Mind

All experience is preceded by mind,

Led by mind,

Made by mind.

Speak or act with a corrupted mind,

And suffering follows

As the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the ox.

Speak or act with a peaceful mind,

And happiness follows

Like a never-departing shadow.

from The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic

by Gil Fronsdal

Stay Awake, Slow Down, and Notice

Not causing harm requires staying awake. Part of being awake is slowing down enough to notice what we say and do. The more we witness our emotional chain reactions and understand how they work, the easier it is to refrain. It becomes a way of life to stay awake, slow down, and notice.

Pema Chödrön

And Now for Something Completely Different

Kindergarten

Yesterday morning I visited for the first time the kindergarten class I will be teaching beginning April 20 and continuing to the end of the school year in June. Their teacher is about to have a baby.

Even though I have been a primary grade teacher for over 40 years, it is always a pleasant surprise to see positive human qualities so abundant in students this age.

My blog entry yesterday included four limitless qualities that comprise our deep-down ultimate reality. Here are some examples from kindergarten!

1. Loving-kindness: Melanie handed me a love note with my name on it (pictured above).

2. Compassion: Michael fell down on the sawdust in the play area during recess. Several children rushed to his side to comfort him.

3. Joy: While counting little cubes and writing addition number sentences, Carlos said, “This is fun!”

4. Equanimity: On the carpet at the gathering area, all of the students listened attentively with admirable self-control as their teacher read a story to them.

Already Perfect

You are already perfect right now.
The four limitless qualities of

Loving-kindness

Compassion

Joy

Equanimity

are your deep-down ultimate reality.
These are qualities that can’t be improved upon.
You are perfect just as you are!

Adapted from Perfect Just As You Are by Pema Chödrön

Let Go

Do everything with a mind that lets go.

Do not expect any praise or reward.

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.

If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.

If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom.

Your struggles with the world will have come to an end.

Ajahn Chah (1918-1992), Thai Buddhist Monk

Baby

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.

Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)