The Essence of Openness is Heart
These are profoundly important words from one of my own teachers. And someone who REALLY understands and doesn’t just talk about it!
“The essence of destiny is yielding.
The essence of yielding is softness.
The essence of softness is entering.
The essence of entering is welcoming openness.
The essence of openness is heart.”
–John Kells (Irish-born British Grand Master of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, 1940-)
Look to Find the Essence of Things
“When you see things in your world – a part of nature, another aspect of life – that appear separate from you, just look at them deeply. Look INTO them. Do this for a long moment and you will capture their essence. And then you’ll meet you, waiting there.”
–Neale Donald Walsch (American Writer, 1943-)
Splashing in the Shallow End
I was recently hearing two groups of church folk who seemed to be squabbling over who would be occupying the front seats in Heaven. I really couldn’t see what all the fuss was about, and it reminded me of a lovely quote from the former Archbishop of Canterbury, comparing the Church to a swimming pool:
“All the splashing goes on at the shallow end.”
–Robert Runcie (English Theologian and, from 1980-1991, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1921-2000)
Penetrating Into the Essence
“To penetrate into the essence of all being and significance, and to release the fragrance of that inner attainment for the guidance and benefit of others, by expressing in the world of forms – truth, love, purity and beauty – this is the sole game that has any intrinsic and absolute worth. All other incidents and attainments can, in themselves, have no lasting importance.”
–Meher Baba (Indian Spiritual Teacher who, from July 1925 maintained Silence, 1894-1969)
Understanding What Matters
“Understanding what matters you shall be free from the bondage of the world: — Through information, digging, and casting aside the stones, a treasure may be found, but not by calling it to come forth.”
–Shankara (a.k.a. Adi Shankaracharya, Indian Sage, Spiritual Teacher and Author of the Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, Dates Uncertain, but c.A.D. 686-718 or 788-821)
“Shankara’s Crest Jewel of Discrimination” (Swami Prabhavananda, Christopher Isherwood)
Access to the Source
“He who has access to the fountain does not go to the water-pot.”
–Leonardo da Vinci (Italian Artist and Scientist, 1452-1519)
The Essence of Art
“The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.”
–Mikhail Baryshnikov (Latvian-born American Ballet Dancer, 1948-)
Have You Found the Essence of Your Life?
“There are people who so arrange their lives that they feed themselves only on side dishes.”
–José Ortega y Gasset (Spanish Philosopher, 1883-1956)
Awareness of Essence
“Those who judge human beings according to generic characteristics only reach the boundary, beyond which people begin to be beings whose activity is based on free self-determination…. Characteristics of race, tribe, ethnic group and gender are subjects for special sciences…. But all these sciences cannot penetrate through to the special nature of the individual. Where the realm of freedom of thought and action begin, the determination of individuals according to generic laws ends.”
–Rudolf Steiner (Croatian-born Austrian Mystic, Occultist, Social Philosopher, Architect and Founder of Anthroposophy, 1861-1925)
Using the Gifts From the Source
“Whatever the Source is, however it is named or imagined, the truth is the same: Our gifts are donated from that originating point. Each interpretive system of spiritual and mystical culture understands this. The crucial point in life is to use these gifts wisely: not to squander them, but to commit them to the benefit of the whole community of life.”
–Wayne Teasdale (American Catholic Monk and Proponent of Interfaith Dialogue, 1945-2004)
“The Mystic Hours: A Daybook of Inspirational Wisdom and Devotion” (Wayne Teasdale)
