Gratitude Can Transform...

Susy Soulies

Gratitude can transform 

common days into thanksgivings,

turn routine jobs into joy,

and change ordinary opportunities 

into blessings.

~William Arthur Ward

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There's A Tradition...

 

There's a tradition in the city of Suzhou, China 

being rock farmers. 

It's handed down for generations. 

A bridge between art & nature. 

Rocks are gathered, large ones, 

and placed in the water. 

Some are there for over 20 years, 

and the water shapes the rocks. 

Sometimes, the "rock farmer" 

will cut holes in the rocks 

& have the water flow through 

to create new shapes & forms. 

After many years, 

the rocks are brought into the family's garden. 

It takes patience to do that kind of work. 

The original "farmer" 

may leave this earth during that process 

and the sons & daughters carry it on.

It strikes me in a place deep within, 

this rock farming, 

and the patience that is required. 

The water hitting the rock for years, 

molding it. 

It's a beautiful metaphor for our work.

~M

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The Eye...

The eye through which I see God

Is the same eye 

through which God sees me;

my eye and God's eye are one eye, 

one seeing,

one knowing,

one love.

~Meister Eckhart

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It Appears To Me...

 

Younsi

It appears to me 

we come to nearly every moment 

with pre-existing knowledge, 

either objective or otherwise. 

Regardless, it colors the moment. 

We think it to be true. 

Hence our cup is full, 

unable to receive what is to unfold. 

Perhaps the purpose of presence 

is to empty the cup, 

remove the information 

we have come to believe is true.

~G

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Once Upon A Time...

 

Once upon a time, 

there was a wise Zen master. 

People traveled from far away to seek his help. 

In return, he would teach them 

and show them the way to enlightenment. 

On this particular day, 

a scholar came to visit the master for advice. 

“I have come to ask you to teach me about Zen,” 

the scholar said.

Soon, it became obvious 

that the scholar was full 

of his own opinions and knowledge. 

He interrupted the master repeatedly 

with his own stories 

and failed to listen 

to what the master had to say. 

The master calmly suggested 

that they should have tea. 

So the master poured his guest a cup. 

The cup was filled, 

yet he kept pouring 

until the cup overflowed onto the table, 

onto the floor, 

and finally onto the scholar’s robes. 

The scholar cried “Stop! 

The cup is full already. 

Can’t you see?”

“Exactly,” the Zen master replied with a smile. 

“You are like this cup — 

so full of ideas that nothing more will fit in. 

Come back to me with an empty cup.”

~J

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I Often Think...

 

Auguste Rodin (detail of the Boating Party)

I often think of the last years with Ouspensky. 

He would have two or three people sit with him, 

not doing anything, just sitting, 

smoking, occasionally making a remark, 

drinking a glass of wine, for hours on end. 

At first it was very difficult— 

one racked one's brains what to say, 

how to start a conversa­tion, 

thought of all kinds of imaginary duties elsewhere. 

Many people could never bear it. 

But after a while, 

these became the most interesting times of all. 

One began to feel—everything is possible in this moment, 

let the past and future take care of itself. 

Some kind of momentum slowed down, 

and sometimes quite new ideas, 

a quite new connection 

with time and one's surroundings, seemed to form. 

One was shown what it meant to be more free.

~Rodney Collin, Theory of Conscious Harmony

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At Times...

 

"At times,

our own light goes out

and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause

to think with deep gratitude 

of those who have lighted the flame within us."

~Albert Schweitzer

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The Idea Of Essence

 

Edgar Degas

The idea of essence is an important one, 

because if we are fortunate, 

we may come across 

various aspects of our essence early on in our work. 

If this happens, 

it is important to nurture these aspects, 

as this will indeed quicken our evolution 

and aid in the shedding of false personality. 

This is why photographs are important, 

for they not only show us when we are in false personality, 

being negative and so-on, 

but they can also help show us 

when we are in essence. 

Essence is useful to the Gods, 

the school and to our well-being. 

It is much easier to be less negative 

if we are enjoying life.

~O

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Feet...

 

"Feet, 

what do I need you for

when I have wings to fly?"

~Frida Kahlo

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