If you think the Kingdom of God is above you,
then birds will find it first.
If you think it is in the ocean,
then fish will discover it before you do.
Look…. the Kingdom of God
is within you and all around you.
The Gospel of Thomas
Seeking within, you will find stillness.
Here there is no more fear or attachment-
only joy.
The Dhammapada
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Do not spoil what you have
by desiring what you have not;
remember that what you now have
was once among the things
you only hoped for.
.
Epicurus
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Lord, thou knowest better than myself
that I am growing older and will soon be old.
Keep me from becoming too talkative,
and especially from the unfortunate habit
of thinking that I must say something
on every subject and at every opportunity.
Release me from the idea
that I must straighten out other peoples’ affairs.
With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom,
it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it.
But thou knowest, Lord,
that in the end I will need a few friends.
Keep me from the recital of endless details;
give me wings to get to the point.
Grant me the patience
to listen to the complaints of others;
help me to endure them with charity.
But seal my lips on my own aches and pains —
they increase with the increasing years
and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.
I will not ask thee for improved memory,
only for a little more humility
and less self-assurance
when my own memory doesn’t agree with that of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.
Keep me reasonably gentle.
I do not have the ambition to become a saint –
– it is so hard to live with some of them –
– but a harsh old person is one of the devil’s masterpieces.
Make me sympathetic without being sentimental,
helpful but not bossy.
Let me discover merits where I had not expected them,
and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any.
And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so.
Amen
Margot Benary-Isbert
Photo by Woodland Gnome
Faith dispels doubt and hesitation,
it liberates you from suffering
and delivers you
to the city of peace and happiness.
H. H. Tenzin Gyatso
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Those who make compassion
an essential part of their lives
find the joy of life.
Kindness deepens the spirit
and produces rewards
that cannot be completely explained in words.
It is an experience more powerful than words.
To become acquainted with kindness
one must be prepared to learn new things
and feel new feelings.
Kindness is more
than a philosophy of the mind.
It is a philosophy of the spirit.
Robert J. Furey
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Letting go gives us freedom,
and freedom is the only condition for happiness.
If, in our heart, we still cling to anything –
anger, anxiety, or possessions –
we cannot be free.
Thích Nhất Hạnh
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Overcome your uncertainties
and free yourself from dwelling on sorrow.
When you delight in existence,
you will awaken,
and become a guide to those in need,
revealing the path to many.
Buddhist Teaching
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Appreciation can make a day,
even change a life.
Your willingness to put it into words
is all that is necessary.
Margaret Cousins
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
I don’t know whether the universe,
with its countless galaxies, stars and planets,
has a deeper meaning or not;
but at the very least,
it is clear that we humans who live on this earth
face the task of making a happy life for ourselves.
Therefore, it is important to discover
what will bring about
the greatest degree of happiness.
H. H. Tenzin Gyatso
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
Like birds landing on a tree top together,
and then dispersing,
We are together for a very short time.
So it makes sense to live in harmony;
in unconditional friendship.
Bokar Rinpoche
Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014
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