Thomas45

Two excerpts from Lao-Tzu:

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Thirty spokes join one hub.
The wheel's use comes from emptiness.

Clay is fired to make a pot.
The pot's use comes from emptiness.

Windows and doors are cut to make a room.
The room's use comes from emptiness.

Therefore,
--- Having leads to profit,
--- Not having leads to use.

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Best to be like water,
Which benefits the ten thousand things
and does not contend.
It pools where humans disdain to dwell,
Close to the Tao.

--- Live in a good place.
--- Keep your mind deep.
--- Treat others well.
--- Stand by your word.
--- Keep good order.
--- Do the right thing.
--- Work when it's time.

--- Only do not contend,
And you will not go wrong.

Mango blast

There was a story relayed about a monk asking a visitor what was most special about a bowl that he handed to him. The visitor paused to enjoy the craftsmanship of the bowl, the material it was formed from, the texture, feel and colors... and took his time before replying, "The emptiness. All that it waits to hold."

Mango blast

This quote from Lao-Tzu helped me a lot!

SoloMio

These are great quotes.

I also like Thich Nhat Hanh. I try to recite this every day:

Waking up this morning I smile
24 hours are before me
I vow to live fully in each moment
And view all beings with the eyes of compassion.

Also, I mentioned in another post that I am reading Gabor Mate's "When the Body Says No" and there are 7 As to keep in mind as you are trying to stay awake and aware to your condition (actually, that's two of them)

1) Acceptance: the willingness to recognize and accept how things are
2) Awareness: Regaining our lost capacity to perceive emotional reality and that we are ready to let go of the paralyzing belief that we are not strong enough
3) Anger: it is a physiologic process to be experienced and it has cognitive value
4) Autonomy: Development of an internal center of control
5) Attachment: Our connection with the world. Seeking connections is a necessity for healing
6) "Beyond acceptance and awareness, beyond the experience of anger and the unfolding of autonomy, along with the celebration of our capacity for attachment and the conscious search for contact, comes assertion: it is the declaration to ourselves and to the world that we ARE and that we are who we are."
7) Affirmation: "When we affirm, we make a positive statement; we move toward something of value. The first value is our own creative self...The second great affirmation is of the universe itself--our connection with all that is."

I hate to shorthand this great work in this way. But, I've really enjoyed reading it, as I have other works by him, like In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.

Bernadette

Four faves for calming my mind:

Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.

The past is gone. I am free in this moment.

I now choose.....

Trust the process of life. I am safe. All is well.

Mango blast

Thank you very much for these, my friends.