8/10/2014
8/09/2014
8/06/2014
Farther Away
If you look for the truth outside yourself,
it gets farther and farther away.
Today, walking alone,
I meet her everywhere I step.
She is the same as me,
yet I am not her.
Only if you understand it in this way
will you merge with the way things are."
Tung Shan
8/04/2014
Concentrate
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"Concentrate, and listen not with your ears--
But with the heart.
Then, not listening with the heart, do so
With the breath.
The ear is limited to ordinary listening;
The heart (mind) to the rational.
Listening with the breath, one experiences
All things in purity."
--Chuang Tzu
8/02/2014
8/01/2014
Eye of the Heart
"I am blind and do not see the
things of this world; but when the light comes from above, it enlightens my
heart and I can see, for the Eye of my heart sees everything; and through this
vision I can help my people. The heart is a sanctuary at the center of which
there is a little space, wherein the Great Spirit dwells, and this is the Eye.
This is the Eye of the Great Spirit by which He sees all things, and through
which we see Him. If the heart is not pure, the Great Spirit cannot be
seen." – Nicholas Black Elk
Law of Simplification
Growth
and vitality of a civilization is not a function of power over land or power
over people, and it is most certainly not related to how much we sell or
how many resources we buy, sell, or consume. The
measure of a civilization's growth is in its ability to transfer
increasing amounts of energy and attention from the material side of life to
the psychological, cultural, aesthetic, and spiritual side of life. - Arnold ToynbeeThread
There's a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn't change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can't get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time's unfolding.
You don't ever let go of the thread.
William Stafford, from The Way It Is, 1998
7/13/2014
7/12/2014
6/28/2014
6/26/2014
6/16/2014
6/15/2014
6/14/2014
the True Purpose of Training
"Remember
that you live always under the protection of some mysterious force. This
force is nature. Therefore, true self-defense does not stop with defending
oneself against others, but strives to make oneself worthy of defense by nature
herself. It respects the principles of nature. True practice must be
in consonance with the will of nature. When man observes the principles of
nature, he helps to make them the principles of humanity because they are
directed toward the good of humanity. True self-defense must be according
to the will of God. When your mind and your acts become one with nature, then
nature will protect you. Fear no enemy; fear only to be separated from the
mind of nature. If you are on the right path, nature will protect you, and
you need not fear anything. When an enemy wants to attack you while you
are asleep, nature will awaken you. When an airplane has an accident, you
will fortunately not be on that plane. Trust nature and do not worry. Leave
both you mind and body to nature. Do not recognize friend or foe in your
mind. In your heart let there be generosity as large as the sea, which
accepts both clean and unclean water. Let your mind be as merciful as
nature, which loves the smallest tree or blade of grass. Let your mind be
strong with sincerity that can pierce iron or stone. Repay the forces of
nature, work for the good of all and make yourself a person whom nature is
pleased to let live. This is the true purpose of training."
Aikido
master Tohei, in his book, Aikido, the Arts of Self-Defense
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