Echoes

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

The great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.

There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. If one fully understands the present moment, there will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. Live being true to the single purpose of the moment. Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.

Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.

When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.

The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.

...why did we wait for any thing? — why not seize the pleasure at once? — How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!

Do not, my soul, seek immortal life, but exhaust the limits of the possible.

If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. If we really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.

Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.

The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.

The present moment contains past and future. The secret of transformation, is in the way we handle this very moment.

Remember that man lives only in the present, in this fleeting instant; all the rest of his life is either past and gone, or not yet revealed. Short, therefore, is man's life, and narrow is the corner of the earth wherein he dwells.

In my walks I would fain return to my senses. What business have I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods?

It is not among extraordinary and fantastic things that excellence is to be found, of whatever kind it may be. We rise to attain it and become removed from it: it is oftenest necessary to stoop for it.

An old silent pond. A frog jumps into the pond — splash! Silence again.

Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you're alive and able—be good.

You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that's all even the gods can ask of you.

Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.

After the dazzle of day is gone, only the dark, dark night shows to my eyes the stars; after the plain of the surface and the breakers have gone, the depths of the ocean show beautiful forms.

With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow — I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for.

I am endeavouring to live every day as if it were a complete life.