Thoughts From A Mystic

. Any particular religious tradition doesn't 'contain' the TRUTH more than another. It's in a tradition's ability to transform a person that makes that tradition valuable. The value or truth in a tradition is subjective, so let go of conviction that causes animosity towards traditions that are different from 'yours'. Matthew

. A hero isn't someone who 'makes things better'. A hero is someone who faces his or her fears and finds peace. Matthew

. It's wiser to accept what you don't want, than to work to change things to fit your desires. Matthew

. One day, Hongred, the 5th Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, asked of his students: Go and seek for Prajna (wisdom) in your own mind and then write me a stanza (gatha) about it. He who understands what the Essence of Mind is will be given the robe (the insignia of the Patriarchate) and the Dharma (the esoteric teaching of the Chán school), and I shall make him the Sixth Patriarch. Venerable Shenxiu, in an effort to become the Sixth Patriarch, wrote this gatha for Hongren: The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a standing mirror bright. At all times polish it diligently, and let no dust alight. A young novice, Huineng immediately knew this verse lacked true insight. He went to the wall, and asked a district officer there to write a poem of his own for him. The officer was surprised, "How extraordinary! You are illiterate, and you want to compose a poem?" Whereupon Huineng said, "If you seek supreme enlightenment, do not slight anyone. The lowest class may have grea...

. We don't 'find' love by looking for it outside us. It's not something you get when you meet your 'soulmate', or your 'perfect match'. We 'find' love when we face and 'overcome' (through 'seeing' their real natures) the challenges we don't want to face. When those things that coerce us to selfishness and pettiness are challenged, and not habitually followed, we discover our true loving nature...which IS LOVED already. Matthew