There is nobody who can teach the way of no way. It cannot be learned either. Teaching and learning require someone. When there is no longer anybody, then the way of no way is evident and there is neither need for learning nor desire for teaching.
~Todd Jackson
In the movie Black Panther, Nakia tells T’Challa, “You can’t let your father’s mistakes define who you are. You get to decide what kind of king you are going to be.” I loved the whole movie, but this line is what stuck with me. So many of us are shackled, limited, burdened by our history. […]
The title of this post is said to be what Paul Revere inscribed on the wedding ring he gave his wife. I don’t know if that is true, and I have no idea if either of them lived its advice, but what a simple reminder that contentment is not something that is bestowed on those […]
In the realm of true dharmaThere is neither self nor otherOnly spontaneous recognitionAs we say together “not two”~Sengcan Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron says that she practices compassion by reminding herself that everyone she encounters is “just like me.” Just like me, this person wants to be free from suffering. Just like me, this person wants […]
Let your deeds be the offspring of the path of light. ~Pamela Eakins Our deeds have an origin. We might act out of fear, or obligation, or obedience, or anger. Or out of joy, or love, or compassion, or kindness. Many of us are taught to submit to an outside authority, so we discipline ourselves […]
I accept my destiny to walk this earth awake and at peace, in mastery and not in fear. ~The Way of Mastery How do we walk through our lives? How do we walk through a single day? What guides our steps? Too many of us are driven by fear, by shoulds, by musts, by must […]
There are no guarantees. From the viewpoint of fear none are strong enough. From the viewpoint of love none are needed. ~Emmanuel’s Book II Have you ever known someone – perhaps a friend, a child, a parent, a significant other – for whom no assurance of love was ever enough? This quote reminded me of […]
The mystery, the essence of all life, is not separate from the silent openness of simple listening. ~Toni Packer Listening. That’s not something many of us are very good at. While we’re listening to music or podcasts, our minds are often engaged in something else. We pride ourselves on multi-tasking, not realizing that our minds […]
Walk sweetly with yourself. Find every reason possible to love who you are. ~Emmanuel’s Book II The Bible tells us to love our enemies as ourselves. The Dao De Jing speaks of extending self-love to all creation. But these teachings assume that we love ourselves. The story is told of the Dalai Lama being asked […]
Years ago, I was standing on a sidewalk in Paris, close to a line of cars parked along the curb, chatting with some friends. Suddenly a deep voice bellowed from the car closest to me. “Step away from the car! Step away from the car!” I didn’t just step, I leapt several feet, crashing into […]
