Although children have limited experience, their appetite and passion for life are boundless. Close your eyes and imagine yourself as a small child. Picture how your world would look from this perspective. Experience a sense of wonder at everything you see around you. Returning to your current self, see if you can fuse this freshness of vision with the maturity that you have gained as an adult.
From 1,001 Meditations by Mike George
Photo source: looking below the surface :) (Philippines)
Last night I had the wonderful privilege of having dinner with two friends — one a Taoist Master, the other our patient and kind translator! Though much of the weekly knowledge I gain from the Master is going into the book [please stay tuned :)!], I woke up thinking of one of his stories and I wanted to share with you :)
There were three sons who were challenged with a task to find the largest watermelon in a very large field. The only rule was that they were not allowed to go backwards in the search.
The first son went partly through the field and picked the one he thinks is largest.
The second son goes farther into the field and picks a larger watermelon.
Finally, the third son seeing the other two determines that the further you go, the larger the watermelon. Therefore he decides to go to the end of the field. He ends up picking the smallest watermelon.
Many people live their lives in this way.
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Please carefully consider and meditate on this story.
Photo source: keeping careful guard over the watermelons :)
“Knowing is not enough, we must APPLY.
Willing is not enough, we must DO.”
-Bruce Lee
I appreciate this wisdom from Bruce Lee because it gets to the heart of everything. The goal of the site is to share wisdom and also to provide advice/suggestions as to how you can apply the lessons in your life. But the choice is always yours to actually do it.
So perhaps today, you can chose one of the posts that resonated with you the most, find a way to apply to your life, and then just do it. If you love the results, you can repeat for 21 days and have a new and amazing habit :)
Photo source: (happy) Bruce Lee :)
Photo note: I’m a fan of Bruce Lee and ran across this photo and loved it! Though he is known for his legendary fighting skills, Bruce was also a master meditator. His meditative philosophy was: “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless–like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Meditation is crucial for martial arts practice because it promotes internal strength and self-control, but it is often overlooked in favor of the more physical aspects of the practice. Though the traditional fighting images show Bruce “in the zone”…I find that this image illustrates his inner glow and happy meditative state. Awesome :)
DEAR SAGE: I happen to have the privilege of knowing you personally (which is why I didn’t include my email) and I want to tell those that don’t know you that you are the real deal! I’ve never known anyone to have such a consistent positive attitude (and be no-nonsense when needed) and somehow know everyone that works at the local grocery store and restaurants! You greet everyone with a smile and people just seem to love you! So I’m writing to ask you how do you do it?! Please teach me Sage! :)
DEAR ANONYMOUS FRIEND: Wow! Thank you so much for the kind words! I remember reading this quote once that flattery is like chewing gum…you should enjoy it, but not swallow it haha I will enjoy it, but I still had to pause for a minute before posting because it might blow the whole humility thing out of the water haha However, you didn’t include your email, so alas I have to post so you will see my response ;) Though, before I address your question, I’d just like to say that if you should ever want to handle my Public Relations, please just let me know! haha But ok…on to your question!
I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with a positive outlook, among other gifts. I don’t know if positivity something I was born with or that I worked on, but I think it’s the root of everything for me. (I feel that I’m on the hot seat this time since the question is about me, so I’ll just say that I do have my moments too!) The key for me is just always finding a way to get back to that positive place. The way I do that is simple: I take a few moments to think of all of my blessings and I thank God. Immediately after doing that, I find myself looking for ways to give to others simply because I am so grateful.
I don’t give in order to receive (I give for the sake of giving)…but I think that’s the way it works. As you said, you noticed that I gave a smile and received love in return. And that’s just it…I wasn’t waiting for a smile to receive one…I gave one and got one back! It doesn’t always happen, but you can’t control other people’s reactions…only your own.
So if I was to give you concise advice, I would say: Be thankful always and give as much as you can to others…even if it’s just a smile!
YOU are a star! YOU are a divine emanation of the Creator! You can trust and know that there is always something to be thankful for…and I hope that you will take a few moments daily to recognize those gifts! And YOU are a great and kind friend to provide such a publicly positive message for the site! Thank you! ;)
Love and light,
The more I live, the less I believe in coincidence. The universe really knows better than we do. You could have received a speeding ticket to keep you from an accident or lost your job to allow you to be free for your divine purpose or had a relationship not work out to allow you to be available for your soulmate. We can never understand why we are going through something until the Creator has revealed It’s greater plan for us.
Today I randomly (not so randomly?!) met a neighbor who creates beautiful and transformational meditative art….amazing! The image featured is one of her creations. I was immediately blown away when I viewed it. I hope that it will be inspirational for you too! Please check her website for more cool: zenandsand.com
:)
Photo source: Sun gazing by Cansu
One of the main causes of our suffering is the seed of anger inside of us.
It’s not healthy to keep your anger inside for long (never for more than a day).
Accept your anger because you know, you understand, that you can take care of it;
You can transform it into positive energy.
Remember, our body is impermanent, our emotions are impermanent, and our perceptions are impermanent.
Our anger, our sadness, our love, our hatred, and our consciousness are also impermanent.
Anger and love are both of an organic nature, and thus they both can change.
Hate can always be transformed into love.
Excerpts from Taming the Tiger Within: Meditations on Transforming Difficult Emotions by Thich Naht Hanh
Photo source: black on black Jag :)
Mothers are special. I have to say that I won the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother lottery! These wonderful, beautiful, strong women all had a profound influence on me and I am so thankful.
On this day, I am going to use this post to give a special dedication to my mother for being so supportive and for showing me how to maintain a sense of wonder and joy. No one could ever be more excited to see an ocean sunset or a colorful landscape or a beautiful flower…and experience each one like it was the first time…like my mother :) I love you, Mom!
And Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers on this beautiful day! You create and shape the future :)
Photo source: Mom and cub polar bears (Alaska)