Welcome…Once a week, I will bring you the “Mindfulness Quote for the Week”.
I invited our FACES Conferences expert mindfulness teachers such as Jack Kornfield, Ph.D., Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., Tara Brach, Ph.D., Sharon Salzberg, Sylvia Boorstein, Ph.D., LCSW, and many others to pick their favorite mindfulness quotes, and to answer these questions:
“Why did you pick this quote?”
“Why is the quote important to you?”
“What are some suggested “mindfulness practices for the week”
Each week, we will bring you one of these quotes, for the next 52 weeks. We would love your feedback, and experiences related to practicing the mindfulness teachings from the quote for the week.
Quote 1, Week 1: Discovering Happiness & Joy
This first quote was chosen by Jack Kornfield, Ph.D.
Jack Kornfield, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned meditation teacher, and one of the leaders in introducing Buddhist practice and psychology to the West. Trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India. Jack Kornfield, Ph.D. is an inspiring master teacher. He is the founder and director Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California. He is the author of many books including A Path With Heart, and The Wise Heart.
Quote #1:Theme – Happiness for No Cause
“Sun drapes a buttered scart across your shoulder,
Rose opens herself to your glance,
Rain shares its divine melancholy,
The whole world keeps nibbling your ear like a neglected lover.”
- Alison Luterman, Poet
Consider the Generosity of The One Year Old, in The Sun Magazine, December, 20
Yes, there is suffering in life, and our sorrows need to be met and tended with the great compassion of the heart. But suffering is not the end of the story.
There is also an unshakable joy that is possible for us as human beings. This is called the “happiness for no cause. It is a luminous reflection of our undying spirit. It is the smile of Nelson Mandella, the optimism of Aung San Suu Kyi and the laughter of the Dalai Lama. This can be your smile too.
The Buddha instructs us to cultivate our heart in this way:
“Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate. Live in joy, to health, even among the afflicted. Live in joy and peace, even among the troubled.” - The Buddha
Mindfulness Practice for the Week:
With a spirit of wise attention you can honor the vast gifts of beauty on this earth alongside your measure of sorrows. You will need some healing for your pains. But do not be overly loyal to your suffering. A peaceful heart and a vast perspective can be yours as well. Look up at the stars. See the oak trees and the tender evening light. Open your eyes and become a witness to the mystery of incarnation, with its 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. Let your story move on. It is never too late. With beginners Mind start again. Take a big breath. You are free to choose your spirit. Choose love. Dance.
