Spending Time Alone

Spending time alone
lets you see how much
you like yourself.

Or how little.

Best to become
the person you want
to be with.

River Time

When I watch a river,
I am watching time.

Whether I scan the surface
upstream and downstream
and upstream again
in slow-moving arcs,
or keep my eyes focused on
the narrow swath between
me and the opposite bank,
I am watching time.

There are different ways
to watch a river.
There are different ways
to watch time.

Do Birds Know?

Do birds know I am listening to them sing?

Do trees know I am cooling myself in their shade?

Do flowers know I am sniffing their fragrance?

Does the sun know I am warmed by its light?

Does the earth know I am on my way there?

Because Every Moment Is Unique

Because every moment is unique,
it contains a universe of possibilities.

Because every moment is unique,
it holds things you do not expect.

Because every moment is unique,
it requires your utmost attention.

Where There Is No Center

All is contained in the Tao.
All that is and all that isn't.
Infinity and eternity.
Emptiness and completeness.

Where there is no center,
everything is in balance.

The Bucket of Stars

One stormy afternoon, a man set out a bucket to catch rainwater, but when he checked it the next morning, it was almost dry.

How can this be? he thought. The rains beat on the roof all night long, so why is the bucket not full?

He picked it up and looked inside and saw dozens of tiny suns blazing in the bottom.

Look what the rains have left me, he thought.

He threw a blanket over the top and hid the bucket of stars in the pantry. He wanted to save their light for another rainy day.

When a Question Arises

When you go looking for an answer to some question that keeps pushing its way into your mind, how can you be sure the answer isn't secretly begging you to find it?

How do you know the question that keeps plaguing you didn't originate with the answer you're trying to find?

What if the mystery you keep trying to solve is really just the solution trying to attract your attention?

How do you know that questions rising in your mind aren't really answers shouting to you at the top of their lungs?

When I See My Connectedness

When I see my connectedness,
I recognize my oneness.

When I see my oneness,
I recognize my divinity.

When I see my divinity,
I recognize my abundance.

When I see my abundance,
I realize salvation is already mine.

You Carry Music Inside You

You carry music inside you
whether you want to or not.

It beats inside your ribs.
It taps inside your feet.
It hums inside your head.

When you hear it clearly,
you will want to share it.

Paradox of Sacrifice

When you give yourself away bit by bit,
you end up with everything you need.

When you give yourself away all at once,
you end up with nothing.

This is one of the paradoxes of sacrifice.

Seven Mysteries

Mountains.
The ocean.
Birds.
Stars.
Journeys.
Newborns.
Wisdom.

Bound by Birth?

Even if we are born into poverty and shame,
we can still grow up to become saints.

Even if we are born into wealth and privilege,
we can still grow up to become thieves.

Even if we are born into a work-a-day world,
we can still grow up to become monsters.

If we are not bound by our birth, why
would we not take a chance to prove ourselves?