“Often when with deliberation I set out to enjoy nature with a capital ‘N’, my eagerness and expectation lead to disappointment once again. But if, without intent, I step outside merely to hang washing on the line, I am completely overwhelmed by the fine October day: the singing birds, the sparkling light, the falling leaves put to flight all introspection, I belong to the simple life of the bird song and sunlight and Autumn breeze, And for a brief moment am at ease in the world, disarmed into the peace of the everyday.”
Anonymous Lay Buddhist, quoted in Fragments of Holiness for Daily Reflection
“The value of a human being can be measured by what he or she most deeply wants. Be free of possessing things. Sit at an empty table. Be pleased with water, the taste of being home. People travel the world looking for the Friend, but that one is always at home!”
“The circuits of the soul during sleep enter into a timelessness in which our past and future are inextricably mixed, in which we meet the dead, encounter the expected, and fly and dance and swim through elements that we normally do not move within. Whether or not the daytime consciousness has a spiritual framework of dedication, the night-wandering soul encounters spiritual allies and experiences inspirational truths. Within the compass of sleep and night, the soul explores the unseen universe with skilful knowledge, leaving the body as a secret retreat of the light that will emerge at dawning. But it is in the night that the light shines brightest and can be perceived.”
“Someone once asked me what I regarded as the three most important requirements for happiness. My answer was: A feeling that you have been honest with yourself and those around you; a feeling that you have done the best you could both in your personal life and in your work; and the ability to love others.”
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in …
There is a crack in everything that you can put together: physical objects, mental objects, constructions of any kind. But that’s where the light gets in, and that’s where the resurrection is and that’s where the return, that’s where the repentance is. It is with the confrontation, with the brokenness of things.”
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”
“The heavens declare the glory of the Creator; the firmament proclaims the handiwork of Love. Day to day speech pours forth and night to night knowledge is revealed. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; Yet does their music resound through all the earth, and their words echo to the ends of the world.
In them a tent for the sun is set, which is like a bride and groom on their wedding night as they sing love’s song and celebrate the dance of life. Its rising is in eternity, and its circuit to infinity; Nothing is hidden from the sunlight.
The law of Love is perfect, reviving the soul; The testimony of Love is sure, making wise the simple; The precepts of Love are right, rejoicing the heart; The authority of Love is pure, enlightening the eyes; The spirit of Love is glorious, enduring forever; The rites of Love are true, awakening compassion.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them are the loving guided; in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own weaknesses? Cleanse me, O Love, from all my hidden faults. Keep me from boldly acting in error; let my fears and illusions not have dominion over me! Then I shall become a beneficial presence, freely and fully surrendered to your Love.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart find favor in your Heart O my Beloved, my strength and my joy!”
“The Dead Sea in the Middle East receives freshwater, but it has no outlet, so it doesn’t pass the water out. It receives beautiful water from the rivers, and the water goes dank. I mean, it just goes bad. And that’s why it is the Dead Sea. It receives and does not give. In the end, generosity is the best way of becoming more, more, and more joyful.”
From The Book of Joy by The 14th Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu (1931 – 2021), born on this day
“I have never been able to grasp the meaning of time. I don’t believe it exists. I’ve felt this again and again, when alone and out in nature. On such occasions, time does not exist. Nor does the future exist… I also believe that when one dies, one may wake up to the reality that proves that time does not exist.”
Thor Heyerdahl (1914 – 2002), ethnographer and adventurer, born on this day
“We must approach mysticism, which comes closest to overcoming the hierarchical masculine concept of God – a mysticism to be sure, in which the thirst for real liberation does not lead to drowning in the sea of unconsciousness… The mystical certainty that nothing can separate us from the love of God grows when we ourselves become one with love by placing ourselves, freely and without guarantee of success, on the side of love.”
Dorothee Soelle (1929 – 2003), German liberation theologian
Chorlton Unitarians 