“… I vow to practice mindful breathing and smiling, looking deeply into things. I vow to understand living beings and their suffering, to cultivate compassion and loving kindness, and to practice joy and equanimity …” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

binsai rick equanimity thich nhat hanh

Indeed, Thay’s reminder is most apropos at any time but even more so as we celebrate this time of Christmas … and reflect on the past year while also getting ready to bring in the New Year! …

Deepening our compassion for all (including our self) helps us, inevitably, to live with equanimity and ultimately joy!

As Daphne Rose Kingma also reminds us: It is love that fashions us into the fullness of our being—not our looks, not our work, not our wants, not our achievements, not our parents, not our status, not our dreams. These all are the fodder and the filler, the navigating fuels of our lives; but

it is love: who we love, how we love, why we love, and that we love which ultimately shapes us.
It is love, before all and after all, in the beginning and in the end, that creates us.

Today, remembering this, let yourself acknowledge and remember the moments, events, and people who bring you, even momentarily, into a true experience of love, and allow the rest, the inescapable mundanities of life, like a cloud, to very quietly drift away.”

Recently we posted about deepening peace through prayers … which goes hand in hand with deepening our gratitude …

So here are two more prayers for this holiday season to celebrate love … and walk in beauty …

Touch the world from the place centered in the heart
and remain the selfless bearer of truth.

Beckon not self-serving illusions to fill the void of time and space,
but reach to the core to produce a reality of the one vision of hope.

Come to the world with an openness of heart and lay to rest
the falsehood of desire, the fear of wanting, and the futility of pursuit.

Live in Spirit’s Will and all will be fulfilled through
the pure power of Creation. All will be, beyond your imaginings.

Claim the Light that is yours to bear and carry
the lantern of love into the darkened world of illusions.

Perceive not Spirit’s plan, but go into the joy of the now.
All will come to pass in perfect harmony if you but believe it is so.

Go in the peace that the moment is now.

Go in love, for that is what you are.

~ Diane V. Cirincione

Making our daily rhythm immersed with Diane’s reminders will naturally result in cultivating and deepening of equanimity … just like the Native American Prayer, below, is reminding us to Walk in Beauty – which is yet another way to be – immersed with equanimity …

low tide sunset equanimity love thich nhat hanh

O Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!

I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom.

Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make My Hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make Me Wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.

Let Me Learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.

I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy—myself.

Make Me Always Ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.

So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.

~ Native American Prayer

 


Opening Thich Nhat Hanh quote, Daphne Rose Kingma quote & the Poem/Prayers from A Grateful Heart (Daily Blessings for the Evening Meal from Buddha to the Beat) by M, J, Ryan.
Images (edited and logos added): Featured and 1) Bonsai Rock Lake Tahoe by mblach, 2) Sunset by mihitiander. All purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).
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