The thought manifests as the word
The word manifests as the deed
The deed develops into habit
And habit hardens into character
So watch the thought and its way with care,
And let it spring from love,
Born out of concern for all beings
--Buddha
Enlightenment
means choosing to dwell in the state of presence rather than in time.
It means saying yes to what is. --Eckhart Tolle
Who can tell what miracles Love has in store for us if only we have
the courage to become one with it?
Everything we think we know is only the beginning of another knowing
that itself has no end
And everything we now can accomplish will seem derisory to us
When the powers of our divine nature flower in glory and act through us
--Iqbal, Sufi Mystic
"The Sun Never Says" --Hafiz
Even after all this time
the sun never says to the earth, "You owe Me."
Look what happens with a love like that,
It lights up the Whole Sky.
"Your Mother and My Mother" -- Hafiz
Fear is the cheapest room in the house.
I would like to see you living in better conditions,
For your mother and my mother were friends.
I know the innkeeper in this part of the Universe,
Get some rest tonight,
come to my verse tomorrow,
We'll go speak to the Friend together.
I should not make any promises, but I know that if you pray
Somewhere in this world -- something good will happen
God wants to see more love and playfulness in your eyes
For that is your greatest witness to Him
Your soul and my soul once sat together in the Beloved's womb
playing footsie.
Your heart and my heat
are very, very old friends.
"A Great Need" -- Hafiz
Out of a great need
We are all holding hands and climbing.
Not loving is letting go.
Listen,
the terrain around here
is Far to Dangerous for That.
"Desiderata"
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly andclearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and
lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be
gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the
trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it
is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.