Meditation, Spiritual Practices, and the Way

Section 6

"Heaven and earth are enduring. The reason why heaven and earth can be enduring is that they do not give themselves life. Hence they are able to be long-lived. Therefore the sage puts his person last and it comes first, treats it as extraneous to himself and it is preserved. Is it not because he is without thought of self that he is able to accomplish his private ends?" - Lao Tzu ..........

"Once a lover came to his beloved's house. He knocked on the door. "Who is there?" the Beloved asked. The man answered, "It is I, your lover." "Go away," said the Beloved, "for you are not really in love." Years passed, and again the lover came to the door of the Beloved's house and knocked. "Who is there?" asked the Beloved. This time the man answered, "It is you." "Now that you are I," replied the Beloved, "You may Come in." - Rumi ..........

There was a football player who learned his play book very well. When he went to another team he had to relearn all the plays by the new names they called them. He learned them very well. It did nothing for his ability to play football.

Refine the breath. In. Out . Does it make a sound? Relax. Listen. What does it call to you? What is your Name, Oh God? What does it matter? Go beyond the name. Be led into the sound. Fall into it. Sound it. In. Become it. Out. Expand into it until out becomes in. Or, stick fingers in ears. Hear. Be.