Today’s Blog is mainly quotes:
Be still to know the absolute.
Be active to know the outer.
The two spring from the same source,
All of life is one whole.
In stillness, one seeks the absolute Tao. There is neither beauty nor ugliness in it. Because it has no opposites, it is called absolute. By contrast, nothing of this world is absolute, because all things that we experience are relative.
Seeking the absolute may be among the greatest goals, but you cannot remain on your meditation cushion forever. You must go out and explore life as well. This is the investigation of the outer Tao—that aspect of Tao that flows through all existence. . . .
Initially, it will seem as if there is no connection between your time meditating and the outer things in your life. After all, the masters themselves constantly stress the difference between the spiritual and the social. But eventually, you will reach a point where the quiescence of contemplation and the activeness of living are integrated. Then there is no anxiety about whether one is living a spiritual life or not. You realize that it is all part of the same seamless whole.
– Deng Ming-Dao, 365 Tao, Daily Meditations, Harper San Francisco, 1992, Day 87 Integration
The following quote in Natalie Goldberg, Three Simple Lines is another way of saying part of this:
“What you want to acquire, you should dare to acquire by any means. What you want to see, even though it is with difficulty, you should see. You should not let it pass, thinking there will be another chance to see it or to acquire it. It is quite unusual to have a second chance to materialize your desire.”
Amazing how words will comfort and also spur us on: “It is quite unusual to have a second chance to materialize your desire.” This writing at the right time helped me take a quite terrifying risk. Later I was glad for the needed courage.
Purchase A Collection of JoAnn’s Poems
You must be logged in to post a comment.