a thought for the day

harma · Post by **harma** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:31 am

"As the sense of identity shifts from the imaginary person to your real being as presence awareness, the life of suffering dissolves like mist before the rising sun"

It's from John Wheeler and I got it from one of my best friends on this year's Christmas card.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:13 am

Oh WOW, Harma! What a world of meaning in that short sentence!

You and I must be in a similar place on the "path".

My personal goal for yesterday was "egolessness". By that I mean consciously trying not to see the world or react to it in my old, standard, judgemental, knee-jerk way......rather, to accept and be aware of each moment for itself without any preformed opinion ("presence awareness" as you say above). It not easy - very humbling, but also "freeing" when it happens. And when it happens, it is such a happy feeling.

I am currently reading 2 books of short essays that might interest you : "The Buddha is Still Teaching (Comtemporary Buddhist Wisdom)" edited by Jack Kornfield and "The Best Buddhist Writing, 2010", edited by Melvin McLeod. Both are crammed full of wisdom, like your sentence above. One of the essays in the latter book is called "The Joy of Mindful Cooking".

Thanks as usual for sharing your thoughts. I do so enjoy them.

Love,

Polly

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:09 pm

I am with Polly, this resonates very closely to what is going on in my life and my thoughts as well

thanks for sharing Harma.

harma · Post by **harma** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:47 pm

thanks for the tip Polly, I will see if I can find those books somewhere over here in NL. What is even makes it more beauftyful that this friend especially has picked this wisdom saying for me. She does that every year, not just some random thoughts for random people, no special thoughts for her special people. Believe now, knowing that and than reading your christmas card makes you feel real special.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 6:36 am

Very timely post and one that is resonating with me as well as Gabes & Polly.

Thank you so much Harma.

Love, Maggie

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:53 pm

Harma, Polly, Gabes and Maggie-

What a wonderful post. So much about how I have been living my life.

The value of becoming aware grows exponentially. I figure any inner knot can be untangled when I pay attention to it without struggling . I start with whatever is troubling me right now, and know that every moment of awareness simplifies, simplifies, simplifies.

Thanks so much. It is so nice to meet others on the same path. Even when the path is not well marked, with many twist and turns.

Polly- I will look for those books. Thanks so much for your always great ideas for reading.

I am off to do some mindful dish washing.

Love

Matthew

Wherever you go there you are. Jon Kabat-Zinn

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:21 pm

Ooh ooh Matthew and Polly.

I have that Kabat-Zinn book sitting on my desk here at work. It sits here between loans to people.

In the drawer is Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das. Currently on it's third reading.

Lyn

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:35 am

All - this thread gets better and better

- I'm so enjoying it. My very first book on this topic was "Awakening the Buddha Within" (probably around the mid 90's), and Lyn you're encouraging me to dig it out and read it again.

Matthew, "wherever you go there you are" has been one of my favorite sayings since I bought the book several years ago. Also, did you get the "mindful dishwashing" idea from one of Thich Nhat Hanh's books? Did you know he is scheduled to speak at the Y in Denver in mid August?

Love,
Kari

P.S. On my night table sits "The Untethered Soul" by Michael Singer - my faithful book companion.