St Frances of Assisi

• G-d grant me the serenity to accept the things that I can not change,

• the courage to change the things that I can

• and the wisdom to know the difference. …St Frances of Assisi

Ben Zoma – from Sayings of the fathers

• Who is wise? He who learns from all men.

• Who is mighty? He who can control his desires.

• Who is rich? He who is content with his portion.

• Who is to be honored? He who honors all men.   …

Daily prayer of the Dalai Lama

• May I become at all times, both now and forever

• A protector for those without protection

• A guide for those who have lost their way

• A ship for those with oceans to cross

• A bridge for those with rivers to cross

• A sanctuary for those in danger

• A lamp for those without light

• A place of refuge for those who lack shelter

• And a servant to all in need.

Cheri Huber – The Key

No one, no thing, can take your peace, your joy, you adequacy, away from you. You have to give it up voluntarily.  And we give it up so easily, for just about anything: other people’s opinions, late meals, long lines, red lights.  ..

No Attachment to Dust – Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T’ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:

• Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.

• When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.

• Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature.

• Poverty is your teasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.

• A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.

• Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven of themselves as does rain or snow.

• Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbors discover you before you make yourself known to them.

• A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.

• To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.

• Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.

• Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.

• Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.

St Frances of Assisi

• Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

• Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

• where there is injury, pardon;

• where there is doubt, faith;

• where there is despair, hope;

• where there is darkness, light;

• where there is sadness, joy;

• Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

• to be understood as to understand;

• to be loved as to love.

• For it is in giving that we receive;

• it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

• and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Being Right   … Cheri Huber 

Most of us are pretty attached to it.
Because of the way we are conditioned as children, only one person can be right.
If someone close to me disagrees
with how I see something
with what I feel,
with what I think,
one of us has to be wrong.
If one of us is wrong,
One of us is not good,
if one of us is not good,
one of us is not lovable,

The belief:
to be right is to be good.
to be good is to be lovable

A common belief:
If I can just explain my position clearly enough to you,you will agree with me.
The reason you don’t agree is that you
don’t understand what I’m saying. You
don’t understand because:
I haven’t been clear,
or You aren’t listening.

It is difficult for us to imagine that someone can
understand what we are saying,
not agree with us,
have another opinion
and still love us.