“After death you will be what you were before your birth.”

- Arthur Schopenhauer

 

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

- Martin Luther King Jr., Accepting Nobel Peace Prize, Dec. 10, 1964

 

“The problem is that we see what we have been taught to see, but is really reality?”

- John Dobson (Astronomer)

 

 

“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
- Buddha

 

“A one-planet deity has for me little appeal.” - Harlow Shipley

 

“The density of matter in the Universe is only 20 drops of water in a billion cubic miles. That's all the creation the good Lord's come up with, and it's no big thing…”

-John Dobson, Astronomer

 

“I am happy because I am growing daily and I am honestly not knowing where the limit lies. To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. “

 - Bruce Lee (American actor and martial arts expert)

 

 

“Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.”

 - Mary McLeod Bethune

 

“Science can point out dangers, but science cannot turn the direction of minds and hearts, That is the province of  spiritual powers within and without our very beings—powers that are the mysteries of life itself.”

- Oren Lyons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"IF" by Rudyard Kipling

 

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!!

 

A Burial

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

 

Today I had a burial of my dead. 
There was no shroud, no coffin, and no pall, 
No prayers were uttered and no tears were shed 
I only turned a picture to the wall. 

A picture that had hung within my room 
For years and years; a relic of my youth. 
It kept the rose of love in constant bloom 
To see those eyes of earnestness and truth. 

At hours wherein no other dared intrude, 
I had drawn comfort from its smiling grace. 
Silent companion of my solitude, 
My soul held sweet communion with that face. 

I lived again the dream so bright, so brief, 
Though wakened as we all are by some Fate; 
This picture gave me infinite relief, 
And did not leave me wholly desolate. 

To-day I saw an item, quite by chance, 
That robbed me of my pitiful poor dole: 
A marriage notice fell beneath my glance, 
And I became a lonely widowed soul. 

With drooping eyes, and cheeks a burning flame, 
I turned the picture to the blank wall's gloom. 
My very heart had died in me of shame, 
If I had left it smiling in my room. 

Another woman's husband. So, my friend, 
My comfort, my sole relic of the past, 
I bury thee, and, lonely, seek the end. 
Swift age has swept my youth from me at last. 

 

 

A SUNSET from 'Feuilles d'Automne'
Victor Hugo

I love the evenings, passionless and fair, I love the evens, 
Whether old manor-fronts their ray with golden fulgence leavens, 

In numerous leafage bosomed close; 
Whether the mist in reefs of fire extend its reaches sheer, 
Or a hundred sunbeams splinter in an azure atmosphere 
On cloudy archipelagos. 

Oh, gaze ye on the firmament! a hundred clouds in motion, 
Up-piled in the immense sublime beneath the winds' commotion, 
Their unimagined shapes accord: 
Under their waves at intervals flame a pale levin through, 
As if some giant of the air amid the vapors drew 
A sudden elemental sword. 

The sun at bay with splendid thrusts still keeps the sullen fold; 
And momently at distance sets, as a cupola of gold, 
The thatched roof of a cot a-glance; 
Or on the blurred horizon joins his battle with the haze; 
Or pools the blooming fields about with inter-isolate blaze, 
Great moveless meres of radiance. 

Then mark you how there hangs athwart the firmament's swept track, 
Yonder a mighty crocodile with vast irradiant back, 
A triple row of pointed teeth? 
Under its burnished belly slips a ray of eventide, 
The flickerings of a hundred glowing clouds in tenebrous side 
With scales of golden mail ensheathe. 

Then mounts a palace, then the air vibrates--the vision flees. 
Confounded to its base, the fearful cloudy edifice 
Ruins immense in mounded wrack; 
Afar the fragments strew the sky, and each envermeiled cone 
Hangeth, peak downward, overhead, like mountains overthrown 
When the earthquake heaves its huge back. 

These vapors, with their leaden, golden, iron, bronzèd glows, 
Where the hurricane, the waterspout, thunder, and hell repose, 

Muttering hoarse dreams of destined harms,- 
'Tis God who hangs their multitude amid the sky deep, 
As a warrior that suspendeth from the roof-tree of his keep 
His dreadful and resounding arms! 

All vanishes! The Sun, from topmost heaven precipitated, 
Like a globe of iron which is tossed back fiery red 
Into the furnace stirred to fume, 
Shocking the cloudy surges, plashed from its impetuous ire, 
Even to the zenith spattereth in a flecking scud of fire 
The vaporous and inflamèd spaume. 

O contemplate the heavens! Whenas the vein-drawn day dies pale, 
In every season, every place, gaze through their every veil? 
With love that has not speech for need! 
Beneath their solemn beauty is a mystery infinite: 
If winter hue them like a pall, or if the summer night 
Fantasy them starre brede. 

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The Poetic Heart

Mysticism, Spirituality & Haiku

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Pray

What a miracle is life
the fields are high and fruit is ripe
so hold out your hands
yeah, hold out your hands
And you're the same as me
you breathe the air I breathe
and we don't understand
yeah, we don't understand

And if you don't ask questions
you won't know why
so say a prayer for the dying
while there's still time. So

Pray for good and pray for love
Pray for peace and pray it's enough
pray for salvation, pray that we're right
pray for one day we open our eyes
And pray for them and pray for us
pray one day we can live as one
pray for the children whose time is to come
just pray they forgive us for the stupid things we've done

We all see the same sun
each day a golden praise is sung
to the wonder of man
yeah, to the wonder of man
And when we look why can't we see
all the riches that are free
oh we don't understand
yeah, we don't understand

And if you don't ask questions
you won't know why
so say a prayer for the dying
while there's still time. So

Pray for good and pray for love
Pray for peace and pray it's enough
pray for salvation, pray that we're right
pray for one day we open our eyes
And pray for them and pray for us
pray one day we can live as one
pray for the children whose time is to come
just pray they forgive us for the stupid things we've done

 

Tina Cousins © 2009

MATTHEW 5:3-9

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

 

PRAYER FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA

Freedom from fear, purity of heart, constancy in sacred learning and contemplation, generosity, self-harmony, adoration, study of the scriptures, austerity, righteousness;
Non-violence, truth, freedom from anger, renunciation, serenity, aversion to fault-finding, sympathy for all beings, peace from greedy cravings, gentleness, modesty, steadiness;

Energy, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, a good will, freedom from pride - these are the treasures of the man who is born for heaven.

Deceitfulness, insolence and self-conceit, anger and harshness, and ignorance - these belong to a man who is born for hell.

 

WHITE EAGLE'S PRAYER

Let us lay aside all thought of the material world and seek to make contact with the Source of life.
O gracious Spirit, all-enfolding love, light and life, we come before thee in humility and tranquillity of heart and mind.
May nothing in us prevent us from stepping forward into the light;
and when sorrow and trouble come may we willingly surrender to thy love and wisdom;
knowing that underneath are thine everlasting arms:
for thou art merciful and just and all-loving.
May our hearts be open and minds subdued, waiting to receive the beauty of thy light.
O Father Mother God, we thank thee for thy infinite love.
May these thy children go their way in peace, filled with thy holy spirit.

 

LAO-TZU

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize.
The first is gentleness; the second is frugality;
the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others.
Be gentle, and you can be bold;
be frugal, and you can be liberal;
Avoid putting yourself before others,
and you can become a leader of men.
Gentleness brings victory to him who attacks,
and safety to him who defends.
Those whom heaven would save,
it fences round with gentleness.
The greatest conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without strife.

 

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX

A golden harvest, I desire -
Consume me; give me soon, in bliss,
That tender burning of Your Fire,
Your lips in an eternal Kiss!

 

THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

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,
And where there is sadness, joy.
O 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 with all my soul
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

 

MECHTILD OF MAGDEBURG

Lord, you are my lover;
My longing,
My flowing stream,
My sun,
And I am your reflection.

 

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as Creator, family all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect Harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every breath I take, let this be my joyous vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me!

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive him to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is after all a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

MAX EHRMANN, 1927

 

PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA

Peace flows through my heart, and blows through me like a zephyr.
Peace fills me like a fragrance.
Peace runs through me like rays.
Peace stabs the heart of noise and worries.
Peace burns through my disquietude.
Peace, like a globe of fire, expands and fills my omnipresence.
Peace, like an ocean, rolls on in all space.
Peace like red blood, vitalizes the veins of my thoughts.
Peace like a boundless aureole, encircles my body of infinity.
Peace-flames blow through the pores of my flesh, and through all space.
The perfume of peace flows over the gardens of blossoms.
The wine of pace runs perpetually through the wine press of all hearts.
Peace is the breath of stones, stars, and sages.
Peace is the ambrosial wine of Spirit flowing from the cask of silence,
Which I quaff with my countless mouths of atoms.

 

AN INTERFAITH PRAYER

May He who is the Lord in Heaven of the Christians,
the Holy One of the Jews,
Allah of the Muslims,
Buddha of the Buddhists,
Tao of the Chinese,
Ahura Mazda of the Zoroastrians,
and Brahma of the Hindus
Lead us from the unreal to the real,
From darkness to light,
From disease and death to immortality.

 

 

 

In Aramaic, Jesus' prayer reads as follows:

Abwoon d'bwashmaya
Nethqadash shmakh
Teytey malkuthakh
Nehwey sebyanach aykanna d'bwashmaya aph b'arah
Hawvlan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana.
Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn) aykana daph khnan
Shbwoqan l'khayyabayn.
Wela tahlan l'nesyuna
Ela patzan min bisha.
Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l'ahlam almin.
Ameyn.

This is how it might read if translated directly from the Aramaic:

O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere!
Release a space to plant your Presence here.
Envision your "I Can" now.
Embody your desire in every light and form.
Grow through us this moment's bread and wisdom.
Untie the knots of failure binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others' faults.
Help us not forget our Source, yet free us from not being in the Present.
From you arises every vision, power, and song, from gathering to gathering.
Amen: may our future actions grow from here!


ARAMAIC LORD'S PRAYER

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light.
Focus your light within me - make it useful as rays of a beacon show the way.
Create your reign of unity now - through my fiery heart and willing hands.
Your one desire then acts with mine, as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what I need each day in bread and insight: subsistence for the call of growing life.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding me, as I release the strands I hold of others' guilt.
Don't let surface things delude me, but free me from what holds me back from my true purpose.
From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do,
The song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.
Truly - power to these statements - may they be the source from which all my actions grow.
Sealed in trust and faith.

Amen.

 

ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. CHAPTER 13

Even though I speak in human and angelic language but have no love I am as noisy brass or a clashing cymbal. And although I have the prophetic gift and see through every secret and through all that may be known, and have sufficient faith for the removal of mountains, but I have no love, I am nothing. And though I give all my belongings to feed the hungry and surrender my body to be burned but I have no love, I am not in the least benefited.

Love endures long and is kind; love is not jealous; love is not out for display; it is not conceited or unmannerly, it is neither self-seeking nor irritable, nor does it take account of a wrong that is suffered. It takes no pleasure in injustice but sides happily with truth. It bears everything in silence, has unquenchable faith, hopes under all circumstances, endures without limit.

Love never fails. As for prophesyings, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge it will lose its meaning. For our knowledge is fragmentary and so is our prophesying. But when the perfect is come then the fragmentary will come to an end.

When I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child but on becoming a man I was through with childish ways. For now we see indistinctly in a mirror but then face to face. Now we know partly, but then we shall understand as completely as we are understood.

There remains then, faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love.

COLLECTIVE PRAYER AT AUTUMN EQUINOX

In this time of great opportunity for the realisation of the purity and the
power of the united goodwill of all living beings,
we pray for peace on our planet.
We ask Great Spirit to let the light and wisdom of our ancestors fill us and
comfort us in these difficult times so that we can spread their message of love
and harmony and understanding, free from judgement and all fear,
to all beings within the Earth, upon the Earth, and above the Earth.
Let us walk in harmony with all beings,
acknowledging the gifts and support of our animal guides and of all nature,
understanding that we are all part of the same shining web,
that we are all one people, one creation, one faith, one nation,
all children of our great Mother Earth.
Let us honour our children as the light bearers of the coming generations.
Let us honour our elders as the gift bearers of the wisdom of the past generations.
Let us unite their light and their wisdom as we pray for those we
have placed in positions of power
that they may act with wisdom, compassion and integrity
to lead us into the Fifth world of peace, tolerance and understanding.
We thank you, Great Mother Earth for your gift of life to us.
Aho.

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