“place where man laughs, sings, picks flowers, chases butterflies and pets birds, makes love with maidens, and plays with children. Here he spontaneously reveals his nature, the base as well as the noble. Here also he buries his sorrows and difficulties and cherishes his ideals and hopes. It is in the garden that men discover themselves. Indeed one discovers not only his real self but also his ideal self?he returns to his youth. Inevitably the garden is made the scene of man's merriment, escapades, romantic abandonment, spiritual awakening or the perfection of his finer self.” MenWellsChildrenMadeRealSelfPlaySpiritualLaughingYouthFlowerReturnSorrowSceneBirdPicksIdealsGardenPerfectionDifficultyNobleAwakeningPetCherishButterflyMaking LoveAbandonmentSpiritual AwakeningMaidensReal SelfMerrimentEscapade Author:Confucius
“When you approach spirituality as an adventure of being alive, you start as you would any adventure--with a sense of mystery and not-knowing. Instead of searching for answers that make you feel safe, you set out into the vastness of life and death, with a willingness to continually grow. You open up to the possibility that your ordinary life is an extraordinary adventure, and that your joys and sorrows have meaning. Spiritual practice becomes your rudder, offering direction and insight and discretion as you venture into the unknown.” FeelsSpiritualLife IsJoySpiritualityGrowsAnswersPracticeKnowingAliveMysteryPossibilityAdventureSorrowSafeApproachOrdinaryExtraordinaryInsightLife And DeathWillingnessOfferingNot KnowingVentureDiscretionOrdinary LifeVastnessSpiritual PracticeJoys And SorrowsRudders Book:The Seeker's Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure Source: The Seeker's Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure
“Prayer by its nature is communion and union of man with God; by its action it is the reconciliation of man with God, the mother and daughter of tears, a bridge for crossing temptations, a wall of protection from afflictions, a crushing of conflicts, boundless activity, the spring of virtues, the source of spiritual gifts, invisible progress, food of the soul, the enlightening of the mind, an axe for despair, a demonstration of hope, release from sorrow, the wealth of monks.” MenMindSoulActionSpiritualMotherPeaceWealthPrayerVirtueProgressTearsSourceWallSorrowActivityConflictDespairSpringDaughterUnionsProtectionInvisibleTemptationReleaseBridgesCrushCommunionAfflictionMonkReconciliationEnlighteningDemonstrationBoundlessCrossingsMother And DaughterSpiritual Gifts Author:Ignatius Bryanchaninov