Awareness

159. THE FOUR POSTURES

“When walking, a bhikkhu [fully ordained monk] knows: ‘I am walking;’ when standing, he knows: ‘I am standing;’ when sitting, he knows: ‘I am sitting;’ when lying down, he knows: ‘I am lying down’. In this way he knows the body as a body, both internally and externally, independent, not clinging to anything in the world.”

THE SATIPATTHANA SUTTA

160. THE SPIRIT’S SILENCE

“I have thrown from me the whirling dance of mind and stand now in the spirit’s silence, free.”

SRI AUROBINDO (1872–1950), INDIA

161. EXPECTING THE DAWN

“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.”

HENRY DAVID THOREAU (1817–1862), USA

162. LORD OF THE BIRDS

The garuda is a mythical bird, the celestial hawk of Indian mythology. Its upper torso and arms are of a man, and it has the head, beak and legs of a bird, with wings coming from the middle of its back. It hatches fully grown from an egg and is immediately able to fly. The garuda symbolizes the fully aware, awakened state of Buddha-mind. It destroys five snakes, which represent the physical and psychological diseases to which all sentient beings are prey.

163. THE LAMA IN THE HEART

“As pure awareness is the real Buddha, in openness and contentment I found the lama in my heart. When we realize that this unending natural mind is the very nature of the lama, then there is no need for attached, grasping or weeping prayers or complaints.”

DUDJOM RINPOCHE (1904–1987), TIBET

164. ONLY ONE THING

“A hundred things may be explained to you, a thousand things told, but one thing only should you grasp. Know one thing and everything is freed – remain within your inner nature, your awareness.”

PADMASAMBHAVA (8TH CENTURY), TIBET

165. INSPIRED AWARENESS

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

PATANJALI (C.200BCE), INDIA