Monday, November 30, 2015

"My dear friends, suppose someone is holding a pebble and throws it in the air and the pebble begins to fall down into a river. After the pebble touches the surface of the water, it allows itself to sink slowly into the river.
It will reach the bed of the river without any effort. Once the pebble is at the bottom of the river, it continues to rest. ... it allows itself to fall without making any effort.
Resting is a very important practice; we have to learn the art of resting.
We are always struggling; struggling has become a kind of habit. We cannot resist being active, struggling all the time.
It is very important to realize that we have the habit energy of struggling.
...When an animal in the jungle is wounded, it knows how to find a quiet place, lie down and do nothing. The animal knows that is the only way to get healed-to lay down and just rest.
In our consciousness there are wounds also, lots of pains. Our consciousness also needs to rest in order to restore itself. Our consciousness is just like our body.
...We worry so much about healing, which is why we do not get the healing we need. Only if we know how to allow them to rest can our body and our soul heal themselves.
...But there is in us what we call the energy of restlessness. We cannot be at peace with ourselves. ... and that kind of restlessness makes us unhappy.
The Buddha said that the past is gone and the future is not yet here. Let us not regret the past. Let us not worry about the future.
...the present moment is the only moment where you can touch life."
-Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk, teacher, poet, peace activist.



(Photo from Green Cay the other day)

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