Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize. A blue sky, white clouds. Green leaves. The black, curious eyes of a child. Our own two eyes. All is a miracle. So smile, breathe. And go slowly. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet. Drink your tea slowly and reverently. As if it is the axis on which the world-earth revolves. Slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Life is available only in the present moment.
The present moment is filled with joy and happiness — if you are attentive, you will see it. Many people think excitement is happiness, but when you are excited, you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.
The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms. Feelings come and go, like clouds in a windy sky — conscious breathing is my anchor.
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile; but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.
When another person makes you suffer, it is because they suffer deeply within themself, and their suffering is spilling over. They don’t need punishment, they need help. That is the message they are sending.
People have a hard time letting go of their suffering: out of fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. But 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. Blaming others has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument — that is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument — just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love — and the situation will change. Our own life has to be our message.
The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don’t wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy. Suffering is not enough; life is both dreadful and wonderful. How can I smile when I am filled with so much sorrow? It is natural. You need to smile to your sorrow, because you are more than your sorrow.
Hope is important, because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.
We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness. You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free. Through my love for you, I want to express my love for the whole cosmos — the whole of humanity and all beings. By living with you, I want to learn to love everyone and all species. If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone and all species on earth. This is the real message of Love.
Breathing in, a calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is the only moment. Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment, and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion. I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live.