Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
Breathing is a means of awakening and maintaining full attention in order to look carefully, long, and deeply, see the nature of all things, and arrive at liberation. – Thich Nhat Hannah, Breathe, You are Alive When I was at BUD/s, the Navy SEAL selection course, the instructors taught a relaxation technique that they called 4×4
Ignatius Loyola was founder of the Society of Jesus (more commonly known as the Jesuits). As a young man, he was very much like what many young men are today: vain and with aspirations of fame and glory. He was wounded in battle in 1521 and while recuperating at his family’s castle, was given books
“Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America The Trade: Freedom in exchange for clarity If you feel like you don’t know what to do with your life and feel that existential ambiguity that makes you
To wish for a fuller, happier life than your present one is natural and commendable. What is not commendable is to despise your present state while yearning for a more exalted one. – Zen Master Yasutani-roshi, via The Three Pillars of Zen One of the consistent pieces of wisdom that run through all of the ancient
Whatever you do, make it an offering to me – the food you eat, the sacrifices you make, the help you give, even your suffering. In this way you will be freed from the bondage of karma, and from its results both pleasant and painful. Then, firm in renunciation and yoga, with your heart free,
When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun. – Benjamin Hoff, Lao-tse. The Tao(ism): (or Wisdom of Pooh) The other week I was at home browsing
Souls are like athletes, that need opponents worthy of them, if they are to be tried and extended and pushed to the full use of their powers, and rewarded according to their capacity.
Training grounds for the soul
My daughter needed surgery last year when she was four months old. The condition we were treating with surgery was not life threatening and the surgery itself was relatively low risk, but it was still terrifying as a parent. I couldn’t help but imagine the worst happening.
Labor is a craft, but perfect rest is an art. It is the result of an accord of body, mind and imagination. To attain a degree of excellence in art, one must accept its discipline, one must adjure slothfulness. The seventh day is a palace in time which we build. It is made of soul,
Small, seemingly insignificant events, ideas, and life circumstances can become occasions to discern God’s will and calling in your life. Both inner and outer events and circumstances can be read and interpreted as signposts leading to a deeper understanding of the way the Spirit of God is working in our daily lives. – Henri Nouen, Discernment:
Money problems are almost never about the money Ramit Sethi has a great podcast called I Will Teach You to Be Rich (based on his website and business name). On the podcast, he interviews couples who have a specific money problem. One episode features a wife who is on the verge of divorcing her husband