Thursday, June 30, 2011

THE ART OF FORGIVENESS, LOVINGKINDNESS, AND PEACE

THERE ARE THOSE WHO DISCOVER THEY CAN LEAVE BEHIND DESTRUCTIVE REACTIONS AND BECOME PATIENT AS THE EARTH, UNMOVED BY FIRES OF ANGER OR FEAR, UNSHAKEN AS A PILLAR, UNPERTURBED AS A CLEAR AND QUIET POOL.

WE CAN DIRECT OUR ACTIONS BUT NOT THEIR FRUITS.
"THE SECRET OF HUMAN FREEDOM IS TO ACT WELL, WITHOUT ATTACHMENT TO THE RESULTS."

Bhagavad Gita

SO, TOO, WE ARE TAUGHT BY THE TAO: THERE IS A TIME FOR BEING AHEAD, A TIME FOR BEING BEHIND; A TIME FOR BEING IN MOTION, A TIME FOR BEING AT REST; A TIME FOR BEING VIGOROUS, A TIME FOR BEING EXHAUSTED; A TIME FOR BEING SAFE, A TIME FOR BEING IN DANGER. THE MASTER SEES THINGS AS THEY ARE, WITHOUT TRYING TO CONTROL THEM. SHE LETS THEM GO THEIR OWN WAY, AND RESIDES AT THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE.

WHEN LOVE MOVES THROUGH US IT INSPIRES ALL WE DO.
"THE OUTER WORK WILL NEVER BE PUNY IF THE INNER WORK IS GREAT."

Meister Eckhart

WE KNOW THAT LIFE CHANGES UNEXPECTEDLY. THOUGH OUTER EVENTS MAY BE DIFFICULT, THE KEY TO OUR HAPPINESS IS HOW OUR MIND RESPONDS TO THEM.
"MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THE MIND TO BE A MIRROR, MORE OR LESS ACCURATELY REFLECTING THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF THEM, NOT REALIZING ON THE CONTRARY THAT THE MIND IS ITSELF THE PRINCIPAL ELEMENT OF CREATION."

Rabindranath Tagore

WITH EQUANIMITY WE CAN SEE CLEARLY.
"WE CAN MAKE OUR MINDS SO LIKE STILL WATER THAT BEINGS GATHER AROUND US, THAT THEY MAY SEE THEIR OWN IMAGES, AND SO LIVE A MOMENT WITH A CLEARER PERHAPS EVEN A FIERCER LIFE BECAUSE OF OUR QUIET."

William Butler Yeats

All of the following words are from a book by Jack Kornfield with the above title. "This simple book was written in the summer of 2001, shortly before the tragic events of terrorism and war swept another wave of violence over the world."


From page 80:

OUR TIME IS TOO PRECIOUS NOT TO LOVE.
~KNOWING LIFE IS SHORT,
HOW CAN WE QUARREL?

Buddha

CAN WE FOLLOW THE WORDS OF BUDDHA, YOU AND I?

7 comments:

  1. we can direct our actions but not their fruits...that was worth it right there...great quotes...i may steal a few...smiles.

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  2. Just reading the word lovingkindness makes me feel peaceful.

    Such a beautiful post, so full of wisdom.
    The passage that lives the most for me is:

    "We can direct our actions but not their fruits"

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  3. I love those words from the Tao Teri, especially this morning, I'm feeling a little wrung out.

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  4. I was recently told that life was unfathomably long.
    Up until then I'd considered it to be really really short.

    Now I'm trying to work out which one it is.

    Unfathomably long OR Unbelievably short.

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  5. M. heart quoted the quote from the Tao on my blog comments today re: a wall hanging i am making. I think I'll try to work in the final sentence from "She --Circle" on the wall hanging. your photos are lovely and quotes too. i liked seeing your workspace.

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  6. i was going to sign on to follow your blog however the link doesnt seem to be there. or am I a follower??? if so i dont receive your posts.

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  7. Wonderful post Teri. I loved all the quotes. Perfect way to start the day.

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