Читать книгу Circle of Compassion - Gail Straub - Страница 7

The fruit of silence is prayer,

The fruit of prayer is faith,

The fruit of faith is love, and

The fruit of love is silence.

–Mother Teresa

My particular rhythm of compassion tells me when it’s time to breathe in caring for myself, and when it’s time to breathe out caring for the world. I commit to creating the conditions in my life that allow me to honor my rhythm.

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In order to hear my rhythm I dedicate myself to a spiritual practice that helps me reconnect with my spirit, quiet my mind, and open my heart.

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I take time to find the practice that works best for me—sitting on a meditation cushion, kneeling in prayer, breathing with a yoga posture, reading a spiritual text, or spending quiet time in nature. I choose my practice and I nurture it daily.

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If needed, I seek a teacher or class to guide me in finding the spiritual practice that suits me best. This guidance helps me dedicate myself to my practice. Like me, many people need support in finding and dedicating themselves to their chosen practice.

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Today I recommit to creating the space in my life for connecting with my spirit, quieting my mind, and opening my heart. Even if a few minutes of quiet are all I can find, I have planted the seeds of my commitment. A few minutes dedicated to spirit go a long way.

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Nurturing my spiritual practice is a gift not just to myself but also to all the people I care for in my life. My family, my colleagues, and my friends all benefit from my growing peace of mind and open heart that come from practice.

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As I quiet myself today I focus on Meister Eckhart’s beautiful words: “There is nothing in the universe that resembles God so much as silence.”

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My spiritual practice is the quiet space from which I listen to my rhythm. This time of silence and solitude is the very heartbeat of my rhythm of compassion.

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As I learn to listen to my rhythm of compassion I find my balance between caring for myself and caring for the world. I am learning to balance a rich inner life and a passionate engagement with the world.

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Right now, I stop and breathe in the quiet. Right now, being present to this moment is the possibility for my awakening.