Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines to Patterns

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There is an endless net of threads throughout the universe. The horizontal threads are in space. The vertical threads are in time. At every crossing of the threads, there is an individual, and every individual is a crystal bead. And every crystal bead reflects not only the light from every other crystal in the net, but also every other reflection throughout the entire universe.
– The Rig Veda

The World Prays for Peace

One of the many origami paper cranes from our prayer service in San Rafael in 2012
One of the many origami paper cranes from our prayer service in San Rafael in 2012

The Dominican Sisters of Peace shared with us the following prayer for the International Day of Peace

Gentle Spirit,
Breathe in us the wind
of truth, wisdom and righteousness.
May your Presence inspire us
to create labyrinths of peace.
Compassionate One,
Make our hearts burn with love,
honoring all peoples and creation.
Bless all nations, every family and community
while we seek to work for justice and unity.
Prince of Peace,
Lead us to ways of healing and reconciliation
we pray with those who suffer and struggle.
Bless us with your reconciling love that knows no boundaries
as we seek to live in community, justice and peace.
So be it.

– Rev. Elizabeth S. Tapia, Global Ministries

What Shall We Do Today?

But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love.

– Kahil Gibran

The beauty of the Cliffs of Mohr
The beauty of the Cliffs of Mohr

Common Sense from the Dalai Lama

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Whether we are suffering at present or have suffered in the past, there is no reason to be unhappy. If we can remedy it, then why be unhappy? And if we cannot, there’s no use in being unhappy about it – it’s just one more thing to be unhappy about, which serves no purpose at all.

-The Dalai Lama, “Enduring the Fires”

A Word from My Favorite Poet – Rumi

We are departing for the skies. Who has a mind for sightseeing?

-Rumi

This is truly the color of the sky at the Dublin Airport. There's a little dodging of the foreground and a ND filter applied. Only it was an arrival, not a departure. Amazing!
This is truly the color of the sky at the Dublin Airport. There’s a little dodging of the foreground and a ND filter applied. Only it was an arrival, not a departure. Amazing!

Wisdom from the Zen Tradition

From of old there were not two paths. “Those who have arrived” all walked the same road.

-Zenrin, The Gospel According to Zen

Two paths are one
Two paths are one

Wisdom from Confucius

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

– Confucius

Persistence is always needed
Persistence is always needed

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

– Carl Jung

What is the beauty within that we can awake to?
What is the beauty within that we can awaken to?

Wisdom from St. John of the Cross

That thou mayest have pleasure in everything, seek pleasure in nothing.
That thou mayest know everything, seek to know nothing.
That thou mayes possess all things, seek to possess nothing.
That thou mayest be everything, seek to be nothing.

-St. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mt. Carmel

That thou mayest possess all things . . .
That thou mayest possess all things . . .

Wisdom from Martin Luther King, Jr.

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

One step at a time
One step at a time