You don’t need to worry about whether this experience you are having is good or bad or right or wrong.

All these responses are judgments.

Don’t worry and don’t give power to judgments.

Just forget it, absolutely forget it.

Just be in there, following your own kind of openness—any thought, any time.

There is no special time.

Any time there is a thought or activity, just be.

Don’t try to escape; don’t try to ignore; don’t try to do anything.

Do nothing.

Does that mean escaping?

No—no one is escaping.

No one is trying to do anything.

You can become centerlessness, with no subject, no object, nothing in between.

The nature of reality, cannot be reached by trying too hard.

Crystal Mirror IV

Many people talk of happiness, or enjoyment, or satisfaction, but it’s only an idea.

When one day you really have it, then you know.

You’re convinced.

You don’t even need to express how it is—the question doesn’t arise.

You don’t care whether somebody approves or disapproves.

You don’t care too much in that way, you’re not anxious, because you know, and this knowing is the highest there is.

Crystal Mirror IV

When we say, “You cannot contemplate, you cannot concentrate,” we are making enemies of our thoughts.

This is what we want to breakdown.

Let go of the judgments that thoughts make—you don’t need to cross that bridge.

We can become completely relaxed.

Mind becomes still and free, and that is our meditation.

Crystal Mirror IV

Trying hard is not effective in meditation.

Instead, be confident and don’t try to mold your practice into a perfect pattern.

We say “Oh, this is not concentration… this is not the right way… this must be something else.”

You don’t need to use your energy in this way, conceptually, giving names, always expressing yourself to yourself.

Forget about concepts.

Get away from trying to identify— “Is this wisdom? or awareness? or meditation? or God-consciousness?

Is it this? Is it that?

Don’t try to make anything into anything.

Crystal Mirror IV

Throughout this inner development, one of the most important things to remember is not to support or maintain a center.

A bird can fly almost forever. As long as there is space, the bird can fly on and on.

Similarly, as much as you are able, as long as there is free space, keep going on.

Keep yourself open.

Do not step back and retrace your steps.

If you say, “How’s my meditation?”.

The meditation experience disappears.

Crystal Mirror IV

We always seek a good guide.

But the best guide is ourselves.

We want to find self-fulfillment and nourishment within our experience, right now, not some other time in the vague future.

It is now that we are alive and living.

We have a physical body which is very precious.

We have many possibilities to find deep satisfaction within our experiences and situations.

First, however, we must develop full confidence in ourselves.

The answers, the really important answers, are already within our consciousness, ready to be discovered.

Crystal Mirror IV

The most precious resource we have is our energy, both mental and physical.

Right now we can learn to use this energy economically and productively.

Ten or fifteen years from now it may be more difficult.

Other circumstances may prevail, and our minds might change.

That is why today is so important.

This may be the most important opportunity we have to wake up to our full potential.

We can change our lives.

Now is the time.

Footsteps on the Diamond Path

It is everyone’s responsibility to celebrate his or her own body, mind, and spirit, yet in these fragile, volatile times, for many, the very meaningfulness of life appears to be disappearing.

The human world is tense and charged with emotion. The natural world is also stressed with reactivity above and below, from the heights of space to the ocean depths. In these uncertain times, there are signs of widespread imbalance that we would do well to mark: extremes of weather, earthquakes, drought, fires and ever more violent storms.

It is important also to note the toxic effect of negative thoughts and emotions that drain our lives of joy and beauty. Falling into negativity dulls the senses and takes away the capacity for feeling; eventually we may lose the ability to respond to beauty or savor the fullness of experience.

Perhaps that is what leads so many people today—in the midst of material abundance and countless opportunities for creative action—to focus on what they sense is missing and feed their minds with dissatisfaction.

New Dimensions of Freedom 2013

In the face of beauty, the human heart is moved to appreciation, 

joy, gratitude and reverence. 

Mandala Gardens

Use what you have.

If you don’t have what you need or want, don’t worry and don’t be too anxious to have more.

Just try to appreciate whatever you have – your body, your mind, your material things, your sensations, your feelings, your knowledge – whatever you are doing.

Be kind to yourself.

Take the time to reevaluate what a fortunate opportunity you have and contemplate the tremendous pain and suffering and confusion of others.

Whenever you are depressed or feel hopeless or desperate, use the energies within your meditation.

And at other times, when you are extremely joyful and positive, do not become too attached.

In other words, whatever happens, up or down, use your experience to learn and to become more aware.

Once everything becomes mediation, you can find this balance, this peace, this contentment.

Life will not seem too difficult and you will become ever more open, more fully able to appreciate all you already have and are. 

Crystal Mirror 4, Opening to the Dharma