The blog of BRIAN BROWNE WALKER

In the East,

when we speak of saints

or sages, it is not because of their

miracles, it is because of their presence

and their countenance which radiate vibrations

of love. How does this love express itself? In tolerance,

in forgiveness, in respect, in overlooking the faults of others.

Their sympathy covers the defects of others as if they were

their own; they forget their own interest in the interest

of others. They do not mind what conditions they are

in; be they high or humble, their foreheads are

smiling. To their eyes everyone is the

expression of the Beloved, whose

name they repeat. They see the

divine in all forms and

in all beings.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

There is no distinction

between heaven and earth, man and woman,

teacher and disciple. Sometimes a man bows to a woman;

sometimes a woman bows to a man. Sometimes the disciple bows

to the master; sometimes the master bows to the disciple. A master

who cannot bow to his disciple cannot bow to Buddha.

Sometimes the master and disciple bow together

to Buddha. Sometimes we may bow

to cats and dogs.

In your big mind,

everything has the same value.

Everything is Buddha himself. You see something

or hear a sound, and there you have everything just as it is.

In your practice you should accept everything as it is, giving to

each thing the same respect given to a Buddha. Here there

is Buddhahood. Then Buddha bows to Buddha,

and you bow to yourself. This is

the true bow.

Shunryu Suzuki

BRIAN BROWNE WALKER