"Nothing, nothing at all ...."

Nothing, nothing at all

is born,

Dies, the shell says again

and again

from the depth of hollowness,

         Its body

Swept off by tide – so what?

         It sleeps

in sand, drying in sunlight,

         bathing

in moonlight.  Nothing to do

         with sea

or anything else.  Over

         and over

it vanishes with the wave.

Shinkichi Takahashi

"It is a wholesome ...."

It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.

Rachel Carson

"Toward a True Kinship of Faiths"

“Obey the injunctions of your own faith; travel to the essence of your religious teaching, the fundamental goodness of the human heart.  Here is the space, where despite differences, we are all simply human … Open your heart so that the blessings of your faith may reach into its deepest recesses … Always embrace the common humanity that lies at the heart of us all.  Always affirm the oneness of our human family.  Let your heart be softened by the balm of compassion, reflecting deeply upon the needs and aspirations of yourself and others.  Let not your differences from the views of others come in the way of the wish for their peace, happiness, and well-being.”

Toward a True Kinship of Faiths”, The Dalai Lama

"Our rational minds ...."

Our rational minds can never understand what has happened, but our hearts … if we can keep them open to God, will find their own intuitive way.

“Be Here Now”, Ram Dass

"Returning Home"

When I was young, I left home; old I return.

My accent hasn’t changed, yet my hair is thin.

Children see me, but don’t recognize me.

They smile and ask, “Stranger, where do you come from?”

He Zhizhang