RSS FEEDWhat is the highest path?
In or about the year 1042 in Tibet, the Buddhist sage Atisha was asked the question “What is the highest path?” Here is his response, as translated by Robert A. F. Thurman: “The highest skill lies in the realization of selflessness. The highest nobility lies in taming your own mind. The highest excellence lies in […]
Morning prayers
Rising sun and a gentle breeze, a yellow and bronze dew-kissed iris, Celtic, the rustle of new green, soft, in sturdy oaks, scent of honeysuckle from the laden fence, a night-fallen carpet of rose petals, red, that only cat’s feet can tread gingerly enough, scatter of bird sounds, a double handful of plump strawberries ripe […]
Balance
Every spiritual tradition I know about emphasizes the concept of balance—the Taoist Yin-Yang, the Native American Medicine Wheel, the Judeo-Christian “to every thing there is a season…” and on and on. Today, prayerfully, as in Japan so much destruction and loss of life has happened, here at home I walked out into my garden to […]
Love’s Calm
Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary General of the UN in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, kept a journal, published posthumously as Markings. He was faced, personally and professionally, with so many calamities that I looked this morning at his published words for comfort and courage, prayerful as I am after the news of last night’s earthquake […]
These Days
Take heart! Although the news each day seems more and more alarming, the political divisions and unrest, at home and abroad, seem more and more severe, do not think that hope is lost. Consider how many times those who came before us had to struggle through overwhelming situations. The conditions of the world have always […]
For Ourselves, Our Nation
One becomes, perhaps, and correctly so, speechless in the face of such enormous events as occurred in Arizona this weekend. After the stillness, though, I look to the words of wise ones from my memory and from my library to fill my thoughts and guide my own speech and actions. Here are some of them: […]
Kindling Fire, A Midwinter Message
I am told that in a few weeks, on the evening of the winter solstice, there will be a full eclipse of the full moon. That the winter solstice—that time of the changing of seasons from the darkening to the increasing of light—coincides this year with the darkening eclipse and the re-illumination of the full […]
Perrenial Wisdom
Late season blooming, the camellia, even after frost, while I, at 71, giddy this glorious day, on the wind, with golden leaves hawk-tossed, wildly alive, oh yes, always, again.
Paradox and Wonder
Oh, this most amazing day, a day of paradox and wonder, of depression and delight, when wild grapes fall into my hands and hawks sail overhead, when butterflies of every size and hue and bees and hummingbirds too celebrate color, so that little wings carry joy with pollen, and beauty, abundance, and pleasure are everywhere […]
