Where there is hatred, I will show love.
Where there is fear, I will show trust.
Where there is doubt, I will show faith.
Where there is apathy, I will show compassion.
Where there is violence, I will show peace.
I vow to show others another way.
Tag: Zen
Fear, Worry, & Doubt.
Fear.
Worry.
Doubt.
My three familiar friends.
Keeping me from my passions.
My mission & purpose.
Goodbye, my old friends.
Today, I will let you go.
For I only have one life and I intend to live it.
I hear a knock on my door!
Three new friends have arrived.
Love.
Trust.
Faith.
They even brought gifts.
Love brought joy.
Trust brought excitement.
Faith brought freedom.
Thank you, my new friends.
I look forward to our new journey together.
Darkness.
The darkness surrounds me.
Fear consuming every thought.
Anger pulsating through every cell.
Hatred burning into my soul.
Greed filling up my mind.
Do I resist the darkness?
Do I suppress these dark emotions?
No.
I will accept the darkness.
I will honor the greed, anger, hatred, and fear inside me as part of who I am.
But I vow to shine light into the darkness of my soul.
The light of love.
The light of kindness.
The light of compassion.
The light of forgiveness.
I will show the darkness another way.
Abandon Ship!
Unexpected storms.
Unbearable winds.
Unavoidable destruction.
Your ship is broken.
Years of neglect.
Storms breaking it piece by piece.
Abandon your ship.
Let go and go into the great unknown.
Dive deep into the darkness of the sea.
The water is coldest at the bottom.
Unbearable pressure.
Suffocating pain.
Keep going.
As the storm passes, you will see a light.
Follow it.
Do not get accustomed to the darkness.
Do not wish for your old ship to rise from the depths.
Through the pain, we can grow.
Through the suffering, we can heal.
As you reach the surface you smile.
New life has been given.
Gratitude shining from the sun.
As you wash ashore.
You’re full of joy.
Curious about this new island.
Excited about new adventures.
New beginnings have been given.
New experiences to enjoy.
Lost at Sea.
A ship is lost in the treacherous open sea. The crew grows more impatient each day; the Captain is worried about a potential mutiny. No land in sight.
Will this be the end?
My crew goes weary.
Mumbling & arguing with each other.
Constantly chattering.
The smell of mutiny in the air.
I observe them from my private charters.
One moment they are angry.
The next they are sad.
Anxious.
Depressed.
Fearful.
Will we ever see land again?
A large wave swells up from the depths of the ocean.
Panic.
HOLD ON!!!!!
The ship creaks and moans.
We survive.
A month goes by.
Food short on supply.
Crew sick and diseased.
Birds of prey circle above us.
The end is near.
Until one day I see darkness on the horizon.
LAND!!
We are safe.
Joy & tears flow into the sea.
My crew dances under the moonlight.
No wave can sink me.
No storm will worry me.
I won’t break to my crew’s demands.
For I am the Captain.
I am not my thoughts. I am not my emotions. I am the observer. The Captain of my body & mind. I will honor these thoughts & emotions as impermanent. I will not sink into the darkness.
Peace is the Way.
When my opponent shows hatred, I will show love.
When my opponent shows apathy, I will show compassion.
When my opponent shows fear, I will show confidence.
When my opponent shows aggression, I will show peace.
When my opponent is attached, I will let go.
They are not my true opponent.
My true opponent is within.
Within my fear.
My judgments.
My limiting beliefs.
My attachments.
I vow to look at my opponent with full-hearted compassion.
I vow to forgive my opponent.
I vow to show them another way.
The way of peace.
The Broken Dam.
Pain.
Anger.
Confusion.
Suffering.
The pain of loneliness.
Isolation.
Fear.
Building up like water flowing into a mighty dam.
Cracks form.
The wall deteriorates.
Until one day the walls scream in pain.
The dam is broken.
Suffering overflows into the world.
The river mourns.
The birds cry.
Innocent beings swept away by the waves of suffering.
I have no answers.
Only questions.
How can we prevent suffering from spilling over?
How can we live in peace?
How can we heal our nation?
Time.
What time is it?
I glance at my clock.
The time is now.
I must change.
I must grow.
I must let go.
Now.
Impermanence.
The constant flow of time.
A seed grows into a tree.
A baby grows into a young adult.
Dreams.
Love.
Peace.
Compassion.
Joy.
Now.
Breathing in deeply I embrace my impermanence.
Breathing out I feel joy pulsate throughout my body.
I vow to not waste my life.
I vow to live in the now.
For this is not my practice life.
Shore.
A wave flows in & out.
A seagull floats above me.
A crab clings to a rock.
A sand castle withers away.
Nature’s many lessons all around me.
Consistency.
Patience.
Resilience.
Impermanence.
Nature can only guide us so far.
Be still.
Bring yourself to the now.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Observe.
Smile.
Anchor.
A wave hits.
The wind howls.
A shark lurks in the darkness.
The storm surrounds me.
Will I sink into the darkness?
I throw my anchor into the depths of the sea.
No wave can break me.
No wind can push me.
No shark can hurt me.
No storm will out last my anchor.
Whenever times are tough, I can bring my focus back to my anchor.
My anchor of mindful breathing.
This anchor will be with me until my last moment.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
The Narrow Path 