Links and quotes from this week’s sessions

Monday May 11th

“We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.…
Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded.
But once mastered, no one can help you as much, not even your father or your mother.” —Buddha, from the Dhammapada

“When you become aware of silence, immediately there is that state of inner still alertness. You are present. You have stepped out of thousands of years of collective human conditioning.”–Eckhart Tolle

“Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of self that is conditioned by the past.
In you, as in each human being, there is a dimension of consciousness far deeper than thought. It is the very essence of who you are.
Finding that dimension frees you and the world from the suffering you inflict on yourself and others when the mind-made “little me” is all you know and runs your life. Love, joy, creative expansion, and lasting inner peace cannot come into your life except through that unconditioned dimension of consciousness. Here is a new spiritual practice for you: don’t take your thoughts too seriously.” –Eckhart Tolle

Tuesday May 12th

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

BCBS Compassion Course led by John Makransky

Wednesday May 13th

Gathas from the book Present Moment, Wonderful Moment:

Waking up
Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live each moment deeply
and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion.

Turning on the Water
Water flows from high in the mountains.
Water runs deep in the Earth.
Miraculously, water comes to us,
and sustains all life.

Brushing your Teeth
Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,
I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
when my mouth is fragrant with right speech,
a flower blooms in the garden of my heart.

Meditation for Stopping and Deep Looking (shared due to the poor sound during the meditation):

Breathing in, I am aware that I am breathing in. Breathing out, I am aware that I am breathing out.
Breathing in, my breathe goes deep. Breathing out, my breath goes slow

Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I feel at ease.

Breathing in, I smile. Breathing out, I release all tension.

Breathing in, I allow my mind to relax Breathing out, I smile to my mind as it begins to relax

Breathing in, I quiet my mind and let go of thoughts, worries, judgments
Breathing out, I smile to my quiet mind

Breathing in, I see myself in this moment, sitting quietly, doing nothing
Breathing out, my mind is becoming more free, settled, calm

Nowhere to go, nothing to do

Breathing in, I feel light
Breathing out, I feel free

Breathing in, I am in touch with the emptiness of my mind
Breathing out, I smile to my mind as it becomes more empty

Breathing in, I see my fear about the future
Breathing out, I let it go or let it be

Breathing in, I see my worries, my irritation, my concerns, my exhilarations
Breathing out, I let them go, let them be.

Breathing in, I am enjoying dwelling in this present moment
Breathing out, I know this is a wonderful moment