" . . . when the mind is looking the other way and words fall from the sky and the heart opens, we forget ourselves and the world pours in." Poet Roger Housden

Rengetsu was a woman following Zen when practically all monks were men.
A woman practicing Zen! People thought it odd and would not treat her kindly. In one village she came to, they wouldn't even allow her to stay there. It was late. She had no place to go and the countryside was full of dangerous animals prowling in the night. She climbed a tree and tried to sleep. It was cold and uncomfortable. How could one sleep while sitting on a tree branch? Half asleep, Rengetsu awoke with a start. The blossoms of the trees sent their sweet fragrance heavenward. Intoxicated by the fragrance, the clouds danced around the moon. The moon smiled lovingly down upon the tree. Rengetsu was struck with wonder by this sight. She offered her respect to the villagers who had denied her lodging and were now fast asleep. If it had not been for them, she thought, she would have missed this beautiful exchange of nature.

The following is a rendition of one of her many poems:

The leaves,
in an act of faith,
Let go of the trees
And fall majestically.
If only we could let go
Of this world
So gracefully.

Message from the Hopi Elders:

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour,
now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are
things to be considered...

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?

Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a
good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift
that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the
shore.They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of
the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and

our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For
the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All
that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for."

Hopi Nation - Oraibi, Arizona

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Love them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see. . . in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

Said to have been posted in Mother Theresa's office

"To laugh often and much,
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children,
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends,
to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!"

Emerson

"If we won't be better tomorrow than we were today, then what do we need
tomorrow for?" Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav