“Ram Dass, Krishna Dass, we all spoke through interpreters. There were good interpreters there, educated people in India speak English but Maharaji was the One, the Baba, Holy Man, mendicant, he didn't speak English. We talked to him and it was hard to know him, he was an ancient holy man and I was a 21 year old seeker. So I never knew what was going on, I mean I don't really know what's going on now, my guess work is a little better perhaps.” PeopleKnowsMenYearsMeanLittlesHardSpeakHolyIndiaAncientEducatedSpokesSeekersKrishnaBabaInterpreterSpeak EnglishRamsHoly Man Author:Surya Das
“Unlike some of my other dharma brothers who got names that were very long and obscure, and nobody could remember or pronounce, that they didn't like. They wanted to give their names back, but it wasn't like that, it wasn't transactional. He would name some people and say 'you're married', and then they were married, but you know it wasn't really transactional.” PeopleKnowsGivingLongWantedRememberNamesBrotherMarriedObscureDharma Author:Surya Das
“Well neither of us were "Buddhists" then because it was new to us. We were 60's people. Psychedelic relics, you know... whatever, right on, radicals and world changers, social peaceniks perhaps, with a Buddhist spiritual veneer.” PeopleKnowsWorldWellsSpiritualSocialBuddhistRadicalPsychedelicRelicsVeneer Author:Surya Das
“It's not like we're all animalistic people trying to become more spiritual. We're really living spirit, trying to find out how to live embodied in this nitty gritty world, these corporeal forms, in these fleeting bodies in the material world where everything's changing and we're not in control.” PeopleWorldTryingBodySpiritualFormSpiritMaterialsFleetingMaterial WorldReally LivingAnimalistic Author:Surya Das
“Contributing to others, not converting others, but for those who are interested, going where invited, speaking when asked, teaching when asked and so on, not proselytizing and missionary-izing. Not shoving the truth down people's throats, as if we know what's good for them. But being open when asked, when appropriate, and being very inclusive and open minded.” PeopleIfsKnowsTeachingAppropriateThroatMissionaryInvitedOpen MindOpen MindedContributingConvertingProselytizing Author:Surya Das
“Taking the decision-making process away from people disempowers them. It also makes them much less likely to buy into the decision, however right it may be. One’s own conscience remains the ultimate arbiter.” PeopleMayProcessDecisionConscienceUltimateRemainsDecision MakingArbiterDecision Making Process Author:Surya Das
“Other people can’t cause us to be impatient unless we let them do so. In other words, others don’t make us impatient. We make ourselves impatient, through our expectations and demands, fixated attachments and stuckness.” PeopleCausesDemandExpectationsPatienceAttachmentImpatient Author:Surya Das
“I've also learned that you don't always get to pick the people with whom you travel the journey. You sometimes may think you do, but don't be deceived. And the corollary of that - and this was my real lesson - is that you start to realize that you can love even the people you don't like and must love and help everyone.” PeopleThinkingMayRealSometimesHelpingRealizingJourneyLessonsPicksDeceived Book:Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment Source: Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment
“People who spend a great deal of time in their gardens attest to the natural mindfulness that gardening requires. What could be more naturally mindful than weeding? It requires a great deal of sustained attention. Weeds need to be taken up with care: Pull too hard, and the weed breaks in your fingers, leaving the root to grow and spread. Different weeds need different techniques and, sometimes, tools. When we weed our gardens, we have to pay attention to where and how we walk and bend. Move too far in one direction or another, and we'll squash growing things.” PeopleNeedsDifferentSometimesHardCareMovingGrowsNaturalWalksDealsPayAttentionBreakTakenGrowingMindfulnessGardenToolsRootsFingersLeavingSpreadTechniquePay AttentionWeedGardeningOne DirectionSquashGrowing Things Author:Surya Das
