tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19102931661134417582024-02-19T21:10:27.728-08:00In a NutshellDiscussion of spiritual practices: awakening, meditation, and the freedom that cannot be lost or found. All perspectives are welcome; advaita, christian, buddhist, islam or even no perspective at all. Just pointing to that which is nearest and dearest.bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-2810523247248111502023-10-09T04:59:00.001-07:002023-10-09T04:59:35.381-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVnZ6SBDvczrVjb1xdMd_IH_prLqQizFE7PFFUszMk8quSd9TmMQ3BDXtqAv4dJj7_xecyAg-gAMVPJXXTw6Nv36tahOlIMbcub5wNqO-KtVC49mUrA70E-pUZZNEprQBIxFb9QYt0n4vTn0tQbunk3EY0tjzVH5j9K-5vGq_nxfl0SnMclI7mgi7hHk/s1728/you_alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1728" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVnZ6SBDvczrVjb1xdMd_IH_prLqQizFE7PFFUszMk8quSd9TmMQ3BDXtqAv4dJj7_xecyAg-gAMVPJXXTw6Nv36tahOlIMbcub5wNqO-KtVC49mUrA70E-pUZZNEprQBIxFb9QYt0n4vTn0tQbunk3EY0tjzVH5j9K-5vGq_nxfl0SnMclI7mgi7hHk/s320/you_alone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Is it not the case that if we think about ourselves a lot we become anxious?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Meditation is the practice of forgetting self. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What to think about? For it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace. Try this:</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He is God: the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the Beautiful Names. Glorifying Him is what is in the heavens and the earth. He is the Dignified, the Wise</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">[Quran]</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-83068933458253276962023-05-30T14:03:00.000-07:002023-05-30T14:03:10.752-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmxbbAVWDfiLXkH5677v4ybvPzdSPnO2uxXkow2oX9Jg-e1TfaB-hu9RlSmUlLjtE-8whnBvHVBrSP7e6C5eVXtgFux8p09v3sTVWT6JoufbuueJA30_SJmDcm5h_XNIz70FLJJ4r2e74WmvxMuFgNBz88O1MDxrusZzBfDPc5aQgtXqQx0-hh1-f/s452/ask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="452" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmxbbAVWDfiLXkH5677v4ybvPzdSPnO2uxXkow2oX9Jg-e1TfaB-hu9RlSmUlLjtE-8whnBvHVBrSP7e6C5eVXtgFux8p09v3sTVWT6JoufbuueJA30_SJmDcm5h_XNIz70FLJJ4r2e74WmvxMuFgNBz88O1MDxrusZzBfDPc5aQgtXqQx0-hh1-f/s320/ask.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>BACKWARDS</span></h1><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">The reason that most meditation practices do not produce the desired results is because they are doing it backwards - the seeker is seeking himself to fix the problem that the seeker has created. </span></div><div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">http://www.robertflegal.com/backwards_ask/</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(11, 83, 148);"><span style="font-size: large;">Peace on you </span></span></div>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-77740147521161226122023-01-11T14:54:00.007-08:002023-01-11T14:54:53.572-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I love this quote by Milarepa ... The only question is: "Who is the thrower"?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> Find out and stand free.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN1GN7WEYoyGjygSqv_gEAQNaxUVIBE8tp-5kvJB6UspoIKNfoePTolfVSx9J_ZzRAcNLlPnz1NLL4KtgMbm61aLrY9fxkNEGAQC-e4erXfFCh4qj3geZzzZx3mQrdzV9HVdW54mx1A9DUMEgzG5u4MxLCXZSAyVF-dTCfKNCtPjWt_e6hmXZlVweN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1722" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN1GN7WEYoyGjygSqv_gEAQNaxUVIBE8tp-5kvJB6UspoIKNfoePTolfVSx9J_ZzRAcNLlPnz1NLL4KtgMbm61aLrY9fxkNEGAQC-e4erXfFCh4qj3geZzzZx3mQrdzV9HVdW54mx1A9DUMEgzG5u4MxLCXZSAyVF-dTCfKNCtPjWt_e6hmXZlVweN" width="304" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p> </p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-81313110896827441232022-07-06T06:02:00.000-07:002022-07-06T06:02:00.566-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Za9aNp1bcK0Lt5Ft3xSInPPDinHyzLLpWAZ9WoBU4DT-5vAJ9JBpdwLS4fbQgRZOtyXQPo0PsT9YBrTAVzX2n4w1YRHp-CbGGyir3k6938P4BInmcV_Rk-HQ7o76asLr6XNU-AUF1FYe56iu63lh1S2B_i67UHTgfIL4l_eKpi27BhdYUCJIxcb-/s1734/prostrate_shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="798" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Za9aNp1bcK0Lt5Ft3xSInPPDinHyzLLpWAZ9WoBU4DT-5vAJ9JBpdwLS4fbQgRZOtyXQPo0PsT9YBrTAVzX2n4w1YRHp-CbGGyir3k6938P4BInmcV_Rk-HQ7o76asLr6XNU-AUF1FYe56iu63lh1S2B_i67UHTgfIL4l_eKpi27BhdYUCJIxcb-/w198-h432/prostrate_shadow.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In our meditation practice we are "letting go" - detaching if you will. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With much practice we come to see that there is nothing to let go of as we are just joining reality.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Wisdom is seeing this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-81237241305294217862022-07-05T04:40:00.000-07:002022-07-05T04:40:13.221-07:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvaFrJjSdZIOpf4v3OzEkEt4OkEMCqRTWYWjXh4ukQWmhIr6hFpqbBjl50Mq5QR-LwyPNkCVaIVf2-0c7WkTBdXKZ2GVO_zWZ08zzqY9KAtu3h2x60V_ZNUb_kpze5TvIZsJXPWhTuoXiLt84OsyzP7xNLbXlnevVcIN0m9zs8-VV5WdOiZONhqvj/s1548/prostrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1548" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvaFrJjSdZIOpf4v3OzEkEt4OkEMCqRTWYWjXh4ukQWmhIr6hFpqbBjl50Mq5QR-LwyPNkCVaIVf2-0c7WkTBdXKZ2GVO_zWZ08zzqY9KAtu3h2x60V_ZNUb_kpze5TvIZsJXPWhTuoXiLt84OsyzP7xNLbXlnevVcIN0m9zs8-VV5WdOiZONhqvj/s320/prostrate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We seek and seek and seek and do not find real Peace.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In our meditation practice we stop the seeking and just notice what is so in the present moment. To notice what is so inside of us is the first step in any meditation practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Notice; let it go; feel the peace. This is the process. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">So simple ... no need to complicate our practice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Peace on you. </span></p><p><br /></p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-24465322143383703782022-03-25T03:44:00.001-07:002022-03-25T03:56:28.884-07:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_3PSoH06KYSiDyvX3hEgvSHglOTo45jgnLrhRaHVsIqYRNQy0dGdLw-pMy1NfoiG8Pm--Kl2gaxkRXLJ9g5QlM71K9GVKLa9fk7VtPnIkwDe5osnc_XD9kncbqDIbEb_spI8ZZ_-eFyehVvIzqyqQCta48MypvTigvpO21UKOL58deSsb7dF_uTs/s856/just_dots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="856" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_3PSoH06KYSiDyvX3hEgvSHglOTo45jgnLrhRaHVsIqYRNQy0dGdLw-pMy1NfoiG8Pm--Kl2gaxkRXLJ9g5QlM71K9GVKLa9fk7VtPnIkwDe5osnc_XD9kncbqDIbEb_spI8ZZ_-eFyehVvIzqyqQCta48MypvTigvpO21UKOL58deSsb7dF_uTs/s320/just_dots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The first purpose of meditation is to become familiar with our inner life. As we begin to witness our negative thinking and our obsession with the past and the future, they cease to control us - the mind becomes quieter and life takes on a fresh tone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The ultimate purpose of meditation is to find out who is meditating. Who obsesses? - who meditates? - and who desires peace? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With practice (noticing and seeking the seeker), you will come to see that you need do nothing to get out of a problem you don’t have.</span></p><p> </p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-11884326117486598662021-11-22T15:58:00.002-08:002021-11-22T15:58:32.099-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmjJWPznsBboDa11Tr2DkhyphenhyphenDMjutAg_I4tPa_DjGmd0qcM7PFEM9fahJOz4h33-cCZImwcyT6BCqmFTvXbSeEun52iwNazqIZ8wWSoDvV7kvYjLvnsoU2xdnCHTb_k7-Uh4hGL-nWwA0/s1720/understand_meditation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1720" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmjJWPznsBboDa11Tr2DkhyphenhyphenDMjutAg_I4tPa_DjGmd0qcM7PFEM9fahJOz4h33-cCZImwcyT6BCqmFTvXbSeEun52iwNazqIZ8wWSoDvV7kvYjLvnsoU2xdnCHTb_k7-Uh4hGL-nWwA0/s320/understand_meditation.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Reading books on meditation are a way to avoid practice.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Just sit in Silence, empty yourself utterly and all will become clear. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Peace on you,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">bob</span></p><div><br /></div>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-22380802488770783752021-09-04T14:15:00.003-07:002021-09-04T14:15:48.008-07:00The way to a peaceful Heart<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbpRoCSiAOG2zlEV_QkY3DfloBeZHBH9jz1rq5fSXnFbuoudNXbfI1XuehMjgP9-nqE-U-RAaZPbKzVBPdqx2jTLvC_UklzzJTc49KjRwcpUf9QgVLahf7c6pVQFiWXr2ydlgMsNGpzw/s320/white_dot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbpRoCSiAOG2zlEV_QkY3DfloBeZHBH9jz1rq5fSXnFbuoudNXbfI1XuehMjgP9-nqE-U-RAaZPbKzVBPdqx2jTLvC_UklzzJTc49KjRwcpUf9QgVLahf7c6pVQFiWXr2ydlgMsNGpzw/s0/white_dot.png" width="319" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> While meditating this morning on faith, by responding to every thought or feeling that arose with: "You [God] alone I trust, thank You [God]". It became clear to me that to have faith is to just eliminate everything that is not faith: mistakes, worries, grief, guilt, ideas of control, hope, even trying to have more faith, and so forth.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">So simple! This is the way to a peaceful heart ... just eliminate everything that is not Peace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> Peace on you.</span></p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-78729747546027302822021-04-14T15:03:00.000-07:002021-04-14T15:03:04.731-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6-MrWFto4xig9lyvFCMCG-jo5tjWGTbGRyCwS5tEU53haEUMy2Zi0sWWwQnnzDjHImL_Yrgc1lEDWj-z03trl-wtNeJPFCeT91b7iqVweEUC6IyAjWXKRf2ed9HozkHKVtv5KhMA-M4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6-MrWFto4xig9lyvFCMCG-jo5tjWGTbGRyCwS5tEU53haEUMy2Zi0sWWwQnnzDjHImL_Yrgc1lEDWj-z03trl-wtNeJPFCeT91b7iqVweEUC6IyAjWXKRf2ed9HozkHKVtv5KhMA-M4/" width="180" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> All your thoughts are wrong!</span><p></p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-36999275559496992942021-04-08T06:54:00.002-07:002021-04-08T06:54:35.577-07:00Repeating the past<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGkzvNwxppwTjIbEIZgwB_TUQ4bySHCq64YdjPoFIq8dEywSIepywYZ2BSPElb6XCvLauCrNg_ZJ4CnnZtgvTyKBKwbvOFLjZbI7WwRzUXMT0vxzkGi7YA8A9RZMYJYxoN3w5IhTiksg/s408/clock_face.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGkzvNwxppwTjIbEIZgwB_TUQ4bySHCq64YdjPoFIq8dEywSIepywYZ2BSPElb6XCvLauCrNg_ZJ4CnnZtgvTyKBKwbvOFLjZbI7WwRzUXMT0vxzkGi7YA8A9RZMYJYxoN3w5IhTiksg/s320/clock_face.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Expecting specific results from our meditation practice blinds us from the Truth that is only available in the present.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Expectations are just the past clothed with slightly different attire. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">To find that which is always fresh, and true, and whole: empty yourself utterly. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Expectations will ruin your practice.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Peace be upon you</span></p>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-69199131724852521782021-04-07T06:17:00.000-07:002021-04-07T06:17:29.766-07:00Keeping it simple<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K2V8sEUrg22ck_aa3_Hp1q4onaGfC3a0qSLkoMUTqCFDHMmKZliyOpiaC97Ac_Ixl6_Vu6ZBlAdQQ8Sm-KEOyt2NISTnm9UDjE1yI07lxo4vGxgVEp_KNgwkgKzrwW1Zi-Lpy4elTKw/s474/white_dot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K2V8sEUrg22ck_aa3_Hp1q4onaGfC3a0qSLkoMUTqCFDHMmKZliyOpiaC97Ac_Ixl6_Vu6ZBlAdQQ8Sm-KEOyt2NISTnm9UDjE1yI07lxo4vGxgVEp_KNgwkgKzrwW1Zi-Lpy4elTKw/s320/white_dot.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Keeping it simple</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Given that meditation is the practice of letting go, why do we complicate it so?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">We have mantras, incense, mandalas, special rooms for sitting, pictures of various sages, soothing sounds, the list goes on ...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Perhaps the best way to meditate is to just sit in silence and "take what you get". Don't try to do anything.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Become a finder - give up the seeking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Peace on you!</span></p><div><br /></div>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-66556347663205826822020-07-28T04:54:00.000-07:002020-07-28T04:54:03.544-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc__e4YO0P5Dp7DDUvfXRv6XEI_jGbzZt7PgFfLKseJorASQ8b8mxxJlP6DO-SWbO4TrMiKsrSDQAWevXAu8IwWuBXRSPq9xacNHdw9UwhNfj6vXlk75R9OR3BRdRKd3JTHRVU3kn1Bg/s1600/suffering.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc__e4YO0P5Dp7DDUvfXRv6XEI_jGbzZt7PgFfLKseJorASQ8b8mxxJlP6DO-SWbO4TrMiKsrSDQAWevXAu8IwWuBXRSPq9xacNHdw9UwhNfj6vXlk75R9OR3BRdRKd3JTHRVU3kn1Bg/s320/suffering.jpg" width="242" /></a><br />
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<div style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: 1.3em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px;">
Every meditation technique is based on some underlying purpose. The purpose of the meditation in the link below is to <span class="redfont" style="color: #d53a1f;">reduce stress</span>. <br /><br /><span class="redfont" style="color: #d53a1f;">What is the cause of stress? </span>But first a little story.</div>
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A man traveled from New York to Boston on a train, about a four hour journey. At the end of the trip he was asked by a fellow passenger, as he disembarked, how he found the trip. He replied, "HORRIBLY EXHAUSTING because my baggage was so very heavy for this long trip". The fellow passenger remarked that, had he put his luggage in the overhead racks and taken a seat, the train would have done all the work for him.<br /><br />Meditation is the practice of putting down our 'baggage'. What is the 'baggage' that causes stress? <br /><br />It is, very simply, our THINKING about the past and the future and <span class="redfont" style="color: #d53a1f;">missing the fact that all is well right here right now</span>. THINKING about the past or the future is the root of stress. <br /><br />THOUGHTS create emotions - emotions like stress cause behaviors like agitation. So to get rid of agitation we must change our thinking.</div>
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Check out this meditation: <a href="http://www.robertflegal.com/allison/">http://www.robertflegal.com/allison/</a></div>
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Peace be upon you</div>
bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-70443700218813903792020-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:002020-07-14T08:09:13.386-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Ff9PMZJcHF4CKldAhd1zZYR25e-1jEAlaX-JMsHLl0Gp-Oy4_nL_lQTNs3DAa8CfkXcWvONy0UA_Y26jLsqTsdHjaSOWKKFdGpAVwmlJV5tzNW0bGEQJrxKHZ9hDq5G5pZ8A1PGoCk/s1600/reverence.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Ff9PMZJcHF4CKldAhd1zZYR25e-1jEAlaX-JMsHLl0Gp-Oy4_nL_lQTNs3DAa8CfkXcWvONy0UA_Y26jLsqTsdHjaSOWKKFdGpAVwmlJV5tzNW0bGEQJrxKHZ9hDq5G5pZ8A1PGoCk/s320/reverence.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reverence is simply the feeling of respect, awe, and honor, coming from a stance of wonder and mystery</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reverence flows from the knowledge that we are not in control, that all life is temporary, and we cannot create a single atom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Just as white light consists of colored rays, so reverence for life and God contains all the components of ethics: love, worship, kindliness, sympathy, empathy, peacefulness and power to forgive." (Albert Schweitzer)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Out of reverence comes the capacity to respect others, to listen without judgement, to feel remorse, and to treat our brothers as we would like to be treated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reverence keeps leaders from trying to act like gods, which is the opposite of reverence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An irreverent soul is arrogant and shameless, unable to feel awe in the face of things higher than himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reverence is the cure for human arrogance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reverence is the the root of all ethics, worship, and smooth social behavior.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace be upon you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">bob</span>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-36359535606989255852020-02-25T14:46:00.004-08:002020-02-25T14:46:45.260-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOZwN-TuR9-40QDjb8k2CEtjcXZaHMc2aXyhYvZMbC-RWdxxL_nmJduTSYwJLpuUzdaiuHQdc4ceWocJ5-gAv6L0VGrggPbNogEirX946k2PolL81GMF_i8tIQ9VfBrut7qUT3VqdAyU/s1600/blue_green.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOZwN-TuR9-40QDjb8k2CEtjcXZaHMc2aXyhYvZMbC-RWdxxL_nmJduTSYwJLpuUzdaiuHQdc4ceWocJ5-gAv6L0VGrggPbNogEirX946k2PolL81GMF_i8tIQ9VfBrut7qUT3VqdAyU/s320/blue_green.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In silent meditation, after all your ideas about yourself and all your desires are discarded, only Love remains. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why disturb It to no avail?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace on you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">bob</span>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-91692844026355875302020-02-04T21:16:00.000-08:002020-02-04T21:16:06.017-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgt-Bf1PNc8jCAvPv8p1sT0HEj8SUJjVf9oEl18LHPencV5sgZT6TZlupsFtdMMXhCOyyOelPJDyPx7LePpCFOzuJ46FpbDN93FxiN9MPOX7v8S5zbRUaz46JBq_Wgc38greWzRH6GV8/s1600/be_like_a_minnow.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgt-Bf1PNc8jCAvPv8p1sT0HEj8SUJjVf9oEl18LHPencV5sgZT6TZlupsFtdMMXhCOyyOelPJDyPx7LePpCFOzuJ46FpbDN93FxiN9MPOX7v8S5zbRUaz46JBq_Wgc38greWzRH6GV8/s320/be_like_a_minnow.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Meditation unlike other activities is not concerned with learning something new. It is through the gentle release of of our worldly concerns that we realize that we were never lost, that we were never alone, and that we need do nothing. <br />
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Rejoice in Him and nothing else but Him:<br />
He is Spring; all other things are winter.<br />
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- Rumi<br />
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<br />bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-64891804519378938202020-02-04T04:55:00.003-08:002020-02-04T04:55:40.453-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfOtuH5sPGG_K2ASfziuMTQtbvP4m2MjEG62Qyxu8qnSBmPOEuxtyVi8PA7zSQ6Hpy-rUDVItUg6xocEHluElucZRq59g5_adTcEDl0TBY7ETWBf0P-TrJwQ9CXNmEZ5hp9dUcqI5fGo/s1600/five_fish_five_birds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfOtuH5sPGG_K2ASfziuMTQtbvP4m2MjEG62Qyxu8qnSBmPOEuxtyVi8PA7zSQ6Hpy-rUDVItUg6xocEHluElucZRq59g5_adTcEDl0TBY7ETWBf0P-TrJwQ9CXNmEZ5hp9dUcqI5fGo/s320/five_fish_five_birds.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we look into turbulent water, we cannot see our reflection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is only when the water becomes still that we can see our original face. Silent meditation stills the water - then That which was always there becomes clear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace be upon you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">bob</span>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-81077830705446657602019-12-03T04:54:00.003-08:002019-12-03T04:56:20.686-08:00impossible to be unkind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pj132W5jBGx0IWei0dSuvyFn8LKc5gGNg51jUdjd-DaXouGb8lV8BglOLE8-2qjkkQ3l7Lz85UcHsWp3sMzzwIKfww_dIYoPDPHNnCebExX7QCtiuxIKdNfpnjTA5YIioJA_e3W47gU/s1600/unkind.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="978" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pj132W5jBGx0IWei0dSuvyFn8LKc5gGNg51jUdjd-DaXouGb8lV8BglOLE8-2qjkkQ3l7Lz85UcHsWp3sMzzwIKfww_dIYoPDPHNnCebExX7QCtiuxIKdNfpnjTA5YIioJA_e3W47gU/s320/unkind.png" width="318" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Peace be upon you.</span>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-30798807813234373672019-11-06T04:14:00.002-08:002019-11-06T04:14:42.706-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxO_JW68UHr2KuAM3h6Z4-xOI8n-97xWCDwRy-g2vzhOJo2B1hlfvQTUObz_pUtv5diDdkBBeZPBGju9fFDyI9drYS0HsIV4zPVdg4UkE4PRZ2DCoTlTg8ivoycdfRWcc6H58BYY8CSk/s1600/royal_flush.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="710" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxO_JW68UHr2KuAM3h6Z4-xOI8n-97xWCDwRy-g2vzhOJo2B1hlfvQTUObz_pUtv5diDdkBBeZPBGju9fFDyI9drYS0HsIV4zPVdg4UkE4PRZ2DCoTlTg8ivoycdfRWcc6H58BYY8CSk/s320/royal_flush.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meditation is like playing a card game with just one winning card.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The "I NEED DO NOTHING" card.</span><br />
<br />bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-33027932063194963872018-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:002018-11-10T14:23:15.208-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G-ny0mz8WdaroaFktK6tXzzKKGi_e7CzqZQKaXpDscF45quZbwA2CPbuWRLGfwcDDpqSM0zUyj821WjHM9JWGrXe_NZLIUekMJ5wum0lj92RB3QuaR1HVy8xE4ikUqqP8pbPcA5XGYw/s1600/angle-broom-broom-vector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="364" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G-ny0mz8WdaroaFktK6tXzzKKGi_e7CzqZQKaXpDscF45quZbwA2CPbuWRLGfwcDDpqSM0zUyj821WjHM9JWGrXe_NZLIUekMJ5wum0lj92RB3QuaR1HVy8xE4ikUqqP8pbPcA5XGYw/s320/angle-broom-broom-vector.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meditation is like sweeping a dusty room. Old ideas to the dust bin - leaving a perfectly serviceable clean room. Space for new dust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Peace on you.</span><span style="color: red;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bob. </span></div>
bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-51617455579379680462018-07-08T04:59:00.001-07:002018-07-08T04:59:02.924-07:00Most Curious<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8d2Z_9ZKhS9Gh1Ip9QeGWce1pGbDu1aPV1IVKnGOv97B26cpQNJ5sDdmwrFh0z4mljFPLec6dBT4jBpVXR0xFU3qaOHi2X8VxMrTlpcE9qWqn1Ii3MqDFeiZiWuz1BrinhXuDYq5fV8/s1600/plant_small.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1416" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8d2Z_9ZKhS9Gh1Ip9QeGWce1pGbDu1aPV1IVKnGOv97B26cpQNJ5sDdmwrFh0z4mljFPLec6dBT4jBpVXR0xFU3qaOHi2X8VxMrTlpcE9qWqn1Ii3MqDFeiZiWuz1BrinhXuDYq5fV8/s320/plant_small.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is most curious that with enough regular meditation practice we come to see that all our efforts were unnecessary. In a flash, we see that we need not have extricated ourselves from a situation that we were never in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“To God belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth, and all matters are controlled by God.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">[Quran 3:109]</span></div>
<br />bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-9265383496908811652018-04-24T20:28:00.000-07:002018-04-24T20:28:26.314-07:00self-help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNOOo_1QAssHvGG4F-RjM7HfDOpp4M4xauX9ALV0DJg7__52VwN6x2YRxejRmCCLdrK5RjdqZH18qFs1o6pVjjS2nNmQqXYAQHH3f0UvUnBI5cE7Af0zBjm1ZQQWWhtJlR_8lJlOYrOY/s1600/rock_scaled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNOOo_1QAssHvGG4F-RjM7HfDOpp4M4xauX9ALV0DJg7__52VwN6x2YRxejRmCCLdrK5RjdqZH18qFs1o6pVjjS2nNmQqXYAQHH3f0UvUnBI5cE7Af0zBjm1ZQQWWhtJlR_8lJlOYrOY/s320/rock_scaled.png" width="248" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This rock teaches more about life than all the self-help books ever written.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If you are open enough the very rocks can be your teacher.</span></div>
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bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-61308928182945380322018-01-16T05:58:00.002-08:002018-01-16T06:14:04.784-08:00two paths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">All spiritual teachings lay out two distinct paths in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The path of success, which is to be at peace with one’s self, with the Creator of all things, and with all of creation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">And the path of self-destruction, which leads to conflict within one’s self, with the Creator, and with all of creation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Meditation shines a bright light on both paths, and utterly frees us to choose in each moment. This is the grand gift from regular practice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">God invites to the Home of Peace, and guides whomever He wills to a straight path.</span> [Quran 10:25]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Peace on you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">bob</span></div>
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bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-2316726079232413972018-01-09T05:07:00.000-08:002018-01-09T05:08:14.021-08:00Everything belongs - we are not alone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">From regular meditation practice we come to see that everything belongs; nothing or no-one in our physical world is amiss, nor are we ever alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Every drop of rain , every speck of dust , every flower, every creature , and every person we encounter proves we are not alone. May we all take this insight from our practice into our daily lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. In this are signs for those who know.</span> Quran 30:22</span>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-33421392311195756572017-12-13T15:18:00.002-08:002017-12-13T15:18:40.540-08:00<div style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have had three meditation teachers:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend introduced me to a Zen Master,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">who introduced me to Silence,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">that introduced me to the Presence that created the Silence.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who believe, and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of God: for without a doubt in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest [Quran 13:28]</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">peace on you </span></div>
bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910293166113441758.post-18568547236087511642017-07-25T13:12:00.004-07:002017-07-25T13:14:10.913-07:00take a break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Meditation is taking a break from who you think you are that you might realize who you really are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">(Quran 32:9) Then He proportioned him, and breathed into him of His Spirit. Then He gave you the hearing, and the eyesight, and the brains - but rarely do you give thanks.</span></div>
<br />bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181660584359010686noreply@blogger.com0