At all times we are free to unite with, or turn away from, the Lord. If you would know the Lord, know that "the means of training are thousandfold but PURE meditation must be done." Through meditation we are immediately united with the Lord, together with Him we go out into the fullest emptiness, into form and again into that same emptiness........
--Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, How to Grow a Lotus Blossom
The following reflections are for my own use and are offered for the use of anyone else who might find them helpful.
Do not cultivate expectations.
Offer all that weighs upon the heart to the Eternal.
Use everything that arises as an opportunity to practice meditation.
Do lots of bowing.
Hold fast to the Eternal, but use a light grip.
Train in the Precepts and do not worry about the training of others.
Both arrogance and self-denigration lead to suffering: keep close to the Eternal.
Wish for, and be glad of, others' spiritual success.
Have compassion for our shared humanity. Always remember:--To despise something that you see in another person is to despise something in yourself. It is enough to refrain from doing that which is not good to do, and to do that which is good to do.
Do not forget to ask the Eternal for help.
Beware of warring good and evil: dwell within the Great Immaculacy with a naive and trusting heart.
Do not cling to stillness or activity. Find stillness in activity; keep the mind bright and present in stillness.
Do that which needs to be done and entrust the results to the Eternal.
There is always more to do than can be done. Do what you can and be content.
Do not think that there was, or will be, a better day for training than today.
Today, take refuge in the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Today, follow the Eternal.
It is enough to know the Lord of the House. It is enough to love the Lord of the House.
Click here to proceed to Chapter 16, "The Compassion Within Impermanence"
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