Her heart is full of joy with love, for in the Lord her mind is stilled.
She has renounced every selfish attachment and draws abiding joy and strength from the One within.
She lives not for herself, but lives to serve the Lord of Love in all, and swims across the sea of life breasting its rough waves joyfully.
– Saint Teresa of Avila
If you want to draw near to God, seek him in the hearts of those around you.
Speak well of all, present or absent.
If you would be a light for others, be like the sun: show the same face to all.
To bring joy to a single heart is better than building countless shrines for worship;
to capture one heart through kindness is better than setting a thousand free.
This is the true lover of God, who lives with others, rises and eats and sleeps like others, gives and takes with others in the bazaar, yet never forgets God even for a moment.
– Abu Sai’d
It does not appear or disappear.
It is not born and does not die.
It is neither constructed nor raised up,
Neither made nor produced.
It is neither sitting nor lying,
Neither walking nor standing still,
Neither moving nor turning over,
Neither at rest nor idle.
It does not advance or retreat,
Knows not safety or danger,
Neither right nor wrong.
It is neither virtuous nor improper.
It is neither this nor that,
Neither going nor coming.
– From the Lotus Sutra
Neither this body am I, nor soul,
Nor these fleeting images passing by,
Nor concepts and thoughts, mental images,
Nor yet sentiments and the psyche’s labyrinth.
Who then am I?
A consciousness without origin,
Not born in time, nor begotten here below.
I am that which was, is and ever shall be,
A jewel in the crown of the Divine Self,
A star in the firmament of the luminous One.
– Rumi
Lord, where shall I find you?
Your place is lofty and secret.
And where shall I not find you?
The whole earth is full of your glory!
You are found in our innermost heart,
yet you fixed earth’s boundaries.
You are a strong tower for those who are near
and the trust of those who go far.
I have sought to come near you;
I have called to you with all my heart;
and when I went out towards you,
I found you coming towards me.
– Judah Halevi
