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?

HANGING BY A THREAD

"THE ART OF LIVING...IS NEITHER CARELESS DRIFTING ON THE ONE HAND NOR FEARFUL CLINGING TO THE PAST ON THE OTHER. IT CONSISTS IN BEING SENSITIVE TO EACH MOMENT, IN REGARDING IT AS UTTERLY NEW AND UNIQUE, IN HAVING THE MIND OPEN AND WHOLLY RECEPTIVE."

Alan Watts

OPPORTUNITY

RELEASE OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IS MEANINGFUL TO THEM AND FREE YOURSELF TO CREATE WHAT IS MEANINGFUL TO YOU.

Don't these words, forwarded to me yesterday by my daughter April from a friend's Facebook page, say it all? I have recently just started to understand the true impact of these words. "Meaningful to them"----"Release"-----"Free yourself"-----"Meaningful to you". These words ring so true to me at this time in my life. So powerful.

This past weekend was such a busy, busy weekend. There was a huge BBQ at my sister's on Saturday, filled with family, friends, and fire department personnel, some that I have never met. We got to meet and talk with the couple who purchased our home, since they live right next door to my sister and were invited to be part of the party. There is just something so warm and inviting about the two of them. Kindred spirits to be sure.

We were asked to walk around "our" house and explain the names of plants to them and then also to take a tour of the house. They say that you can't go back but for me, it was all of the above quotes. It was a time to realize that I had to release my old house, free myself and realize what is meaningful to them and what is meaningful to me. It was a good opportunity to put these words into practice. I know that I have made two new friends in them in the process and appreciate so very much how much they love our house and the spirit that it was built by and lived.

The above photos are of two necklaces. The first one, the most important one, was hand-made by my friend Arlene for my birthday in April. It came complete with a list of gemstones and their meanings. A lot of thought went into making that necklace for me. There are stones that represent "what is meaningful to me" as well as a cluster of hearts for the obvious reasons.

I have posted about Arlene before on my blog. Saturday night she celebrated her 60th birthday (her birthday was on June 26th) at P.F. Chang's with about 12 other people, mostly family but a few of her friends were invited too. B and I felt very honored to be included in that group on Saturday night and we wouldn't have missed it for the world. Her daughter, Christie, put the entire evening together with the help of her dad, as a surprise. And Arlene was surprised to be sure. She did very well blowing out candles and opening up presents in a crowded restaurant. I'm not sure I could have done that without feeling like I was the center of attention.

The second photograph is a picture of the necklace that I purchased for Arlene for her birthday. I didn't make it but I bought it at a store, newly opened in Auburn, that focuses on purchasing items that have soul. The name of the store is aptly called "Karma". I felt good about purchasing this piece for her because of that. It was "meaningful to me" and hopefully "meaningful to her".

Summertime brings with it lots of opportunities to spend time doing things with people. In the winter we tend to cluster inside and draw inward. Summer seems to be just the opposite allowing each of us the opportunity to "spread our wings". I love that phrase. It speaks to the part of the above quote to me; the part that says: "free yourself to create". Yes indeed. And fly to the stars and beyond!!!