Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 27 - Oneness

     Trusting in the great Tao where all is given, nothing withheld, give freely, receive lovingly.

     Trusting in the great Tao where all are loved without regard to position, wealth or judgment, love impartially; we are all one.

     Teacher and student are one; the seemingly wise are the greatest students of all, open to the light that illuminates and guides each soul.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 26 - Stillness

     To be still is to feel the presence of our loving Source, filling the inner chambers of our being - a reassuring comfort when all around us is rushing to and fro:  seeking, acquiring, contending, justifying.  Their voices loud, shrill or quietly reasonable.

     Let it go.  Let the world blame, accuse, do the unholy dance of worldly justice.  Centered in peace, worlds reside within - golden moments of clarity and faith in the wondrous Spirit of love.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 25 - The Greatness of the Tao

     The greatness that created us is in each one.  It cannot be otherwise.  We are in the likeness of our Creator and living in an awareness of that greatness dismisses every untoward thought that diminishes us. 

     As we let the doubts pass from us, we join with the great Love that knows us, the great Love that has compassion for us, the great Love that gives everything, knows everything and is everywhere, gently pervading each moment with Its truth.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 24 - Gratitude

     Giving love is the natural way.  Must we be reminded to be kind?  We who received the love that pours down from our great Source, never wavering, never diminishing, true and steadfast.

     It is everywhere, this great love.  It has no need to make of Itself important.  It has no need to receive our devotion.  It gives and gives and gives.

     In harmony with the Tao, walk the path of gratitude, for the beauty and the love that is always there.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 23 - Returning

     Rise and fall: nature's way.  Without hurry it comes.

     It comes like a storm at its zenith, like a wind at its strongest, a tide that mounts and spills its watery excess and retreats to a calm, placid sea.

     It is the way of nature to return, to find that place of equilibrium; it is patient and unhurried. 

     And so it goes that storms subside, that crises pass, that sorrow flees and runs its course  It is the way that hearts revive, that life returns, that joy once more blossoms in the soul.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 22 - A New Year

     Let go.
     Allow the raging storms to pass.
     Bend to the winds of change.
     They will subside.

     Open to the Mystery
     that comforts, that renews
     and heals.
   
     Empty of the thoughts
     clinging to the past.
     Live now, each moment
     a revelation, a return
     to the wonder and
     to the joy.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 21 - The Creator's Touch

     The loving touch of the Creator is everywhere - seen and unseen.  It is felt as awe as I see outside my window the dark and graceful branches of bare trees, so silent and still.  It is mirthfully revealed as a child dances to the beat of a subway platform band and because I can feel and see and know of the Creator's touch, it is inside me.

     It is knowing that to find it, I need only look inside myself.  There is no there; there is only here and only now and it is enough.  It has no needs; it only gives and its beauty and compassion silently, gently flows.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 20 - Here is Home; It is Enough

     No need, it is provided  No seeking, it is in sight.  No longing to be somewhere else, here is perfect.

     The Tao has set me in a place and time where I can contemplate my completeness. Here and now, where I am is home; what I am is enough.

Each precious moment unfolds to reveal the next radiant and peaceful moment.

     The deer turns and is still.  It is good to wait in that sweet moment of readiness and awareness when in the blink of an eye a great adventure awaits.  We are ready, this doe and I, to spring forth upon this day and trust that we will be welcome with open arms.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 19 - Yielding

     Out where all is given, there is no need for imposition.  There is no need to see things my way. There is a way that is true for all.  It is the way of recognition and awareness of the perfection of creation.  It is simple and pervasive.

     I lean not on my own understanding:  limited, shadowed darkly with the years of struggle, strife and regrets.  But I yield to the highest, kindest, most loving influences that I am now capable of.

    I feel Your presence grows as my recognition and awareness grows.  There is a place for You here, at the heart of me - leading me with love.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 18 - Giving

     Trusting in the great Way to guide my heart, I see love and kindness in each person.  Beneath the apparent sorrow, anger, inharmony, I see a loving child of God, needing a soft consoling word.  What can I give?  What have I to give?  My heart knows and I follow.

     These are my laws:  give kindness always, be generous always, respect and compassion always and in all ways.  Be true to the best and most loving inclinations... my guiding star.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 17 - Allowing

     Allowing to let what is, be.  Trusting the Spirit within to guide.  The beauty of creation knows, without influence, its own perfect essence.

     And so it grows, becoming and blooming, feeling only the lightness of a loving Hand.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 16

     Beginnings and endings.  A natural part of the cycle of life.  The flows goes on.  It is beautiful in its simplicity.  The arising and the fall flourishing, then the subsiding and diminishing and the ending only to give rise to a new beginning.  It is perfect; it is constant and impartial.  It is the only sure thing - change.

     It is welcome as I allow myself to be a part of it, in thought and deed.  I allow - I clasp the loving hand that is the Source.  It is comforting; it is peaceful.  I allow, I embrace, I give thanks.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 15

     Flow, easy, effortless, without strain, only desire set free.  It comes as a gentle stream from the Great Void, the Void where all good originates.

     This is sure, this the Way.  In its time It comes and nourishes and fills.  Lovingly, softly, leaving nothing undone, It comes.

     This is my rock.  This is my shelter.  This I trust.  It knows my heart.  It is my heart beat.  It is my sustenance.

     Beside still waters, It restores my soul.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 14 - A Walking Meditation

     Having an open focus, seeing beyond appearances, beyond form, listening to the silence, then the arising of a sound, aware of its subtle rising and falling, then its diminishing.  The origin, that beginning without beginning, where we all had our birth, the knowing of the unknowable, aware of the oneness of all, living in harmony with all.

     All the thoughts of all who ever existed, suspended in the vast substance that surrounds and permeates all creation.  Living with that and adding to it, joining with it and living in peace.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Inspired by Verse 50

     A few leaves yet cling to the branches of the magnificent oak outside my window.  They glow golden brown in the morning sun.  There is a beauty in their brittle grasp.  I remember when that tree pushed forth its pale green buds when the Earth once again warmed in its season then emerged in full leaf.  Birds found their home among its branches: a sonorous population.

     Letting go of life, you find it.  Letting go of the cares and trials of life you find a gentle loving peace.

     Letting go of fears, embracing the Mystery, you realize life unending.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Nasmasté

"I honor the place in you where we are all one."

     There is a kinder, gentler, more loving way  of life.  It is a life free of judgment, prejudice and condemnation.  It is a life where we see in each other ourselves, our children and our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.  If we can get beyond judgmental labels and categories that have so organized our world, it would transform our planet, not just with us humans, but with every living creature and our very environment.

     It is that simple.  But it is not that easy.  We have been conditioned over a lifetime to criticize, find fault and condemn.  The first step is with ourselves.  Being loving to ourselves means not judging, accepting ourselves as we are, not condemning any part of us that does not live up to some "ideal" or someone's idea of the way we "should" be.

As within, so without.  If we can treat ourselves with kindness, compassion and love, that is what we give away; that is what we have to give away.  Whether or not it is returned, it is our nature.  It is living with an open heart.  Trust in that.

Namasté

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 13

     The world of the 10,000 things seeks to distract and influence.  My own true nature is a deep connection to Spirit.  Outside, external pressures fall away.

     I have become strong through affliction and hard lessons.  They have taught me faith and gratitude.  I am true to the Self that is without form, to the I AM that is everyone.  Let me hold in my heart everything lovely and true.  Peace follows.

Thoughts Along the Journey - Verse 12

     Most of humanity has yet to discover the riches of the inner world, having been infatuated with outer appearances.  A few have to some degree; fewer still have evolved to that point.  If we could fully experience that peaceful Kingdom, the world would fall away... the world of striving, accumulating, searching, desiring.

     When we realize that all we need is within, we would live our lives in that sublime state and with awe and gratitude know God.

     The great Creator of the Universe has perfectly formed each unfolding, from seed to full bloom. As we trust in that great Intelligence which knows Its own, our lives flow peacefully and beautifully, existing in form for a brief moment in time then merging with our origin for all eternity.