No longer can I ask what I do
for myself; rather, I ask myself:
"What will God give to me?"
Freedom from life's woes is
sometimes as easy as coming
to believe God is everywhere.
Since God is everywhere,
what then do I have
to fear but fear itself?
By accepting God into my life,
all fear is replaced by faith
in His power to look after me.
Do I still fear? Yes, I fear
and thus respect God,
for He is truly my Master.
By placing my life in God's hands,
that respect and humility nurtures
a growing sense of fearlessness and courage.
It helps me to remember
the prayer of a sinner:
‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
Suppose that all of Christendom
finds me to be unworthy to sup with them
in Heaven when that time comes.
Then the Absolute is my inspiration,
and no-self is the divine principle.
Still, God shall remain my Master.
For what is the Absolute but
Heaven itself? For God is absent there
as is the Buddha after death.
Let God be my Master, the Absolute
my inspiration and the Buddha,
the origin of the Golden Rule:
"Do unto others
what thou wishes
done until thineself."
Originally posted October 21, 2010 1:26 AM
Updated on December 25, 2013 at 6:54 AM
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
20141023
20130205
We All are One
Oneness is of love
That transcends human kindness —
When one of us hurts,
All of us feel sympathy
And will help that person out.
Once she is well, her pain gone,
We all will rejoice.
For Loving-kindness moves us
Towards becoming One —
With thanks, she says:
"Let us not forget
The good that our friends have done,
And forgive strangers
For they know not what they do —
Remember: we all are One."
That transcends human kindness —
When one of us hurts,
All of us feel sympathy
And will help that person out.
Once she is well, her pain gone,
We all will rejoice.
For Loving-kindness moves us
Towards becoming One —
With thanks, she says:
"Let us not forget
The good that our friends have done,
And forgive strangers
For they know not what they do —
Remember: we all are One."
20121019
Thanks for Helping Me Better Access the Internet, Google!
Although I am a fan of 1930s & 1940s movies, I wouldn't want to live in those times. It really wasn't a great time because of the harshness of those times. The Depression had caused worldwide inflation. Innocent groups of people were being blamed for Germany's economic problems.
Even so, it may have been a simpler time for the people living then.
Today, my computer makes up for living in this post-modern world. Life is much more complex today than it was 70 years ago. We had our security shattered by 9-11. Subsequent wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq are now in the process of being discontinued. Small conflicts have been ongoing in many different parts of the world as well.
Locally, it's become harder to find a job. It's even harder for people to know others, as well as they know themselves.
When I walk away from the keyboard, I don't worry about what is happening in the world. What's the point of needlessly stressing myself out? Things not immediately affecting me are ignored.
When I am dead, life will carry on. Nobody but my closest friends will remember me. Though they will carry on with their lives, some of them will have benefited from knowing me. For my cares will be over forever in that future time.
As of this moment, I am happy and upbeat, because many people are counting on me to remain positive and a few of them actually need me.
This is why I appreciate having a computer. With it, I am able to share my deepest feelings with other people.
For I alone have decided so very long ago to use the Internet to motivate me, not crush my spirit.
So thanks to the internet, I've made a lot of friends and am thankful to each and every one of them.
Even so, it may have been a simpler time for the people living then.
Today, my computer makes up for living in this post-modern world. Life is much more complex today than it was 70 years ago. We had our security shattered by 9-11. Subsequent wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq are now in the process of being discontinued. Small conflicts have been ongoing in many different parts of the world as well.
Locally, it's become harder to find a job. It's even harder for people to know others, as well as they know themselves.
When I walk away from the keyboard, I don't worry about what is happening in the world. What's the point of needlessly stressing myself out? Things not immediately affecting me are ignored.
When I am dead, life will carry on. Nobody but my closest friends will remember me. Though they will carry on with their lives, some of them will have benefited from knowing me. For my cares will be over forever in that future time.
As of this moment, I am happy and upbeat, because many people are counting on me to remain positive and a few of them actually need me.
This is why I appreciate having a computer. With it, I am able to share my deepest feelings with other people.
For I alone have decided so very long ago to use the Internet to motivate me, not crush my spirit.
So thanks to the internet, I've made a lot of friends and am thankful to each and every one of them.
20071007
A Thousand Thanks ( poem)
I can't stand to live
a life without meaning.
If I tried, I'd fall.
If I fell, I'd see
my life begin to
slowly slip away.
You might not see me
dying right away,
but deep inside me,
the pain is trying
to escape from me.
A thousand thanks
would never begin
to heal this soul,
but one moment of
silence can remove
all my many fears.
A life lived with
meaning begins with
love unconditional.
Try and try again;
never give up.
In this way,
all pain dies away.
Then you can live yet
for another day.
A thousand thanks
is a good beginning
to heal this soul,
and one moment of
silence takes away
all my many fears.
a life without meaning.
If I tried, I'd fall.
If I fell, I'd see
my life begin to
slowly slip away.
You might not see me
dying right away,
but deep inside me,
the pain is trying
to escape from me.
A thousand thanks
would never begin
to heal this soul,
but one moment of
silence can remove
all my many fears.
A life lived with
meaning begins with
love unconditional.
Try and try again;
never give up.
In this way,
all pain dies away.
Then you can live yet
for another day.
A thousand thanks
is a good beginning
to heal this soul,
and one moment of
silence takes away
all my many fears.
20060228
Thanksgiving
Right now, I am thankful to Amida that my sincere faith in His Primal Vow leads to rebirth as a bodhisattva in the Pure Land.
Then will that bodhisattva will be return to this Saha world as a new sentient being.
Likewise, here and now, when my heart-mind becomes at one with the Pure Mind during Nembutsu meditation, I might briefly glimpse such a rebirth in the Pure Land.
And when my mind returns to the Saha world, the essence of that bodhisattva remains.
Thus it is possible to be thankful to Amida *and* aspire to become a bodhisattva.
Then will that bodhisattva will be return to this Saha world as a new sentient being.
Likewise, here and now, when my heart-mind becomes at one with the Pure Mind during Nembutsu meditation, I might briefly glimpse such a rebirth in the Pure Land.
And when my mind returns to the Saha world, the essence of that bodhisattva remains.
Thus it is possible to be thankful to Amida *and* aspire to become a bodhisattva.
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