Philosophy 04 (Jan 25 - Dec 26)

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Surrendering to Practice

Don’t ever surrender your personal integrity to a spiritual teacher.

Surrender your ego to the practice.

- Jack Haubner, “A Game of Robes”

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Doubt and Faith

Faith isn’t a journey beyond doubt; often it’s a journey into the wilderness and into the midst of doubt.

- Pico Iyer in conversation with James Shaheen, “Becoming Aflame”

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Our Struggles Define Us

Struggles are encountered in practice; one might even say they are essential to the practice.

Whether they’re stories of great teachers or our own stories, distilling the essence of dharma through struggle is inherent in the path.

- Justin von Bujdoss, “Distilling the Essence”

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Reawakening Wonder

I think that we must reawaken our collective wonder for life and respect for death, if we hope to shift the course of our species on this planet.

- Adrienne Maree Brown, “Breaking Is a Part of Healing”

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Be Kind to Yourself

Your self-talk is a reflection of your mind.

- George Mumford, “Self-Talk”

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Self-Cultivation

Skillful attitudes of mind, are the key to facing potentially explosive situations and the ongoing highs and lows of life and practice.

In fact, recognizing these attitudes and cultivating their antidotes, is the foundation for all spiritual growth.

- Steve Armstrong, “Got Attitude?”

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Don’t Waste Your Suffering

The place of suffering, the place where we are broken in spirit, when accepted and embraced, is also a place of peace and possibility.

Our sufferings do not magically end; instead, we are able to wisely alchemically recycle them.

They become the abundant waste that we use to make new growth possible.

- Bell Hooks, “Awakening to Love”

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Manifesting Wisdom

Wisdom is not merely something to be gained with old age.

One can be wise in every stage of one’s life.

To manifest wisdom means simply to step back and see — to reflect, inquire, be aware, be disciplined and be focused not once in a while but all of the time, moment to moment.

- Ray Ronci, “The Examined Life”

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Let Go of Mistakes

We don’t stop practice when we make a mistake, we don’t stop to think it should be otherwise.

We keep practicing and let go of each mistake — apologizing when necessary.

- Grace Schireson, “Humility and Humiliation”

[winston]

Pursue Truth

To pursue the true reality of the teachings, is nothing other than not getting involved in useless discussion.

- Eihei Dogen Zenji, “The Eight Qualities of a Great Person”