential.

Things cannot remain in stillness, storms and acts of nature may destroy some things, but they also prepare the way for new life.  As one thing is destroyed this makes room for new things to emerge and begin their own cycle.  All growth and all things have their own natural cycle.

It is a universal law that what you say and do determines what happens in your life.  Recognize that you and this law are one, cultivate yourself in accord with it, bringing moderation to your actions and clarity to your mind.  This is a profound simple truth, what you do is what you are.

When you run into an obstruction and don’t know what to do, the best thing to do is to keep still, but this does not mean giving up.  You are only yielding to a situation and waiting for a more auspicious time to react.  An obstruction that only lasts for a time is useful for self development.

Quote: Anything we do to the world, we do to ourselves.

To feel loving kindness for others we first must train in being honest, loving, and compassionate towards ourselves.  Without unconditional loving kindness for ourselves it is difficult, if not impossible, to genuinely feel it for others.  No matter how we feel we can aspire to be happy.

Contemplative stillness turns us away from everyday clamor, allowing us to hear the subtle in our own lives.  When listening, not with the ear but with the spirit, you can perceive a subtle sound.  By entering into that sound, you enter into supreme clarity.

All things are brought forth from the subtle realm into the manifest world by the mystical intercourse of yin and yang.  The source of the universe is ultimately unknowable, a great invisible river flowing forever through a vast and fertile valley.  Silent and uncreated, it creates all things.

Any development, to be successful, must proceed gradually and be allowed to take its course, being hasty would not be wise.  Penetrating gentleness is the outer form that should proceed from inner calm and, along with perseverance, prevents slow progress from dwindling into nothing.

Quote: Life is but a dream, not because it isn’t there, but it is because we all project different meanings upon it.

If we look for that soft heart we guard so carefully, we can’t find it, all we find is a kind of tenderness with some sadness.  This sadness is not about somebody mistreating us.  The sadness is an inherent sadness, unconditional sadness, this is sometimes called the genuine heart of sadness.

There is no effort we can make to still ourselves.  True stillness comes naturally from moments of solitude where we allow our minds to settle.  We must take those moments throughout our daily activities and involvements.  Like turbulent water the mind will become clear if allowed to be still.

Being of service to others without expectation of reward, not talking about it, just practicing this way of being, you will be rewarded by the way you feel about yourself.  We are always doing things, but there is always more to do, just step back and ask yourself, “Is all this doing necessary?”

If you are faced with a superior foe, it would be hopeless to fight them.  An orderly retreat is the correct procedure and looking for small ways to minimize the effect.  It is by no means a sign of strength or courage to engage in a hopeless struggle, regardless of circumstances.

Quote: When there is no desire, all things are at peace.

Entrenched in the tunnel vision of our personal concerns, what we may ignore is our kinship with others.  It helps to understand that when we do harm to another, we do harm to ourselves.  If we train in opening our hearts and minds, we will find that others are no different than ourselves.

If we see our path clearly, there is no distinction between our outer world and inner one.  To attain this clarity our hearts and our spirits, must be totally concentrated on what we want.  No matter what tries to keep us from our purpose we will not be deterred.

Caring for all things, you care for yourself.  Giving to all you give to yourself.  At peace with all things, you are at peace with yourself.  Looking at yourself or another, you see the same thing.  You do this by accepting responsibility for the energies you manifest, actively and subtlety.

Strive to be inwardly strong, not outwardly aggressive.  Though there may be danger in your environment there will be no danger in your heart.  In this way one may transmute that temperament, and not remain in the clamour of the realm of right and wrong.

Quote: Is there some reason you are not content with what you have?

The fixed idea that we have about ourselves as solid and separate from each other is limiting.  Self importance hurts us limiting us to our narrow world of likes and dislikes.  We have alternatives, we can challenge our beliefs, our fixed version of reality, and train in staying open and curious.

It is time to make a deeper commitment to our self-cultivation practice.  We alone are the ones that can transform ourselves and dispel the anxieties and illusions that plague us.  Once we make the decision of a sustained and disciplined self-cultivation practice, all things will come to us.

Practice undiscriminating virtue, eliminate the illusory boundaries between yourself and others, this will bring you joy and freedom.  This does not mean you don’t encounter difficulties in life, but you learn to meet them calmly and openly and they become a natural part of your life.

Different times have different social mores and constraints.  Different cultures recognize different standards.  Different roles in society carry different responsibilities.  Therefore, you must adjust your actions and your perspectives in accordance with any situation.

Quote: Don’t be satisfied with stories. How things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.

A day to reflect on the year just past and make plans for the year ahead.  Making resolutions and promises to yourself to do better things for your well-being, the well-being of others and the planet. 

We might want to write down promises we have made and put them in a place that we can look at them every day to enjoy the success of the previous day or to remind yourself of goals you have set.  Maybe you will have very specific goals or time goals, so you can daily check your progress or lack thereof.  It seems to work best if you write down your progress in a special diary that you keep for this purpose only. 

If you start to drift back into your old habitual ways for a day, don’t be upset with yourself. Just start again and again if necessary, remembering even a little progress will give you a sense of accomplishment.  Help others on their path and to fulfill the promises they made for themselves and give them encouragement. Maybe you have a common goal, so make a friendly competition out of it.  If you appear to be doing better than your friend, never boast.  If they are doing better, just keep giving encouragement to others. 

We are constantly changing our web site so that we can learn new things and find new ways to practice the ancient teachings.  The constant repetition of the teachings, through the daily post and articles, helps us embody the teachings into our daily life.  Over the last year we have produced a number of videos, added articles and many plants from our Flower Power series to our website. You are still able to find answers to questions that you may have by going to “Get your free I Ching reading” on our website or at the bottom of each of the daily newsletters.  Try it and see what answer you get. 

We at Proceeding Until Apprehended/A Time to Contemplate will continue to give you words of wisdom from the ancients each day this year to help you and ourselves stay on the paths we have chosen. Bringing the teachings into our everyday life gives us the opportunity to help others and live a more peaceful and balanced life.   

Are we going to spend this lifetime struggling against uncertainty and saying I’m like this and you’re like that, or are we going to train in letting go, and reconnecting with the natural flexibility of our being and help others do the same?  If we do this, limitless possibilities open up.

When you come to the end of a cycle a new one will begin.  It means you have achieved more understanding of yourself and the world around you.  Completion of something means fulfillment, but don’t stop there. You can now reach out for new vistas with wisdom and assurance.

Intellectual knowledge exists in and of the brain, which is part of the physical body.  However, insight is a function of the spirit that never goes away, you can always cultivate it.  Refined over time insight becomes pure, constant,  unwavering, and peaceful.

Speaking clearly and acting simply in a nonaggressive manner with perseverance will help you succeed at any task.  The idea that the yielding overcomes the rigid or the soft overcomes the hard is the wisdom permeating these ancient teachings.

Quote: Peacefulness is the natural seed of a violent world.

To undo habitual patterns of the mind requires that we begin to turn around some of our most basic assumptions such as: believing in a solid, separate self, continuing to seek pleasure and avoid pain, thinking that someone “out there” is to blame; then our suffering will ease.

At night take time to look at the stars and ponder the vastness of the cosmos.  In the morning greet the dawn, the light of the ultimate, knowing that you can face all your misfortunes and celebrate your blessings.  Simply acknowledge the mystery of night and the glory of the morning.                                                                                                          

Whether the form is a person or a star the process is the same.  First, the subtle energy exists. Next it becomes manifest and takes on life.  After a time, the life passes away, but the subtle energy goes on, either returning to the subtle realm, where it remains or once again attaching to manifest things.

After finishing your own tasks use your strength in the service of others.  Help where help is needed but weigh carefully how much you can help without doing harm.  Only when this feeling exists can you give yourself unconditionally, without hesitation.

Quote: When any change happens look for the opportunity it brings you.

Every cell in our body is continuously changing, we are as impermanent as everything else.  Thoughts and emotions of being competent or that we’re hopeless rise and fall unceasingly, we are only basing these thoughts on the past and the fixed idea of who we are.

Night. You are the mother of all. You existed before all. You are the background, the fabric, the underpinning of the universe.  In night’s vast ocean sun, moon and earth align, pulling the earth out of roundness, and making tides rage.  Such is the power of the night.

Knowing others is intelligence, knowing yourself is true wisdom.  When you master yourself you do not have to master others.  When you know you have enough then you are truly wealthy.  Find your roots and nourish them and you will know longevity.

With your family the performance of moral duty is easier because of natural affection.  This same moral duty you practice with your family and that your family practices will also be reflected with all of your relationships outside of your family in society.

Quote: With a positive attitude there is no problem that can’t be solved.