Diamond Sutra
Thus shall you think of all this fleeting world:
A star at dawn, a dewdrop in the morning sun,
A bubble in a mountain stream;
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud;
A flickering lamp, a shadow, a phantom, and a
dream.
And they are thus to be regarded!
Siddhartha Gautama
Master Lao Tzu says:
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
If you don’t realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao (Pure Awareness/Buddha Nature)
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.
Gospel of Thomas
(1st-2nd Century)
The disciples said to him, “Tell us who you are, so
that we can trust you.” Jesus said, “You search for me
through heaven and earth, but you don’t know the
one who is right before your eyes because you don’t
know how to search into this very moment.”
The disciples said to him, “Tell us what our end will
be.” Jesus said, “If you haven’t found the beginning,
why ask about the end? For where the beginning is
the end is also. Blessed are those who stand at the
beginning, for they will know the end,
and they will not taste death.”
Jesus said, “Recognize what is in your sight, and
what is hidden will become clear to you.”
……. “If you bring forth what is inside you,
what you bring forth will save you.
If you don’t bring forth what is inside you, what you
don’t bring forth will destroy you.”
Jesus said, “Whoever believes that the all
is deficient, are themselves deficient.”
So this week let’s contemplate these questions.
What is keeping us from emptying our minds of all thoughts?
What prevents us from searching into this very moment?
What is keeping our hearts from being at peace?
Can we return to our common source which brings us serenity?
Can we bring forth what is inside us so that the hidden will become clear?
Our common source is not one thing. It is all things! And when we realize that simple truth we naturally become tolerant, amused, kindhearted, and immersed in wonder. It is from this place that we can deal with whatever life brings. Accepting all and rejecting none. Awake!
May you be well, happy, and peaceful. Floyd
