Author: Elliott

Today my Secret will be short as I have a household project which needs my attention. Instead of today’s writing offering suggestions for living a life filled with peace, I am going to pose a question for your careful consideration. Listen to these words from a speech which Alan Watts gave, entitled “From Time to… Continue reading What Would You Do if You Were God?

Today we will complete our Examination of The Hsin Hsin Ming –  Verses on the Faith Mind by Chien-chih Seng-ts’an, the Third Zen Patriarch. Lets jump right in: When all things are seen equally the timeless Self-essence is reached, No comparisons or analogies are possible in this causeless, relationless state. Consider movement stationary and the… Continue reading Examination of The Hsin Hsin Ming — Fifth and Final Day

Today we embark on Day Four of our examination of The Hsin Hsin Ming — Verses on the Faith Mind by Chien-chih Seng-ts’an, the Third Zen Patriarch. We are nearing the end of this effort to share and understand this profound writing. I expect we will finish this in our fifth and final installment on… Continue reading Examination of The Hsin Hsin Ming — Day Four

Today we will continue with the third installment of our examination of The Hsin Hsin Ming — Verses on the Faith Mind by Chien-chih Seng-ts’an, the Third Zen Patriarch. Consider this thought: The more you talk and think about it, the further astray you wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking, and there is nothing… Continue reading Examination of the Hsin Hsin Ming – Day Three

Yesterday we examined the first two stanzas of the Hsin Hsin Ming — Verses on the Faith Mind by Chien-chih Seng-ts’an, the Third Zen Patriarch. Today we will continue this exploration. Let’s look at the next two verses of this piece: The Way is perfect like vast space where nothing is lacking and nothing in… Continue reading Examination of The Hsin Hsin Ming — Day Two

For the rest of this week we are going to look at a writing called The Hsin Hsin Ming — Verses on the Faith Mind by Chien-chih Seng-ts’an, the Third Zen Patriarch. I would share it all, in this one post, but it is thirteen pages long and by the time I add my comments… Continue reading Examination of the Hsin Hsin Ming – Day One

To Love is to be vulnerable I cannot really say, with any accuracy, how many times I have heard someone say, “I am never going to love again!” following some heartbreaking-breakup between this pained lover and some other person. My advice is always the same and it goes something like this: “What is the use… Continue reading To Live is to be Vulnerable

Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue had a strong influence on me in the early days of my spiritual journey. When I read or listened to him read his words, I felt them move straight into my heart without bouncing around in my head or my ears. That was not a typical experience for me.  Every word I ever read from… Continue reading Set a Positive Intention for Each New Day

Today, I have much to do in order to get ready for our upcoming annual Independence Day celebration, so I will share with you an example of one of my shorter writings. I keep a file of interesting quotes and thoughts that I have read for the purpose of exploring and expounding upon the concepts… Continue reading It Always Comes Down to Letting Go

Starting today, July 1st, I am prepared to recommit to sharing my writing each weekday. As I have written in the past, it feels like a piece of me is missing when I do not share my thoughts, even if no one opens my emails, even is no one visits the blog. There is something… Continue reading Creativity and Expression