Author Archives: Laura Dobson

“This above all: to thine own self be true,And it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man.” William Shakespeare, born on this day in 1564, died on this day in 1616

Once, the Buddha was sitting in meditation, and someone came to him and asked: “Lord Buddha, you teach compassion, forgiveness, love and forbearance – from where did you learn all these wonderful qualities? Who is your teacher?” Pointing towards the soil, the Buddha said: “I learned my forgiveness, compassion, friendship, kindness and all the wonderfulContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 22nd April – Earth Day”

“All beneficent and creative power gathers itself together in silence, ere it issues out in might.” Unitarian minister and theologian James Martineau, born on this day in 1805

From The Rose Garden by Saadi Shirazi, 13th Century CE, Persia, “Someone asked a wise person, “Of the many celebrated trees that Allah has created, some are very lofty, some wonderfully shady or fruit-giving. But people call none of them azad or free, except for the cypress, which is none of these. Can you explainContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 20th April”

“When you drive your automobile in the Gobi desert, you can go everywhere. There is no one-way road.So the nature of your mind pervades in all directions at once, evenly, as light or heat penetrates evenly.The original nature of human beings is this even nature, but we are now in uneven nature, and our automobileContinue reading “Thought for the day, Tuesday 19th April”

An Upside-Down Easter Meditation by Parker J Palmer, “Years ago, I stumbled upon a little book by Julia Esquivel, the Guatemalan poet and social justice activist, titled “Threatened with Resurrection.” Those few words had a huge impact on me. I’d been taught that death is the great threat and resurrection the great hope. But atContinue reading “Thought for the day, Monday 18th April”

From Easter at the Forge Cross by Father Daniel O’Leary, “Resurrection is as earthy, local and intimate as our sweat and blood, our dreams and nightmares, our drives andpassions. It is as real as whatever or whoever drives and drains us, draws and drags us. Resurrection, in fact, is thedeepest meaning of everything that bringsContinue reading “Thought for the day, Sunday 17th April”

From Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons by Jan Richardson, “In the Breath, Another BreathingFor Holy Saturday Let it bethat on this daywe will expectno more of ourselvesthan to keepbreathingwith the bewilderedcadenceof lungs that will notgive up the ghost. Let it bewe will expectlittle butthe beating ofour heart,stubborn inits repeating rhythmthatContinue reading “Thought for the day, Saturday 16th April”

From Julian of Norwich, The Showings: A Contemporary Translation by Mirabai Starr “Next, I had a physical vision of the face on the crucifix. As I stared at it, the face began to shift and change. I beheld aspects of his passion: vile contempt, spitting and pummelling, and more excruciating wounds than I could possiblyContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 15th April”

From The Radiance Sutras by Lorin Roche (translation of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra) “The air I am breathing was exhaled in ecstasyBy an ancient sun.This earth I am standing onWas born of cosmic fire.The blood flowing through my veinsIs as salty as the primordial ocean.The space permeating my bodyIs as infinite as the space allContinue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 14th April”