Morning Readings

This morning I read a couple pieces from a book called Woman Prayers: Prayers by Women from Throughout History and Around the World by Mary Ford-Grabowsky. Two of them in particular resonated with me and I thought I would share them.  See below.....but before you read them, may I suggest you read them slowly, allowing the words to sink deeply into your mind and heart.  Enjoy.

Buddhist Vow

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow not to kill.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not take what is not given

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not engage in abusive relationships.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not speak falsely or deceptively.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not harm self or other through

poisonous thought or substance.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not dwell on past errors.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not possess any thing or form of life

selfishly.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not harbor ill will toward any plant, animal, or

human being.

Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine,

We vow to not abuse the great truth of the Three

Treasures.*

                                                               ~Stephanie Kaza

*In Buddhism, the Three Treasures refer to the Buddha, the Dharma (teaching), and the sangha (community).

Moments of Real Grace

Sometimes, during my early-morning meditation, a place within me

opens and parts of myself let go that I did not even know were holding

on. In these moments I feel all the hard parts in my heart and body

yield to a great softness on my breath...

A great faith washes through me, a knowing that everything that needs 

to get done will get done.  My shoulders drop an inch, the small but

familiar ache in my chest eases, and the moment stretches.  There is 

enough; enough time, enough energy, enough of all that is needed.  A

great tenderness for myself and the world opens inside me, and I know

I belong to this time, to these people, to this earth, and to something

that is both within and larger than all of it, something that sustains and

holds us all.  I do not want to be anywhere else.  I am filled with commitment...

and compassion.

                                                                               ~Oriah Mountain Dreamer