Found these today:

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure...

full quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

From A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"
by Marianne Williamson

Ram Dass interviews Thich Nhat Hanh

What a priviledge to watch two wise teachers converse. :)

On letting go

On mourning

by Robin M.N.

"You think you're over me, but you're not." she said, not unkindly. "It's not that simple, nor so fast. I know this. I have tread this path before, and the way is long and hard."

"You're right." he said. "I can't help but pine for the warmth of your smile. Your lilting voice, wrapped in mirth. The comfort found in your embrace. All of you, so pleasing to me. How could I deny otherwise? But none of these shall I receive again, now or perhaps ever. If I cannot convince myself that I can live without, how am I to live at all?"

"Loss is ever-present in our lives." she replied. "All is transient. Being human is mourning what has past, celebrating its memory and sharing its essence, so that it may live on within us."

"But you're not dead!" he exclaimed. "How do I grieve what remains, corporeal and out of reach?"

"I am not lost to you." she said gently. "Not really. Though our paths diverge, all that we have shared is woven into the fabric of who we are, and travels always with us."

He began to cry, softly. He said, "But my heart still aches for you, dear. How long will it hurt? And how can I bear the pain?"

"Grief is as a snowflake," she said, "and will take its leave only when warmed by the love we show ourselves. Find the love within, and grief, too, shall pass." At this, she took him in her arms and whispered in his ear. "Knowing only that you are loved, all can be borne."

He sagged against her, his tears flowing faster. His journey had finally begun.

Do not mourn for me

When I die no one should miss me, no one should be sad. I want to vanish into the everything and nothingness where the root of all lies. Back to where I came from. I will never be alone: if I am not alone here, even less there!

When I die, there is no reason to cry, no reason to mourn. Not even for the usual 10 minutes people mourn for. For I have lived that way I've wanted. I have lived what I was meant to live. for i have enjoyed it, loved it, felt it. Yes, I have felt and I have loved. I have been both selfish and generous, self-absorbed and yet compassionate.

I am not afraid! Fear is unnecessary, redundant, and unwise. Death is nothing but our return to the womb of the universe, where there is boundless energy and unlimited potential. There we all are one, one and the same. There, we are not brothers and sisters, father and son, we are not friends or enemies, nor lovers or sinners. We are the source.

No! Do not mourn for me when I die. If anything, celebrate the instant that we shared in life.

Memory of North Carolina woods—

by M. Hoffman

Crickets’ voices pulsing,

               I

Alone,     thrillingly,

Silhouettes of branches like fingers fading,

Darkness          seeping through,

Trunk

Shooting up

Against my back,

Leaning on          me as

I lean on it.

Deep, exotic awareness--

Warm soup washing

                My

Throat,        softly,

Air in breath like beats beginning,

Damp hair                   curling up,

Dirt

Sifting

Beneath my toes,

Creeping up          my legs, as

I stay still.

…To know, this is happening everywhere.

Message to Myself

i am going to be the
change i want to see
                happen in the world
today               and today
      and all the todays
                       of my life
i promise myself and the world
         that i will do only work
that i believe in
         i will find and support
people who are making
        a better world
and i will join with them
educating myself
to be knowledgeable
effective and powerful
    i expect to have
a very wonderful
      creative
and fun-filled life
        in this way

-Sami Sunchild
    

How to be an entrepreneur

invent a business that smiles on the world
discover what is needed
that you believe in
with all your heart
a service you are really good at
and love to do
let it be your classroom
try new ideas
play with everything
dive in
cherish good people
including yourself
get negative people out of your life
romp on the floor with your dog
make friends with the trees
listen to their stories
believe in butterflies
if they can fly a thousand miles
think of what you can do
earn enough for your need
but not for your greed
leaving a heritage so that
when you die, you will be missed

-Sami Sunchild

Reflection on suicide

Suicide really does shake the foundations for many of the friends left
wondering. It is a mystery why some folks chose that path. I understand
the difficulties we can face and how theoretically it can seem like a
decent option to escape, but it is way too high a price to pay for any
difficulty I've had to deal with so far. Depression is crippling to some
folks and for those of us who do not go that far into it, it just seems
like they should just snap out of it and look on the bright side, but they
can't.

post by Gary Fine

Prisoner Express Founder, Director

http://prisonerexpress.org/

My gift, my life

 picture by Lars B

My life is my opportunity and responsibility to share my special and unique gift with the world...
-universal thought