Quiet

Prayer Flags 2 (2014, 2.9), a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.

       If we can be quieter, more in the moment 
     with what is actually happening,
     a world of perception opens up for us 
     based on where we are, 
     not on where we one day hope to be.   

        Sharon Salzberg

Faith

RCC_5991, a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.


As our faith deepens,
the "container" in wihci fear arises gets bigger. 

Sharon Salzberg, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

Fear

RIC_3470-1, a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.

When fear dominates, 

our sense of possibility collapses. 

Sharon Salzberg, 

Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

Questioning & Faith

RHUC 1, a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.


When we claim our right to question everything, 
including our beliefs, we can unhook from our 
dependence on what is familiar and let in
the heartfelt, open, fresh quality of faith. 

Sharon Salzberg, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

Questioning

Toronto 1 (2013, 9.18), a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.


     Questioning means longing to know the truth deeply, 
     and insisting that we can. It means leaving whatever 
     distant slant we may occupy to come close and see
     more directly what is true. And it means being 
     willing to be honest about how we ourselves are 
     seeing things, even if that vision differs from the norm. 
     Learning to question means feeling we have the innate right 
     to all of this.

        Sharon Salzberg, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

Open Heart

RIC_8212-1, a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.

     When we open our hearts to pain and suffering,
     we begin to heal,

     not becuase suffering is redemptive
     but because opening our heart is.

       Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness

Love

RCC_5433
Originally uploaded by rchoephoto

Only love is big enough to hold all the pain of this world.

Sharon Salzberg