Monday Mindfulness... happy new year ,,

[Jim T]

The discomfort you have is just an opportunity to be able to
practice. If we only pray or meditate when we are in perfect health,
we will never be able to produce peace and joy.

...perfect health is just an idea. It's not something that can be
realized in life. The reason we are still alive is because we have
been in ill health in the past and our bodies have developed
resistance and immunities to certain diseases.

Because we have been sick, we're able to protect ourselves and
continue to live.
So don't wish for health without sickness. Without sickness, there is
no health. We have to recognize this fact and live peacefully and
joyfully with the sickness that we have. If you have a little bit too
much gas in
your abdomen, you can still pray.

Mohammed, the Buddha, and Jesus all had stomachaches sometimes.
Sickness and death are part of life.

..whether we have another ten years to live or five years to live
makes no difference to us. At that point we have changed our way of
seeing the world.
If we don't pray and deepen our spiritual practice, we suffer
intensely when we don't have what we want in the world. But when we
have been in touch with the essence, the suchness of all things, then
it doesn't matter if we don't have what we want."

(excerpts from Healing Energy of Prayer ~thich nhat hanh)


Let your heart be at peace. Amidst the rush of worldly comings and
goings, observe how endings become beginnings

happy 2011