Become like a hollow bamboo

Relax the body completely.

Let the mind remain in its unformed state.

Become like a hollow bamboo

so that everything flows through.

Will Johnson 'The Song of Mahamudra'

We think we see but we don't

I need to talk about words and concepts because I must explain to you why it is, when we look at a tree, we really don't see. We think we do, but we don't. When we look at a person, we really don't see that person, we only think we do. What we're seeing is something that we fixed in our mind. We get an impression and we hold on to that impression, and we keep looking at a person through that impression. And we do this with almost everything. If you understand that, you will understand the loveliness and beauty of being aware of everything around you. Because reality is there; "God," whatever that is, is there. It's all there.

Awareness

When the sage points to the moon, all the idiot sees is the finger.
Jean Guiton, a very pious and orthodox French writer, adds a terrifying comment: "We often use the finger to gouge the eyes out." Isn't that terrible? Awareness, awareness, awareness! In awareness is healing; in awareness is truth; in awareness is salvation; in awareness is spirituality; in awareness is growth; in awareness is love; in awareness is awakening. Awareness.

Anthony De Mello in "Awareness" page 102

We don't want to live with what we actually are

So, can you and I, live with what we actually are? Being dull, envious, fearful,thinking that we have tremendous affection when we have not, getting easily hurt, flattered, bored, can we live with these actualities, neither accepting nor denying, but observing, living with them without becoming morbid, depressed or elated? Then you will find that one of the major reasons for fear is that we don't want to live with what we are.

Krishnamurti, Saanen, 5th Public Talk 18th July 1967

Comparison

Comparison prevents perception.

Krishnamurti

Acceptance

Time marches on, bringing change to our lives. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Some of it is welcome, some harder to take. True contentment and happiness come in accepting the people and events around us and learning to flourish in our place on this spinning planet.

Gillian Stokes

A serene wisdom

Who everywhere is free from all ties, who neither rejoices nor sorrows if fortune is good or is ill, his is a serene wisdom.

Bhagavad Gita