“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

~

Nelson Mandela

#TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #BeFree #BeYou #OhNoblyBorn #ShineYourLight #EngagedBuddhist #Zen #enso #JMWart

“So you need to consider, in the deepest part of yourself, what really counts in this life and use the time left to you to live in the most fruitful way possible – for your own sake and for others.”

~

Matthieu Ricard

“Let me respectfully remind you,

Life and death are of supreme importance.

Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.

Each of us should strive to awaken. . .

. . . awaken,

Take heed. Do not squander your life.”

~

Zen Evening Gatha

there is an urgency to our practice – to wake up to our life in this moment and be beneficial for ourselves and others before we depart. knowing life is short and we have this immense opportunity, this gift of cherished life and time to shine light, to act with compassion, and offer our life in love.

~j

#TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #life #offering #practice #awakening #love #bodhisattvas #EngagedBuddhist #Zen #enso #JMWart

“…I will not dishonor

my soul with hatred,

but offer myself humbly

as a guardian of nature,

as a healer of misery,

as a messenger of wonder,

as an architect of peace.”

~

Diane Ackerman

there is a lot of harm and destruction at the hands of greed and abuse of power. it’s important to call it out – to name it, to shine light on it.

but it is also important, perhaps even more important to offer the antidote, to be the salve that brings healing and warmth during this winter. we can embody this warmth, this healing. we should take a long look into the mirror and ask ourselves, “if not you, who?”

~j

#TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #healing #light #warmth #antidote #bodhisattvas #EngagedBuddhist #Zen #enso #JMWart

Kuan Yin, also known by the names Guan Yin or Kannon is the feminine personification of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion who hears and answers the cries of the world.

inspired by a well known statue, in this image she sits calm and steady, ready to unleash her fierce compassion. she’s saying, “I got this.”

may we all be so inspired on this International Women’s Day and everyday to join in fierce compassion, stating with steady resolve, “We got this.”

indeed! my life has been filled to the brim with strong, wise women leading by example. bows of #gratitude for all of them 😌❤️🙏🏻

~j

#InternationalWomensDay #internationalwomensday2019 #MeditateAndResist #resist #FierceCompassion #TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #LoveWins #Bodhisattva #Avalokitesvara #KuanYin #compassion #Buddhism #JMWart

strong back

soft front

breathing in

letting go

opening

opening

into this moment

with all of this

all that is

the joy

and yes,

the pain

handing it over

offering it all

all of it

into Love

with each breath

beyond memory

and time

this life

and the next

held

loved

I sit.

~j

#samsara #awakening #life #love #OpenHeart #FreeMind #JustThis #JustSit #sit #practice #meditation #TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #EngagedBuddhist #Zen #enso #JMWart

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.

~

Frank Lloyd Wright

in loving nature, we are also offering love to ourselves, to each other. we are inextricably connected to all that happens in nature. where nature benefits, we benefit. when nature suffers, we suffer. our awareness of our interdependence with nature and all life, is an opening of the heart as well as the mind. it is an act of love, an offering of love, to care, to heal, to cherish nature. we protect what we love.

~j

#nature #life #earth #love #OpenHeart #AwakenedMind #ClimateChange #interdependence #TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #TreeHugger #EngagedBuddhist #Zen #enso #JMWart