At the end if the day…
At the end of the day, I have to ask myself… was I a better person and did I did I do more of what was needed than yesterday?
Decision 2008
The American election is but over and decided. Junior Senator Barak Obama from Illinois has won and will be the 44th President starting January 2009. He has defeated a much older John McCain.
I’ve been reading peoples blogs, posts and comments surrounding his win over the past couple of hours (and indeed, also received several text messages) and I’m a bit taken aback. Nothing has happened yet other than the fact that he has won, but by the reactions, it is as if a savior has been discovered and already colours are brighter, sounds sweeter and the air more pure. People have fallen in love with the words and the dream “Yes we can”, although the world is still the same world that it was. What remains to be seen is if his word is bond.
Part of me wonders if this is the hope that the country (and the world) needs. The optimism and the silver lining of a big black belly of a rain cloud which is yet growing and looming ever closer. And another part of me wonders if this is the same blind tenacity shown when America herself was leading the charge into Afghanistan and Iraq. Are such strong emotions clouding a picture of the future, that has yet to take shape, into dreams?
Perhaps it was intended as such. Perhaps we are still asleep but are now dreaming sweeter dreams.
I think therefore I am
We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
~ Buddha ~
On the self..
The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.
~ Dogen ~
Silence and Surrender
To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders
~ Unknown ~
Usefulness of Emptiness
If there is only empty space, with no suns nor planets in it, then space loses its substantiality.
~ Buddha ~
On Spiritual Friendship..
One day Ananda, who had been thinking deeply about things for a while, turned to the Buddha and exclaimed: “Lord, I’ve been thinking- spiritual friendship is at least half of the spiritual life!” The Buddha replied: “Say not so, Ananda, say not so. Spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life!”
~ Samyutta Nikaya ~
On emotions..
It is important to recognize the power of our emotions–and to take responsibility for them by creating a light and positive atmosphere around ourselves. This attitude of joy that we create helps alleviate states of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. Our relationships with others thus naturally improve, and little by little the whole of society becomes more positive and balanced.
~ Tarthang Tulku ~
On Death and Life..
It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.
Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.
Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one yourself!
Execute every act of thy life as though it were thy last.
What we do in life echoes in eternity.
~ Marcus Aurelius ~
On observations…
In order to see birds its is necessary to become a part of the silence.
~ Robert Lynd ~