“We live in a very complex world. We don’t know who we are, we don’t understand how our brain and our body function, we don’t know who’s guiding us, who is guiding the universe (in other words, who is running things)—we don’t know any of that. But through prayer we might come to a state of knowing—not so much knowledge as knowing. An unknown knowing.” William Segal (from an interview in Parabola, Summer Issue, 1999).
"Continually trying to look on the bright side interferes with our finding the wisdom that lies in the fruitful darkness. Continually striving upward toward the light means we never grow downward into our own feet, never become firmly rooted on the earth, never explore the darkness within and around us, a darkness without whose existence the light would have no meaning." —Stephen Harrod Buhner
“We all have weaknesses and deficiencies, and these limitations of ours play a most important part in all our lives. It is because of them that we need others and others need us. We are not all weak in the same spots, and so we supplement and complete one another, each one making up in himself for the lack in another.” —Thomas Merton. "No Man Is an Island."
“Each time dawn appears, the mystery is there in its entirety.” ~René Daumal. Happy belated birthday to the French writer, philosopher and poet born in Boulzicourt, Ardennes, France on March 16th, 1908. He left us in 1944.
Dear friends in Japan, As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died. The pain of one part of humankind is the pain of the whole of humankind. And the human species and the planet Earth are one body. What happens to one part of the body happens to the whole body. An event such as this reminds us of the impermanent nature of our lives. It helps us remember that what's most important is to love each other, to be there for each other, and to treasure each moment we have that we are alive. This is the best that we can do for those who have died: we can live in such a way that they continue, beautifully, in us. Here in France and at our practice centers all over the world, our brothers and sisters will continue to chant for you, sending you the energy of peace, healing and protection. Our prayers are with you. Thich Nhat Hanh