Quest for Mindfulness – 31

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. – Hazrat Inayat Khan

The only ones who can bring peace to the world are those who have found peace within themselves, “the peace which passes understanding” proclaimed by Jesus who also said “The Kingdom of God is within you” and “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 30

…practicing stillness gets us deeper and deeper into who we really are, beyond ego, beyond personality, beyond biography, beyond senses, beyond thoughts, beyond feelings…It’s definitely worth the effort to reach deep into this miraculous, mysterious and marvelous realm day after day, even moment after moment, breath after breath.

Psalm 122:8-9

For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 29

When we persevere with the help of a gentle discipline, we slowly come to hear the still, small voice and to feel the delicate breeze, and so to come to know the presence of Love. — Henri Nouwen

Psalm 148:3-4

Praise the Lord, sun and moon;
praise the Lord, all you shining stars!
Praise the Lord, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 28

Precious Wildness

The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out. But if we are willing to walk quietly into the woods and sit silently for an hour or two at the base of a tree, the creature we are waiting for may well emerge, and out of the corner of an eye we will catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek. – Parker Palmer

It’s worth it!  It might be difficult, challenging, uncomfortable, even painful at times but … it’s worth it.  Going deep into your mind, heart, body and soul requires courage and commitment. But it’s worth it.  Not only for yourself, but for everyone, for everyone you meet, for everyone else too.  For humans. For animals. For plants. For rocks.  For oceans.  For clouds.  For stars in galaxies millions of light years away.

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 27

Let us accept the invitation,

ever-open,

from the Stillness,

taste its exquisite sweetness,

and heed its silent instruction.

— Paul Brunton in Perspectives

Psalm 91:1-2

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress;

my God, in whom I trust.”

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 26

Mindful living is an art. You do not have to be a monk or live in a monastery to practice mindfulness. You can practice anytime. – Thich Nhat Hanh

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. – Henry David Thoreau

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 25

PSALM 57:7-10

My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast.

I will sing and make melody.

Awake, my soul!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;

your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

There’s one thing about living here in the Pacific Northwest, we have some of the MOST wonderful cloudscapes imaginable. My heart rises up with gratitude and praise in the presence of such magnificence.

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 24

Only when you are still inside do you have access to the realm of stillness that rocks, plants, and animals inhabit. … Nature can bring you to stillness. That is its gift to you. When you perceive and join with nature in the field of stillness, that field becomes permeated with your awareness. That is your gift to nature. Through you nature becomes aware of itself. Nature has been waiting for you, as it were, for millions of years.
— Eckhart Tolle in Stillness Speaks

PSALM 46:10-11

“Be still, and know that I am God!

I am exalted among the nations,

I am exalted in the earth.”

The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 23

Be still, and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10

Hello darkness my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

– Paul Simon

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.

 

Quest for Mindfulness – 22

When the mind and body are restless, nothing in life can be accomplished. – Hazrat Inayat Khan

Psalm 27:13-14

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!

I’m using the writings and encouragement of many people – including the daily common lectionary, this website, and this app, in my Quest for Mindfulness.