Sometimes, when I think about it, I have a great fear of change. I want the
people I love to continue to be in my life. I love the house I live in. I
want to stay there always. Yet I realize at some level it is just the story
about change, about having to let go of things, that bothers me.
Nevertheless, the fear of change still comes up...

The Buddha taught 3 fundamental laws, or tenets of life. The first was
the law of anicca, or impermanence, which says everything is always
changing. The seasons come and go, day turns into night, the climate
changes, our body grows and matures and then, like all living things,
begins eventually to wither and die. We can't stop change, and to resist it
causes dissatisfaction, or suffering. This is dukkha, the Buddha's second
law. So, when you see the truth of this, you don't hold onto things. You
don't cling to nama and rupa, which are the Sanskrit terms for the world of
name and form. You don't keep insisting things be a certain way. You learn
to flow with the ups and downs of life, to take action when you need to,
and to wait patiently when patience is what is required.

The well known serenity prayer evokes this way of being: "God grant me the
serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the
things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Coming to wisdom, learning discernment, flowing with the ups and downs,
seems to me the very essence of acceptance, if not enlightenment.

Right. A story the Buddhist teacher, Jack Kornfield, tells about his
teacher, Achaan Cha, illustrates the same point in a different way. It
revolves around a beautiful glass goblet he was given as a gift. He held
and admired the goblet, while telling the gathered students that the glass
was already broken. When they asked what he meant, he said one day, a year
from now, or ten years, or a hundred years, something would happen, an
accident, a fire, or someone would just drop the goblet, and it would break.

Because of this knowing, he could fully appreciate the goblet and enjoy
using it without any attachment. He had already said goodbye to it, so
every day it was in his possession was a blessing.

Exactly. Wisdom is seeing the big picture, seeing the inevitable unfolding
of events. It's looking ahead, and, to use a very practical
expression, visualizing the worst case scenarios. Then you are prepared. If
the worst case scenario does happen, you can take action to deal with it.
You don't obsess about what might happen in the future, but you remain
aware of and open to the possibilities.

You honor the past without clinging to it, you keep an eye on the future
without obsessing over it, but all the time your awareness is grounded
right here in the present.
What was the Buddha's third law?

The third law is the law of anatta, or no self. The Buddha said the "self"
we take ourselves to be doesn't exist, except as an idea or concept in the
mind. This is what all the great enlightenment traditions speak about.
It is the attachment to notions of "self," to the idea of "I am this" or "I
am that," to the whole inside our head drama called "me, myself, and my
story," which creates the resistance to change. You know what I mean; the
fixed positions people take and cling to for security, whether it's a
religious belief, a political belief, a national identity, or something
else.

Buddha's first law, anicca or impermanence, accurately describes everything
as constantly changing. Yet we desperately try to cling to some part of it
and keep it from changing. It is this clinging, this resistance (or its
opposite, aversion, a pushing away of one thing while holding on to
something else) which in turn results in dukkha, suffering. But the real
cause of suffering is the primary clinging to any idea of "self," to being
"somebody," or identifying with "my" personal history. Let go of that, see
it isn't even real, and you are free. Then you live without needing to
cling to any concept of "self," because you have turned your attention back
in on yourself and have discovered "you" don't exist, except as a concept
inside your head.
Then there is no struggle with "self" esteem. You're not holding onto any
image of a "self" needing validation or approval, or feeling pleased with
itself on some days, and hating itself on others. Then there is no more
suffering. You always feel good inside, because you're in touch with the
underlying goodness of life. You use the words "I," "me," and "mine" purely
in a utilitarian way, just as you use thinking for the practical, creative
tool it is, but you are no longer identified with thoughts or the thinker.

May we attain a state of such wisdom, self understanding and non duality!
SWAHA
Happy transitioning!

Sometimes feeling the eternal bliss
The astounding joy, the lotus kiss

Petals that caress an inner dreamt dream
Reflect in pools on which diamonds gleam

Forever in infinence as time and space
Collide with passion commencing the race

Souls entrapped within flesh and bone
Many mortals of material, their spirits not known

Not knowing, Never feeling, the eternal bliss
The astounding joy, the lotus kiss.

- TIM ALGERA

Egypt: February 17 to March 4, 2009

An incredible opportunity to travel to Egypt with Peruvian
Archeo-astronomer Mallku, Nancy Joy Hefron, and Alanna Aisha!
When the calling of our hearts beckons us to a new experience, we leap to
respond. That is the miracle of this upcoming Egypt experience with Nancy
Hefron's Peruvian family and guides Mallku and Alanna Aisha. For years,
Nancy has taken groups to experience the heart of Pacha Mama in the Andes
and traveled with Mallku. For even more years and trips than she can count,
she has taken groups to our ancient homeland to reconnect with Egypt. Now
through a calling of our hearts, we will join both together taking the love
and magic of Pacha Mama in our hearts to join forces with the mystery and
power of the Divine Mother Isis.

This incredible experience to combine the spiritual beauty of the Andes
and the power of Egypt will include 14 days of unfolding heart-opening
ceremony, magic, initiation and personal growth as our group heart gathers
to activate this integration of power sites within our hearts.

Catch the magic.
www.divinerevelation.org/Egypt.html

If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which
to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose
in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony.
We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.

~ Mitsugi Saotome

Sai Baba said "When you feed others, you are really feeding Me." In other words,
GOD lives in every creature. When a creature is satisfied, He is also satisfied.
Feeding is considered the highest form of charity. While other charities require
some discrimination, every person and every creature requires food and is benefited by it.

by Swami Sivananda

Christmas is named after Christ. This is the birthday of Lord Jesus, the Saviour
Christ, the Yogi of the East. He was born in a stable at Bethlehem, of Mary and
Joseph, the obscure village carpenter. Mary and Joseph made the stable a home for
Christ, the King, the Prince of Peace. The birth of Jesus is celebrated all over
the world as the sacred Christmas.
Lord Jesus was an embodiment of mercy, love and humility. He was an apostle of non-violence
and peace. His body was crucified, but his voice has been speaking through the centuries.
The message of Christmas is the message of universal love. It is the message of
ineffable divine glory and splendour. The message of Christmas is the message of
peace and goodwill among all nations.
Christmas is more than a day of rejoicing and festivity. It is a day for realizing
the Christ-consciousness or cosmic consciousness. It is a day for remembering the
noble deeds of Lord Jesus and his sacred life of pristine purity. Christmas comes
and Christmas goes, but let the spirit of Christmas be ever with you all.
Merry-making is not Christmas at all. Christmas does not consist in ringing bells
and singing songs, exchanging mutual gifts and sending Christmas cards, and in enjoying
rich repasts and heavy dinners and eating cakes.
Christmas is a state of spiritual awakening. To realize the Kingdom of Heaven within
yourself, to hold communion with the Lord in the chambers of your heart, to regain
your lost divinity, to attain Christ-consciousness or cosmic consciousness, to love
all, to include all in the warm embrace of your love is real Christmas.

Realize the spirit of Christ. Walk in the footprints of Christ. Dive deep into the
heart of Jesus. Ever seek to express, in your daily life, love, joy and peace. Imbibe
Christ's message of love and sacrifice. Manifest the latent Christ within you. Follow
the Sermon on the Mount. Attain God-consciousness. Live in the spirit of Christ's
teachings. Annihilate this little self-arrogating personality and melt yourself
in Christ or the Universal Soul. This is real Christmas.
All wish to enter the Kingdom of God. But how many of you possess the real spirit
of Christ ? How many of you are real Christians ? How many of you follow the teachings,
precepts and doctrines of Christ ? How many of you love your neighbours as your
own self ? Those who are endowed with purity of heart, humility, universal love,
generosity and nobility - they only can attain the Kingdom of God or supreme peace
and immortality.
The spirit or heart of Christ is seriously lacking in the vast majority of persons.
The love of Christ is badly wanted. What is Christmas without love, mercy and purity
? Everybody wants to exploit his neighbour. One nation wants to destroy another
nation. Is this Christmas ? Is this the teaching of Christ ?
Real Christmas never comes and goes. It is eternal. Feel the spirit of Christmas
not only on one day, but throughout the year. Every day is a Christmas day for
a real follower of Christ, for a thirsting aspirant. May you all walk the path that
Jesus laid out! May you all be living embodiments of the Sermon on the Mount! May
you realize the Kingdom of God within you here and now!

When God's divine love rises as a wave, it washes away the sins of the whole life in a moment, for law has no power to stand before love: the stream of love sweeps it away.
Think of the life of the great Master Jesus Christ who was the soul of religion -- one sees that from beginning to end there was nothing but love and forgiveness. The best expression of love is that love which is expressed in forgiveness. Those who came with their wrongs, errors, imperfections, before the love, that was all forgiven; there was always a stream of love which always purified.

~~~ "Religious Gatheka II, Kingship of God", by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)

All the beauty that there is in life is after all what we call love. From it all the virtues spring. The whole beauty of life is in it, and it is as the English song says, 'The light of a whole life dies, when love is done'. Life's light is love; and when the heart is empty of love, a man is living and yet not living; from a spiritual point of view he is dead. When the heart is asleep, he is as though dead in this life, for one can only love through the heart. But love does not mean give and take. That is only a trade; it's selfishness. To give sixpence and receive a shilling is not love. Love is when one loves for the sake of love, when one cannot help but love, cannot do anything but love. Then one is not forced to love; there is no virtue in that. One does not love because another does. It is simply there. It cannot be helped. It is the only thing that makes a person alive. If a person loves one and hates another, what can he know of love? Can you love one person fully if
at the same time you cannot bestow a kind glance on some other person? Can you say you love one person fully when you cannot bear him to be loved by someone else as well? Can you hate a person when love is sprinkled like water in your heart? Love is like the water of the Ganges. It is itself a purification. As the Bible says, 'God is love'. When love is awakened in the heart, God is awakened there. When a man has journeyed, he reaches the goal as soon as his heart has reached love.

Blessings of a kind heart upon you;
Blessings of the eyes of compassion upon you;
Blessings of giving to the earth upon you;
Blessings of the wisdom of the seasons upon you;
Blessings of breathing freel

Dear God,

May a great peace come over me, and over all the world. May forgiveness come upon us and make new all living things. May all
wounds be healed. At Christmas, this most holy season, may peace prevail in all our hearts. May only love remain. May every nation live in peace, and all humanity become as one. May the earth repair, and her bountiful harvests expand. May Christmas (your most spiritual holiday) be a blessing on us all. Please grace us with Your miracles that we may be renewed. Thank You, dear God, God of light, God of hope, God of love.

~ MARIANNA WILLIAMSON

Amma quotes:

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

Humorous quotes:

W. C. Fields:
Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.

Bernard Manning:
I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.

Amma quotes:

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

Humorous quotes:

W. C. Fields:
Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.

Bernard Manning:
I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.

Amma spoke about the love Christ's disciples had for their
master, explaining how the bond between the guru and disciple is
essential for spiritual progress. "Before the guru, a spiritual
aspirant may take the attitude of a disciple, a devotee, a child
or even of a Vedantin. Whatever the attitude may be, for one to
attain spiritual progress, love born out a bond with the Guru's
external form is necessary. That devotion should be based upon
the fundamental principles of spirituality. However, we get an
immediate, tangible experience of those principles through the
guru's physical body. That is why the guru's physical form is so
important."
Amma ended her satsang by reminding everyone that, regardless of
the path, the experience of Self-realization is one. "Sri
Krishna, Sri Buddha, Jesus Christ and any one else who attained
Self-realization all had the same inner experience," Amma said.
"There is no difference in that because Truth, the ultimate
reality, is one."

God Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama to save the universe from the clutches of the
materialistic demon Ravana. When Vishnu incarnated, all the devatas also incarnated
as monkeys, bears, and others who would help Rama defeat Ravana. At that time,
Lord Shiva wondered why he should not also incarnate to enjoy the bliss of service
to the divine Lord Rama? Thus, Lord Shiva took birth in the semi-divine race of
vannaras as Hanuman.
Before he left Earth for his home in Vaikuntha, Lord Rama charged Hanuman to stay
on Earth and look after his devotees. Like Ganapati, Hanuman is very close to the
Earth plane and therefore very easy for devotees to approach. No complex rituals
or formulas are needed to invoke his grace.
The 16th century Saint Tulasidas wrote forty verses in Hindi in praise of Sri Hanuman.
Chanting his work, called the Hanuman Chalisa, is an easy way to get the grace of
Hanuman. Tulsidas says in the 40 verse Hanuman Chalisa that "There is no need to
contemplate other gods - worshipping Hanuman, one gains all happiness." Furthermore,
Tulasidas says "Whoever recites this Chalisa a hundred times is released from bondage
and gains bliss."

========================================================

There is nothing to seek yet all seeking is a noble action

For in the readiness of action

We open to all possibility

And we learn of all wonders

Many hearts lay heavy on this planet at this time

And it is the calling of those who can see this to discover the act of lifting theirs

Lead so that you may open the doorways of the heart

That will become the teachings of tomorrow.

- by AnanadaShakti 08

"Have confidence in the truth, although you may not be able to comprehend it, although you may suppose its sweetness to be bitter, although you may shrink from it at first. Trust in the Truth...Have faith in the Truth and live it."

Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada

Ask each person you see today, "What is good?"

Even if you cannot find anything that puts a smile on your face,
try this. Put a smile on your face.
Just doing this will bring some small good into your body,
lightening the load you are carrying and boosting everyone around
you when they see your smile. Be like the baby, the innocent that
smiles regardless of all that may be out or order around them.
If you are sad for others in the world, who are suffering, know
that lightening your own sadness will help to diminish the
suffering. The more you can be happy, the more you can add light
where there is darkness.
Here is a simple little thing you can do right now to help those
in need.
Go to the Hunger Site: http://www.thehungersite.com/ and at the
top of the page it says "Click Here to Give Free Food." Just
click on that button and the many sponsors of the site pay for
one cup of food for the hungry for every click. Bookmark that
page and once per day give a cup of food to the hungry, at no
cost to you, just a moment of your time, and taking the effort to
remember to do it.
If you are fortunate enough to be with family and friends, love
them, and just as importantly, receive their love; acknowledge
their love, let them know that you know that they love you. Only
when you receive love, does the other know they are capable of
loving, and in this way, they can also love themselves.
If you are alone, may you experience the rich spiritual
experience of solitude; being alone, but not lonely. Being with
your SELF, that SELF that is the same for all of us. When you
know the SELF and I know the SELF, it is the same SELF. We are
one in the spirit, we are one in our love; we are free in the
spirit, we are free in our love.

HEAVEN AND EARTH WORKSHOPS:

Astrology & Tarot Workshops in Bali, England & Mexico
Upcoming Speakers Bernadette Brady, Nick Campion, Brian Clark, Darby Costello, Demetra George, Liz Greene, Rob Hand, Dennis Harness, Jeff Jawer, Rick Levine, Michael Lutin, Melanie Reinhart & Juliet Sharman-Burke
Heaven and Earth Workshops, where travel & learning go hand in hand. Study with great teachers, while at the same time discovering the diversity of different lands, from the mystical rice fields of Bali, to the charming English countryside, to the romantic high desert of Mexico ~ Join us as we explore a world of possibilities.We have programs for all levels of experience, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. Residential & non-residential packages, early bird discounts & work scholarships for those under 30 years old.

www.heavenandearhworkshops.com ( mailto:evelynroberts@earthlink.net )

Man himself is the tree of desire, and the root of that tree is in his own heart.

Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan:

In the traditions of the Hindus there is a well-known idea: that of the tree of the fulfillment of desires. There is a story in India of a man who was told that there was a tree of the fulfillment of desires, and who went in search of it. After going through the forests and across the mountains he arrived at last at a place where he lay down and slept without knowing that the tree of the fulfillment of desires was there. Before he went to sleep he was so tired that he thought, 'What a good thing it would be if I had just now a soft bed to rest upon and a beautiful house with a courtyard around it and a fountain, and people waiting on me!' With this thought he went to sleep, and when he opened his eyes from sleep he saw that he was lying in a soft bed, and there was a beautiful house and a courtyard and a fountain, and there were people waiting on him. He was very much astonished and remembered that before going to sleep he had thought about this subject, he found, 'The tree that I was looking for it was under that tree that I slept, and it was the miracle of the tree that was accomplished.'
The interpretation of this legend is a philosophy in itself. It is man himself who is the tree of fulfillment of his desire, and the root of this tree is in the heart of man.
There are dead thoughts, and there are living thoughts. To which class a thought belongs depends on the power called will power. When there is will power, the word is both spoken and done.
This idea is expressed by the words Kalpa-Vriksha, the tree of desire. The story is that whoever happens to sit down for a moment under this tree will have his wish fulfilled; yet nobody knows where this tree is to be found. The tree is the mind; its root is the heart. That which gives power to thought, gives spirit or life to thought, is feeling. A man without feeling is as though dead; with feeling he is living, and so is his thought. Thought with feeling is a much greater power than thought without feeling. Merely to say, 'I like your picture so much' will have no effect when there is no feeling behind it. It is just a string of words. There is no life in it. But when these words are uttered with feeling they go through your heart also; the thought becomes living.

If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which
to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose
in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony.
We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.

~ Mitsugi Saotome

the sun came out
a dazzling sight
a sudden flare
of brilliant light
through all the days
of gloom and grey
and just as quickly
went away
cloud curtains
left and right

december days
the darkest time
to be embraced
or fought -
a spell of sun
however brief
our meagre welcome lot

sink in, accept
give up the fight
there's nothing to be done
but love the grey
go on your way
and wait for sudden sun

LIGHT SHINE - DARK COMFORT!

Trying to be present implies that there is a person separate
from presence that can somehow become more present.

Presence is not a doing. It is being what you already are.
Presence is what is sitting in the chair, breathing, watching
this screen, and looking at these words. It takes no effort to
be what you already are (or even to do what you are already
doing).

Pointers to presence are simply inviting the noticing that
life is already happening spontaneously and involuntarily. You
are that life.

In trying to be present or to arrive at a future awakening,
you are entertaining a mental dream arising in the very
presence that you already are. Notice that your effort to be
present arises in presence.

When the word "notice" is seen here, there is a tendency to
make that into an effort. The idea is, "If I just continue
noticing these thoughts and emotions, I will become more
present and awake." But the effort to notice thoughts and
emotions arises in presence.

There is nothing you can do to become present. "Noticing" is
merely a word inviting you to see that presence is what is
already noticing. Your true nature is the very presence that
would set out to find itself.

When you see the futility of trying to be what you already
are, effort and seeking ends. What is left is what was always
and already here presence.

On Sunday, the Sun entered sidereal Sagittarius, the sign of the
archer. This sign is ruled by Jupiter, expressing himself in his
external, masculine temperament. When the sun goes into
Sagittarius it illuminates the path of activating higher
teachings and spirituality in our life. The keyword with the sun
is "illumination". Wherever the sun is transiting, that area of
life is "lit up" by the nature of the sun. Just like when the sun
rises, suddenly we can see where we're going. There is enormous
promise when the sun goes through Sagittarius each year. It is
the opportunity for us to purify and deepen our teachings. But
before we can purify, first we must be able to see the darkness.
No one goes out in the middle of the night to weed the garden.
They wait for the sun to come up so they can make sure to pull up
weeds, not the plants themselves.

Between now and January 15, when the sun goes into Capricorn,
there's a great opportunity for us to illuminate those darker
corners of our spiritual psyche, and actually do something about
it actively. These are the traits of Sagittarius. Connecting to
teachers, teachings and spiritual practices that give us an
experience of our true nature is supported. In many ways, it is
quite appropriate that our holiday season falls with the sun
going through sidereal Sagittarius. Amidst all of the clutter and
hubbub surrounding the holidays, underneath it all there is a lot
of spiritual beauty. This time of year is actually a celebration
of the solstice, and the days finally getting longer.

In addition to the sun entering Sagittarius, Mars will also enter
Sagittarius on December 18, today! Both Mars and the sun will be in
Sagittarius for more than three weeks, adding a very active and
courageous approach to the lessons I mentioned above. However,
the nature of Mars is to be destructive. He is a Tamasic planet,
one that destroys weakness so take yourself to task and tread lightly!

Venus breaks the KAL SARPA yoga of Rahu today and this will finally
loosen the grip of what we have all been afflicted with.

The sea of life is in constant motion, no one can stop its ever-moving waves. The Master walks over the waves, the wise man swims in the water, but the ignorant man is drowned in his effort to cross.

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People need help but will attack you if you help them.

Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and the ineffable presence.

It was never between you and them anyway.

~ Mother Teresa

Behind us all is one spirit and one life; how then can we be happy if our neighbor is not also happy?

Commentary by Hazrat Inayat Khan:

Selfishness may begin with the thought, 'As long as my country is benefited, that benefits me;' and then it will narrow down to, 'If my family is benefited, if we become wealthy and have desirable things, that is sufficient for the present!' And then it narrows down again, 'For my father, or mother, or wife or children,' until it ends in, 'Nothing matters as long as I am happy myself.' Man has now become cold, ignorant, and blind to the law that life depends on the happiness of those with whom we live. The whole of life is one. In all these different names and manifestations life is one. The true thought is, 'If my wife is not happy, if my children, my neighbors, my servants are not happy, how can I ever be happy?'

WINTER SOLSTICE TEA:

Sunday, December 21st ~ 2pm to 5pm, OMPALACE YOGAVIDYA,

This is a festive gathering to celebrate the meaning of the Solstice. To banish old problems, embrace
new solutions and to put your brightest hope into the cauldron of your deepest emotions about
existence on this planet at this time. When the light re-emerges it will carry your wish and intention with it.

LIGHT SHINE ~ DARK COMFORT.

Ritual, prayers, meditation & tea.

$ 35

RSVP: info@ompalace.com

========================================================================

Go to this site,
http://www.alexgrey.com/

once site comes up, click on Obama image to see full on rendering of Alex Grey’s impressions of Obama (Obama w/ the Earth in the Third Eye)

Out beyond concepts of what Obama represents, intuitively:
http://www.alexgrey.com/
(click on "News")

To not do anything with fear; and fear not whatever you do.

According to metaphysics fear is caused by the lack of light. Therefore the more light there is in the heart the more fearless the heart becomes. ... When a person is afraid of a dog, he gives the dog a tendency to bite him. This can be noticed so plainly in the lower creation, that every animal is afraid of another animal, and the expectation of harm makes it fear more than does the idea of the hugeness of the form or the bodily strength of another animal. Many things in life can be brought about, not only by wanting them and thinking about them, but also by fearing them, both objects and conditions. To clear one's mind of fear is like bringing light into a dark room, and as light is needed to illuminate a dark room so the light of the soul is necessary to clear away the thought of fear. ... When one fears, this world frightens one, but when one clears one's heart of all fear, the whole world of illusion turns into one single vision of the sublime immanence of God.

Wisdom is attained in solitude.

The one who lacks peace, with all his possessions, the property of this earth or quality of mind, is poor even with both. ... True wisdom is to be found in the peaceful, for peacefulness is the sign of wisdom. It is the peaceful one who is observant. It is peace that gives him the power to observe keenly. It is the peaceful one, therefore, who can conceive, for peace helps him to conceive. It is the peaceful who can contemplate; one who has no peace cannot contemplate properly. Therefore, all things pertaining to spiritual progress in life depend upon peace.
To attain peace, what one has to do is to seek that rhythm which is in the depth of our being. It is just like the sea: the surface of the sea is ever moving; the depth of the sea is still. And so it is with our life. If our life is thrown into the sea of activity, it is on the surface. We still live in the profound depths, in that peace. But the thing is to become conscious of that peace which can be found within ourselves. ... the first thing is to seek the kingdom of God within ourselves, in which there is our peace. As soon as we have found that, we have found our support, we have found our self. And in spite of all the activity and movement on the surface, we shall be able to keep that peace undisturbed if only we hold it fast by becoming conscious of it.

Who dares to equal the one
Who falls into neither being nor non - being!
All of us want to leave
The current of ordinary life,
But this one, after all, comes back
To sit among the coals and ashes.

-ZEN