In the stillness
of this breath
I can take comfort
in knowing I am
part of something
greater than myself.
-- Joan Noeldechen

in Pocket Prayers collected by June Cotner

+ "When we persevere with the help of a gentle discipline, we slowly come to hear the still, small voice and to feel the delicate breeze, and so to come to know the presence of Love." -- Henri Nouwen

+ "As spiritual searchers we need to become freer and freer of the attachment to our own smallness in which we get occupied with me-me-me. Pondering on large ideas or standing in front of things which remind us of a vast scale can free us from acquisitiveness and competitiveness and from our likes and dislikes. If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy. Also recalling our own experiences in which we acted generously or with compassion for the simple delight of it without expectation of any gain can give us more confidence in the existence of a deeper goodness from which we may deviate." -- The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra

+ "Angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly." -- G.K. Chesterton

+ "In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair." -- Howard Thurman (Gratefulness Word for the Day 11/21/13)

+

John@abundancetrek.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+ Here is Ed Bastian's InterSpiritual Meditation Step Five: Mindfulness (5 Minutes)

"May I Be Focused and Mindful Through Breathing"

Calm, steady, and focused breathing are at the heart of many secular and spiritual techniques of meditation. When we breathe properly, we become less stressed and distracted; we are able to think more clearly, and to focus on the task at hand. Our blood-pressure drops, and our anxiety disappears. Many spiritual traditions teach deep and profound methods of breathing that balance our energies and center our consciousness deep within our being, where we are able to concentrate on our spiritual practice. In this step, we allow our consciousness to recede from our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, touch, thoughts, and emotions. As we breathe gently, our consciousness rides on the subtle breath into our heart center. This is the place that many traditions call "the seat of the soul,' the core of our consciousness. Residing there, we may begin our own respective meditations, contemplations, and prayers. In this process, we learn to develop the capacity of 'mindfulness" and to observe our innermost thoughts, emotions, habits, and memories.

a. Body Position
b. Focus on the Breath
c. Recollection
d. Concentration
e. Observation

You can find all 7 steps at the Spiritual Paths website.

+ EarthEasy offers The Death of Stillness by Richard Mahler

+ Excerpt from a 2003 Eckhart Tolle Interview >

Who or what is it that is able to observe that you are identified with a mental position? Who or what is it in you that is able to notice the emotional violence that comes as you start to defend your own position? You can then ask, "Wow, what's going on? What am I defending?" You are defending an illusory sense of self---your sense of self and your mind structure.

That very dysfunction, which looks relatively harmless on a small scale, is the very same dysfunction that drives the terrorist. So it's only in yourself that you can detect it. And if you see it, you see the root of human dysfunction and madness; identification with thinking. But the moment you see it, you are already one foot out of it. The seeing of it is not part of the dysfunction. So in other words, when you see that you are mad, you are no longer mad.

That's the arising of something new in humanity. I sometimes call it the unconditioned consciousness. But it is also a field of stillness, where you see the torn roots of the human mind. Once it emerges, it's a process that cannot be reversed. It emerges more and more fully, and you become less and less identified with the structure of thought. And then thought is no longer dysfunctional. It is actually beautiful. It can be used for helpful purposes. It's wonderful---you are no longer looking for an identity in the structure of thought because now you know that who you are is deeper. You are the very awareness prior to thought. You are the stillness that is deeper than thought, much vaster than thought. We call it "stillness" but it's just a word. We've reduced it to something. It's more than that. It's consciousness itself, unconditioned. Which is the essence of each human being. It's that when you meet anybody in a state of open, aware attention, without labeling them mentally or judging them, then that you are already operating as a current or conscious awareness between human beings.

+ An Excerpt from Stillness: Daily Gifts of Solitude by Richard Mahler

Richard Mahler pays tribute to the many benefits of quiet-alone time. Here is an excerpt saluting the sensual pleasures of silence and solitude.

"Among the first casualties of a too-busy life are the simple, sensory enjoyments that often do not survive in the fast lane. When you find time to be quiet and alone, even for a half-hour or less, such fragile pleasures may be rediscovered. They are part of what can make life feel more complete and satisfying. Suggestions for experiencing these small ecstasies include:

" Listen to the small sounds of your household that trigger positive feelings in you: someone singing, children playing, your spouse or partner laughing, a pet making its familiar quirky noises, or someone engaged in a favorite hobby or pastime.

" Close your eyes and take a memory trip in your mind to a time and place that brought special enjoyment to you. Ask yourself, "What did it look, smell, feel, and sound like?" "What tastes, textures, and emotions are associated with this experience?" " Can I re-create this wondrous time and hold it inside of me?"

" Do some things differently that you usually do in a distracted or off-handed manner. Specifically, try doing them alone and without speaking. This might include taking a walk, preparing and eating a meal, bathing, exercising, and listening to music you like. Notice whether the sensitivity of your senses is heightened or your mind is more engaged and attentive.

" If you have someone in your life who is willing and interested, try making love in a silent, yet demonstrably affectionate way. Without words, you may discover that other ways of communicating-through eye contact, smelling, touching, and body language, for instance-may take on new meaning.

"In your bubble of quiet alone-time, note the ways you appreciate yourself. Give yourself credit for who (and how) you are. Mentally note your best qualities, including aspects that others who are around you a lot (i.e., spouse, family members, colleagues, boss) seem to undervalue. If you like parts of your body, acknowledge that, too, opening your eyes to take them in."

+ S&P practice of BEING PRESENT > http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/alphabet/view/5/being-present

Selected Quotes:

         One great thing about growing old is that nothing is going to lead to anything. Everything is of the moment. -- Joseph Campbell in A Joseph Campbell Companion edited by Diane Osbon

         We spend a long time wishing we were elsewhere and otherwise. -- Robert Farrar Capon in Bed & Board

         Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that never was before and never will be again. -- Pablo Casals quoted in Full Esteem Ahead by Diane Loomans

         Now is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future. In other words, if we're going to be more cheerful in the future, it's because of our aspiration and exertion to be cheerful in the present. What we do accumulates; the future is the result of what we do right now. -- Pema Chodron in When Things Fall Apart

         The present moment holds infinite riches beyond your wildest dreams but you will only enjoy them to the extent of your faith and love. The more a soul loves, the more it longs, the more it hopes, the more it finds. The will of God is manifest in each moment, an immense ocean which only the heart fathoms insofar as it overflows with faith, trust and love. -- Jean-Pierre De Caussade in The Sacrament of the Present Moment

         Every moment is enormous, and it is all we have. Our life is a path of learning to wake up before we die. -- Natalie Goldberg in Long Quiet Highway

         One twelve-year-old boy, when asked by his father what he would like for his birthday, said, "Daddy, I want you!" His father was rarely at home. He was quite wealthy, but he worked all the time to provide for his family. His son was a bell of mindfulness for him. The little boy understood that the greatest gift we can offer our loved ones is our true presence. -- Thich Nhat Hanh in Living Buddha, Living Christ

         From early morning until I go to bed and in all situations of life, I always try to check my motivation and be mindful and present in the moment. -- The Dalai Lama in The World of Tibetan Buddhism

         The present is holy ground. -- Alfred North Whitehead quoted in Teaching Your Children About God by David Wolpe

         The present moment, like the spotted owl or the sea turtle, has become an endangered species. Yet more and more I find that dwelling in the present moment, in the face of everything that would call us out of it, is our highest spiritual discipline. More boldly, I would say that our very presentness is our salvation; the present moment, entered into fully, is our gateway to eternal life. -- Philip Simmons in Learning to Fall

         The present moment delights us. We see it as an opportunity for grace and mystery. It is our source of holiness. -- Mary Margaret Funk in Tools Matter for Practicing the Spiritual Life

         Not twice this day

Inch time foot gem.

This day will not come again.

Each minute is worth a priceless gem.

Zen Master Takuan quoted in Simple Zen by C. Alexander and Annellen Simpkins

         We cannot become truly good in a better, more marvelous, and yet easier way than by the simple use of the means offered us by God: the ready acceptance of all that comes to us at each moment of our lives. -- Jean Pierre de Caussade quoted in The Inner Treasure by Jonathan Star

         Change is the basis of human life, so don't attach yourself to birth or death, continuation or discontinuation. Just live right in the middle of the flow of change where there is nothing to hold on to. How do you do this? Just be present and devote yourself to doing something. This is the simple practice of Zen. Dainin Katagiri in Each Moment Is the Universe