It’s amazing when we begin to pick up on how powerful the mental story-making machine is. We are constantly creating our own universe. We discover we have so much power over what that universe looks like.

"In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People.” Eugene Victor Debs

Those of us raised in a more judgmental and “hellfire” religion and culture often struggle mightily with forgiving ourselves and moving forward. We are often our own worst enemies.

“At a certain stage in the path of devotion, the devotee finds satisfaction in God with form, and at another stage, in God without it.” — Ramakrishna

“To work without attachment is to work without the expectation of reward...” — Ramakrishna

This is a really strange time.

idk who needs to hear this but the President of the United States of America is APPEALING a judges order forcing him to fully fund SNAP. Yes — DJT is appealing a ruling telling him to NOT starve his own people. Let that simmer.

First hike since injuring my knee on a backpacking trip in July and recent illness. Definitely no where close to where I was but I guess I have to accept aging like everyone else. Hike has turned contemplation on the wind in the trees while sitting against a tree.

“The tree laden with fruits always bends low. If you wish to be great, be lowly and meek.” — Ramakrishna

“Knowing the Self, God is known.” -Ramana Maharshi

“We end up going through hell in meditation to quiet our mind, not because somebody says, “You ought to quiet your mind,” but because our agitated mind is driving us up the wall, and it’s keeping us from getting on with it.” -Ram Dass

The great paradox of awakening. We struggle and work to find that which is already right here.

“God, Guru and Self are only different forms of the same.” -Ramana Maharshi

Always remember our path is ours alone. We cannot be anyone else and shouldn’t try to be. We must find our authentic self to become awake. “To live another's dharma, to try to be a Buddha or to be a Christ because Christ did it, doesn't get us there; it just makes us mimickers.” -Ram Dass

“Ram asks Hanuman, “Who are you, Hanuman?” Hanuman answers, “When I don’t know who I am, I serve you. When I know who I am, I am you.” -Ram Dass

A beautiful quote. New to me but expresses thoughts about what has kept me going even in my darkest of days.

"None of your efforts will go waste that you should be assured about, if not now you will see the results later." -Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Laying in savasana (corpse pose) I look up to see this looking down at me. Better than a vulture, I guess. 😑

“God gives instructions in every way. We can learn from trees, animals. The guru is everywhere. " -Anandamayi Mâ

"Our own self-realization is the greatest service we can render the world." -Ramana Maharshi

Sri Ram Jai Ram. Today, I place all my fear in your hands and trust in your love. Jai Sita Ram.

The great paradox and challenge I find is that when life is at its most difficult I tend to disparage myself and my practice the most. Yet, these hard times are exactly what I most need for growth. Extra weight builds muscle. It is the same on the spiritual path. Time to focus the hardest.

Don’t be ashamed when failing to reach spiritual goals. Your bad habits have been ingrained for years even many lives. Persistence is what matters most. Slowly, surely, you are heading in the right direction. God is your guide and friend not your hanging judge. Stay the course.

It seems to me that once we begin to discern “truth in the absence of self-interest” from just our self-promoting storylines then we can begin to truly live our divine nature. It’s only then that we can really act with wisdom, compassion and love as we can set aside what just what benefits our ego.

Rachel Reeves: “My job is to deal with the world as I find it, not the world as I might wish it to be.” A great sentence.... for July-Sept 2024.

“This Brahman, this Self, deep-hidden in all beings, is not revealed to all; but to the seers, pure in heart, concentrated in mind-to them he is revealed.” -Katha Upanishad

The sages agree: “Never vaunt of your gifts to the poor or expect their gratitude, but rather be grateful to them for giving you the occasion of practicing charity to them.” -Swami Vivekananda “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” -Jesus

“Now you see what Karma Yoga means; even at the point of death to help any one, without asking questions. Be cheated a million times and never ask a question, and never think of what you are doing.” -Swami Vivekananda

“By work alone men may get to where Buddha got largely by meditation or Christ by prayer. Buddha was a working Jnani, Christ was a Bhakta, but the same goal was reached by both of them.” -Swami Vivekananda

“You are awareness. Awareness is not aware of itself. Awareness simply is.” -Ramana Maharshi

“The Self, whose symbol is OM, is the omniscient Lord. He is not born. He does not die. He is neither cause nor effect. The Ancient One is unborn, imperishable, eternal: though the body be destroyed, he is not killed.” -Katha Upanishad

Righteousness is not liberation. It is known as the golden chain. You’re wonderful and you’re absolutely right, but you’re dead...to the living spirit. And finally, you want to be free more than you want to be right. And you have to forgive somebody not because they deserve forgiveness... Ram Dass

What an apt subtitle Gandiji chose. Isn’t the life of any thoughtful man or woman their own story of their experiments with truth? True seekers know that since this is an inner and personal journey there, by necessity, comes the need for experiments rather than blind obedience to words.

For all our darkness and light we must and can only be ourselves. These are the tools we’ve been given to work toward our own liberation. Darkness and light are guideposts. Do not grasp or fear either but let them lead you to freedom.

“Our first duty is not to hate ourselves, because to advance we must have faith in ourselves first and then in God. He who has not faith in himself can never have faith in God.” -Swami Vivekananda

“We are responsible for what we are; and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in the future can be produced by our present actions.” -Swami Vivekananda

Since no one IRL but me seems to remember, I will share this with you: Today is twenty-five years since my doctor told me I had cancer. Surgery and radiation followed but they did their job. I’m still here and healthy all these years later.

“Everyone has a guru.”

“Our main problem is to be free. It is evident then that until we realise ourselves as the Absolute, we cannot attain to deliverance.” -Swami Vivekananda

Everyday Yoga (Karma Yoga) Your right is to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruits of action be your motive, nor should you be attached to inaction. Bhagavad Gita

So well-put. It’s as simple as that.

All the faiths preach love for the stranger, the weary and the neighbor. We must unite behind this as good and caring people.

"The next message you need is always right where you are." -Ram Dass This seems almost invariably true. Whenever I get to that point where I feel lost and clueless the message I need comes. Sometimes it's the perfect quote, sometimes the kindness of a stranger and sometimes it's a wink from God.

"I myself stand in need of the arms of my own kindness." -Ram Dass I find myself coming back to this quote so often. For most of us, it's so easy to think and do kind things for others but somehow we are often unkind, even cruel, to ourselves. No one deserves your love more than you yourself.

"Thus we are all doing Karma all the time. I am talking to you: that is Karma. You are listening: that is Karma. We breathe: that is Karma. We walk: Karma. Everything we do, physical or mental, is Karma, and it leaves its mark on us." -Swami Vivekananda

I'm planning to write my autobiography, thus far, just for fun and for my kids to read one day to fill-in whatever blanks I may have left during life. Any advice or style or content? I'm not that interesting overall but I'd like to leave a good read behind.

“The innumerable gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion are the human aspects of the indescribable and incomprehensible Spirit, projected by It for the benefit of the finite human mind.” -Sri Ramakrishna