Via Ram Dass / Words of Wisdom - August 9, 2017

Suffering is a lesson the Soul needs in order to get to its Beloved. Joy is too. 

- Ram Dass -

Via Daily Dharma: There's No Race to Enlightenment

We breathe in and out, and we just watch that. Nothing else. It doesn’t matter if we get enlightenment or not. It doesn’t matter if our friends get enlightened faster. Who cares? We are just breathing.

—Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, “Do Nothing”

Via Daily Dharma: One-breath Meditation

In this world of onrushing events the act of meditation—even just a “one-breath” meditation—straightening the back, clearing the mind for a moment—is a refreshing island in the stream.

—Gary Snyder, “Just One Breath”

Via Daily Dharma: Connecting with Our Best Selves

Appreciative joy is a natural expression of our best humanity.

—Judith Simmer-Brown, “Transforming the Green-Ey'd Monster”

Via Ram Dass: Words of Wisdom - August 6, 2017

If you keep examining your mind, you'll come to see that thoughts of who you are and how it all is are creating the reality you're experiencing. 

- Ram Dass -

Via Daily Dharma: Transform Yourself

Meditation aims not so much to solve a person’s particular problems as to solve the person altogether.

—David Rome, “Focusing”

Via Daily Dharma: Why We Shouldn't Be Afraid of Suffering

Handling our suffering is an art. If we know how to suffer, we suffer much less, and we’re no longer afraid of being overwhelmed by the suffering inside.

—Thich Nhat Hanh, “Why We Shouldn't Be Afraid of Suffering”

Via Daily Dharma: Working with Difficult Feelings

A feeling-tone is a feeling-tone, and that’s all. Just like anything else, the invitation is to be with it, not to listen to it, not to ignore it, not to push it away, not to repress it, not to act on it.

—Dr. Jay Michaelson, “Working Through the Strong Emotions of Sexual Identity”

Via Daily Dharma: Respect Is All We Need

Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need.

—Dalai Lama, “Consider Yourself a Tourist”

Via Daily Dharma: Changing Your Approach to Life

In Buddhism, the point is not simply to be accomplished meditators but to change our whole approach to life.

—Judy Lief, “Meditation Alone is Not Enough”

Via Daily Dharma: Find Freedom in Stillness

Stillness in the midst of motion and commotion is free of will, direction, and time. It is a complete letting be of what is from moment to moment.

—Toni Packer, “Unmasking the Self”

Via Daily Dharma: Your Whole Life Is Here and Now

To practice the way of Buddha means to completely live out this present moment—which is our whole life—here and now.

—Kodo Sawaki Roshi, “To You”

Via Ram Dass: Words of Wisdom - July 30, 2017

Bearing the unbearable is the deepest root of compassion in the world. When you bear what you think you cannot bear, who you think you are dies. You become compassion. You don't have compassion - you are compassion. True compassion goes beyond empathy to being with the experience of another. You become an instrument of compassion. 

- Ram Dass -
  

Via Daily Dharma: A Teacher Points the Way

A teacher, out of compassion and love, seeing that somebody is suffering, gives a path. But each individual has to walk on the path.

—S. N. Goenka, “Superscience”

Via Ram Dass: Words of Wisdom - July 26, 2017

As we each listen to the intuitive message of our hearts, the society of which we are a part listens too.

- Ram Dass -

Via Daily Dharma: Planting the Seed of an Awakened Mind

In Buddhism, we often talk about the seed of bodhicitta, the potential for an awakened mind that resides in all sentient beings. This seed is the basis of Buddhist practice—the generation of wisdom and compassion toward all sentient beings.

—Ogyen Trinley Dorje, “No Easy Answers”

Via Daily Dharma: Appreciation Is Key

I think for every human being, appreciation in daily life is key. Through having appreciation for everything, you're able to expand so much as a human being, with your heart and your spirit and your mind.

—Ifé Sanchez Mora, “Interview with Nichiren Buddhist Singer Ifé Sanchez Mora”

Via Daily Dharma: Defining a Hero

A hero, a person who is courageous, has the courage to admit one’s mistakes, one’s faults.

—Sayadaw U Pandita, “The Best Remedy”

Via Daily Dharma: The Art of Listening

To know what a person says, we must hear what remains unsaid. If we cannot hear silence, we do not know how to listen.

—Mark C. Taylor, “Hearing Silence”