There is surely a piece of divinity in us, something that was before the elements, and owes no homage unto the sun.
-- Sir Thomas Browne
Photo by Benny Vision
A Piece of Divinity in Us
The Full Moon of the Guru
Every time we remember to say "thank you," we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.
-- Sarah Ban Breathnach
Thursday, July 17th is the Full Moon of the Guru: Guru Purnima. In the Vedic tradition, this is an auspicious evening for remembering and thanking the great sage Vyasa, author of the Bhagavad Gita and other great works, and for celebrating all of the teachers in our lives: our children, parents, siblings, spouse, co-workers, bosses, professors, etc. Thoughts of gratitude and wishing them well with metta -- intention of loving kindness -- is a beautiful way to celebrate their gifts.
On this night, I give thanks for the many people, in all walks of life, who have so graciously given their time, attention and wisdom. I have been most richly blessed to have encountered so many teachers in my life, whether called Sifu or Sensei, Grandmaster or Guru, Teacher, Professor, family member or friend. I thank you all. I am humbled by your inspiring gifts, and more prosperous because of them.
If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is "thank you," that would suffice.
-- Meister Eckhart
Photo by jalalspages
Virtuous Asana is Done from the Heart
A virtuous asana is done from the heart and not from the head. Then you are not just doing it, but you are in it.
-- B.K.S. Iyengar
Photo by robynsnest77
Glorious Uniqueness
While we have the gift of life, it seems to me that the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness.
-- Gilda Radner
Photo by Irina Souiki
To Spy My Shadow in the Sun
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York,
And all the clouds that loured upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths,
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments,
Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front;
And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's majesty
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them,--
Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun.
-- William Shakespeare, "King Richard III", Act 1 scene 1
Photo by WisDoc
The Greatest Distance
We may go to the moon, but that's not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us.
-- Charles de Gaulle
Photo by Garry'
When the Rivers of the Mind and the Body Get Submerged
When you do the asana correctly, the Self opens by itself; this is divine yoga. Here the Self is doing the asana, not the body or brain. The Self involves each and every pore of the skin. It is when the rivers of the mind and the body get submerged in the sea of the core that the spiritual discipline commences.
-- B.K.S. Iyengar
Photo by Eric Lon
Nature's Peace Will Flow
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
-- John Muir
Photo by almassengale
God Watches Them Play
From the solemn gloom of the temple children run out to sit in the dust, God watches them play and forgets the priest.
-- Rabindranath Tagore
Photo by demondutt
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