changing ourselves

"Changing ourselves involves learning how to develop those states, behaviors, and dispositions that are healthy, while allowing the unhealthy ones to atrophy from neglect."

- Andrew Olendzki, "Turning the Corner", tricycle.com

the collective act of getting over it

"that’s what progress is -- the collective act of getting over it."

- Kevin Arnovitz

keep on keeping on

"The only thing I knew how to do
Was to keep on keeping on"

- Bob Dylan

giving up all freedom

"One of the worst kinds of elevation of the self is playing the victim. There are times when we actually are victims, when actual blame is appropriate, but to take on the identity of a victim and be stuck blaming is something else. Surprisingly, it is actually a subtle form of elevation—I’m not responsible, you are. This is giving up all freedom."

- Nancy Baker, "The Seventh Zen Precept", tricycle.com

baby, this is the way it is

“You see: The opposite of craving is saying
Baby, this is the way it is yeah
ok here & now this is it
I Accept The Here & Now
Fully
• as • it • is •
Right at this moment !!!”

- Ram Dass. “Be Here Now (Enhanced Edition).” HarperCollins, 2010-10-26.

it’s useless to fight

“The next time you are caught in traffic, whether on the highway or in the middle of the city, don’t fight. Just accept it. It’s useless to fight. Sit back and smile to yourself. Know that you’re alive and that the present moment is the only moment of life available to you. Don’t waste it. Know that this moment has the potential to be a wonderful one.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh. “Work.” Parallax Press.

having your buttons pushed

"Every time your buttons get pushed is like a big mirror showing you your own face..."

- Pema Chodron

come back to the center

“Wherever you get attached, let go and come back to the center. With balanced awareness, you can be here now, gracious, awake, present, and free.”

- Jack Kornfield. “Bringing Home the Dharma.” Shambhala Publications.

the power of perspective

"Only a being’s perspective leads to suffering. Two people in the exact same situation, according to their outlook and expectations, can have completely different experiences. Turn that around, and any conditions can be a vehicle for bondage—or freedom and awakening."

- Vinny Ferraro, "The Heartful Dodger", tricycle.com

work on ourselves

We work on ourselves in order to help others, but also we help others in order to work on ourselves.

- Pema Chödrön

you shall be free indeed

“You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care nor your nights without a want and a grief,

But rather when these things girdle your life and yet you rise above them naked and unbound.”

- Kahlil Gibran. “The Prophet.” Vigo Books, 2010-11-01.

look for the helpers

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."

- Fred Rogers

your own inner voice

“If you listen to your own inner voice, it will tell you where you are now, and which method will work best for you in your evolution towards the light.”

- Ram Dass. “Be Here Now (Enhanced Edition).” HarperCollins, 2010-10-26.

the heart becomes free

“We pay attention with respect and interest, not in order to manipulate, but to understand what is true. And seeing what is true, the heart becomes free.”

- Jack Kornfield. “Bringing Home the Dharma.” Shambhala Publications.

be present

"We cannot be present and run our story-line at the same time."

- Pema Chodron

simple as that!

“The only way to get away
Change Your Head!
Simple as that!
You want to change your environment?
Change Your Head!!”

- Ram Dass. “Be Here Now (Enhanced Edition).” HarperCollins, 2010-10-26.

letting go is not a dramatic moment

"The starting point is realizing that letting go is not a dramatic moment we build up to some time in the future. It is happening now, in the present moment—it is not singular but ongoing. Letting go is based on our present realization of the reality of impermanence."

- Judy Lief, “Letting Go”

a good plan is only step one

“Success isn’t making a good plan and following it no matter what. Success is understanding that a good plan is step one on a long journey, and then moving on to step two when the time comes.”

- Kelly McCullough. “Crossed Blades.” Penguin Group, USA, 2012-11-08.

a part-time Buddha

“You don’t need to become a full-time Buddha. You don’t need to be fully enlightened. A part-time Buddha is good enough.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh. “Work.” Parallax Press.

let it wake us up

"Everything in our lives can wake us up or put us to sleep, and basically it’s up to us to let it wake us up."

- Pema Chodron

an instrument of peace

“When you practice mindfulness and generate peace and joy, you become an instrument of peace, bringing peace and joy to yourself and to others.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh. “Work.” Parallax Press.