Reading Archives (2023)
Limitation Becomes Space
Eckhart Tolle
Allowing this moment to be as it is, just this moment, no more. Just this moment. Suddenly there’s an inner space around it which frees you from the limitation of the form. The greatest im...
The Process Of Understanding
Michael Lipson
We'll focus on the union of two apparently contradictory gestures: simultaneous holding and releasing. Holding. I have a project, like writing a letter, or choreographing a musi...
Voluntary Simplicity
Jon Kabat-Zinn
The impulse frequently arises in me to squeeze another this or another that into this moment. Just this phone call, just stopping off here on my way there. Never mind that it might be in t...
Three Mystical Powers
Fred LaMotte
I have attained three supreme mystical powers. I am going to teach them to you, if you are ready. These siddhis overcome all obstacles, stun all enemies, and open all the portals to the Infinite. N...
Gratitude
Tiruvalluvar
A good turn done is a heaven-born gift you cherish Ask 'Will (they) repay it?' and it'll perish A helpful act howsoever slight When timely, acquires true height To help without think...
Sympathy, Empathy And Compassion
Jay Litvin
Pity, sympathy, empathy, compassion. Each is received at various times by one in distress. They are the responses engendered by our misfortunes from those we encounter. And each feels different when r...
Mistaking The World We’ve Made For The Real World
George Saunders
The instant we wake the story begins: “Here I am. In my bed. Hard worker, good dad, decent husband, a guy who always tries his best. Jeez, my back hurts. Probably from the stupid gym.” ...
The Empty Boat
Chuang Tzu
He who rules men lives in confusion; He who is ruled by men lives in sorrow. Tao therefore desired Neither to influence others Nor to be influenced by them. The way to get clear of confusion And...
When Winnie The Pooh Was Scared
Unknown
“Piglet” said Pooh. “Yes,” said Piglet. “I’m scared,” said Pooh. For a moment there was silence. “Would you like to talk about it,” asked Pigle...
En-Lightening
Tash Shadman
And as I want for Words to come, Ideas to flow, Pain to go, I suffer my judgment of what is so. And as I will for Me to mend, Feeling to flee, Them to see, I suffer my judgment of what be. ...
Humility
Lorenz Sell
The dictionary definition of humility is “a modest or low view of one’s own importance.” This always gave me a sense that humility was somehow related to the estimation of my c...
Coddiwomple
April Rinne
Coddiwomple is one of my all-time favorite words, especially as a metaphor for life. It means to travel purposefully towards an as-yet-unknown destination. Isn't that what we're...
New Forms Of Religion
Laurence Freeman
However much the great ship of religion may be sinking, we remain spiritual in our needs and aspirations. If we see that religion has a fleet rather than a single battleship, we can see how certain ty...
Gratefulness Happens Before Thinking
Brother David Steindl-Rast
My vision of the world? My hope for the future? This topic sounds a bit big. Allow me to start small — say, with crows. They are my special friends. Just as I am writing these lines, one of them...
There Are Many Voices Beside Ours
Ella Cara Deloria
We [Native Americans] know about silence. We are not afraid of it. In fact, for us, silence is more powerful than words. Our elders were trained in the ways of silence, and they handed over this knowl...
The Practice Before The Practice
Mark Nepo
From the moment we open our eyes, we are meaning-seeking creatures, looking for what matters though we carry what matters deep within us. And more than the hard-earned understandings we arrive at, mor...
The Vessel And The Filter
Rick Rubin
Each of us has a container within. It is constantly being filled with data. It holds the sum total of our thoughts, feelings, dreams, and experiences in the world. Let's call this the vessel. I...
An Ode To Imagination
Geneen Marie Haugen
What is unique about human beings? That was the question that followed me. Other philosophers have supposed that our form of consciousness is unique among the animals, or our symbol-making ability. Bu...
A Flame In A Dark Cave
Colin Walsh
It was just another day of that, when it happened. I don’t know why, but the teacher suddenly broke off what he was saying and considered us for a moment. A movement like a camera shutter happen...
What You Are Is Perfect Imperfection
Emannuel
Your less evolved areas have a right to be. They whisper of things past. They whisper of confusion, of unfulfillment and of the pain of the soul separated from its God and the longing for ...