Friends

Recognizing a friend
among strangers is easy.

Discovering an enemy
among friends is painful.

Finding a friend
among enemies is unnerving.

Face Time

Ink or no ink,
our lives are written
on the parchment
of our skin.

When we read
each other's stories,
we sojourn in 
each other's lives.

Not the Same

Religion is like the truth --
a double-edged sword --
but it is not the truth.

Paradox

Take as much as you can.
It will never be enough.

Give as much as you can.
It will never be too little.

Greed is never full.
Compassion is never empty.

Inner Limits

When we are intent
on destroying ourselves,
the only barrier that
will finally make us stop
is the line we find inside.

No outer wall will work.
No parent, no child,
no spouse, no friend,
no enemy, no boss.

Our best hope is to find
that inner limit quickly.

Heavy Burdens

How many faces
pass me every day
that I never see?

How many bodies
walk by on the street
that I never notice?

How many voices
fill the air around me
that I never hear?

Apathy is a heavy burden.
Empathy weighs even more.

Three Lessons

When there are three of us,
I learn about the others.

When there are two of us,
I learn about myself.

When there is only me,
I learn about Tao.

The Good Life

When the wealthy
finally have enough,
they'll be happy.

When they're happy,
the poor and the hungry 
will finally get bread.

This is how happiness
trickles down.

Edge to Edge

The edges
define
the center.

Hard Work

It should be hard
to watch others suffer.

Wish List

If I wish pain and disaster on others, 
is it because they deserve it?
Or because I have more to learn?

Expectant

Silence is not silent.
Emptiness is not empty.

When I ask a question,
I should expect an answer.

Naive

Weary traveler
or awestruck tourist.
Which one travels farther?

Cynical teacher
or gullible student.
Which one learns more?

Charismatic preacher
or earnest believer.
Which one leads the way?

Storm's Eye

The eye of the storm is calm.

Be still in the middle of chaos
if you want to find your center.

Seven Friends

One who listens.
One who says the right thing.
One who quotes others.
One who asks good questions.
One who pretends not to see.
One who stays behind.
One who knows when to go.

The one who won't hear
is not a friend.

Old News

Yesterday arrived yesterday.
Tomorrow will arrive tomorrow.
Only this moment can arrive now.

Live it before it becomes old news.

More Than We Think

Talk is cheap.
Compassion is free.
We all have more to give
than we think.

Playing With Snakes

Life is what it is,
but does that mean
I should toy with a viper
just because it crosses
my path?

Soak

Stand in place
and lose your place.

Stay in motion
and never find rest.

Soak in Tao
and be at home anywhere.

Blind and Deaf

Humility doesn't hear hateful words.
Modesty doesn't register revenge.

Arrogance listens to envy.
Pride leads to deeper dark.

What's Missing

What is missing
from this moment
that I need
at this moment?

My full attention.

When this moment
is gone, most likely
I'll never remember it

again.

Three Inner Journeys

Prayer.
Meditation.
Contemplation.

Fear and Serenity

Fear arises from ego.
Serenity arises from Tao.

Serenity recedes in the face of ego.
Fear fades in the awareness of Tao.

No Favorites

Enlightenment
has no reason
to play favorites.

Only Proof

Is there a God?
Does Tao exist?
Is Allah real?

The names are real,
but that proves nothing.

The only proof you have
is yourself.

Travel Notes

No matter which road you choose,
night will fall.

No matter which current you ride,
the river will twist and turn.

No matter which path you follow,
the wilderness will always be deep.

Travel as if you'll get
what you need along the way.

Need to Hurt

The need to hurt
arises from pain.
Pain arises from ego.
Ego arises from not seeing.
Not seeing arises from not looking.

One for Now

Blue door.
Black door.
Red door.
White door.
Open door.

One for sorrow.
One for mystery.
One for thrill.
One for pain.
One for now.

Every Edge Goes Blurry

Every edge goes blurry
if you move close enough.

Hidden

Clothes hide our nakedness.
Silence hides our wisdom.
Nothing hides our ignorance.

At Table

When we sit down to eat,
even the table is a part
of our communion.