Part 1

A tree has many leaves, and -- in one way or another -- the wind touches all of them; some shake, some quiver, some hardly move at all. And, yes: it may be said the tree "knows" their trembling; but neither the wind, nor the leaves it stirs are the tree that feels their passing touch. Thoughts and feelings are like leaves; learning to watch them move is much better than being carried away with every breeze.

Part 2

No reaction has the wisdom, let alone the awareness to realize the purpose of its temporary appearance; it is powerless to solve the mystery of itself.

Part 3

We are, at once, both the intersection of active and passive forces, as well as the interaction between them, ceaselessly becoming what is newly conceived in their marriage... So that we are at once not only invited as guests to witness this union but -- if we agree to attend these moments, whatever their nature -- we will see that it is, and always has been... our wedding.

Part 4

The seer neither has, nor needs words to be in an undivided relationship with what is (being) seen; seeing is wordless, while the "words" for whatever is revealed conceals its truth. Higher self-understanding has no reason for (the moment) of (its) revelation.

Any experience we don't want cannot be separated from our negative reaction to it; in truth, what we are actually disturbed by is being caught in the middle of an unseen conflict born of not wanting to experience our own unconscious reaction.

Part 1

Fear of any weakness is a part of the weakness feared.

Part 2

The more we try to forget our weaknesses, the stronger they become.

Part 3

Everything created has a weakness until tested; it's what becomes of each and every such revelation that tells the story of whether or not new strength is gained, or its possibility is lost.

Part 4

What is true never stops reminding us of what remains within "us" that is yet to be reconciled, but we are deceived into believing that whatever darkness is revealed by the light is greater than the light that has revealed it. It is not.

Part 5

We cannot avoid any weakness we may have -- let alone resist the condition that gives rise to its dreaded appearance -- without strengthening the very same weakness we fear. All of which means the following: the only real weakness we have is our failure to enter whatever may be the struggle to prove our fears false!

If -- by the light of remembering and considering what is Timeless, Holy, and True -- the heart is warmed and gradually enflamed, then the following must be true, even if yet to be seen: within us must dwell some sort of celestial kindling; what else can explain how such a flame is created, let alone serve as a light in the darkness of the soul... uniting the twain, making of them as one.

When we’ve seen that we can’t "prove" ourselves in this world without having first compared ourselves to it -- and that this endless comparison is the unseen root of conflict -- then we will also know why we find no peace in winning the approval of others, and why no possession frees us from fear. 

It's impossible to see, let alone walk the indefinable path of the presence moment until we realize we’ve been deceived into looking at virtually every moment of life through the “I”s of the past.

Part 1

We can’t be anxiously looking for real Life, and take part in its rebirth at the same time.

Part 2

United we see; divided we fall.

Part 1

Anytime you feel the need to stand in the healing Light of the Divine -- and then act to honor that wish -- you will realize a miracle: you'll see that you are already in it.

Part 2

Real self-acceptance is a very dynamic spiritual state of conscious non-interference with whatever is revealed within us moment to moment, including whatever experience of self is created by that interaction... and then allowing that same sense of self to disappear as it will... the light of (self-acceptance) is to be a silent witness to every impression that comes and goes, without identification.

Part 1

When it comes to any conflict between us, and another -- let alone a person we may love -- anytime there’s some kind of painful drama being enacted... each of us is responsible for whatever continues being played out on that stage.

Part 2

Every argument with another begins with each person signing an invisible contract that has written -- at its bottom, in the tiniest of print -- the following words: "To be continued."

Part 3

Until we learn (how) to voluntarily bear our own suffering, we will never come to understand the suffering of others; and until we understand the suffering of others, we will never know any true peace of mind or heart, let alone in this troubled world of ours.